This collection consists of the transcripts for the Glennen-Webb-Seamans Project (GWS), which examines various aspects of NASA management practices during the Apollo program. This project constitutes one of several oral history projects conducted within the Department of Space History, NASM. The principal investigator for the GWS was Martin Collins and the interview set contains 193 hours of interviews with 22 individuals. The central thread of this collection was the problem of configuring new political relations among the space sciences and sponsors. The following individuals were interviewed: J. Leland Atwood; Delmer Bradshaw; James Burnett; Paul Demitriades; Edward Doll; Peter Downey; Brian Duff; James Elms; James Fletcher; Robert Gilruth; T. Keith Glennan; Donald Jacobs; Ruben Mettler; Mark Miller; George Mueller; Samuel Phillips; Simon Ramo; Robert Seamans; Willis Shapley; Abe Silverstein; David Soergel; Harrison Storms; James Webb; Thorton Wilson; and Herbert York.
Scope and Contents:
The Glennan-Webb-Seamans Project Interviews consist of 193 hours of interviews with 26 individuals. The audio cassette tapes of these interviews have yet to be remastered and, due to their fragility, are unavailable to researchers. Transcripts are available to researchers, though there are restrictions placed on a number of them. A NASM staff member will advise the patron which transcripts are available for copying or viewing and how to order copies of transcripts and/or CDs.
Arrangement:
The Glennan-Webb-Seamans (GWS) Project Interviews are arranged alphabetically by interviewee. Boxes
1-11 (Series 1) contain the interviews on audio cassette tapes. These tapes have yet to be remastered and, due to their fragility, are not available to researchers.
Boxes 12-16 (Series 2) contain the transcripts for these cassette tapes. Most of these transcripts are available to
researchers, though restrictions are placed on a small number of them. Transcripts with user restrictions are
highlighted in bold type.
Biographical / Historical:
This collection contains the interviews of the Glennan-Webb-Seamans Project (GWS). These interviews
analyze a variety of facets revolving around NASA management and its handling of contractors during the
Apollo program. The individuals listed as part of this collection's name refer to the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration's (NASA) first two administrators and the agency's deputy administrator during
much of the 1960s. The principal (though, by no means the only) interviewer for this project was Martin
Collins and the interview set consists of 193 hours of interviews with 26 individuals. These interview
subjects represent some of the most influential decision-makers at NASA, the aerospace industry and
academia. The following were interviewed for this project: J. Leland Atwood; Delmer Bradshaw; James
Burnett; Paul Demitriades; Edward Doll; Peter Downey; Brian Duff; James Elms; James Fletcher; Robert
Gilruth; T. Keith Glennan; Donald Jacobs; Ruben Mettler; Mark Miller; John Moore; George Mueller;
Samuel Phillips; Simon Ramo; Robert Seamans; Willis Shapley; Abe Silverstein; David Soergel; Harrison
Storms; James Webb; Thornton Wilson and Herbert York. Among the myriad of topics discussed in these
interviews is the Apollo 1 [204] fire that killed astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee on
January 27, 1967, during a test at the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. The GWS
Project constitutes one of a number of oral history efforts endeavors conducted by the National Air and
Space Museum's (NASM) Department of Space History.
General note:
This collection consists of the interview transcripts, not the tapes.
Provenance:
Department of Space History, Transfer, 1999, 1999-0036, Varies
Restrictions:
Various restrictions apply.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, Please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
19.81 Cubic feet ((9 records center boxes) (10 flatboxes))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Correspondence
Publications
Photographs
Annual reports
Brochures
Reports
Date:
[ca. 1920s-1990s]
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of corporate materials of NAA and its successor North American Rockwell and materials created or organized by Atwood. The corporate materials include NAA house organs, i.e., newsletters, magazines and annual reports; NAA and Rockwell reports, special publications and press releases; and photographs. Materials created or organized by Atwood include manuscripts and copies of Atwood's professional writings; reports collected by Atwood from other organizations; subject files which include a variety of material; and his professional correspondence from 1936-1999.
Biographical / Historical:
John Leland Atwood (1904-1999) received a BS in civil engineering from the University of Texas in 1928, and started his aviation career as a junior airplane engineer with the Army Air Corps at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. In 1930, Atwood left that position to become a design engineer with Douglas Aircraft Company. In 1934, Atwood left Douglas to join North American Aviation (NAA) as chief engineer and vice president. Atwood continued to play a seminal leadership role throughout his career at NAA until his retirement from North American Rockwell Corporation as chief executive officer in 1970. The NAA aircraft produced under Atwood's engineering leadership include: T-6 Texan; F-51 Mustang; B-25 Mitchell; F-86 Sabrejet; F-100 Super Sabre; B-45 Tornado; RA-5C Vigilante; X-15; and the XB-70. Atwood also played key roles in NAA's aerospace ventures, including providing key leadership for the government - industry team which accomplished the Apollo missions.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
John Leland Atwood Estate, gift, 2000, 2000-0012, NASM and North American Aviation
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
