NASA Western Support Office Records at NARA Riverside, 1939-1969
Guide prepared by Gwen Pattison and Glenn Bugos
NASA Ames Research Center History Office
Mail Stop 207-1
Moffett Field, California 94035
©2006 NASA Ames Research Center. All rights reserved.
NASA Western Support Office Records at NARA Riverside,
1939-1969
NASA Ames Research Center History Office
Contact Information:
- The National Archives at Riverside
- 23123 Cajalco Road
- Perris, CA 92570
- Phone: 951-956-2000
- Email: riverside.archives@nara.gov
- URL: http://www.archives.gov/riverside
- Collection processed by:
- Gwen Pattison
- Finding aid writteny by:
- Gwen Pattison and Glenn Bugos
- Date Completed:
- 2000, 2006
©2006 National Archives and Records Administration, Pacific Region, Riverside, CA. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: NASA Western Support Office Records at NARA Riverside
Date (inclusive): 1939-1969
Collection Number: Record Group 255
Creator:
Western Support Office
Extent:
Number of containers: 46
Volume: 19 linear feet
Repository:
National Archives and Records
Administration, Riverside.
Abstract: The Western Coordination Office (WCO) was established to act as the
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) liaison with aircraft companies and
aeronautics research units of colleges and universities in the western region of the United
States. Its functions were eventually transferred to the Western Support Office (WSO) in
1966, which reported to the Office of Industry Affairs at NASA headquarters. The materials
in this collection include administrative documents, reference memoranda, and correspondence
primarily generated by Edwin P. Hartman, the WSO coordinator.
Language:
English
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research. Access to some records is restricted due to national security classification status. Some
reports have retained their secret security classification (FOIA (b)(1) National Security, Secret). All queries for records
described in this guide should originate with NARA at Riverside.
Publication Rights
Copyright does not apply to United States government records. For non-government
material, researcher must contact the original creator. Additionally, each document that
has a security classification affixed must have a declassification marking stamped on the
document prior to any type of reproduction.
Preferred Citation
RG255, [Identification of item], NASA Western Support Office Records, [Container number]:
[Folder number], National Archives and Records Administration, Riverside, California.
Administrative History
The Western Coordination Office (WCO) was established to act as the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) liaison with western aircraft companies and aeronautics
research units of western colleges and universities. The WCO reported directly to the
Director of the NACA.
Soon after the NACA was absorbed into the newly-established National Aeronautics and Space
Administration(NASA) on October 1, 1958, the WCO was abolished by General Management
Instruction (GMI) 2-2-16, NASA, August 25, 1959 and its functions transferred to the Western
Operations Office (WOO), which was created by the same GMI. The WOO continued to work as a
liaison with aerospace companies and research facilities. Their duties were expanded to
include public affairs and administrative and management support of NASA activities west of
Denver, Colorado.
The WOO reported to the Associate Administrator of NASA at NASA headquarters. The WOO
gained responsibility for management of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) contract by the
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) through GMI 2-2-16, NASA, March 7, 1962. The
WOO’s contract management and procurement responsibilities were transferred to the NASA
Resident Office-JPL (NRO-JPL) on May 8, 1966 in a memorandum from the Associate
Administrator to the Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications, dated
October 19, 1965, subject: Prime Contracting Arrangements for Voyager. The NRO-JPL was
abolished by NASA Management Instruction (NMI) 1136.27, June 15, 1966. Its remaining
functions were transferred to the Western Support Office (WSO) which reported to the Office
of Industry Affairs at NASA headquarters.
The NRO-JPL was redesignated as the NASA Pasadena Office (NAPO) by NMI 1138.9, August 17,
1966. These records can be found in a collection titled “NASA Pasadena Office” and also
housed at NARA Riverside as part of its Record Group 255.
Indexing Terms
The following terms may be used to index this collection.
Personal Name
Hartman, Edwin Phelps, 1905-
Robinson, Russell G. (Russell
Gideon), 1907-2003
Kamm, Robert W. (Robert
William), 1917-2001
Mulholland, Donald
Corporate Name
Western Support Office
United States. National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics.
Subjects
Aerospace engineering
Aeronautical engineering
Scope and Content
The WSO Collection consists primarily of correspondence and memoranda relating to the needs
and activities of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), a body established
by Congress in 1915 to serve as an aeronautical advisory board to the government and the
private sector. Subjects covered in this collection include the research and development
activities of the US military, aerospace companies, universities and other facilities
associated with the NACA and later NASA. Many of the memoranda reports relate to the needs,
progress and activities of the aerospace industry, and academic research conducted in
aerospace engineering, in the western United States, and were prepared by Edwin P. Hartman,
the NACA Western Coordinator.
Arrangement of the Western Support Office Papers
The papers are arranged into 7 series:
- I. Central Files, 1939-1962 (NARA ARC Identifier 608525)
- II. Reference Memorandums of Edwin P. Hartman, 1940-1956 (NARA ARC Identifier 607812)
- III. Confidential Reference Memorandums, compiled 1940-1962 (NARA ARC Identifier 607317)
- IV. Secret Reference Memorandums, compiled 1946-1961 (NARA ARC Identifier 607259)
- V. Reference Memorandums of Harrison Chandler, compiled 1940-1947 (NARA ARC Identifier 608523)
- VI. Correspondence of the Western Coordinator, compiled 1940-1951 (NARA ARC Identifier 607622)
- VII. Organizational History Files, compiled 1959 - 1968, documenting the period 1939 - 1969 (NARA ARC Identifier 608638)
Series I
Central Files
1939-1962
Note
NARA Archival Research Catalog Identifier 608525
Physical Description:
18 Boxes
7 ft. 6 in.
Physical Location: A008662-A008670
Scope and Content Note
This series includes correspondence, memorandums, reports, newspaper clippings, and
teletypes relating to the research and development activities of the United States
military, aerospace companies, universities and other facilities associated with the
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), and later National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA). Topics include contract files for projects such as the
interplanetary and lunar flight project (Vega) being developed at the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, symposia and conference summaries for meetings such as the Manned Space
Station Symposium, background information on aerospace companies which includes
correspondence, reference memorandums and trip reports summarizing commercial, military
and space research and development. Internal management materials include legislative
program files, reorganization planning for the Western Coordination Office (WCO), later
the Western Operations Office (WOO) and the Western Support Office (WSO) and
correspondence with other NACA/NASA units such as NASA headquarters, Ames Research
Center, Lewis Research Center and Goddard Space Flight Center.
Arranged alphabetically by subject and there under chronologically.
Box 1
ARDC Ballistic Missile Division,
1957-1960
Box 1
ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency)
Box 1
Activity Report,
August 1962 - December 1962
Box 1
Aerolab Development Co.,
1960
Box 1
Aerospace Industries Association,
September 28, 1960
Box 1
AFBMD (Agena & Centaur),
January 25-28, 1960
Box 1
Aerophysics Development, 1954-1958
1954-1958
Box 1
Aeronutronics Systems, Inc.,
1959
Box 1
ACFT OPN Meetings,
November 5, 1958
Box 1
ACFT, Missiles and Spacecraft Committee Meetings,
October 9, 1958
Box 1
Ames—Correspondence with Individuals (personal),
1958
Box 1
Ames—Facilities and Equipment,
1957
Box 1
Ames—Personnel and Organization,
1955
Box 1
Atlantic Research Corporation,
1960
Box 1
Automatic Stabilization and Control
Box 2
Beckman Instruments, Inc.,
1958-1959
Box 2
Booster Recovery Project (Contract and Contract Administration),
1959
Box 2
Caltech—Payments, Contract NASw-6,
1958-1959
Box 2
Caltech-JPL-LAOD (Technical)
Box 2
California Institute of Technology,
1953-1958
Box 3
California Institute of Technology,
1950-1952
Box 3
California Research Corporation,
1951-1958
Box 3
Centaur Project (Technical)
Box 3
Chemical Energy Processes Committee,
October 29, 1959
Box 3
Civil Aeronautics Administration,
1959
Box 3
Conferences, Symposiums, etc. (outside),
1958-1959
Box 3
Consolidated Vultee—San Diego,
1951-1954
Box 3
Contractor Proposals—WO-60-1,
1960
Box 3
Convair, Forth Worth,
1955-1959
Box 4
Convair—San Diego (Airplane),
1957-1959
Box 4
Convair—San Diego (Astronautics),
1956-1960
Box 4
Convair—San Diego,
1955-1956
Box 4
Cooper Development Corp.,
1959
Box 4
NASA-DOD Space Science Committee,
May 13, 1960
Box 4
Corrosion Loop Status Report
Box 4
NASA-DOD Space Science, Minutes,
October 30, 1959
Box 4
Delta Operations,
March 9, 1960
Box 4
Disbursement of Pay Checks
Box 4
Douglas—Long Beach,
1955-1959
Box 4
Douglas—Santa Monica (Missiles),
1956-1959
Box 4
Douglas—Santa Monica (Airplane),
1955-1956
Box 4
Douglas—Santa Monica (Airplane),
1957-1959
Box 4
Douglas Aircraft NAS 7-1,
1961
Box 4
Douglas—Santa Monica,
1954-1953
Box 5
G.M. Giannini Co. Inc.,
1956-1958
Box 5
Hartman Memos (and Kamm) Record Copies
Box 5
Headquarters Office—Office of Executive Secretary,
1956
Box 5
Headquarters Office—Office of Executive Secretary,
1955
Box 5
HSFS Correspondence,
1958-1959
Box 5
Headquarters Office—Office of Executive Secretary,
1957
Box 5
Headquarters Office—Office of Director,
1955
Box 6
High Energy Stage Booster—Contract NAS3-262 and Contract Negotiation,
1958
Box 6
Hoffman Electronics Corp.,
1961
Box 6
Home Life Insurance,
1961
Box 6
Hughes Aircraft Corp.,
1961
Box 6
Invitations & Schedules,
1961
Box 6
Invitation for Bid Request for Proposal,
1960
Box 6
Jet Propulsion Lab Teletype Svs,
1962
Box 6
Jet Propulsion Lab Research Conf,
1961
Box 6
JPL-WOO Communications Study,
1960
Box 6
JPL Guidance & Control,
1960
Box 6
General Correspondence (for screening records)
Box 7
Legislative Program for
1961
Box 7
Lewis Research Status Report
Box 7
Lockheed—Burbank (Airplane),
1957-1959
Box 7
Lockheed (Missile Systems),
1957-1960
Box 7
LMSD Sunnyvale,
March 1960
Box 7
Lockheed Missile Systems Div.,
1954-1956
Box 7
Los Angeles Ordnance District,
1959
Box 7
McKinsey & Co., re. WCO Operations
Box 8
MSFC—General Correspondence,
1961
Box 8
MSFC—Visits and Visitors,
1960
Box 8
Manned Space Station Symp.,
1960
Box 8
Martin Co.—Denver,
1957-1960
Box 8
Maser Clock—Contract NASw-62, Contract and Contract Negotiations,
1959
Box 8
Miscellaneous WOO Correspondence,
1959-1960
Box 9
Miscellaneous Companies,
1951-1954
Box 9
Miscellaneous Companies,
1946-1950
Box 9
Miscellaneous Companies,
1940-1945
Box 10
Miscellaneous Eastern Companies,
1957-1958
Box 10
Miscellaneous Propeller Calculations
Box 10
Miscellaneous Western Companies,
1960
Box 10
NASA Headquarters Office of the Administrator
Box 10
NASA Budget and Fiscal Matters,
1960
Box 10
NASA Staff Conference,
1960
Box 10
NASA Contract Information (Miscellaneous)
Box 11
NASA Meeting (Agenda Item for the 50th)
Box 11
NAA—Los Angeles,
1955-1956
Box 11
NAA—Los Angeles,
1957-1960
Box 11
NAA—Canoga Park,
1957-1959
Box 11
North American,
1953-1954
Box 11
North American,
1955-1956
Box 11
Northrop Aircraft Inc., (NAS1-3200),
1960
Box 12
OGO Project Status Report
Box 12
Organization & Management, (4-3)
1960
Box 12
Organization & Management, (1-1)
1960
Box 12
Organization & Management--WOO,
1960
Box 12
Organization & Management--Lewis,
1960
Box 12
Organization & Management--Goddard,
1960
Box 12
Organization & Management--Headquarters,
1960
Box 12
Plans for Expansion—J.C. Lindsay,
1960
Box 12
Power Plants for Aircraft
Box 12
Preliminary Survey of Engineering Standards
Box 12
Proof Test of Expansion Joint (NAS2-401)
Box 12
Public Law 86-569 Assigned,
1960
Box 12
Quality Engineering Survey Reports,
1960
Box 12
Radioplane Company,
1955-1960
Box 12
Ramo-Wooldridge Corp.,
1958-1959
Box 12
Ramo Wooldridge Corp.,
1954-1957
Box 12
Reimbursement for Expenditures,
1960
Box 12
Research Advisory Committee,
1961
Box 12
Research Development Contracts,
1960
Box 12
Research Grants and Contracts (NASw-6550, University of Michigan)
Box 12
Research Grants and Contracts,
1961
Box 13
Research Grants and Contracts,
1960
Box 13
Research Grants and Contracts,
1959
Box 13
Research Grants and Contracts,
1959
Box 13
Rocketdyne H-1 Engine NAS 7-3,
1962
Box 13
Rocketdyne 1500-K Engine (Audit) Contract NASw-16
Box 13
Ryan Aeronautical,
1954-1958
Box 13
Scientific Information, 6
Box 13
Scientific Information, 4
Box 13
Scientific Information, 4-2
Box 13
Scientific Information, 5
Box 14
Space Occupied by NASA WOO
Box 14
Space Technology Laboratories,
1958-1960
Box 14
Stanford Research Institute
Box 14
Meetings—Structural Design Committee,
1959
Box 14
Sundstrand Aviation,
1961
Box 14
Thor-Able Review Team Meeting,
1958
Box 14
Telecommunications Service,
1960
Box 14
TIROS Project—Contract,
1959
Box 14
Traffic Safety and Regulations,
1960
Box 15
Traffic Study—Telephone System,
1960
Box 15
United Airlines,
1956-1959
Box 15
Universities (Miscellaneous),
1958
Box 15
University of Southern California,
1950-1958
Box 15
University of California,
1955-1958
Box 15
University of California at Berkeley
Box 15
VG & VGH Program,
1954-1959
Box 16
VG & VGS Program,
1949-1953
Box 16
Valves for Cryogenic Fluids,
1960
Box 16
Vega Project, NASw-45,
1960
Box 16
Vega Project, Correspondence,
1959
Box 16
Vega Centaur VEH Systems Review Meetings,
1959
Box 16
Vega Pad No. 36 Launch Complex
Box 16
Vega Project—Technical Communications
Box 16
Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp., 2
Box 17
Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp., 1
Box 17
WCO—Correspondence,
1955-1959
Box 17
WCO—General Fiscal Budgets, estimates,
1957-1959
Box 17
WCO—Leases and Rentals,
1953-1955
Box 18
Williamsburg Lodge, Virginia, Conference,
1960
Box 18
609A Coordination Meeting,
15 July 1960
Box 18
609A Technical Program No. 2
Box 18
609A Technical Program, No. 1
Series II
Reference Memorandums
1940-1956
Note
NARA Archival Research Catalog Identifier 607812
Physical Description:
13 Boxes
6 ft.
Physical Location: A008672-A008676
Scope and Content Note
These memorandums were created to inform administrators at the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) concerning the needs for and progress of aeronautical
research, through visits to and consultations and correspondence with aircraft and
allied industries, governmental agencies, and scientific and educational institutions.
This series contains memorandum reports, handwritten notes and correspondence related
to activities of the aerospace industry and academic research in aerospace engineering
in the western United States. A typical report contains background information on the
company or research facility visited including financial background, some organizational
charts, current military contracts, competitions for contracts and sketches of
mechanical components under developments. The reports also include discussions of
engineering successes and failures, proposed tests to be carried out at NACA test
facilities. All reports were researched and written by Edwin P. Hartman, NACA Western
Coordinator.
These records were a part of the series "Correspondence of the Western Coordinator,"
which has been known as "Correspondence of Edwin P. Hartman" in other finding aids.
Subjects in these reports include both military and commercial research. Engineering
topics include deicing systems, low-drag airfoils, welding problems and cabin
pressurization. Files also include Hartman's travel schedules which detail scheduled
industry visits and conferences. Of note is Hartman's report written following the 1947
test flight of the Hughes H-4 flying boat, commonly known as the "Spruce Goose."
Arrangement
Arranged in a loose chronological order by binders and there under alphabetically by
facility or subject and thereunder strictly chronologically.
Box 1
140 Edwin P. Hartman Travel Schedule “B”
Box 1
140 Edwin P. Hartman Travel Schedule “C”
Box 1
Travel Schedule E-HH,
1940-1944
Box 2
Travel Schedule I-M,
1940-1944
Box 2
Travel Schedule O-R,
1940-1944
Box 2
Travel Schedule S 1/2,
1940-1944
Box 2
Travel Schedule S 2/2,
1940-1944
Box 2
Travel Schedule T-V,
1940-1944
Box 2
Travel Schedule W-Z,
1940-1944
Box 3
Travel Schedule—Consolidated,
1940-1944
Box 3
Travel Schedule—Consolidated,
1943-1944
Box 3
Travel Schedule—Douglas, El Segundo 1/2,
1942
Box 3
Travel Schedule—Douglas, El Segundo 2/2,
1942
Box 3
Travel Schedule—Douglas, El Segundo,
1943-1944
Box 3
Travel Schedule—Douglas, Santa Monica,
1943-1944
Series III
Confidential Reference Memorandums
1940-1962
Note
NARA Archival Research Catalog Identifier 607317
Physical Description:
3 Boxes
1 ft.
Physical Location: A016374-A016375
Scope and Content Note
These memorandums were created to inform administrators at the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) and later
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) about the research and development activities being conducted by
academia and the aerospace industry in the western United States.
This series contains memorandum reports, handwritten notes and correspondence related
to activities of the aerospace industry and academic research in aerospace engineering
in the western United States. A typical report contains background information on the
company or research facility visited including financial background, some organizational
charts, current military contracts, competitions for contracts and sketches of
mechanical components under development. The reports also include discussions of
engineering successes and failures, proposed tests to be carried out at National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), later National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) test facilities such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and industry testing facilities. Most
reports were researched and written by Edwin P. Hartman, NACA Western Coordinator and
his Assistant Coordinator, Donald R. Mulholland.
Subjects in these reports include both military and commercial research. Topics include
NACA plastics and plywood survey, oil foaming research, exhaust-heat exchanger and cabin
pressure research, United States Air Force (USAF) Long Range Interceptor aircraft and
Navy Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) airplane competitions, ramjet development, solid and
liquid rocket propellant research, development of supersonic aircraft, Custer Channel
Wing-5's first flight at Oxnard, California in 1953, the launch of the Pioneer-1 lunar
probe on October 11, 1958, the investigation of Hsue-Shen Tsien in 1950 for espionage,
missile development including the Navaho, Thor and Atlas missiles, and helicopter and
flying boat development. Also contained are descriptions of rocket and missile tests
conducted at the Naval Ordinance Test Station (NOTS), the Rocket Motor Test Facility
(USAF) and the Pacific Missile Range at Point Mugu.
This series was known as "Confidential Memorandums and Reports" in other finding aids.
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.
Box 1
Russell Robinson-Memorandums,
1940
Box 1
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 1/2,
1940-1943
Box 1
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 2/2,
1940-1943
Box 1
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 1/2,
1944-1946
Box 1
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 2/2,
1944-1946
Box 1
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 1/2,
1947-1948
Box 1
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 2/2,
1947-1948
Box 1
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 1/3,
1949-1952
Box 1
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 2/3,
1949-1952
Box 1
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums3/3,
1949-1952
Box 2
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 1/2,
1953
Box 2
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 2/2,
1953
Box 2
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 1/2,
1954-1955
Box 2
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 2/2,
1954-1955
Box 2
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 1/2,
1956-1957
Box 2
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums 2/2,
1956-1957
Box 2
Edwin P. Hartman—Memorandums,
1958-1959
Box 2
Edwin P. Hartman—Handwritten Notes
Box 2
Donald P. Mulholland—Memorandums,
1957-1961
Box 3
Vanguard-Thor Review Team, Visit to Space Technologies Laboratory,
1958
Box 3
Frank P. Boffola—Memorandums,
1958
Box 3
Marvin Abramovitz—Memorandums,
1959
Box 3
Neil A. Holmberg—Memorandums,
1960
Box 3
William B. Igor—Memorandums,
1960
Box 3
Edward James, Jr.—Memorandums,
1960
Box 3
C.F. Rice—Memorandums,
1960
Box 3
Robert W. Kamm—Memorandums,
1961
Box 3
K.F. Ross—Memorandums,
1961
Box 3
John S. Keeler, Leon Donday, J.G. Kennard—Status Report,
1962
SERIES IV
Secret Reference Memorandums
1946-1962
Note
NARA Archival Research Catalog Identifier 607259
Physical Description:
2 Boxes
6 in.
Physical Location: A016373
Scope and Content Note
These memorandums were created to inform administrators at the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) and later
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) about the research and development activities being conducted by
academia and the aerospace industry in the western United States.
This series contains memorandum reports, handwritten notes and correspondence related
to activities of the aerospace industry and academic research in aerospace engineering
in the western United States. A typical report contains background information on the
company or research facility visited including financial background, some organizational
charts, current military contracts, competitions for contracts and sketches of
mechanical components under development. The reports also include discussions of
engineering successes and failures, proposed tests to be carried out at National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), later National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) test facilities such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and industry testing facilities. Most
reports were researched and written by Edwin P. Hartman, NACA Western Coordinator and
his Assistant Coordinator, Donald R. Mulholland.
Subjects in these reports are largely military in nature and include the development of
Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) defense and development including the WS-117L
(Weapons System-117L, also known as Pied Piper and New Horizon) ICBM alarm system,
development of the NIKE, Honest John, Sparrow, Falcon, Thor, Titan, Jupiter, Saturn,
Atlas and Navaho missiles and the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force competition for the
development of a long range interceptor aircraft. Space program development topics
include the Man-in-Space (MISS) program, SR-183 (Systems Requirement-183), a proposal
for an Air Force lunar observatory and the development of the Juno II and Juno IV
satellite programs. Non-military subjects include the development of Hughes Aircraft's
H-4 flying boat.
This series was known as "Secret Memorandums and Reports" in other finding aids.
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.
Box 7, Folder 1
Edwin P. Hartman--Memorandums
1946-1947
Box 7, Folder 2
Edwin P. Hartman--Memorandums
1947-1950
Box 7, Folder 3
Edwin P. Hartman--Memorandums
1950-1951
Box 7, Folder 4
Edwin P. Hartman--Memorandums
1951-1952
Box 7, Folder 5
Edwin P. Hartman--Memorandums
1953
Box 7, Folder 6
Edwin P. Hartman--Memorandums
1952-1957
Box 7, Folder 7
Edwin P. Hartman--Memorandums
1953-1955
SERIES V
Reference Memorandums
1940-1947
Note
NARA Archival Research Catalog Identifier 608523
Physical Description:
3 Boxes
1 ft.
Physical Location: A008669-A008670
Scope and Content Note
These memorandums were created to inform administrators at the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) about the research and development activities being
conducted by academia and the aerospace industry in the eastern United States.
This series contains reference memorandums, handwritten notes and correspondence related to activities of the aerospace industry
and academic research in aerospace engineering in the eastern United States. The memorandums are similar in nature to those
produced by the Western Coordination Office in California for the Office of the Coordinator of Research. A typical memorandum
contains some background information on the company or research facility visited, current contracts with the United States
Air Force (USAF), United States Navy and United States Army, competitions for contracts and sketches of mechanical components
under development. Reports were researched and written by Harrison Chandler and distributed to the Western Coordination
Office.
These records were a part of the series "Correspondence of the Western Coordinator,"
which has been known as "Correspondence of Edwin P. Hartman" in other finding aids.
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.
SERIES VI
Correspondence of the Western Coordinator
1940-1956
Note
NARA Archival Research Catalog Identifier 607622
Physical Description:
2 Boxes
11 in.
Physical Location: A008670-A008671
Scope and Content Note
This series contains correspondence, teletypes, memoranda, and reports related to the
activities of the Western Coordination Officer, Edwin P. Hartman, including Hartman's
travel arrangements and travel schedules, distribution of NACA technical reports,
proposed testing by aerospace companies, and conference organization. Also contained are
copies of reference memoranda which document aerospace industry activities.
This series was known as "Correspondence of Edwin P. Hartman" in other finding aids.
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.
Box 1, Folder 1
Edwin P. Hartman—General
1946
Box 1, Folder 2
Edwin P. Hartman—General
1947
Box 1, Folder 3
Edwin P. Hartman—General
1947
Box 1, Folder 4
Edwin P. Hartman—General
1948
Box 1, Folder 5
Edwin P. Hartman—General
1948
Box 1, Folder 6
Edwin P. Hartman—General
1949
Box 1, Folder 7
Edwin P. Hartman—General
1949
SERIES VII
Organizational History Files
1959-1969
Note
NARA Archival Research Catalog Identifier 608638
Physical Description:
5 Boxes
2 ft. 1 in.
Physical Location: V12 89-V12 91
Scope and Content Note
This series contains correspondence, reports, studies, research notes, interviews and copies of publications relating to the
background and restructuring of the Western Support Office (WSO), formerly the Western Operations Office (WOO) and the Western
Coordination Office (WCO). The bulk of the records summarize the background, mission and function of the WOO especially as
the office was facing reorganization around 1965. Of special interest are the monthly activity reports of the WOO, which
document significant personnel changes, the budget, assistance given to research centers, and individual unit activities.
Other files include information compiled by a professor who was charged with writing a history of the Western Support Office
(WSO) and its predecessors. These files include correspondence and transcribed interviews with Russell G. Robinson, Coordinator
of WCO, Edwin P. Hartman, Coordinator of WCO, Donald Mulholland, Assistant Coordinator under Hartman and Robert W. Kamm, Director
of WOO. Interviews document the early development of the program including the evolving relationship between the WCO/WOO
and the western aerospace industry.
Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically.
Box 1, Box 1
Abbreviations and Addresses
1965-1967
Box 1, Box 2
Activity Reports—Monthly
1959-1966
Box 1, Box 3
Activity Reports—Monthly
1959-1966
Box 1, Box 4
Activity Reports—Monthly
1959-1966
Box 1, Box 5
Activity Reports—Monthly
1959-1966
Box 1, Box 6
Activity Reports—Monthly
1959-1966