Painting sourtesy of Sue Staples

This painting by Sue Staples hangs in Atrium I in tribute to cosmonaut Yuri Garin, commemorating his 41st space flight, as well as the transfer of JSC's archives to the Neumann Library.

40 years of space history finds a home at Neumann Library
by Jeannie Aquino
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Adding a new dimension to the ever-expanding partnership with NASA Johnson Space Center, UH-Clear Lake's Neumann Library will soon become home to the JSC History Collection.

JSC archives making the move from JSC to UH-Clear Lake in June include papers, drawings, log books and mission documents chronicling the history of JSC from its beginning in the early 1960s.

Until recently, approximately one third of the collection was housed at Rice University; that portion of the collection moved to Neumann Library last year. When the remaining archives move to UH-Clear Lake, the JSC History Collection will be housed in one location for the first time.

"Previously, all of our collections were located off-site, and it was cumbersome for our customers," said JSC Historian Glen Swanson. "We're really excited about this move to UH-Clear Lake. Everything will be in one location. It will be one- stop shopping, fully accessible to the public."

In order to accommodate the size of the archive collection, which covers almost 40 years of space history, the Neumann Library is replacing its current shelving system with compact shelving in the existing archival area.

Also, because the JSC records are federal records and are part of the history of our nation, the National Archives and Records Administration had to approve the transfer before the documents could be moved to Neumann. As such, UH-Clear Lake will be required to follow specific guidelines set by the National Archives and Records Administration regulating the care of the information and is subject to surprise inspections.

"UH-Clear Lake is only the temporary custodian for these records," said university archivist Shelly Kelly.

The university will maintain information from missions during the Apollo era, the Apollo-Soyuz era, the early shuttle missions, and Space Station Freedom, which was the early version of the International Space Station. Although Kelly is not sure if documentation from the Challenger disaster will be included in the collection at this time, original documents on the first landing on the moon by Apollo 11 and the almost disastrous, immortalized-on-film Apollo 13 mission should be available.

The JSC archives will join the JSC Oral History Project, which moved to the university last September. The project is a compilation of recordings by current and former JSC employees and contractors, archiving the trials and tribulations of the U.S. space program. Visitors can listen to the histories on audio CDs or read the transcripts of the people who put men on the moon.

All of the information obtained will be available to UH-Clear Lake students, JSC personnel and contractors, and the general public. The collection will be housed on the third floor of the library in the university archives section. Visitors will not be allowed to check the archival items out of the library, but will be allowed to view them and make copies.

"All of this information will be available to everyone and will be a huge asset to all the students here, especially those working on reports or projects related to space," Kelly said. "For the students, it's right here at their fingertips."

Having the space-related archives at UH-Clear Lake also brings a new international community to the university. "We've already had researchers from all over the world visit," Kelly said. "Individuals from Canada, Germany and Australia have all been here recently to use the JSC archives."

UH-Clear Lake is currently planning a July reception to celebrate the new acquisitions and to welcome the JSC community to the university. Invited to attend will be key personnel from JSC, including several UH-Clear Lake alumni astronauts, JSC contractors, and members of the community.