John William Miller Papers
Scope and Content
The John William Miller Papers contains personal information about John William Miller, as well as a wealth of technical reference material that would be useful to a researcher interested in the testing and development of aircraft engines, helicopter transmissions, and other aeronautical subsystems during the 1940s through 1970s.
Series I: Education
Series I, Education, includes documents related to the formal education of John William Miller. It includes items from his K-12 education in Kansas, including several items related to his graduation from Norton Community High School in 1934. It includes documents pertaining to his undergraduate education at Kansas State College (now Kansas State University), as well as additional coursework, particularly at the University of Kentucky's Engineering Defense Training Program in 1941. It includes records of training and professional development undertaken through Wright Patterson Air Force Base, also. 1 box.
Series II: Personal
Series II, Personal, includes many different documents of a more personal nature, such as: driver's license, ration stamps, news clippings, and certificates. This series includes multiple folders of personnel documents related to John's career at WPAFB, such as Efficiency Ratings, Notifications of Personnel Actions, resumes, and retirement. John's eight-page resume may be of particular interest to the researcher; it is dated 1974 and covers his entire career in great detail. One folder relates to John's involvement with Toastmasters and includes several of his speeches. There is also a folder containing documents related to John's death in 2005, including an obituary. 1 box.
Series III: Reference
Series III, Reference, is the largest series in the collection and contains material that would have been used for technical reference. It includes: scholarly articles (written by others); conference materials; course materials and lecture notes; textbook excerpts; product manuals; design manuals and guides; reference manuals and guides; data sheets; model specification sheets (engines, airplanes); military specifications and military standards; environmental data; subject files; and pocket reference guides. The subject matter of the reference materials ranges from general mechanical engineering manuals; to general information about aircraft engines, helicopter transmissions, and other subsystem components; to product-specific or model-specific guides. 7 boxes.
Series IV: Reports
Series IV, Reports, contains Technical Reports, Technical Notes, test reports and project reports. One folder pertaining to the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) project may be of particular interest to the researcher. This series contains two oversized items, located in box 13, and indicated in the finding aid by "OS 13". 3 boxes.
Series V: Catalogs
Series V, Catalogs, includes sales catalogs and other promotional materials from subsystem component manufacturers. The series includes catalogs for the following companies: Lycoming, Continental, Heli-Coil, Tedeco, and Cone-Drive. 1 box.
Series VI: Photographs
Series VI, Photographs, contains both personal and work-related photographs. The personal photographs include mainly photographs of John as a young man; a few school group photos; John and his wife Kay; reunions; and travel. The work-related photographs include photos of airplanes and helicopters; control panels; system components; tests; and awards ceremonies. The folder of AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) photographs may be of particular interest to researchers. This series contains two oversized items, located in box 13, and indicated in the finding aid by "OS 13". 2 boxes.
Series VII: Posters
Series VII, Posters, includes a few oversized posters of airplanes and system diagrams. All items in this series are oversized and located in map case drawer 73, indicated in the finding aid by "OS 73".
Dates
- Creation: 1920-2005
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1950-1969
Creator
- Miller, John William, 1916-2005 (Person)
Restrictions on Access
There are no restrictions on accessing materials in this collection.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Biography of John William Miller
John William Miller was born October 16, 1916, in Cabool, Missouri, to Fred M. and Florence (Wicker) Miller. When John was eight years old, his family moved to Norton, Kansas. John attended Almena High School for two years and then Norton Community High School. He was a member of Glee club, Hi-Y, and Future Farmers of America. John graduated from Norton Community High School, where he was a social science major, on May 17, 1934.
After high school, John attended Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science, in Manhattan, Kansas. He graduated on July 28, 1939, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. John later completed additional courses and training at Ohio State University; University of Kentucky (Engineering Defense Training Program); University of Dayton; and Wright State University. In 1941, John came to Dayton, Ohio, to work at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, in the Power Plant Laboratory. John worked at WPAFB for 35 years, retiring in 1976 as the Chief Subsystems Engineer (Propulsion and Power Division), collocated in the AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) project. During his time at WPAFB, he worked as a test engineer, aeronautical engineer, and aerospace engineer, testing small aircraft engines, turboprop and turboshaft turbine engines, and helicopter transmission systems. He also served as a supervisor, project team leader, Section Chief, and later Chief Subsystems Engineer. He contributed to the publication of several Army Air Corps Technical Reports, Memorandum Reports, and Technical Notes. John was also a registered Professional Engineer.
John led a full life outside of the workplace as well. He married Katherine Jones, whom he met while working at WPAFB. Katherine had been a member of the stenography pool assigned to his engineering group. John and Katherine had two children, a son Gary (deceased) and a daughter Barbara. John was a member of South Park United Methodist Church in Dayton; the Toastmasters International Club #405 (a member from 1951 and former president); and the William E. Ash Aphasia Support Group at Miami Valley Hospital. He often attended the Aviation Club at the Hithergreen Senior Citizens Center, and was at one time an active member of the Boys Scouts of America Troop Committee #153.
John died on April 7, 2005. Prior to his death, he was living in Centerville, Ohio, and is buried in Centerville Cemetery.
Extent
6.5 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Most of the items in this collection are either about John Miller or were used by him in his career as an engineer and civil expert on the jet engine at Wright Patterson Air Force Base from 1941 to 1976. The collection documents the testing and development of aircraft engines, helicopter transmissions, and other subsystem components. The collection includes: educational background about Miller; personal information, such as memorabilia and personnel records; engineering and technical reference materials, such as manuals and guides, data sheets, and military specifications; technical reports and notes; project reports; product catalogs; photographs and posters.
Statement of Arrangement
The John William Miller Papers are organized into 7 series:
- Series I: Education
- Series II: Personal
- Series III: Reference
- Series IV: Reports
- Series V: Catalogs
- Series VI: Photographs
- Series VII: Posters
Acquisition Information
The John William Miller Papers were donated to Wright State University Special Collections and Archives by Bob Robke, on behalf of John's widow, Kay Miller, after John's death in 2005. The collection was accessioned on 1 Nov. 2006. Kay Miller donated some additional personal materials in January 2007.
- Title
- Guide to the John William Miller Papers (MS-345)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Lisa (Pasquinelli) Rickey, March, 2007.
- Date
- 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092
library-archives@wright.edu
