Finding Aid for the KSU Airport records

Repository: Kent State University. Special Collections and Archives.
Title: Kent State University Airport records
Inclusive Dates: 1924-2016
Author: Finding aid prepared by Kristin Silvestro, June 2026
Origination: Kent State University. Airport.
Extent:  2.20 cubic feet (2 boxes= 2 record storage boxes and 3 oversize flat folders)
Physical Location: 10th floor
Abstract: This collection contains records about the development and activities of the Kent State University Airport operated by the university and located in Stow, Ohio. 
Language: English
Descriptive Rules: DACS 2nd Edition

History of KSU Airport 

The Kent State University Airport, originally known as Stow Aviation Field, opened to the public in 1920, but may have been operating as an airport for military purposes during WWI as early as 1917. It continued to operate as an airport under different ownership and management until 1942, when Kent State purchased the land from Rudy VanDevere. The airport was renamed Kent State University Airport. In 1966, the airfield was named Andrew W. Paton Field. Professor Paton was with the program from 1941-1964 and taught the first aerospace course.

Since its purchase it has continued to operate as a public airport while simultaneously facilitating KSU's academic aeronautics program and flight training. Dr. Eugene Ripple prepared a number of historical overviews of the airport during his time as the airport's director which can be found in the subject file of this collection. Additional historical information can also be found in the book  A century of flight at Paton Field : the story of Kent State University's airport and flight education.

Scope and Content: 

The first series of this collection contains administrative documents such as agreements, correspondence, master plans, procedures, proposals, and reports. The second series contains an alphabetical subject file of records related to the airport. Series three is comprised of records from Albert C. Beckwith who operated his business, Commercial Aviation Corporation, out of the airport from the 1960s-2000s. As much as possible his papers were kept together, but because of how materials were donated and transferred to the department, some of Mr. Beckwith's materials may also be mixed in with other series. The largest group of his records pertain to efforts to save the airport from closure between 2002-2013. The final series contains scrapbooks and artifacts related to the airport. The scrapbooks in this series were compiled by Eugene Ripple. 

A smaller previously processed collection comprised of airport records transferred by university entities from the 1980s through the early 2000s was integrated into this larger collection to keep the materials together. 

Statement of Arrangement: This collection is organized into 4 series:

• Series 1: Administration
• Series 2: Subject Files
• Series 3: Albert C. Beckwith Files
• Series 4: Scrapbooks and Artifacts

Preferred Citation: Kent State University Airport. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives. 

Restrictions on Use: Copyright is not known for all materials in this collection, particularly photographs. 

Acquisition Information: A majority of this collection was transferred to the archives by Barbara Schloman in 2018 and 2020. A small portion of this collection came from internal university transfers. 

Controlled Access Headings
The following are found in this collection:

Subjects:
Kent State University Airport (Stow, Ohio) -- Archives
Airports -- Ohio -- Stow -- History
Aeronautics -- Study and teaching -- Ohio -- History
Flight training -- Ohio -- History
Kent State University -- History

Places:
Kent (Ohio)
Stow (Ohio)

Functions:
Aeronautics -- Study and teaching
Airports -- Management

Occupations:
College administrators

Material types:
Albums (Books)
Business correspondence
Clippings
Correspondence
Photographs
Records (Documents)
Scrapbooks
 

Series 1: Administration

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Agreement-Portage Flight Center, 1999, 2003
2. Appraisal- University Airport, 1948 
3. Correspondence, 1986
4. Correspondence, 1990
5. Correspondence, 1991
6. Correspondence, 1994
7. Correspondence, 1995
8. Correspondence, 1996
9. Facilities- Airport Facilities Preliminary Requirements, 1967
10. Master Plan, 1977
11. Master Plan- “Andrew W. Paton Field Kent State University Public Information Report,” 1990s?
12. Master Plan- Drafts, 2003
13. Master Plan- Drafts, 2004
14. Master Plan- “Flight Operations/Airport Master Plan,” March 21, 1994
15. Master Plan- Meetings and Correspondence, 2002-2004
16. Master Plan- Meetings and Correspondence, 2004
17. Proposal- “Combined KSU/AU/City of Akron Aviation Proposal,” December 7, 1993
18. Proposal- Lease of Maintenance Hangar and Aircraft Maintenance Services Proposal instructions, March 1999
19. Procedures- Line Service Training Manual, ca. 1991
20. Procedures- Proposed Flight Standardization Manual, undated
21. Procedures- Kent State University Airport Rules and Regulations, July 1, 1986
22. Procedures- Kent State University Airport Standard Operating Procedures, 1983
23. Procedures- Kent State University Airport Supplemental Ground Instruction Private and Commercial Pilot, 1980,1981
24. Procedures- “School Policies & Faculty Guidelines For Student Advising School of Technology,” 1992
25. Reports- Annual Report for the Airport, 1996, 1997
26. Reports- Annual Report from Transportation Services, 1995
27. Reports- Annual Report from Transportation Services, 1996
28. Reports- External Program Review, 1998
29. Reports- “Kent State University Airport: A Report,” June 24, 1964
30. Reports- “President’s Report for the Kent State University Airport: A Historical Overview with Administrative, Financial, and Staffing Information including Problem areas and proposed changes for the University Airport and Flight Training Program” July 25, 1991

Series 2: Subject Files

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

31. Agreement Forms, 1979, 1980-1981
32. Aircraft Inventories, 1980s-2000s
33. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Awards, 1973, 1977
34. Andrew W. Paton draft thesis “Aeronautics Training in Higher Education” 1952
35. Aviation Day, 1996
36. Aviation Day, 1999-2011
37. Aviation Day, 2012
38. Aviation Day, 2013
39. Aviation Day, 2014
40. Brochures and Pamphlets, 1989, 1996, undated
41. Continental Express Program, 2000
42. Department of Transportation Publications, 2006, undated
43. Department of Transportation Publications- “The Ohio County Airport Story 1964-1975,” undated
44. Flight Planning Documents, 1978, 1979, 1989
45. Flight Training Program- Changes, 1989-1990
46. Flight Training Program- Non-Majors, 1995-1999
47. History- “Kent State University Airport,” by Eugene Ripple, ca. 1975
48. History- “History of Aerospace Technology at Kent State University, 1941-1976” by Eugene Ripple, 1976
49. History- “Kent State University Airport: Historical Overview,” by Eugene Ripple, July 31, 1989, 1991
50. Incidents, 1990, 1999
51. Maps and Blueprints, 1974, 2003, undated
        Physical Location: Oversized items are shelved in map case.
52. NAUAAE Conference at Kent State University, July 1949
53. Newspaper Clippings, 1940s
54. Newspaper Clippings, 1990s
55. Newspaper Clippings, 2000s

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

1. Photographs- 1940s, undated
2. Photographs- 1998
3. Photographs- Akron Airways, ca. 1941
4. Points of Interest- KSU Airport, undated
5. Police Investigations, 1993, 2008
6. Schwabe, Richard, 1940s
7. Schwabe, Richard, 2011, undated
8. Sign proposal, 1985
9. Speech- Sarah Deal, undated
10. Stow Flying Field, 1920s-1930s
11. Stow Noise Ordinance, 1989
12. University Flying Club, 1945, 1948, 1968
13. Vision 21 Banquet, 2000

Series 3: Al Beckwith Files

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

13. Beckwith- Airport Development, 1998-1999
14. Beckwith- Correspondence- Hangar Construction, 1989
15. Beckwith- Master Plan files, 2003
16. Beckwith- Master Plan files, 2003
17. Beckwith- Master Plan files, 2013, undated
18. Beckwith- Presentation to Eugene Ripple, 1986
19. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2002
20. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
21. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
22. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
23. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
24. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
25. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
26. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
27. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
28. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
29. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
30. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
31. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
32. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2003-2004
33. Beckwith- Save the Airport campaigns, 2007
34. Beckwith- Stow Noise Ordinance, 1989-1990
35. Beckwith- Stow Noise Ordinance, 1989-1990

Series 4: Scrapbooks and Artifacts

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

36. Banner of 336th College Training Detachment (CTD) at Kent State, 1943
        Physical Location: Shelved in map case.
37. Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) patch, 1942
38. College Training Detachment (CTD) program patch, 1943
39. Posters, 2015-2026, undated
        Physical Location: Shelved in map case.
40. Scrapbook, 1969-1982
41. Scrapbook, 1983-1988
42. Scrapbook, 1989-1992