FLVC logo

Harry A. Cronk collection, 1957-1990

 

Summary

Creator:
Cronk, Harry A.
Cronk, Harry A.
Abstract:
The Harry A. Cronk collection, 1957-1990 primarily documents Cronk's career with Pan American World Airways, or Pan Am, and NASA, supporting national defense and manned spaceflight during the height of the space race between 1950 and 1970. Materials consist of certificates, ephemera, photographs, publications, reports, and a hard hat. This collection is useful to historical research into Harry Cronk, Pan Am, and NASA projects. Harry Alden Cronk was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1922 and died in Merritt Island, Florida in 2004. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, earned a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Tech, and served in the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1950, Cronk married Mary Jane Brewer and worked for Bendix in a defense contractor position. In 1957, he began to work for Armco steel before moving to Merritt Island, Florida, accepting a job with Pan American World Airways in 1960. Cronk became Chief Staff Engineer in 1962. Pan Am, and Cronk, directly supported the Apollo 11 mission that achieved the moon landing on July 20th, 1969. He also contributed to the Skylab missions and the first international manned space mission in 1975. He retired from Johnson Controls in 1990. He later passed away in 2004.
Extent:
3.6 Linear Feet 4 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Harry A. Cronk collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

The Harry A. Cronk collection, 1957-1990 primarily documents Cronk's career with Pan American World Airways, or Pan Am, and NASA, supporting national defense and manned spaceflight during the height of the space race between 1950 and 1970. Materials consist of certificates, ephemera, photographs, publications, reports, and a hard hat. This collection is useful to historical research into Harry Cronk, Pan Am, and NASA projects.

Series I: Certificates, 1969-1986, undated contains certificates given to Cronk from Pan Am and NASA for missions he contributed to.

Series II: Ephemera, undated contains ephemera including patches and pins from Cronk's time working with Pan Am and NASA.

Series III: Photographs, 1960-1978, undated contains photographic prints of Pan Am workers, NASA Apollo and Gemini projects, astronauts, and other Aerospace subjects.

Series IV: Publications, 1957-1990, undated contains Pan Am, NASA, and Aerospace technical and entertainment publications.

Series V: Reports, 1961-1988, undated contains memoranda and other textual documents Cronk collected during his time with Pan Am and NASA.

Biographical / historical:

Harry Alden Cronk was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1922 and died in Merritt Island, Florida in 2004. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, earned a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Tech, and served in the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1950, Cronk married Mary Jane Brewer and worked for Bendix in a defense contractor position. In 1957, he began to work for Armco steel before moving to Merritt Island, Florida, accepting a job with Pan American World Airways in 1960. Cronk became Chief Staff Engineer in 1962. Pan Am, and Cronk, directly supported the Apollo 11 mission that achieved the moon landing on July 20th, 1969. He also contributed to the Skylab missions and the first international manned space mission in 1975. He retired from Johnson Controls in 1990. He later passed away in 2004.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Lori Walters in 2021 (CFM2021_05).
Processing information:

Processed by Antonice L. Morin. Finding aid prepared by Antonice L. Morin and Adam Hunt. Finding aid revised for consistency by Chloe Lanham in 2026.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 5 series based on record type. Each series is arranged chronologically.

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], Harry A. Cronk 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