US-RPB-of1X.12 Guide to the Planetary Data Center recordscirca 1976-1982 Finding aid prepared by Brown University Library staff Processing funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Brown University Archives
John Hay Library Box A Brown University Providence, RI, 02912 (401) 863-2148 email:archives@brown.edu
2012 November 15 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013 January 28 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Planetary Data Center records OF.1X.12 John Hay Library Special Collections
Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu
English 1.0 linear foot circa 1976-1982 The Planetary Data Center records contains general office files, newsletters, minutes of meetings, statistics, lists of equipment and other materials related to the operation of the Center. Materials date from 1976 to 1982. Brown University. Northeast Planetary Data Center. Planetary Data Center records Administrative History

The Planetary Data Center at Brown University opened in the spring of 1981 in the Sciences Library at Brown. It was dedicated to the memory of Thomas A. Mutch, who was the founder of Brown's planetary geology group. Professor James Head was its first director. In 1984 the Center was moved to the Lincoln Field Building on the Brown campus.

The Planetary Data Center is now known as the Northeast Planetary Data Center. It provides planetary geology data to researchers, educators, media and the general public. It houses a vast amount of data obtained by the U.S. Space Program from 1962 to the present. The Data Center collection contains a wide range of primary sources including photographic prints, negatives, transparencies, maps, mission support documents, digital media and scientific reference books from the various NASA missions conducted over the past forty years. Several workstations are available, as well as film and paper scanners and printers.

The Center is operated through a cooperative agreement between NASA's Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program and Brown University. The Data Center is part of a network of Regional Planetary Image Facilities located throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan.

 Office files Series I circa 1976-1982 Planetary Data Center meetings, agendas and minutes 1 1 1980 Planetary Data Center equipment 1 2 1981 Associate Specialist, Photolibrary and Maps, job description 1 3 1982 NASA, Data Announcement Bulletin 1 4 Planetary Data Center opening--Open house 1 5 1982 Regional Planetary Image Facility (RPIF) Newsletter 1 6 1982 Planetary Data Center statistics 1 7 1980 NASA--Work requests, Brown University 1 8 1980 Planetary Data Center 2 9 1977-1978 Planetary Data Center 2 10 1979 Planetary Data Center 2 11 1980 Planetary Data Center 2 12 1981 Planetary Data Center 2 13 1982 Planetary Data Center miscellaneous undated material 2 14 Before 1976 Collection information

There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.

Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.

The Planetary Data Center records contain office files related to the Center's operation from circa 1976 to 1982. The records have been organized into one series: Series I, Office files, contains general office files, newsletters, minutes of meetings, statistics, lists of equipment and other materials.

Planetary Data Center records, OF-1X-12, Brown University Archives.

The Planetary Data Center records are organized in one series: I. Office files, circa 1976-1982.

 Administrative information

Additional information

Names Brown University. Dept. of Geological Sciences. Planetary Geology Group. Subjects Education Planets--Geology--Research Planets--Research Occupations

Types of Materials Newsletters Office files RIAMCO Browsing Term Education