Smithsonian Institution Archives

Melvin B. Zisfein Papers, 1947-1995 and undated

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FA96-002
Creators:
Zisfein, Melvin B.
Dates:
1947-1995 and undated
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
3.43 cu. ft. (3 record storage boxes) (1 12x17 box)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
Included in this collection are articles, reports, notebooks, photographs, slides, and certificates and awards. There is very little personal correspondence, but papers written by Zisfein contained in this collection seem to represent some of his major writings. Of special note are 15 notebooks kept by Zisfein at NASM, which contain notes concerning exhibition concepts, planning, budgets, and schedules; museum policy, meetings, and agendas; and other professional activities. Also of note are a large number of photographic slides which depict the new NASM building and exhibition installations. Zisfein organized the slides into nine books, but books four to seven are missing from this accession.

Historical Note

Historical Note
Melvin B. Zisfein (1926-1995) received Aeronautical Engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., 1948; M.S., 1948). He worked at various companies as a designer and aerodynamicist from 1948 to 1953, including Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. He joined Bell Aircraft Corporation in 1953 as the Chief of the Dynamics Department. In 1960 Zisfein became General Manager of the Astromechanics Research Division of Giannini Controls Corporation until 1966, when he became Associate Director of the Franklin Institute Research Laboratories. From 1971 to 1982 he was at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) as Deputy Director (1971-1982) and also as Acting Director (1978), where he was instrumental in the planning, construction and design of the new NASM building which opened in 1976. In 1982 Zisfein became the first Director of the Army Discovery Center at the National Science Center in Fort Gordon, Georgia. He retired in 1988 but continued to teach as Adjunct Professor at Augusta College (Georgia) until 1990.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 96-002, Melvin B. Zisfein Papers

More Information

Notes

Personal Papers


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Zisfein, Melvin B. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Air and Space Museum (U.S.). Office of the Deputy Director Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Army Discovery Center (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Giannini Controls Corporation Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bell Aircraft Corporation Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, Pa.). Research Laboratories Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Air and Space Museum (U.S.). Office of the Director Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Augusta College (Augusta, Ga.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautical museums Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aerospace engineers Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aerospace engineering Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum buildings Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architectural design Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Building Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum exhibits Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fort Gordon (Ga.) Place Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiotapes Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Color photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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