Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Jack Real papers
mssReal
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Jack Real papers
Inclusive Dates: 1932-2005
Collection Number: mssReal
Collector:
Real, Jack G. (Jack Garrett)
Extent:
21 boxes, 1 oversize folder, and 1 tube
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The Jack Real papers consist of research material related to Howard Hughes’ biography. Also included are books, printed matter,
photographs, and VHS belonging to Real and his career in the aerospace industry.
Language of Material: The records are in English.
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please go to following
web site .
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Jack Real papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Gift of Betty O'Connor, July 2010.
Jack Real was born on May 31, 1915 in Calumet, Michigan. He graduated from the Michigan Technological University with a degree
in Mechanical Engineering in 1937.
From 1939 through 1971, Real worked for Lockheed-California Company designing, developing and testing numerous Lockheed aircrafts
including the B-14 Hudson Bomber, Constellation, and AH-56A Cheyenne. In 1971, Real served as Senior Vice President of Aviation
at Hughes Helicopters and became president in 1979. Real guided the successful AH-64 Apache helicopter program for the United
States Army. After the acquisition of Hughes Helicopters by McDonnell Douglas, Real was named President and Chief Executive
Officer of that company until his retirement in 1987. During his retirement, Real was instrumental in relocating the Hughes-H4
Hercules (Spruce Goose) to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, where he served as President from
1995 through 2001.
Real met Howard Hughes in November 1957 while working at Lockheed-California Company. Real became Hughes' trusted friend and
personal advisor until Hughes' death in 1976. Real published "The Asylum of Howard Hughes" where he details his 20-year friendship
with Hughes including his death on board an aircraft en route to a hospital in Houston, Texas.
Real passed away due to heart failure on September 6, 2005 in Mission Hills, California.
The bulk of this collection appears to be material related to Jack Real’s research about his best friend, Howard Hughes. There
are multiple drafts of "The Real Story" and a final draft of "Howard’s Last Best Friend," which appears to be an earlier version
of "The Asylum of Howard Hughes," (2003). Other research material includes excerpts from various texts, newsletters, aircraft
information, correspondence, permission requests, and feedback about the book. It also appears that Real also used the weekly
agendas and memos from the Evergreen Aviation & Museum for his book as well.
Cataloger's notes: Any drafts labeled "The Real Story" in the footnote are found in Box 8 and 9. The newspaper clippings that Real may have
used for his book are found in Box 8 (2).
The subject files also constitute a large part of this collection. Various material may be found in each subject file from
correspondence, biographical data, printed matter, newsletters, technical data, and photographs. There are a few topics, such
as the TriStar (Jet transport) and Constellation, which are found independently from the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation file.
Also found in this collection are books, appointment books, and VHS belonging to Jack Real. There are also commemorative annual
meeting books, programs, correspondence, and printed matter related to the Conquistadores del Cielo, a club for airline executives,
where Real was a member.
Arrangement
Arranged by genre.
Hughes, Howard, 1905-1976
Real, Jack G. (Jack Garrett)
Aero Club of Southern California
Boeing Aerospace Company
Conquistadores del Cielo
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Hughes Aircraft Company
Lockheed-California Company
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
Aerospace industries
Apache (Attack helicopter)
Cheyenne (Attack helicopter)
Constellation (Transport planes)
Helicopters
Hughes Flying-boat (Seaplane)
Military helicopters
Transport planes
TriStar (Jet transport)
Burbank (Los Angeles County, Calif.)
McMinnville (Or.)
Books
Clippings (information artifacts)
Drafts (documents)
Letters (correspondence)
Research (documents)
Photographs
Printed ephemera
VHS