Rudy Arnold (1902-1966) was introduced to photography in 1918. After studying at the New York School of Photography, he worked at the New York Journal-American and the New York Graphic. During his stint at the latter he started to focus on aviation photography. In 1928, Arnold started his own aviation photography business and worked out of the following New York air fields and airports during his career: Roosevelt Field, the old Curtiss Airport, Floyd Bennett Field, and LaGuardia Airport His coverage of a wrecked airliner in upstate New York was the first photograph sent by wire to newspapers across the country. Arnold's work appeared in every aviation magazine, house organs (Douglas, Grumman), and mass circulation magazines as well as many newspapers. He also did motion-picture camera work for Universal and Paramount.

These records document the tenure of Roger G. Kennedy, director, NMHT, 1979-1980, and director, NMAH, 1980-1992, as well as some of the work of Douglas E. Evelyn, deputy director. The records concern activities of the Office of the Director and the administration of NMAH. Of special note are records regarding the conclusion in 1982 of the ...

Dr. Hugh L. Dryden was an aerodynamicist by training, a career civil servant, and a government official. With degrees in physics and mathematics he became chief of the aerodynamics section of the National Bureau of Standards and eventually served as the first deputy administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This collection consists of memorabilia relating to Dryden's career.

This accession includes records that document planning for the exhibition "Growth of the United States," primarily during the years when the National Museum of History and Technology was known as the Museum of History and Technology. Materials include the correspondence, memoranda, and notes of Peter C. Welsh, Curator; Rodris C. Roth, Curator;...

The bulk of this collection was processed by Jane Livermore, a devoted and tireless volunteer in the Smithsonian Institution Archives between 1995 and 2004. Livermore is a former Science Service employee. She worked in the organization's library, oversaw the educational project "THINGS of Science," and served as Assistant to the Director. ...

This accession consists of correspondence, memoranda, budget records, manuscripts, and publications documenting the operations and programs of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Optical and Infrared Astronomy Division.

This accession consists of color slides documenting exhibitions, objects, lectures, and special projects at the National Museum of American History (NMAH) and outside the Smithsonian Institution. The slides were created and/or collected over the years by Robert S. Harding, Senior Archivist at NMAH, Archives Center, with a significant number ...

The Russian Aeronautical Collection is a mix of technical, historical, and cultural reference materials, including originals or copies of articles, documents and other historical materials relating to Russian and Soviet aviation from the Tsarist period through the Soviet era. The collection focuses on key events, personalities and aircraft designs, and certain subject areas are covered in depth, including the life and career of Igor Sikorsky, the transpolar flights of the 1930s, Soviet aviation in the Spanish Civil War, and the operational history of the Soviet Air Force in World War II.

Arthur Ehrat invented and patented a breakaway basketball rim, fashioning his prototypes from bolts, metal braces and one key part: a piece of the heavy-duty coil spring on a John Deere cultivator. His invention helped to revolutionize the way basketball is played because players could slam dunk the ball with fewer injuries and without bending the rims or breaking backboards. This collection includes correspondence, legal documents --such as patent papers, litigation files and licensing agreements --photographs and sketches that relate to the basketball invention, as well as materials regarding his two field spreader patents and other invention ideas.

The collection documents the activities of the United Shoe Machinery Corporation of Beverly, Massachusetts, manufacturers of shoe machinery equipment. The collection consists of engineering records, legal records, research and development records, employee/personnel records, correspondence, company catalogs, product literature, advertising materials, photographs, and moving images.