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Guide to the Edward S. Forman papers
MS0042
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Title: Edward S. Forman papers
Dates: 1909-1972
Collection number: MS0042
Creator:
Forman, Edward S.
Collection Size:
2.5 linear feet
(3 boxes + 5 films + 1 oversized drawer)
Repository:
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Abstract: The collection is 2.5 linear feet in size and contains correspondence, publications, news clippings, black and white photographs,
16mm film, a scrapbook, and artifacts relating to the professional career of engineer Edward S. Forman. Divided into six series,
the collection is organized chronologically within subject file folders. Forman worked at Cal Tech, Hughes Aircraft, and
Lockheed. He was one of the founders of Aerojet Engineering Corporation.
Physical location: 4G1, 28H11, 35H5, MC 11:13
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research use.
All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted
in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron.
No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Edward S. Forman papers, MS0042, Center for Sacramento
History.
Collection donated by Lynn Forman Maginnis, daughter of Edward S. Forman, to the Center for Sacramento History in August 2005
(Accession #2005/060).
Processed in September 2005 by Dylan J. McDonald. Finding aid prepared in October 2005 by Dylan J. McDonald.
Biography / Administrative History
Edward Seymour Forman was born in Gillespie, Illinois on December 3, 1912. His father was an electrical engineer and moved
the family west during Forman’s adolescence. An avid science fiction reader, Forman dreamed of flying and space travel.
At age 15, Forman began with a friend, John W. Parsons, to research rocketry and conduct experiments. In 1928 they began
testing in an area behind Devils Gate Dam in Arroyo Seco, near Pasadena, California.
After graduating from the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech), Forman continued his rocket experiments with Parsons.
Working on both solid and liquid rocket systems proved costly, prompting them to approach Cal Tech in 1934 for technical and
financial support. Originally turned down, later they established a relationship with Frank J. Malina who assisted with the
design and machining of parts at Cal Tech. They developed and fired their first liquid rocket in October 1936. Hoping to
attract additional financial support, Forman and Parsons published newspaper and magazine accounts of their work. Eventually
Forman was hired by Cal Tech to design and manage the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a 3 ½ acre off-campus testing facility.
JPL received federal funds to test both liquid and solid rockets. Instrumental in the design and development of JATO (jet
assisted take-off) rocket boosters for military planes, Forman and five others at JPL founded Aerojet Engineering Corporation
in 1942. After three years as a vice president and production manager at Aerojet, Forman left the company and over the next
few years worked various engineering positions. In 1949 he began at Hughes Aircraft, which eventually took him to Tucson,
Arizona. Forman then transferred to Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in 1958, working for a time at the Santa Cruz Test
Base.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection is 2.5 linear feet in size and contains correspondence, publications, news clippings, black and white photographs,
16mm film, a scrapbook, and artifacts relating to the professional career of engineer Edward S. Forman. Divided into six series,
the collection is organized chronologically within subject file folders.
Series 1 include biographical information about Forman’s early rocket experiments from newspaper and magazine articles, many
found in a scrapbook. Of note are the photographs of early launch attempts with John Parsons, and their original rocket test
stand motor.
Series 2 contains documents and publications during Forman’s time with Cal Tech, the GLACIT Program, and the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory building JATOs. This series contains several films which show the test firing of various rockets and the take-offs
of planes aided by JATOs (see Appendix A).
Series 3 has numerous photographs and reports produced by Aerojet Engineering Corporation during their research and development
of various rockets for the U.S. military. Of note is a piece of an airplane wing from a fatal JATO experiment. The wing
is annotated by Forman, describing the incident (see Appendix B).
Series 4 deals with an explosives company Forman helped found, Vulcan Powder Company.
Series 5 and 6 include employee newsletters and photographs from Hughes Aircraft and Lockheed.
Series 1. Personal
Series 2. Cal Tech – Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Series 3. Aerojet Engineering Incorporated
Series 4. Vulcan Powder Company
Series 5. Hughes Aircraft Company
Series 6. Lockheed Missiles and Space Company
Series 7. Films
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Forman, Edward S.
Aerojet-General Corporation
Hughes Aircraft Company--History
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.)--History
Lockheed Missiles and Space Company
Vulcan Powder Company