Skip to main content

Hartley A. Soule Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-1987-004

Scope and Contents

The Hartley A. Soule Papers include notes, memoranda, calculations, and drawings on the High-Speed Flight Research Station (1950-1954); Research Airplane Program (1953-1957); X-15 program (1958-1962); Dyna Soar program (1957-1962); Projects Mercury and Gemini (1961-1962); and history of the high-speed aircraft program (1963-67). Materials are arranged in two series. Series I: Papers, includes notes, correspondence, memos, subject files, and work projects. Series II: Publications, contains bound reports, scientific publications, and journals.

Dates

  • 1950 - 1967

Creator

Language of Materials

The materials in the collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Biographical Note

Hartley A. Soule (1904-1988) was an aeronautical engineer and NASA administrator. He received his B.S. degree from New York University in 1927 and joined the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) the same year. His list of positions at Langley included head of the Spin Tunnel Section, Chief of the Stability Research Division, and Assistant Director. Soule assisted in establishing the NASA High Speed Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base and the Mercury Ground Tracking and Data Acquisition System, and led development on the X-1 and X-15 experimental jet programs. He retired from NASA in 1962.

Extent

3 Cubic Feet (2 boxes; 1 folder)

Abstract

The collection includes research files, personal notes, film scripts, and publications collected by Soule, an aerospace engineer, on the fields of aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace, particularly on the NACA and NASA programs, including the X-1 and X-15 jets, and the Mercury and Gemini space programs.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series. Series I: Papers, is organized by subject/material type. Files are in alphabetical order. Series II: Publications, is organized chronologically.

Source of Acquisition

The Hartley A. Soule Papers were donated to Special Collections in 1986.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Hartley A. Soule Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

Some initial processing was completed in the late 1980s by Special Collections staff. Additional processing, arrangement, and description of the collection commenced in June 2012 and was completed in October 2012. Final processing and description was completed in May 2024 as part of the project, "Piercing the Veil: Creating Access to the Archives of American Aerospace Exploration at Virginia Tech," funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Title
A Guide to the Hartley A. Soule Papers, 1950-1967
Status
Completed
Author
Special Collections Staff
Date
2012 (CC0 1.0)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
The processing, arrangement, and description of this collection was created as part of the project, "Piercing the Veil: Creating Access to the Archives of American Aerospace Exploration at Virginia Tech," funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) from 2022 to 2024.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308