Al Backstrom Papers
Scope and Content
This collection contains documents, federal regulations, reports, correspondence, articles, and other information collected by Al Backstrom in his career as a designer of both full sized and model aircraft. The Al Backstrom Papers are housed in five manuscript boxes totaling 2.3 linear feet.
The material arrived in good condition and was arranged by the processing archivist according to the donor's original order. The archivist identified four series with the first series being the Gliders and Sailplanes Series, which contains documents, plans, articles, correspondence discussing Al Backstrom's work on the design of both full size and scale model sailplanes and gliders, as well as aspects of the operation, construction, and sail of unpowered aircraft.
The second series is the Engines and Motors Series, which includes product brochures and reviews, instruction manuals, and service and overhaul guides for a number of types of aircraft engines and motors.
The third series is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Standards Series, which includes standards, circulars, manuals, and handbooks published by the administration.
The fourth series is the Metal Aircraft Elements and Welding Series, which contains reports and publications regarding the ANC-5 aircraft as well as military aircraft metal components, their structure, and properties.
Dates
- 1942 - 2001
- Majority of material found within 1976 - 1992
Creator
- Backstrom, Al, Mr. (Collector, Person)
Language of Materials
Collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection are open for research.
Literary Rights Statement
Permission to publish material from this collection in any form, current or future, must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas.
Biographical Sketch
At the time this finding aid was reviewed, no biographical information was available.
Extent
2.3 Linear Feet (Five manuscript boxes.)
Abstract
This collection contains documents, Federal regulations, reports, correspondence, articles, and other information collected by Al Backstrom in his career as a desginer of both full sized and model aircraft.
Series Description
The Al Backstrom Papers are arranged in four series:
Series I. Gliders and Sailplanes
0.75 linear ft. (one and one-half manuscript boxes), 1986-2005.
Arranged by topic.
Series II. Engines and Motors
0.4 linear ft. (one manuscript box), 1948-1984.
Arranged by topic.
Series III. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA
0.75 linear ft. (one and one-half manuscript boxes), 1944-1990.
Arranged by topic.
Series IV. Metal Aircraft Elements and Welding
0.4 linear ft. (one manuscript box), 1942-1991.
Provenance Statement
The Al Backstrom Papers were donated to the History of Aviation Collection, Special Collections and Archives Division, Eugene McDermott Library, The University of Texas at Dallas, by Al Backstrom in multiple accessions from 1986 through 2009.
Books and Magazines
Books and magazines were pulled and catalogued to be included into the HAC monograph and magazine stacks.
Image ID
It is the researcher's responsibility to secure permission from copyright holders of materials to which this institution does not own copyright.
Images in this collection are identified by a unique number that provides information about the format, record group, collection, series, box, folder, and image numbers. Please use this number when ordering reproductions of images from this collection.
Record Group Code
1 = CAT/Air American Archives
2 = Doolittle Archives
3 = Lighter than Air Archives
4 = George H. Williams, Jr., World War I Aviation Library
5 = History of Aviation Archives
6 = University Archives
7 = HAC Stacks
8 = WPRL Stacks
9 = Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Collection
10 = Belsterling Collection
11 = Closed Stacks
12 = Unidentified
13 = Chance Vought Archives
14 = Twirly Birds Archives
Image Format Code
P = Photograph/Postcard
S = Slide
N = Negative
T = Positive Transparency
B = Black and White
C = Color
Example: 5AL-1-1-PB1
5 = History of Aviation Archives
AL= Al Backstrom Papers
= Series Number
1 = Box Number
1 = Folder Number
P = Photograph/Postcard
B = Black and White
1 = Image Number
Images archived in plastic image holders may also have a location code in the format: 1/TL. In this example, the number is the sheet number and the letters indicate the top left position on the sheet. Position indicators are T = top, L = left, R = right, M = middle, and B = bottom. Position indicators may be combined to describe the position on the sheet, as shown in this example.
- Acrobatics Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Aerial spraying and dusting in agriculture Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Aeronautics, Military Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Aeronautics. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Airplanes Turbojet engines Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Airplanes--Fuselage Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Airplanes--Models. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Airplanes--Parts Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Avco Corporation Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Gliders (Aeronautics) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Gliders (Aeronautics)--Design and construction. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Gliders (Aeronautics)--Models Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- History of Aviation Archives Subject Source: Local sources
- Rivets and riveting, Aircraft Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States. Federal Aviation Agency Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Backstrom, Al, Mr. (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Al Backstrom Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Thomas Allen, PhD
- Date
- 2020-08-19
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English (eng)
- Edition statement
- First revision by Patrizia Nava, CA. 2020-08-19.
Revision Statements
- 2020-08-19: 1st revision was a completion of the series description, scope and content note, and other format elements in the finding aid by Patrizia Nava, CA.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Division, History of Aviation Archives. Repository
3020 Waterview Pkwy
SP2
Suite 11.206
Richardson Texas 75080 US
972-883-2570
LIBSPCO@utdallas.edu.