The National Air and Space Museum Archives supports the mission of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) by acquiring and preserving for public and curatorial use documentary materials of air and space flight. These documentary materials, which span the history of flight from ancient times to the present day include a wide range of visual and textual materials, many emphasizing the technical aspects of air and spacecraft and their propulsion systems.
The collections were under the control of the branch library until 1982 when the museum created the Records Management Division which managed the files and provided public reference. In 1987, the division was renamed Information Management Division. In 1988, Archives and Information Management were divided but were recombined as the Archives Division in 1989 under the Assistant Director for Collections. In 1996, the Archives Division was placed under the Associate Director for Collections and Research.
Chairs of the Archives Division have included Thomas F. Soapes, 1990-2005; and Marilyn F. Graskowiak, 2005- .
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 221221
