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Tschirgi (Joseph) Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10144  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Scope and Contents
  • Related Materials

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
    Title: Joseph Mathew Tschirgi Personal Papers
    Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10144
    Physical Description: 0.35 Cubic Feet One box
    Date (inclusive): 1922-2006
    Abstract: Joseph Mathew Tschirgi served in the Army Air Corps and was later was involved in the development of Rockets and Missiles.

    Conditions Governing Access

    The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

    Conditions Governing Use

    Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

    Preferred Citation

    [Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

    Biographical / Historical

    Joseph Mathew Tschirgi was born April 24, 1922 to Harold Magnus Tschirgi and Blossom Bissel Tschirgi in Independence, Iowa. He served in the Army Air Corps as a weather officer from March 1943 to March 1946, and attended the Alabama Polytechnic Institute and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he received his M.S. in Engineering in June 1950. On July 12, 1952, he married Francis Elizabeth Platt. Upon graduation from Ann Arbor, he entered his career as an Aerodynamicist with McDonnell Douglas, and by December 1962, was Chief Engineer in the Aerospace Systems Engineering Department, Missile & Space Systems Division where he directed all engineering activities on such projects as the Thor, Delta, and Genie Systems Engineering. From the late 1960s to early 1970s, he was Dept. Head, Director, and Program Manager for various projects focused on launch vehicle engineering and specialized spacecraft for post Apollo missions. Mr. Tschirgi died on June 7, 2006 in Escondido, CA.

    Scope and Contents

    The collection contains some personnel correspondence from McDonnell Douglas; résumé; paper titled, “A Rationale for Manned Planetary Explorations; employee rosters; company newsletter clippings; desk nameplate; Space Systems Center Dedication Ceremony brochure; and approximately 24 photographs.

    Related Materials

    Space Subject Files Rocket Subject Files

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Saturn Rocket
    Thor (Missile)
    Sparrow (Missile)
    United States. Army. Air Corps
    United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
    McDonnell Douglas aircraft
    Tschirgi, Joseph Martin