Title: |
Russell S. Colley Papers, 1933-1977 |
Repository: |
Archives and Special Collections, University Libraries, The University of Akron
Phone: 330-972-7670 http://www.uakron.edu/libraries/archives |
Creator: |
The University of Akron, University Libraries, Archival Services |
Dates: |
1933-1977 |
Quantity: |
0.5 cubic feet (1 box) |
Abstract: |
Russell S. Colley (1899-1996) was a mechanical engineer for the B. F. Goodrich Company in Akron, Ohio and later the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). His papers include photographs, patents, and printed materials documenting his work with plane de-icers and space suits. |
Identification: |
99/239 |
Language: |
The records are in English |
Russell S. Colley was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts in 1899. He graduated from high school in 1916. Two years later, he graduated from the Wentworth Institute (now Wentworth Institute of Technology) in Boston, Massachusetts with a degree in mechanical engineering. After college he married Dorothy Antle of Stoneham. They had one daughter, Barbara. In 1928, Colley moved to Akron, Ohio to become a mechanical engineer for the aeronautical division of the B. F. Goodrich Company. During his tenure with Goodrich, Colley held numerous sales and development assignments. It was here that he made the "Riv-nut" that allowed a single worker to affix rivets to airplane wings. Also, after fellow engineer William Geer came up with the idea for the first aircraft de-icer in 1932, Colley was asked to make the device operational. Colley then tested the device during a storm that had grounded every other plane. Plane de-icers became and still are a major Goodrich product. Colley's unique contribution with Goodrich was the design and development of space suits, which he worked on for several decades. In 1934, Colley designed a pressurized suit for daredevil pilot Wiley Post, which helped Post reach the jet stream and break new altitude records. During his association with Goodrich, Colley secured as sole inventor or co-inventor of several patents, which were subsequently assigned to the B. F. Goodrich Company. Russell Colley eventually left Goodrich to work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) where he designed the space suits used by the Mercury astronauts. All six original Mercury astronauts went to Akron to be fitted by Colley for their suits, which were two-ply silver nylon coated with neoprene. He said his design was inspired by a tomato worm. After Alan Shephard's flight aboard Freedom 7, the Akron press dubbed Colley "First Tailor of the Space Age" and Goodrich saluted him as "Father of the Spacesuit." Colley also designed special gloves worn by astronaut John Glenn, when he became the first American to orbit space in 1962. Glenn wanted the fingertips to light up so he could see his instrument panel, since lighting in the spaceship was sacrificed to keep the weight down. Colley received NASA's Distinguished Public Service Medal in 1994. Colley collected 65 patents in his career. When he retired from NASA, he returned to Ohio where he practiced jewelry design. A watercolor artist, Colley was an original member of the Whiskey Painters of America, founded in 1951 in Akron by industrial designer Joe Ferriot. Colley and others perfected the genre of painting miniature watercolors using alcohol as the medium. Russell Colley died February 4, 1996, in Springfield, Ohio.
The Russell S. Colley Papers include photographs, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, articles, patents, and printed materials documenting Colley's work from 1933 to 1977, especially with space suits. The original order imposed by the records creator was maintained as much as possible during processing. There are no established series. The dated records in the files are arranged chronologically; undated materials were placed after the dated materials. The correspondence file contains in-coming and outgoing correspondence of Russell Colley and includes thank you letters, congratulations letters, and letters about his patents with the patents attached. Colley's patents that were not accompanied by correspondence were maintained in the patents file. The newspaper clippings file and printed materials file includes mostly biographical data about Colley and his work with space suits. Black and white photographs of Colley, space suits, and astronauts as well as various events can be found in the photographs file. The artifacts file contains examples of fabric used in space suits and possibly other applications.
No restrictions on access; except not available through interlibrary loan. Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this collection must be secured in writing from Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.
No restrictions on access; except not available through interlibrary loan. Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this collection must be secured in writing from Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.
Related Material: Related MaterialB. F. Goodrich Company Records
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Identification of Item], Russell S. Colley Papers, Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio.