This accession consists of the personal papers of Tom D. Crouch, curator and historian. Crouch was Curator of Engineering and Industry at the National Museum of American
History (NMAH) until 1990 before becoming Curator of Aeronautics, Curator, and eventually Senior Curator at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). Crouch served on the
First Flight Centennial Commission Advisory Board and was active in planning activities for the centennial of the first flight by brothers Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright.
Crouch was also involved in the NMAH exhibition More Perfect Union: Japanese-Americans and the U.S. Constitution and in the resolution of issues surrounding the display
of the Enola Gay bomber at NASM. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, conference materials, exhibition scripts, photographs, copies of legislation related to aviation,
and related materials. Some materials are in electronic format.
Legislative History of the Creation of the First Flight Centennial Commission and First Flight Centennial Commission Advisory Board, 2003 Legislation (2 folders)
Container:
Box 2 of 2
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 07-140, Tom D. Crouch Papers
3.03 cu. ft. (3 record storage boxes) (1 oversize folder)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Brochures
Clippings
Newspapers
Newsletters
Floor plans
Color photographs
Black-and-white photographs
Black-and-white transparencies
Color transparencies
Glass negatives
Date:
1942-1946, 1962-2016
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of the personal papers of Tom D. Crouch, a senior curator of aeronautics at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM). Crouch joined the curatorial
staff at NASM in 1974 to assist with preparing exhibitions for the opening of the museum in 1976. In 1985, he transferred to the National Museum of American History (NMAH)
where he was a curator and supervisor in the Division of Engineering and Industry, before eventually being appointed Chairman of the Department of Social and Cultural History
in 1987. Crouch returned to NASM in 1990 when he was named Chairman of the NASM Department of Aeronautics, a position he held until 1999 when he became Senior Curator. Crouch
served on the First Flight Centennial Commission Advisory Board and was active in planning activities for the centennial of the first flight by brothers Orville and Wilbur
Wright. He also was involved in the planning, development and production activities for the exhibitions A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution
and Men and Women: A History of Costume, Gender, and Power at NMAH, as well as for the NASM exhibitions The Flying Roosevelts, NASA/ART: Fifty Years of Exploration,
R. G. Smith: The Old Master of the Sky, Fly Marines! The Centennial of Marine Corps Aviation: 1912-2012, and The Enola Gay, including the resolution of
issues surrounding the display of the bomber at the museum. Some materials date to when the department came to be known as the Aeronautics Division and then the Aeronautics
Department.
Materials include correspondence, memoranda, and notes; lecture papers; publications; information in regard to advisory boards, conferences, seminars, committees, and special
events; meeting agendas; proposals; reports; contracts and agreements; exhibition scripts, floor plans, design information, and visitor comment forms; oral history interview
transcripts; press releases, articles, newspaper clippings, and newspapers; photographs, slides, and negatives; appointment books documenting matters in regard to the Enola
Gay exhibition controversy; copies of legislation related to aviation; newsletters; collections management information; awards; and brochures.
