Descriptive Finding Guide for Kenneth Smith Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10135

Daniel Schlachet

San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives

2014

2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park

San Diego 92101

URL: http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives

Title: Kenneth Smith Personal Papers

creator: Smith, Kenneth M.

Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10135

Physical Description: 0.83 Cubic Feet There are two separate sized boxes. The majority of the content is stored in the vertical box with dimensions 15”x5”x10.5”. A large book with plastic binding is in a flat box, approximately 18”x3”x12”.

Date (inclusive): 1935-1975

Abstract: Kenneth Smith has had a distinguished 43-year career in both the aerospace/electronics industry and in public service, working with Convair and serving as a naval aviator during WWII.

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 & Space Museum. The collection has been processed and is open for research with no restrictions.

Biographical / Historical

Kenneth Smith has had a distinguished 43-year career in both the aerospace/electronics industry and in public service, working with Convair and serving as a naval aviator during WWII.

Kenneth M. Smith was born in Sacramento, CA, in 1920 and attended St. Mary’s College to study air navigation and aeronautical engineering. He worked with Consolidated Aircraft (Convair) in 1939, and was a naval aviator during World War II, but returned to Convair after the war. He was a corporate Vice President before he left Convair in 1962. In 1964, he became Vice President of the Aero Commander Division of Rockwell Standard Corp, and in 1970 he was appointed deputy director of the FAA. He joined E-Systems Inc. in 1972 and quickly rose to the position of President of the Aircraft Systems Group, and as the Vice President and General Manager of E-Systems Greenville Division. Smith passed away in 2004.

Scope and Contents

There are two separate sized boxes. The majority of the content is stored in the vertical box with dimensions 15”x5”x10.5”. A large book with plastic binding is in a flat box, approximately 18”x3”x12”. The majority of this collection is photographs, either in transparent sheets, or in a scrapbook. There are a handful of newspaper clips and a full newspaper page. There is a second book with hard binding. Materials are arranged by material type.

Related Materials

A more detailed finding guide is available at http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/collections/collection_item.php?id=152

Digitized images from this collection are available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/sets/72157647605053159/

The SDASM Library & Archives also holds photographs related to the Convair XC-99 in files 01_00083882 – 01_00083895.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War, 1939-1945

Boeing E-4B

San Diego (California)

Convair XC-99

General Dynamics Corporation. Convair Division

Smith, Kenneth M.

Box 1

Folder 01 – Newspapers

Physical Description: 1. Dynamics Names Smith to Post, The San Diego Union, August 7, 1961. 2. Kenneth M. Smith Becomes Executive Vice President, E-Systems INK, Vol. 1, No. 2, June-July, 1972.

Folder 02 - Correspondence

Physical Description: 1. A.L. Lawson to Mr. Ken Smith, February 14, 1983. 2. Harvey C. Tafe to Kenneth M. Smith, November 4, 1970. Includes a postcard and envelope.

Folder 03 – Miscellaneous

Physical Description: Folder contains 4 copies of a short biography of Kenneth M. Smith as the President and Chief Operating Officer of E-Systems Inc.

Folder 04 - Photographs

Physical Description: Folder contains 45 photographs of various subjects including Kenneth Smith, the EF-4B rollout, XC-99 aircraft and models, Armed Forces Day Show, and important figures including Secretary Volpe and Admiral Millers.

Folder 05 – Photographic Album

Physical Description: Folder contains an album of a single newspaper clip and 16 photographs. The photographs capture Najeeb Halaby’s visit to the Aero Commander Division on August 4, 1964.

Item 06 – Scrapbook Album

Physical Description: This is an album dedicated to the awards presented to Kenneth M. Smith at the American Rocket Society in 1961. The album contains one letter, a few newspaper clips, a 7 page speech by Colonel Hamill, and a 10th Annual Honors Dinner Meeting booklet. There are 21 photographs with captions capturing the awards ceremony and the celebration. There is a loose caption that cannot be paired with a photograph.

Item 07 – Book

Physical Description: This book, The History of U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School St. Mary’s, contains hundreds of photographs of officers, servicemen, other important personnel, and various facilities and activities at the Pre-Flight School in California. A significant portion of the book covers the importance of many different sports, and physical exercise and training. The book even narrates the history of several varsity teams of many sports in the mid-1940s. The book also contains Pre-Flight School military activities including dress parades, watch standing, award ceremonies, as well as military and academic training.

Box 2

Physical Description: Item 08 – Book This is a book dedicated to Kenneth Smith and his “crazy” adventures when he worked at Convair. The humorous story is accompanied by cartoonish drawings with funny captions. It follows Kenneth Smith’s tour in Convair Pomona. It also contains a newspaper article of an incident involving Kenneth Smith, as well as several autographs from his coworkers.