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NASA Ephemera collection, 1969-2006, bulk 1980-1994

 

Summary

Creator:
Mahan, Cheryl
Mahan, Fred
Abstract:
The NASA Ephemera collection contains NASA memorabilia and ephemera including photographs, patches, pins, and stickers. There are also mission charts, crew photographs, space news publications, and memorabilia and photographs, some signed, about the 1986 Challenger mission Space Transportation System (STS) 51L. These materials were primarily collected by Fred Mahan during his career with NASA. Researchers interested in NASA and space-related ephemera, memorabilia, and publications will find this collection useful. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the United States government's civilian agency responsible for space exploration, aeronautics research, and scientific discovery. Established on October 1, 1958, through the National Aeronautics and Space Act, NASA was created in response to growing national interest in space exploration during the Cold War. NASA has led numerous landmark programs, including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Artemis programs.
Extent:
3.25 Linear Feet 5 boxes and 1 flat file
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], NASA Ephemera collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

The NASA Ephemera collection contains NASA memorabilia and ephemera including photographs, patches, pins, and stickers. There are also mission charts, crew photographs, space news publications, and memorabilia and photographs, some signed, about the 1986 Challenger mission Space Transportation System (STS) 51L. These materials were primarily collected by Fred Mahan during his career with NASA. Researchers interested in NASA and space-related ephemera, memorabilia, and publications will find this collection useful.

Series I: Missions, 1969-1993, 2005 contains crew and mission photographs, information kits, guest passes, patches, pins, stickers and other mission-specific ephemera.

Series II: Publications, 1978-1994 contains a few issues of Lockheed Horizons, Rockwell News, Space News Roundup, Spaceport News, and Star Gazer.

Series III: Information guides, 1987, undated contains a Kennedy Space Center general information guide and a 25th anniversary guide.

Series IV: Miscellaneous Ephemera, 1969-2006, undated consists of patches, stickers, posters and pins that do not relate to missions in the Missions series.

Biographical / historical:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the United States government's civilian agency responsible for space exploration, aeronautics research, and scientific discovery. Established on October 1, 1958, through the National Aeronautics and Space Act, NASA replaced the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and was created in response to growing national interest in space exploration during the Cold War. NASA has led numerous landmark programs, including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Artemis programs, and has advanced scientific knowledge through robotic missions, Earth observation, and international collaboration in space exploration.

This collection was collected and donated by Cheryl Mahan and Fred Mahan. Cheryl Mahan worked at the University of Central Florida (UCF), then called Florida Technical University (FTU), as a librarian from 1977 until her retirement in 2007. Fred Mahan, Cheryl's husband, worked at the Kennedy Space Center from 1979 until his retirement in 1995. He was a Management Systems Analyst (1979-1985), member of the Vehicle Integration Test team (1989-1994), and the Astronaut Office (JSC) resource person for OV-103 Discovery.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Cheryl and Fred Mahan in 2004 (CFM2004_06).
Processing information:

Processed by John Venecek and finding aid prepared by John Venecek and Suphi Burak Ogreten. Finding aid revised for consistency by Chloe Lanham in 2026.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], NASA Ephemera collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA