Descriptive Summary
Scott H. Simpkinson Collection.
1943-1989.
CFM2003_08
These papers were
collected by
Scott H. Simpkinson.
14 Boxes,
12.8 Linear feet
Special Collections and University Archives,
University of Central Florida Libraries,
PO Box 162666,
Orlando, FL 32816-2666,
Telephone: 407-823-2576,
E-mail: speccoll@mail.ucf.edu
Scott H. Simpkinson
collected these materials during his tenure as a NASA staff member from the
1950s until the early 1980s. The collection includes documents, photographs and
objects related to the various NASA projects Simpkinson worked on, including
Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Viking and the Space Shuttle program. In addition, the
collection contains various materials produced by NASA and outside engineering
firms including a large number of reports, such as, numerous mission reports,
daily status reports and accident investigation reports, as well as
publications, photographs and objects. This collection also contains some of
Simpkinson's personal effects.
English
Acquisition Information
After Simpkinson's death, the space materials of the Simpkinson Estate
were given to his administrative assistant at NASA, Emily Ertl. She donated the
materials in the Scott H. Simpkinson Collection to the University of Central
Florida's Florida Space Coast History Project. In 2003, it was given to Special
Collections and University Archives for repository.
Processing History
This collection was processed by space shuttle
mission, and then further by type of material. Manuscript material was foldered
in acid free folders, with some mission reports taken out of three ring binders
and foldered, Objects in the collection were wrapped in acid free tissue paper
and boxed. Photographs in the collection are separated by acid free folders,
and a large signed collage was wrapped in acid free wrapping paper.
Access
The entire collection is open for research.
Copyright Statement
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to
publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the
copyright holder.
Related Material
Other materials related to NASA and the Space Program can be found in
the Wagar Space Collection and the Florida Ephemera Collection, Special
Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida.
Preferred Citation
Scott H. Simpkinson Collection, Special Collections and University
Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
Biographical/Historical Note
Scott H. Simpkinson was born on August 24, 1919 in Piqua, Ohio.
Simpkinson graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.Sc. in
Mechanical Engineering in 1943 and was subsequently employed by NASA and its
predecessor the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) as an
engineer from the 1950s until his retirement in the early 1980s. During this
time, Simpkinson worked at various NASA sites, such as the Lewis Research
Center in Cleveland, Ohio, the Manned Spacecraft Center (Johnson Space Center)
in Houston, Texas and Cape Canaveral on Florida's Space Coast. Simpkinson
served on the staff of numerous NASA missions, including the Mercury, Gemini,
Apollo and Viking missions, as well as working on the Space Shuttle. During his
tenure at NASA Simpkinson authored numerous reports and was regularly invited
to give lectures in his area of expertise. Simpkinson died after a long illness
on August 8, 1996.
Collection Scope and Content
This collection was arranged according to the producer of the
material. The first series includes materials produced by NASA, which are
further divided into projects, publications, reports and objects. The second
series contains similar materials produced by outside engineering firms. The
third series consists of Simpkinson's personal effects.
The Scott H. Simpkinson Collection represents the materials Simpkinson
collected during his tenure as a staff member of various missions for NASA.
Materials are largely produced by NASA, and include information about the
Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Viking missions, as well as the Space Shuttle
program, but the collection also includes materials produced by outside
engineering firms. These materials consist of a large number of reports,
including numerous mission reports, daily status reports and accident
investigation reports, as well as publications, photographs and objects.
Series I: NASA, 1959-1989 contains materials produced by NASA
including documents, photographs and objects. This series has been divided into
four major subseries: projects, publications, reports and objects, and also
includes information about the rights to the 1969 song, "Shepard's My Name".
The Projects subseries is further divided into information about the Mercury,
Gemini, Apollo and Viking missions and the Space Shuttle program.
Series II: Outside Engineering, 1959-1981 contains materials produced
by outside engineering firms, such as, McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Boeing
Corporation and the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. These materials include
correspondence between NASA and the outside firms, as well as manuals,
publications and reports produced for NASA.
Series III: Personal, 1943-1982 consists of objects and photographs
that were the personal effects of Scott H. Simpkinson. These objects include
materials from his office, such as plaques and other wall hangings. Of special
interest in this series is Simpkinson's NASA crew jacket and a large photo
collage signed by many of his colleagues at NASA.
Selected Subject and Access Points
Similar records may be found by searching under the following index
terms.
Simpkinson, Scott
H.
United States-- National
Aeronautics and Space Administration
Project Apollo
(U.S.)
Project Mercury
(U.S.)
Project Gemini
(U.S.)
Viking Spacecraft
Space Shuttle Program
(U.S.)
Contents List
Series I: NASA.
1959-1989.
11 Linear feet
Series I contains materials produced by NASA and has been divided
into four major subseries: projects, publications, reports and objects. The
Projects subseries consists of publications, reports, photographs and prints
and objects related to the various NASA space projects from the 1950s until the
early 1980s. Theses projects include the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Viking
missions and the Space Shuttle program. Of special interest are the numerous
photographs signed by NASA astronauts and the models of the various spacecraft.
Publications are various publications produced by NASA that do not deal
directly with one of their missions. Most of these publications were printed
for the public, such as NASA
Pocket Statistics. In contrast, the
Reports subseries holds reports produced by NASA, often dealing with general
safety. Of particular interest in this subseries are the accident investigation
reports. The Objects subseries consists of objects created by NASA that do not
directly correlate with one of their missions, including ashtrays and a model
of the Delta Launch Vehicle. Other matters of interest in this series include a
folder of information about the rights to the 1969 song, "Shepard's My
Name".
Box
Flat-File
Projects.
1959-1989.
Mercury.
1959-1963.
6
Publications.
July 1961-May 1963.
6
Reports.
1959-1962.
6
Daily Status.
August 1960-March 1961.
(3 Folders).
6
Equipment.
December 1960.
6
Mission.
August 1959-August 1962.
(3 Folders).
Photos and Prints.
undated.
11
Mercury Atlas Launch Print.
undated.
11
Mercury Capsule Artist's Print.
undated.
11
Mercury Spacecraft Poster.
undated.
Objects.
undated.
2
Mercury Complex 14 Handrail Segment.
undated.
3
Vinyl Project Mercury/NASA Document
Folder.
undated.
4
Mercury Spacecraft McDonnell (Space capsule with
Earth Hemisphere base).
undated.
4
Mercury Capsule.
undated.
5
Atlas Mercury Launch Vehicle.
undated.
Gemini.
1963-1967.
6
Gemini.
June 1963-December 1966.
6-7
Mission Reports.
May 1964-January 1967.
(25 Folders).
Photos and Prints.
January 1965-December 1965.
Flat File
Gemini Poster.
undated.
11
Gemini Capsule in Orbit Print.
undated.
11
Gemini-Titan II Launch Print.
undated.
11
Ed White Space Walk Print (Signed by Gemini IV
Crew).
undated.
11
Gemini Paraglider Artist's Print.
undated.
11
GT-2 Launch.
19 January 1965.
11
Gemini V Launch.
4 December 1965.
11
Gemini V Launch.
21 August 1965.
11
Gemini VII Launch.
4 December 1965.
11
Gemini Launch Mounted Print.
undated.
11
GT-3 Crew Signed Mounted Photo (Grissom,
Young).
undated.
Objects.
1965.
2
Gemini IV Drinking Glass.
undated.
2
Gemini Mission Evaluation Team Mug.
undated.
3
Gemini VIII Agena Hardware Piece.
undated.
3
Tape used for voice recording on the first manned
Gemini Space Mission.
23 March 1965.
4
Gemini Capsule.
undated.
1
Gemini-Titan Launch Vehicle.
undated.
Apollo.
1961-1989.
8
Apollo 11.
July 1969.
8
Crew Debriefing.
July 1969.
8
Flight Plan.
July 1969.
8
Press Kit.
July 1969.
8
Electrical Installation Manual.
undated.
8-9
Experience Reports.
March 1972-September 1976.
(17 Folders).
9
Investigation Reports.
August 1970-November 1972.
9
Periodicals.
July 1970-May 1971.
9
Publications.
(2 Folders).
1967-1989.
Photos and Prints.
undated.
11
Man on the Moon.
undated.
11
Man on the Moon-View of Earth.
undated.
11
Man on the Moon (signed by George
Low).
undated.
11
Apollo 8 Crew (signed).
undated.
11
Apollo 9 Crew (2 signed).
undated.
11
Apollo 10 Crew (signed).
undated.
11
Photo of John Glenn (signed).
undated.
11
Apollo 7 Crew (signed).
undated.
Objects.
undated.
2
Apollo 11 Ashtray.
undated.
2
Apollo 12 Mug.
undated.
2
Apollo 10 Drinking Glass.
undated.
2
Apollo 13 Drinking Glass.
undated.
3
Apollo Capsule Ashtray.
undated.
3
Apollo 11 Honorary Mug.
undated.
3
Apollo 17 Mug.
undated.
3
Apollo 16 Mug.
undated.
4
Apollo Spacecraft Model.
undated.
Viking.
1975.
9
Scrapbook.
undated.
(3 Folders).
Objects.
undated.
2
Viking '75 Drinking Glass.
undated.
5
Viking Lander.
undated.
Space Shuttle.
1973-1981.
9
Publications.
1979-1981.
9
Reports.
1973-1979.
Photos and Prints.
undated.
12
Space Shuttle's First Flight (signed by Bob
Thompson)
April 1981.
12
Space Shuttle at Launch Pad.
undated.
12
Space Shuttle Taking Off.
undated.
12
Space Shuttle on Launch Pad (aerial
view).
undated.
12
Space Shuttle in Loading Dock.
undated.
Objects.
undated.
2
Space Shuttle tiles.
undated.
9
Publications.
1968-1981.
(4 Folders).
Reports.
1975-1981.
9
General.
April 1975-February 1981.
10
Accident Investigation.
1972.
(2 Folders).
10
Mission Contingency Investigation Plan.
November 1972.
10
General Environment Test Specification.
May 1977.
10
Song--"Shepard's My Name".
1969.
Objects.
undated.
2
NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas
Ashtray.
undated.
2
NASA 5th Anniversary Ashtray.
undated.
2
Alert Forum, Lewis Research Center Plaque.
undated.
2
NASA Snoopy Doll.
undated.
4
Lockheed Agena Model.
undated.
4
Delta Launch Vehicle Model.
undated.
Series II: Outside Engineering.
1959-1981.
0.75 Linear feet
Series II contains materials produced by outside engineering
firms, such as McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Boeing Corporation and the
Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. This series includes correspondence between
NASA and the outside firms, as well as manuals, publications and reports
produced for NASA. Of particular interest are the investigation reports, which
NASA used when analyzing its failed missions.
Box
10
Correspondence.
November 1959-May 1960.
10
Manuals.
1966.
10
Crimping Standards.
undated.
10
LM Electrical Installation Handbook.
undated.
10
Range Safety Manual.
November 1966.
10
Publications.
1964-1977.
10
Reports.
1960-1981.
10
Annual Aerospace.
1980.
10
Investigations.
1977-1980.
10
Sneak Program (2 folders).
September 1970-August 1975.
10
Wallops Island Coordination.
November 1960-April 1961.
Series III: Personal.
1943-1982.
1.75 Linear feet
Series III consists of objects and photographs that were the
personal effects of Scott H. Simpkinson. These materials came from his office
and include plaques and other wall hangings. Of special interest in this series
is Simpkinson's NASA crew jacket and a large photo collage signed by many of
his colleagues at NASA.
Box
10
Scrapbook page honoring Marjorie Sparks.
undated.
1
NASA Crew Jacket.
undated.
2
Leadership Member, Boy Scouts of America
Plaque.
1982.
2
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Levere Member Plaque.
undated.
3
Peanuts Plaque.
undated.
3
Clock.
undated.
3
Nameplate in Stand ("Reserved for Miss
Gabor").
undated.
3
Charlie Brown Doll.
undated.
3
"The Boss Gift" (whip).
undated.
11
Caricature of Simpkinson.
undated.
12
University of Cincinnati Mechanical Engineering
Degree.
9 April 1943.
12
Charter Member of the Senior Executive
Service.
13 July 1979.
12
NASA Superior Achievement Award.
23 November 1966.
12
NASA Exceptional Service Medal.
29 September 1969.
12
NASA Exceptional Service Medal.
28 March 1977.
12
NASA Achievement Award to the Project Mercury
Office.
31 October 1963.
12
NASA Exceptional Service Medal.
25 February 1971.
12
NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership.
14 August 1981.
12
NASA Certificate of Acknowledgement (Viking
Project).
undated.
12
Photo of Simpkinson and unknown man
(signed).
undated.
12
"The Ironical Paradox" Quote.
undated.
14
Signed photo collage.
undated.