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Dr. Kenneth J. Hartman Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MsC0876

  • Staff Only
  • Please navigate to collection organization to place requests.

Scope and Contents

The Dr. Kenneth J. Hartman files are organized in three series. Series I: Subject Files (Boxes 1-3); Series II: Astronaut (biographical) Files (Boxes 3-4); and Series III: Astronauts? Wives and Women in Space (Boxes 4-5), concluding with miscellaneous materials in Box 5. Many of the file folders bear KJH annotations and have been retained. Nearly all photocopies and computer printouts have been annotated by KJH. By 1962, Hartman was employed by North American Aviation, Inc., and became senior research engineer for crew performance and training in the manned space (Apollo) program. His assignment, he wrote, was to keep the design engineers from killing the astronauts with poorly or badly designed equipment and procedures. Most of his contributions to Human Factors Engineering were classified. The Apollo program came to an abrupt end in 1975. KJH collected the present files long after retirement. Many were derived from articles, books, and web sites, with pages photocopied or printed out and annotated by Hartman, whose notes are also interspersed throughout them. There are also photographs, reports, and other materials. In part, the materials were gathered to support Hartman?s post-Apollo teaching and lectures.

Dates

  • Creation: 1945-2011

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

Extent

2.50 Linear Feet (Photographs in several folders; videos and DVDs in Boxes 7, 8)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Hartman trained as an engineer and served in the Army during World War II, later earning a Ph.D. in psychology. From 1962 to 1975, he was attached to the manned space program and served much of that time as Senior Research Engineer for Crew Performance and Training for North American Aviation, Inc. Much of his work was classified. His papers, accumulated long after retirement, document varied aspects of the Apollo and related space programs, particularly the lives of the early astronauts and their families.

Method of Acquisition

These papers were Dr. Hartman's gift between October 2007 and October 2011.

Related Materials

Hartman donated his collection of books about space research and the manned space program to Saint Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. The collection is maintained by the Library Department of Special Collections.

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the University of Iowa Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5921
319-335-5900 (Fax)