Collection Guide
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Kemp, Bob Personal Papers
SDASM.SC.10208
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Title: Bob Kemp Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10208
Physical Description:
3 Cubic Feet
This collection is housed in six 12x10.5x5-inch boxes and two 12x10.5x7-inch boxes.
Content notes: The collection contains personal papers as well as working files compiled by Robert C. Kemp, who had worked
as an illustrator at General Dynamics Convair in San Diego for 40 years. In addition to published materials, the collection
includes a series of folders which contain material used as a basis for his many displays, sketches, illustrations and marketing
exhibits, identified by topic, such as “Boeing B-29,” or “Factory Workers.”
six 12x10.5x5-inch boxes and two 12x10.5x7-inch boxes.
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: Born in San Diego on October 19, 1924, Robert C. “Bob” Kemp was a publications editor and illustrator with General Dynamics
in San Diego, as well as a noted artist, specializing in aircraft and sailing ship paintings.
Physical Description: Description: This collection is housed in six 12x10.5x5-inch boxes and two 12x10.5x7-inch boxes.
Content notes: The collection contains personal papers as well as working files compiled by Robert C. Kemp, who had worked
as an illustrator at General Dynamics Convair in San Diego for 40 years. In addition to published materials, the collection
includes a series of folders which contain material used as a basis for his many displays, sketches, illustrations and marketing
exhibits, identified by topic, such as “Boeing B-29,” or “Factory Workers.”
Born in San Diego on October 19, 1924, Robert C. “Bob” Kemp was a publications editor and illustrator with General Dynamics
in San Diego, as well as a noted artist, specializing in aircraft and sailing ship paintings. A graduate of Herbert Hoover
Senior High School in San Diego in 1942, and San Diego State College in 1952, Kemp joined the company in 1952, at that time
known as Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation.
A member of the Sierra Club and other outdoors and preservation groups, Kemp served with the U.S. Army during World War II,
participating in several European campaigns, receiving the Bronze Star for his actions in combat. After his retirement from
General Dynamics after 35 years in 1987 he served as a volunteer on the USS Midway Museum. He passed away in San Diego on
November 2, 2015.
SERIES I: Photographs or illustrations
SERIES II Artist concepts - wall displays
SERIES III: Miscellaneous information (magazine articles, posters, diagrams, pamphlets, drawings, cutaways, prints, sketches.
SERIES IV: Personal records.
SERIES V: Books, journals and magazines.
The collection is open to research by appointment
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to SDASM.
Published Books, Journals or Magazines (all documents and publications in Series V have been transferred to the Library &
Archive’s general collection)
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Dora, Volume Two, Jerry Crandall (autographed by four German pilots), limited edition (227/350), 2008
Yellow 10, The Story of the Ultra-Rare Fw 190 D-13, Jerry Crandall, 2000
The Trophies of the Red Army During the Great Patriotic War, 1941-1945, Volume 1, Yu A. Natzvaladze
Ace of Aces, the Dick Bong Story, Carl Bong/Mike O’Connor, 1985
Into the Dragon’s Jaws, The Fifth Air Force Over Rabaul, Lex McAulay, 1986 (Signed)
I Flew Them First, A Test Pilot’s Story, Don Armstrong, 1994
Winged Samurai, Saburo Sakai and the Zero Fighter Pilots, Henry Sakaida, 1985
Yak-9U, A Peregrine Photo Essay, Steve Muth, 2000
Famous Airplanes of the World, Number 9, The Zero Fighter Model 22-63, 1988
Angels, Bulldogs & Dragons, The 355th Fighter Group in World War II, Bill Marshall, 1984
Skipper, Confessions of a Fighter Squadron Commander, 1943-1944, Captain T. Hugh Winters, 1985
Dog Face, An Artist’s View of World War II, Robert C. Kemp, 2014 (Two Copies)
The Convair 600, October 1958
Convair Traveler
Convair 880-600 Wing Flight Controls, Volume X, Number 8, December 1958
Flap and Slat Systems – Convair 880/880M, Volume XIII, Number 11, March/April 1962 (2)
Slush and Braking Tests – 880M, Volume XIV, Number 3, September/October 1962
Access Doors and Panels – 880/880M/990, Volume XIV, No. 4, November/December 1962 (2)
Convair 880, Customer Service Department, Convair, General Dynamics, 1958
Aero Publishers Series, Number 6, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1966
Interceptor, May 1965 (F-102A Article) - Two copies
Interceptor, January 1969 (Century Series Article)
The History of Convair, 1908-1956, General Dynamics, Convair Division, 1966
Electronic Warfare Defense Electronics, October 1978, Volume 10, Number 10 (Military
Satellite Technology)
Atlas/Centaur Brochures (Atlas II, General Dynamics Space Systems Division, Advanced Atlas
Launch Vehicle Digest, Atlas/Centaur, Atlas/Centaur Commercial, Challenges in Space, Shuttle Centaur)
Air Force Magazine, 1991 USAF Almanac, May 1991
Air Force Magazine, 1993 USAF Almanac, May 1993
Planetary Explorer, Volume 49, Number 4, December 2038 (1988)
Commercial Launch Services, The Atlas Family, General Dynamics, August 1988
Squadron/Signal Publications – Illustrated Aircraft Books - Softcover
No. 19: Focke Wulf FW-190
No. 25: P-38 Lightning
No. 26: Curtiss P-40
No. 29: F4U Corsair
No. 30: Messerschmitt Bf 110 (2)
No. 34: B-25 Mitchell
No. 36: F6F Hellcat
No. 37: A-26 Invader
No. 39: Spitfire
No. 43: P-39 Airacobra
No. 44: Messerschmitt Bf 109
No. 45: P-51 Mustang
No. 46: Albatros
No. 50: B-26 Marauder
No. 56: A-20 Havoc
No. 57: Messerschmitt Bf 109
No. 59: A6M Zero
No. 62: PBY Catalina
No. 63: B-17
No. 64: SBD Dauntless
No. 67: P-47 Thunderbolt
No. 72: Hurricane
No. 73: Ju 87 Stuka
No. 80: B-24 Liberator
No. 85: Junkers Ju 88
No. 93: Spad Fighters
No. 98: Fokker Dr.1
No. 109: P-38 Lightning
No. 113: Junkers Ju 88
Space and Communications, British Aerospace Dynamics Group (undated)
British Aerospace Dynamics Group (History - undated)
Wings, Thunderbolt, Special Edition No. 1, circa 1970s
Wings, Volume 7, Number 5, October 1977
Liberator Club, Briefing, Number 66, Fall 1998
50th Anniversary, Liberator, Special Edition, 1989, San Diego Aerospace Museum
Air Classics, Quarterly Review, Volume 3, Number 4, 1976
Space Research and Space Technology, Federal Republic of Germany, 1982
Space World, National Space Institute, 1985
Von Sputnik zu Saljut, Verlag der Presseagentur Nowaski, 1982
Recognition Journal, Ministry of Defence, Volume 19, No. 11, 1964
Recognition Journal, Ministry of Defence, Volume 30, No. 7, 1975
Historic Aviation, Books for Buffs, Fall 1981
Framework, National Society for Programmed Instruction, San Diego Chapter, November 1963,
February 1964, May 1964, September 1964
Newsletter, National Society for Programmed Instruction, First Annual Convention Issue, 1963
Intercom, Newsletter, Society of Technical Writers and Publishers, April 1964, May 1964
NeverWhere, An Illustrated Epic Adventure of Fantasy and Magic, Richard Corben, 1978
Washington Convention Magazine, Navy League of the United States, 1980
Entering the World of Astro, RCA, Astro-Electronics, 1980s
The Coloring Book of Original Aircraft Drawings by Bob Kemp, copyright R. Kemp (undated)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
General Dynamics Astronautics Division
General Dynamics
Aviation Art
Marketing Materials
Kemp, Bob