The following refers to processing decisions that were conducted during the work of this collection.

Two folders of professional biography files in carton 1 include educational ephemera, certificates from Allan J. McDonald's career, and a speech transcript from the post-Challenger years. These original documents were likely compiled and photocopied for the spiral bound booklet copies #1 and #2 entitled "Allan James McDonald A Professional Biography" (c. 1986 April, carton 2). These materials were kept in Series 1 in their original order by archival staff.

Items in the folder labeled "Al mementos' file items" were removed from original order by archives staff and arranged into Series 1 because their dates corresponded to the pre-Challenger years. These items' original order had been in Series 4's post-Challenger era folder labeled "Al's mementos' file."

This series spans from 1955 to 1996 and contains files related to Allan J. McDonald's engineering career at Morton Thiokol Inc. (MTI). A majority of the materials pertain to his work on the pre-Challenger disaster solid rocket motor design when he was Director of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) project. These include but are not limited to correspondence, photographs, briefing materials, engineering publications, patents, and SRM design notes. Briefing materials in this series are from MTI and NASA meetings.

Below is a list of series 1's folder titles and their dates:

Carton 1:

• McDonald's professional biography files (2 folders), 1955-1988
• Wm. E. Jones' Space Shuttle Program SRM Project report, 1978 June
• rocket briefing and conference presentation files, 1970s-1980s
• loose files: SRM/SRB briefings and presentations, 1980-1986
• photographs of MTI machinery and NASA promotional photos, 1982-1984
• FWC (Filament Wound Case program), 1982, 1985-1986
• SRM second source, 1983-1984
• loose files: memos, briefings, and correspondence on O-rings, 51-L launch, and missiles, 1983-1986
• loose files: rocket design and briefings (originals and photocopies), 1983-1986
• Flight Readiness Review files (3 folders), 1983-1986

Carton 2:

• reports, incident photos, and memos, 1983-1985, 1991-1992
• State-of-the-art for SRM design, manufacture, and use report to MSFC, 1984 January-1986 January
• MTI Manufacturing Plan for Space Shuttle SRM Project report, 1984 September 30
• photographs of MTI Wasatch Division rocket test, 1984 October 25
• Morton Thiokol interoffice memos and SRM analysis (3 folders), 1984-1985
• Weekly Activity Reports Calendar Year 1984, Calendar Year 1985 (pre-51-L documentation file), 1984-1985
• pre-51-L documentation file (O-rings, SRM test data) (3 folders), 1984-1985
• pre-Challenger data sources, 1984-1985
• memos as SRM Director (photocopies), 1984-1986
• Analytical Model for Pressurization/Erosion of SRB Primary O-rings - Mark Salita, MTI, 1985 June 24
• STS-51F (SRM-19) Flight Readiness Review, SRM Special Topic Nozzle O-ring Erosion Anomally Observed on STS-51B (SRM 16A), 1985 July 1
• Pre-51L documentation O-ring erosion history, 1985 July 2, December 6
• MTI briefings, 1985 August 19, December 19
• MTI Annual Report, 1985
• O-ring history and pre-51L documentation files (3 folders), 1985-1986

Carton 3:

• information and models on O-ring erosion and failure, 1985-1986
• memos/briefings on O-ring erosion and failure files (photocopies and originals) (2 folders), 1985-1986
• Kennedy Space Center authorization items, presentation briefings and Mark Salita's O-ring report, 1985-1986
• Briefing materials and O-ring damage photos, 1985-1986
• Correspondence - FY86-FY87 (7/85-?/86) A. J. McDonald, 1985-1986
• Flight Readiness Review, 1986 January 15
• Flight Readiness Review presentation, 1986 January
• "SRM Design and Development Requirements and Certification Control" report, 1986 March 17
• item #22 Solid Rocket Motor Working Group Final Report on STS 51-L, 1986 April 14
• "Allan James McDonald A Professional Biography" spiral bound booklet, copy #1, c. 1986 April
• SRM Joint History (1974-1985) Part 1 report, 1986 May 1
• STS-51L launch countdown highlights file and launch issues file, c. 1986
• O-ring history, 1980s

This series also includes items added in December 2022 from accession [2019-003-s] (identified by [AM-#]) and accession [2021-012-s].

Carton 1:

• McDonald publications, memos, photographs, Thiokol-related file of patents, 1957-1996
• [AM-15] Correspondence from McDonald to Stephen L. Robinson, 1959 May 2
• Thiokol newsletters, 1971-1972, 1980s
• [AM-29] Saturday Evening Post, 1973 July/August
• [AM-12] Correspondence from F. Eshleman to McDonald, 1973 November 23
• "Al mementos" file items, 1974, 1977
• [AM-20] High Frontier: A New National Strategy publication, 1982
• "Pre-Challenger" file (publications, memos, and briefings), 1982-1985
• [AM-16] Montana State College, Bozeman job application, undated

Carton 2:

• [AM-22] Twenty-Seventh Israel Annual Conference on Aviation and Astronautics material, 1985 February 27
• [AM-26] conference article on "Design Evolution of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motors," 1985 July 8-11
• [AM-21] "Allan James McDonald A professional biography" spiral bound booklet, copy #2, c. 1986 April

The following refers to processing decisions that were conducted during the work of this collection.

Several Report (1986), Presidential Commission (1986), congressional hearing (1986-1987) and litigation (1987-1988) documents were likely pencil-marked #1 to #26 by the donor. Donor numbers were retained on the items and written in folder metadata, but the files were placed by archival staff into either Series 2 or 3, respectively.

Some materials from accession [2016-002-s] have water damage that has faded or washed out ink, rusted metal fasteners and paper, and damaged some of the wood-backed awards. Inactive mold from this water damage was found on several items that were cleaned or photocopied and removed by archival staff for preservation purposes. Folders with affected items include "Presidential Commission correspondence, press release, and essay, 1986" and "Presidential Commission on STS Accident, 1986 (folders 1-4)."

The "Presidential Commission on STS Accident, 1986 (2 of 4)" folder contains an original oversized 1985 NASA organizational chart that archival staff have placed in a photograph sleeve. This item has been cleaned of inactive mold, but mold stains are still present in the outer folds.

Online access to the 1986 Presidential Commission transcripts, including those from originally closed sessions on February 10, 13, and 14 and May 2, is available at https://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/genindex.htm.

This series contains hearing transcripts, Allan J. McDonald's notes, and Morton Thiokol (MTI) data from the Presidential Commission (1986 February-May) and several U.S. Congress hearings regarding the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Notable items include the Rogers Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident publication (1986 June 6), a U.S. House of Representatives (House) Committee on Science and Technology hearing transcript on the "Investigation of the Challenger Accident" (1986 June 18), and McDonald's copy of the House Report 99-1016 on the "Investigation of the Challenger Accident" (1986 October 29). This series also includes a copy of Richard C. Cook's "The Challenger Report," which is a critical analysis of the Presidential Commission Report (1986 October 30).

Donor-numbered items from accession [2016-002-s] include:

Carton 3:

• #10 presentation to the Presidential Commission on Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, 1986 February 10
• #11 copy of Official Transcript Proceedings Before the Presidential Commission on Space Shuttle Challenger Accident (copy #1), 1986 February 10

Carton 4:

• #12 copy of Official Transcript Proceedings Before the Presidential Commission on Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, 1986 February 14
• #13 testimony of Allan McDonald, 1986 February 25
• #14 copy of Official Transcript Proceedings Before the Presidential Commission on Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, 1986 February 25
• #15 copy of Official Transcript Proceedings Before the Presidential Commission on Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, 1986 February 26
• #16 copy of Official Transcript Proceedings Before the Presidential Commission on Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, 1986 February 27
• #17 McDonald interview, 1986 March 19
• #18 Hearing presentation data, 1986 March 21
• #19 Official Transcript Proceedings Before the Presidential Commission on Space Shuttle Challenger Accident - Closed Executive Session, 1986 May 2
• #20 Official Transcript Proceedings Before the Presidential Commission on Space Shuttle Challenger Accident - Accident Analysis Panel Investigation Session, 1986 May 9
• #21 STS 51-L Data and Design Analysis Task Force presentation, 1986 April 10
• #23 Presidential Commission Executive Session, 1986 May 2
• #24 hearing rehearsal memo; House Committee on Science and Technology witness invitation memos, 1986 June 12

Carton 5:

• #25 House Committee on Science and Technology hearing transcript, 1986 June 18
• #26 House Committee on Science and Technology hearing transcript, 1986 June 19
• #5 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request, 1986
• #8 copy of "Wind Conditions for the Launch of STS-51L" and paper submitted to the Rogers Commission, 1987 April 1

This series also includes an item added to this series in December 2022 from accession [2019-003-s] (identified by "AM-#").

Carton 5:

• [AM-36] Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, copy #2, 1986 June 6

The following refers to processing decisions that were conducted during the work of this collection.

Several Report (1986), Presidential Commission (1986), congressional hearing (1986-1987) and litigation (1987-1988) documents were likely pencil-marked #1 to #26 by the donor. Donor numbers were retained on the items and written in folder metadata, but the the files were placed by archival staff into either Series 2 or 3, respectively.

Some materials from accession [2016-002-s] have water damage that has faded or washed out ink, rusted metal fasteners and paper, and damaged some of the wood-backed awards. Inactive mold from this water damage was found on several items that were cleaned or photocopied and removed for archival preservation purposes. Folders with affected items include "Michael Smith litigation originals (memos, briefings, and data), 1980s (folders 1-4)."

This series contains copies of interrogatory request, litigation, and deposition files from 1982 and the late 1980s associated with Morton Thiokol Inc. (MTI) or their employees. These files also include MTI records and most of the materials are for cases related to the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Donor-numbered items from accession [2016-002-s] include:

Doc-box 6:

• #4 McNair litigation documents, 1988
• #6 Harold Greene, Roger Roisjoly litigation documents, 1987
• #6a Robert M. Boisjoly litigation documents, 1987
• #7 Jane J. Smith litigation documents, 1987 May 7

Carton 7:

• #1 deposition of Robert v. Ebeling, 1988
• #2-1 deposition transcript of Lawrence B. Mulloy Vol. 1, 1988
• #2-2 deposition transcript of Lawrence B. Mulloy Vol. 2, 1988
• #2-3 deposition transcript of Lawrence B. Mulloy Vol. 3, 1988
• #3 deposition of Robert M. Boisjoly Day 3, 1988
• #9 Michael J. Smith deposition subpoena, 1988 March 24

This series also includes four items added in April 2023 from accession [2021-012-s]:

Carton 5:

• US District Court State of Utah Central Division, preliminary injunction hearing transcript for Thiokol Corporation, plaintiff, vs. Rear Admiral Walter M. Locke, USN, et al. Defendants, and United Technologies Corporation Chemical Systems Division case: 1 copy of 1982 February 25 (with 1991 Dykstra memo), 1 copy of Walter M. Locke's testimony on 1982 Feburary 26 (both items are yellow spiral bound)

Carton 7:

• copies of Allan J. McDonald's deposition transcript and case files for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Richmond Division, Jane J. Smith, executrix … plaintiffs, vs. Morton Thiokol, Inc., Defendant civil action case, 1988 (1 item bound with office clip and 1 item spiral bound)

Below is a list of acronyms used in this series:

• AIAA – American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• ASRM – Advanced Solid Rocket Motor program
• JANNAF – Joint-Army-Navy-NASA-Air Force
• MTI – Morton Thiokol Inc., also known as Thiokol Corporation and ATK Thiokol
• NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• RSRM – Redesigned Solid Rocket Motor program
• SAE – Society of Automobile Engineers
• SRB – solid rocket booster
• SRM – solid rocket motor
• STS – Space Transportation System

The following refers to processing decisions that were conducted during the work of this collection.

Photographs found with VHS tape #47 from series 5 were removed by archival staff for preservation purposes and placed into Series 4 with other post-Challenger photographs in the folder labeled "photographs of awards and MTI events and astronauts (originals and photocopies), c. late 1980s, 1993."

Some materials from accession [2016-002-s] have water damage that has faded or washed out ink, rusted metal fasteners and paper, and damaged some of the wood-backed awards. Inactive mold from this water damage was found on several items that were cleaned or photocopied and removed by archival staff for preservation purposes. The folders with affected items in this series are labeled "Seal Tech file, 1986-1988" and "Shuttle schedules and countdown data book... 2000s," respectively.

Items in the folder labeled "Al mementos' file items" were removed from original order by archives staff and arranged into Series 1 because their dates corresponded to the pre-Challenger years. These items' original order had been in Series 4's post-Challenger folder labeled "Al's mementos' file."

Clippings were kept from the January 29, 1986 issue of The Orlando Sentinel, the February 17, 1988 issue of USA Today, and the February 15, 1988 issue of the Standard-Examiner. Once clippings were removed, remaining pages were discarded because of issues with the materials' acidity.

This series contains Allan J. McDonald's documents and papers regarding the redesign of the solid rocket motor (SRM) and the Space Shuttle's return to flight after the disaster in 1986. These include but are not limited to correspondence, memoranda, photographs, briefing materials, newspaper clippings, engineering serial publications and reports, presentations, and SRM redesign notes. Briefing materials in this series are from Morton Thiokol Inc. (MTI) and NASA meetings.

News clippings in this series are from serial publications that include but are not limited to:

• The Salt Lake Tribune
• Orlando Sentinel
• Ogden Standard-Examiner
• USA Today
• Washington Post
• and The Huntsville Times

Carton 8 contains materials from 1986 to 1996 including memoranda, briefings and reports, an invention record, MTI SRM reports, correspondence regarding the redesign, newspaper clippings on the Space Shuttle Challenger and McDonald, a file on the Norton Oversight Committee notes, and files on gox venting as a possible cause of the disaster.

Carton 9 contains files from 1986 to 2005 that include newspaper clippings on the Space Shuttle Challenger and McDonald, Space Shuttle and aerospace serial publications, rocket conference presentations, memoranda, correspondence, briefings, an RSRM program patch, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, Ali Abutaha files, and Space Shuttle Challenger memorial ephemera. It also includes notable photographs of STS-51L, rocket tests, SRM ocean recoveries, MTI machinery and staff, and the successful Space Shuttle Discovery launch.

Serial publications in this carton include:

• the March 1988 issue of LIFE magazine
• the February 17, 1986 issue of Aviation Week and Space Technology
• the February 24, 1990 issue of TV Guide
• and the March 2003 issue of Aerospace America

Carton 10 contains items from 1986 to 2015 that include redesign files; publications; news clippings; correspondence; a miscellaneous file on ethics, movie and book interest; rocket test photographs; a 1987 MTI Final Test Report for NASA; memoranda; an August 17, 1987 issue of Newsweek magazine; and the September 29, 1988 special issue of Florida Today entitled Discovery: Back to the Future.

Carton 11 contains items from 1987 to 1996 including memorandums, MTI Annual Reports, McDonald's calendars and NASA schedule booklets, briefings and flight reports, correspondence, news clippings, gox venting files, a Charles Stark Draper Prize booklet (copy #1), and Space Shuttle Atlantis' STS-27R flight pre-launch and countdown documents.

Carton 12 contains items spanning from 1988 to 2008 including a gox venting file, MTI and NASA reports, a Proposal and Design Data Book for the Space Shuttle RSRM, SRM presentation booklets, redesign notes and files, correspondence, ephemera, Volume 1 and 2 of Dr. Mark Maier's 1992 "A Major Malfunction" research case, a university courses file of class handouts, and a 1998 JANNAF meeting publication. It also includes SRM improvement data and newspaper clippings on recovery, failure, and redesign. Carton 12 has notable photographs of astronauts, McDonald's professional headshots, rocket tests, awards events, and MTI/Thiokol Corporation events. Serial publications in carton 11 include the January 4, 1988 issue of Aviation Week and Space Technology and the Winter 1998 issue of Flight Comment.

Doc-box 13 contains items from 1992 to the 2000s including news clippings, presentations, conference and event ephemera, Thiokol corporation brochures, shuttle schedules, and a countdown data book for Endeavor's STS-100 flight.

This series also includes serial publications, reports, and McDonald's post-Challenger lecture and presentation notes added in December 2022 from accession [2019-003-s] and accession [2021-012-s].

Accession [2019-003-s] items below have been numbered by the donor and are listed in the inventory with "[AM-#]."

Carton 9:

• [AM-23] "5th Annual NASA/Contractors Conference on Quality and Productivity" report, October 12-13, 1988, copy #2
• [AM-32] Omni, December 1988 issue
• [AM-17] Collected Reports of the Panel on Technical Evaluation of NASA's Redesign of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster, 1988

Carton 10:

• items in the presentations and briefings file, 1986-2007, including [AM-28] Engineering Ethics and the Challenger Accident
• "Lectures" file, 1986-2015

Carton 11:

• accordion of "Post-Challenger" files: "Return to flight (STS-26-27)" file, correspondence, presentation booklets, and "environment" file, 1987-2011
• booklets of presentations and photographs, 1988, 1993, and undated
• [AM-33] Design News Issue #4, 1988 February 15; with typed speech and program for the Design News Banquet, 1988 March 8 (copy #2)
• [AM-13] "Thirty-Two Agonizing Months from Challenger to Discovery" a professional biography of Allan James McDonald with Charles Stark Draper Prize cover sheet, spiral bound copy #2, Jan. 1989

Carton 12:

• "Thirty-Two Agonizing Months from Challenger to Discovery," a professional biography of McDonald with Charles Stark Draper Prize cover sheet, with loose papers, spiral bound copy #3
• "Al mementos" file, 1989-2016
• accordion file on SRMs for Space/Defense (presentation booklets), 1989, 1999-2000
• [AM-24] Return to Flight with the Redesigned Solid Rocket Motor, AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, July 10-12, 1989
• [AM-25] The Challenger Accident AIAA presentation booklet, copy #1, undated
• The Challenger Accident AIAA presentation booklet, copy #2, undated
• "Columbia 2003" file, 1989, 2003, 2009

Doc-box 13:

• [AM-27] McDonald's article on "Fixing the Field Joint That Failed on the Challenger," Journal of Propulsion and Power, 1991 March-April
• [AM-12] International Space Conference file, Moscow, includes conference materials, travel ephemera, and an issue of The Moscow Times, 2001 April
• [AM-34] SRM programs directory binder and [AM-35] Discovery STS-114 crew photo, c. 2000s, undated
• [68] and [104] McDonald's retirement ephemera, including booklet copy #2 2001
• McDonald's retirement booklet, copy #3

Most photographs in this series were printed by MTI Support Services or Thiokol Corporation Space Operations for McDonald.

Physical Description: 6.34 gb5 videos, MP4 digitized from videocassette tapes

Below is a list of acronyms used in this series:

• AIAA – American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• MTI – Morton Thiokol Inc., also known as Thiokol Corporation, Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK), and ATK Thiokol

The following refers to processing decisions that were conducted during the work of this collection.

Photographs found with VHS tape #47 from series 5 were removed from original order by archival staff for preservation purposes and placed into Series 4 with other post-Challenger photographs in the folder labeled "photographs of awards and MTI events and astronauts (originals and photocopies), c. late 1980s, 1993."

Many items in this series are identified with a donor number taped to or written on an item. These numbers sometimes repeat possibly due to items being donated in separate groupings within accession [2016-002-s] and accession [2019-003-s]. Most accession [2019-003-s] items include "AM" with the number and have been listed with brackets. None of the accession [2021-012-s] items have these numbers.

This series contains VHS tapes and CDs pertaining to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. VHS topics include but are not limited to news clips from various stations, Morton Thiokol press and rocket redesign footage, recorded documentaries, the Presidential Commission and congressional hearings, and litigation or deposition meetings.

Carton 15 also contains 14 CDs labeled "#51 book revision CD's and presentation, numbered 1-14" (2005-2007).

Most items below have been numbered by the donor and are listed in the inventory below with "[#]."

Carton 14:

• 3 VHS, MTI, Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle, NASA Report to Space Commission, Tapes 1-3, 1986 February 6 [1]
• 1 VHS, MTI, 51-L Task Force press conference, 60:00, 1986 April 8 [8]
• 1 VHS, MTI, 51-L Press walk-around of spacecraft, 1986 April 9, copy [9]
• 1 VHS, Challenger Commission Report, 90:00, 1986 June 09 [10] (tape inside case labeled: "3, Presidential Commission 03 April 1986")
• 2 VHS, MTI, House Science and Technology Committee, Parts 1-2, 1986 June 10 [11]
• 1 VHS, MTI, House Science and Technology Committee, Complete Broadcast, Tape 1, 1986 June 11 [12]
• 2 VHS, MTI, House Science and Technology Committee, Parts 1-2, 1986 June 17 [14]
• 2 VHS, MTI, House Science and Technology Committee, Tapes 1-2, 1986 June 18 [15]
• 2 VHS, MTI, Hearing on "NASA's Plans to Procure New Rocket Motors," Parts 1 and 3, 1986 August 29 [17]
• 1 VHS, MTI, 51-L Technical Documentary, 31:00, copy, 1987 July 10 [18]
• 1 VHS, CNN, undated [19]
• 1 VHS, MTI, House Subcommittee on Space Science, 120:00, copy, 1988 April 11 [21]
• 1 VHS, MTI, The Redesigned Solid Rocket Motor, 13:00, copy, 1988 October 13 [22]
• 1 VHS, MTI, STS-26 SRB Highlights, copy, 1989 January 25 [24]
• 2 VHS, Robert V. Ebeling Dep. #1, tapes 1 and 2, 1988 March 24 [26]
• 1 VHS, Allan J. McDonald Dep. #1, 1988 March 25 [26]
• 1 VHS, MTI, The Utah Solid Contribution, 24:32, copy, 1988 May 5 [28]
• 1 VHS, Thiokol Corporation, STS-26 and QM-7, 7:02, 1992 January 30 [32] (tape inside case labeled: "Thiokol Corporation, George M. Low Award Ceremony High Lights, 11:56, UNCL, Clip, 01/10/92")
• 1 VHS, MTI, Allan J. McDonald Dep. #1, 1988 March 25 [33]
• 1 VHS, Allan McDonald, undated [50]

Carton 15:

• 4 VHS, MTI, Presidential Commission, Parts 1-4, 1986 February 25 [2, 3]
• 4 VHS, MTI, Presidential Commission, Parts 1-4, 1986 February 26 [3]
• 3 VHS, MTI, Presidential Commission, Parts 1-3, 1986 February 27 [4]
• 3 VHS, MTI, Presidential Commission, Parts 1-3, 1986 March 7 [5]
• 3 VHS, MTI, Presidential Commission, Parts 1-3, 1986 March 21 [6]
• 3 VHS, MTI, Presidential Commission, Parts 1-3, 1986 April 3 [7]
• 2 VHS, MTI, House Science and Technology Committee, Parts 2-3, 1986 June 11 [12]
• 1 VHS, McDonald, MSU, 1986 June [12a]
• 2 VHS, MTI, House Science and Technology Committee, Parts 1-2, 1986 June 17 [13]
• 1 VHS, Stone City Films, A Major Malfunction, plastic beige case undated [25]
• 1 VHS, Thiokol, A Major Malfunction, 30 min undated [30]
• 1 VHS, Thiokol, Point of No Return (The Challenger Disaster), 25 minutes, undated [30]
• 1 VHS, STS, "Space Technology: The Solid Contribution," 25:15, 1989 September 12 [31]
• 1 VHS, in clear plastic case, AIAA Space Transportation Technical Committee Launch Vehicle and Propulsion Video Library, 1991, (120 min) [33]
• 1 VHS, Challenger Disaster Discovery Boisjoly, undated [34]
• 1 VHS, Best Mind Since Einstein, likely from General Don Kutyna, undated [36]
• 1 VHS, Challenger, BBC, Nova, written on address label for "Nonni," undated [37]
• 1 VHS, Truth About Lies, 502, Challenger, 2258, Story Behind the Story, 1990 February, December [38]
• 1 VHS, Morton Thiokol and the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, Management, Second Edition, undated [39]
• 1 VHS, MTI, Allan McDonald Clip – KUTV – 1987 January 27 [40]
• 1 VHS, MTI (Aerospace Group), STS-26 SRB Highlights, undated [41]
• 1 VHS, I Remember Challenger, undated [42]
• 1 VHS, Thiokol, When Engineering Fails (BBC), 51 min, undated [43]
• 1 VHS, Thiokol, STS-99 Launch, Down-Converted HDTV, 8 min, 2000 August 21 [44]
• 1 VHS, Partners in Quality: Making Rubber for Rockets, 24:20, 1992 [46]
• 1 VHS, AIAA 29th Joint Propulsion Conference in Monterey Awards Luncheon, TRT – 62:00, 1993 June 29 [47]
• 1 VHS, Mars Animation, undated [48]

Carton 16:

• Morton Thiokol News Composite Directory, item 7A, 1986
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 217, 1986 February 1-6 [1]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 218, 1986 February 7-12 [2]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 219, 1986 February 13-17 [3]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 220, 1986 February 18-20 [4]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 221, 1986 February 21-25 [5]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 222, 1986 February 26-March 3 [6]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 223, 1986 March 4-11 [7]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 224, 1986 March 12-20 [8]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 225, 1986 March 21-May 3 [9]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 226, 1986 May 4-14 [10]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 228, 1986 June 5-10 [11]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 229, 117 min, 1986 June 11-July 14 [12]
• MTI, 51-L News Clips, Volume 155, 1986 July 15-August 27 [13]
• MTI, Presidential Commission Hearing Space Shuttle Accident, Tape 1, 1986 February 25 [14]
• MTI, Presidential Commission Hearing Space Shuttle Accident Space Shuttle Accident Tape 2, 1986 February 25 [15]
• MTI, Presidential Commission Hearing Space Shuttle Accident, Tape 3, 1986 February 25 [16]
• MTI, Presidential Commission Hearing Space Shuttle Accident Space Shuttle Accident, Tape 4, 1986 February 25 [17]
• MTI, News Clip, copy, 1986 December 9 [18]
• Thiokol, Inc. KTVX News Coverage of X-20, V-414, 1984 March 16 [19]
• McDonald – NN, (House hearing?), 1986 June 14 [20]
• MTI, News Clips 18, copy, 1987 January 22-28 [21]
• MTI, News Clip, copy, 1987 January 26 [22]
• MTI, Allan J. McDonald Clip – KUTV - 1987 January 27 [23] (tape inside case labeled: "AIAA, Al McDonald, 3/7/2001")
• MTI, News Clip 19, 120 min, from V0220; 1987 January 29, 1987 March 10, copy, 1987 March 11 [24]
• MTI, News Clip 20, 1987 March 11, April 24, copy, 1987 May 6 [25]
• MTI, ETM-1A Post-Fire Press Conference, 25:00, from V0244, copy, 1987 July 15 [26]

Carton 17:

• MTI, The MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour, 1987 August 4, copy, 1987 August 5 [27]
• MTI, News Clip, copy 1987 August 31, KTVX Ch 4 MacNeil-Lehrer Report, copy, 1987 September 25 [28]
• DM9 1987 December [29]
• MTI, News Clip 17, 1986 November 11-1987 January 21 copy, 1987 February 5 [30]
• MTI, News Clip 22, 1987 August 31, December 29, 120 min, copy, 1988 January 8 [31]
• MTI, News Tape 22, 1987 December 29-1988 January 27, 120 min, from V0334, 1988 February 1 [32]
• MTI, Allan J. McDonald Dep. 1, 1988 March 25 [33]
• MTI, Allan J. McDonald Dep. #2, 1988 March 25, 90:00, copy, 1988 April 26 [34]
• MTI, News Clip 25, 120 min, copy, 1988 July 5 [35]
• MTI, News Clip 1988 September 21, 3:10, 1988 September 22 [36]
• MTI, News Clip 1988 September 22, 17:00, copy, 1988 September 23 [37]
• MTI, News Clip 1988 September 23-25, 20:00, copy, 1988 September 26 [38]
• MTI, News Clips 1988 September 26-28, copy, 1988 October 14 [39]
• MTI, News Clip 1988 September 29, 30:00, copy, 1988 October 3 [40]
• MTI, News Clip 29, from 1988 September 28-1988 October 1, 120 min, copy, 1988 October 5 [41]
• MTI, News Clip 1989 January 20, 4:40, copy, 1989 January 23 [42]
• MTI, News Clip 1989 February 21, 0:35, copy, 1989 February 22 [43]
• MTI, News Clip 29, news composite dated 1988 October 2-1989 February 28, copy, 1989 February 22 [44]
• MTI, News Clip 30, 1989 March 6-April 27, 100 min, copy, 1989 May 15 [45]
• McDonald – N.N., 1986 June 14 [12B]
• Allan J. McDonald Dep. #2 1988 March 25 [26]
• Thiokol Propulsion From Cordant Technologies, Ideas Live On, 8:33, undated [45]
• MTI, Marshall Briefing on SRM Redesign, 1986 July 2 [16]
• MTI, Hearing on "NASA's Plans to Procure New Rocket Motors," Part 2, 1986 August 29 [17]
• MTI, Redesign Solid Rocket Motor Program – Executive Summary, 16:00, copy, 1988 March 4 [20]
• MTI, Allan McDonald QM-8 Briefing Approval Copy, 1989 January 18 [23]
• Outdoor Mgmt Challenge 1989 August 27, September 1 [27]
• MTI, Challenger – How and Why?, Ali F. AbuTaha, July 1988, 15:00, copy, 1988 September 1 [29]

This series also includes item "AM-31" from accession [2019-003-s] and and CDs of presentations from accession [2021-012-s] added in December 2022.

Carton 15:

• 1 VHS, Thiokol, To Launch A Thousand Ships, V0907, 21:50, 1993 May 14 [AM-31]
• 4 CDs of presentation recordings, 2004-2005

Below is a list of acronyms used in this series:

• AIAA – American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• JANNAF – Joint-Army-Navy-NASA-Air Force
• MSFC – Marshall Space Flight Center
• MTI – Morton Thiokol Inc., also known as Thiokol Corporation, Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK), and ATK Thiokol
• NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• SAE – Society of Automobile Engineers
• SRB – solid rocket booster
• SRM – solid rocket motor

Many items in this series are identified with a donor number taped to or written on an item. These numbers sometimes repeat possibly due to items being donated in separate groupings within accession [2016-002-s] and accession [2019-003-s]. Most accession [2019-003-s] items include "AM" with the number and have been listed with brackets. None of the accession [2021-012-s] items have these numbers.

This series spans from 1962 to 2007 and mainly covers the 1980s. It contains realia, posters, awards and plaques honoring Allan J. McDonald from various acquaintances and institutions. It also includes ephemera from these awards' events.

Most items below have been numbered by the donor and are listed in the inventory below with "[#]."

Carton 18:

• AIAA, framed Certificate for Distinguished Leadership and Service, as Chairman of the Space Transportation Technical Committee, 1994-1995 [81]
• plaque in Recognition of Outstanding Support of NASA Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motor Return [82]
• Thiokol Golden Spike Chapter professional Secretaries international, Executive of the Year plaque, 1993 [25]
• AIAA, Utah section, Outstanding Engineer plaque, 1971 May [30]
• AIAA, Recognition for Service as 1985 – 1986 Engineer of the Year plaque [15]
• AIAA, Wisconsin section, Distinguished Speaker Award, 1992 February 27 [27A]
• AIAA, Chairman Citation plaque, 1970 May 22 [31]
• AIAA, Utah section, Chairman Citation plaque, 1970 May [26A]
• Member United Air Lines' 100,000 Mile High Club plaque, 1962 [29]
• United Air Lines Half-Million Miler Club, undated [28]
• AIAA, Utah Engineers Council, Nominee for Utah Engineer of the Year plaque, 2000 February 26 [25A]
• Montana State University College of Engineering, glass Excellence in Leadership Award, 2007 [72]
• NASA, glass RSRM 2003 Off-site Participation Award, 2003 September 8-12 [71]
• AIAA, glass Emeritus Lifetime Member award, c. 2003 [68]
• 1 folder of sketches and certificates: 1 Certificate of Appreciation, 2004 and items #23, 86, 32, and 106
• Thiokol Corporation, wooden box with clock "In Recognition of Exceptional Contributions to Science and Engineering," undated [105]
• Northwest Florida AIAA, Appreciation award, wood backed plaque, 2003 December 16 [14]

Carton 19:

• AIAA, Space Transportation Committee Chairman certificate and wood backed plaque, 1994-1995 [19]
• AIAA, St. Louis section, wood backed Dinner Meeting plaque, 2001 January 18 [21]
• Franklin Award for outstanding technical achievement, 1989 [35]
• Design News, Special Achievement Award wood backed plaque, 1988 [17]
• Space Operations Management Club, wood backed recognition plaque, 1992 [20]
• AIAA, Distinguished Leadership Certificate as chairman of the Technical Committee for Solid Rockets plaque, 1984-1986 [16]
• National Society of Professional Engineers, Special Recognition Award plaque, 2015 July 17 [42]
• JANNAF, Executive Committee Lifetime Achievement Award plaque, 2009 April [80]
• China Lake Propulsion Laboratory, wooden Propulsion and Energetic Systems Division plaque, 2001 July [26]
• AIAA, Southern Tier Section, AIAA Distinguished Lecturer, 2001 May 15 [27]
• Two name plates for A.J. McDonald: "Vice President and Senior Staff" and "Vice President Advanced Programs and Technology," undated [13]
• AIAA, Wyld Propulsion Award certificate, 1993 June 29 [85]
• NASA Public Service Award certificate, 1988
• AIAA, Special Integrity Certificate, 1987 January 13 [36]
• AIAA, Fellow certificate, undated
• framed photographs of space shuttle launch and astronaut Richard Covey with Allan McDonald, with Covey's inscription, undated
• photograph of SRB construction, multiple autographs, 1988 [4]
• framed picture of Allan J. McDonald with space shuttle model [87]
• items in folder include:
• "The Decision Process" certificate, 1985 December 20 [18]
• AIAA, Associate Fellow certificate, 1968 December [39]
• mounted photograph of headstone of Ellison S. Onizuka with inscription on back, 2001 July 11 [10]
• Society of Automotive Engineers, Excellence in Oral Presentation certificate, 1985 [91]
• AIAA, Certificate of Recognition, 1986 June 17 [41]
• The Marquis Who's Who Publications Board, Who's Who in the West certificate, 1986-1987 [33]
• High Frontier, mounted Certificate of Appreciation, 1985 January 1 [37]
• Utah Engineers Council, Certificate of Honor, Engineer of the Year, 1987 [40]
• AIAA, certificate of appreciation inside a folder, since 1959 [24]

Custom-box 20:

• name plate for Allan McDonald, undated
• framed artwork "Project Porkbarrel" with attached newspaper clipping, undated [88]
• The Sigma Series: Truth, Lies and O-rings lecture foam board, 2012 [3A]
• mounted and signed photograph of Mark N. Brown with mission sticker, undated [84]
• Design News, Special Achievement Award, The Making of a Hero (in blue encasement), c. 1988 [62]
• mounted signed and framed caricature of Allan McDonald fishing, 1994 July [8]
• MSFC Advanced Programs and Technology, mounted and signed photograph of equipment, c. 1991 [9]
• cardstock poster, "… The Final Frontier" with Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51L astronauts' photos, undated [1B]
• Folder 1 items include:
• item 4A) AIAA Solid Rocket Technical Committee Certificate, 2008 July 23-24
• item 5A) AIAA Liquid Rocket Propulsion Certificate, 2016 July 26
• Design News, First Annual Engineering Achievement Award Banquet program, 1988 March 8

This series also includes items added in December 2022 from accession [2019-003-s] and accession [2021-012-s].

Doc-box 21:

• [57] Professional Development Outdoor Management Challenge plaque, undated
• [22] ATK Retirement plaque, c. 2001
• [53] National Space Society, Presidential Award plaque, 1987 March 28
• [54] AIAA, Utah Engineers Council Engineer of the Year Award plaque, 1987
• [59] Utah State University, Distinguished Executive Award plaque, 1989 November 14
• [AM-14] Mountain State University folder with newspapers, correspondence, and commencement ephemera, 1986
• [AM-11] SAE, Appreciation certificate with congratulatory letter, 1990 July 10-13

Custom-box 22:

• [34] Space Shuttle Missions poster
• [AM-61] AIAA, Gardner-Lasser Aerospace History Literature Award, inside AIAA folder, 2011 August 3
• Space Flight Awareness folder items include:
• [AM-1] Salt Lake City Corporation, Proclamation certificate, 1990 November 28
• [#58] Mountain State University, mounted Allan J. McDonald Scholarship certificate
• [56] mounted Mountain State University honorary degree, 1986
• [2] small commemorative flag with backing for the Phase 1 Shuttle-Mir Program, c. 1998
• [55] Mountain State University, mounted Centennial Alumni, c. 1987
• Folder 1 items include:
• [Item #108] 10th Anniversary Collector's Series Tapestry, Space Shuttle Columbia 7"w x 5"h, with [#11] model photo, undated
• [AM-2] The Marquis Who's Who Publications Board, Who's Who in America certificate, 1990/1991
• [AM-3] The Marquis Who's Who Publications Board, Who's Who in the world certificate, 1991/1992
• [AM-4] AIAA, Associate Fellow certificate
• [AM-5] AIAA, Citation for Chairman certificate, 1970 May 22
• [AM-6] National Society of Professional Engineers, Engineering the Future, Utah Engineer's Week Banquet program, 1987 February 28
• [AM-7] Ninetieth Annual Commencement of the Montana State University program, 1986 June 14
• [AM-8] Montana State University, Honors Night program 1988 June 10
• [AM-9] Montana State University, Honors Night Program 1986 June 13
• [AM-10] NSTS Return-to-Flight Awards Ceremony program, 1988 December 19
• Montana State University, Honorary Doctorate Commencement program, with photos of Al with Honorary Degree and family, 1986

Book-related materials in this series span the late 1980s to 2020. Carton 23 contains Allan J. McDonald's book research notes, drafts, feedback, chapter revisions, and correspondence regarding his 2009 book, Truth, Lies and O-Rings, and other unpublished manuscripts. One of the correspondents is McDonald's coauthor, James R. Hansen.

Cartons 24 and 25 include McDonald's spiral bound corrected book chapters from the 2000s, as well as correspondence between McDonald, his coauthor, and his University Press of Florida publishers.

Below is a list of items added to this series in December 2022 from accession [2019-003-s] (identified by "AM-#") and accession [2021-012-s].

Carton 24:

• 1 folder of "Luckiest in the Luckiest Generation" manuscript materials, (includes title page, table of contents, preface, and photos), Al's business cards and 2 letters; 1988, 2018
• 1 folder of loose correspondence and notes items, and Ethics file items, (includes correspondence from Roger Boisjoly, General Don Kutyna, and James Petty to McDonald), 2008-2013
• 1 folder of McDonald's printed email correspondence on the Space Shuttle Challenger and his book, 2010s

Carton 25:

• [AM-19] Truth, Lies and O-Rings manuscript copy
• [AM-30] page proofs of Truth, Lies and O-Rings manuscript
• [AM-18] "Truth Under Siege" original manuscript copy
• 1 manila folder labeled "New Bk mat'l" with post-it notes inside
• original manuscript for Truth, Lies and O-Rings, titled "Truth Under Siege", spiral bound
• "Contract, marketing, legal review UPF mansucript preparation guidelines for authors, and UPF Correspondence" for Truth, Lies and O-Rings to University of Florida Press, spiral bound, 2007-2009
• "Copyrighted Material used in Book: Permission Letters Forms and Responses for photos and cartoons" correspondence for Truth, Lies and O-Rings, spiral bound
• "Book and Lecture Responses and Related Information," feedback from hosts, participants etc., spiral bound
• "Book Response and Related Information: Volume II 2009-2018," spiral bound
• Summary Report on "Consulting and Book Activities," spiral bound, 2009
• Summary Report on "Consulting and Book Activities," spiral bound, 2010
• "Luckiest in the Luckiest Generation" manuscript, spiral bound, 2018 December

Also in this series is "Rocket Man: I Did it My Way," July 2020 electronic manuscript of Al McDonald's memoir manuscript notes and outline (from 1 Lexar 16G flashdrive, see accession [2021-012-s] digital object instance).