Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], William J. Alford, Jr., Papers, Ms1987-007, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1987.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the William J. Alford, Jr., Papers was completed in April 2013.

Biographical Note

William J. Alford, Jr. (1924-2010) graduated from Granby High School in 1942. During World War II, he served in the United States Marine Corps as a dive-bomber pilot. In June 1949, Alford graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. He continued graduate work in Aerospace Engineering at VPI from 1959-1960. He worked as an engineer at NACA-NASA Langley (1949-1980), served as head of the Advanced Transport Technology Program (1970-1975), and held the position of manager of the Energy Efficient Transport Office (1976-1979). Alford also served as the head of the Advanced Military Technology Office (1979-1980). Alford and Edward C. Polhamus own the patent for the Variable Sweep Wing Configuration (1962).

Scope and Content

The collection contains NACA and NASA research memoranda and reports, publication drafts, research notes and patent details for the variable-sweep wing design, correspondence, award certificates, AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics) conference programs, and personnel file papers pertaining to William J. Alford's career as an aeronautical engineer. Also included are a Langley working paper, with associated variable-sweep research notes and patent details, and a detailed schematic drawing, of "the variable sweep wing configuration tested in the high-speed 7- by 10- foot tunnel." These materials date from 1951 to 1988.

Some related materials may appear in separate folders. For example, awards and correspondence are also included in the biographical and career information file. Additionally, some personnel file papers, especially many of those in the biographical and career information file, contain photocopies in the place of the original documents.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series.

Series I: Papers, arranged by material type, contains papers that date from 1958 to 1988. This series includes award certificates, correspondence, personnel file papers, conference programs, and research notes and material related to the variable-sweep wing patent. Some papers relating to Alford's career had been previously arranged; these materials and their ordering are maintained in the "Biographical and Career Information" file.

Series II: Publications, comprises NACA, NASA, RAND, United States Air Force Project RAND, NATO Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research and Development, and NASP publications. The series is arranged in three subseries: Subseries A: NACA Publications, 1951-1957; Subseries B: NASA Publications, 1958-1981; and Subseries C: Other Publications, 1963-1987. Within each subseries, publications are arranged chronologically. These documents range from 1951 to 1987. Most publications list Alford as an author.

Related Material

For more information relating to Edward C. Polhamus and the variable-sweep wing patent see the Edward C. Polhamus Papers, Ms1990-051 .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Aeronautical engineers
• Archives of American Aerospace Exploration (AAAE)
• Science and Technology
• University History

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the William J. Alford, Jr., Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).