The J. Preston Layton Collection is housed in 68 boxes, occupying approximately 102 feet of shelf space. The collection contains numerous technical reports and other material  on space power and propulsion dated between 1945 and 1988. It is especially strong in the area of Nuclear Energy.
    This collection reflects more than 40   years of activity at Princeton University and private consulting by Mr. Layton, and contains both historical and technical information. The original topical arrangement devised by Mr. Layton has been retained.
    Major topics include: Energy, Solar Power Satellites, Nuclear Space Flight Systems, Space Propulsion and Transportation, Solar System Exploration. Types of material include technical reports and articles, proceedings of conferences and meetings, memos, progress reports, and theses and dissertations. Nearly all of the material relates to the United States. One box, however, includes materials on Soviet Space Programs. Prior to donating the collection to Texas A&M University
    Mr. Layton reduced it by between one-third and one-half by removing duplicate items and items he felt were no longer of any importance. Thus, in a sense, he did an archival appraisal from the point of a practicing scientist with over four decades of experience in the field. No further appraisal was done during processing.
    The Center for Space Power at  Texas A&M University provided the contact for the acquisition of this collection and funded the shipping to Texas A&M University. Mr. Layton has additional material in approximately twenty boxes which is to be given to Texas A&M University at a later date.