David Brown, a native of Virginia, received his B.S. in biology from William and Mary in 1978. During his four years as an undergraduate, he served as a resident adviser and was active on the gymnastics squad as a four year letterman. He was also a member of Pi Sigma and participated in Project Plus, an innovative educational program which led to coed housing on campus. Brown obtained his doctorate in medicine from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1982. He then joined the Navy and became a flight surgeon, training as a pilot and naval aviator. In 1996 he was selected by NASA to train as an astronaut. Brown returned to William and Mary to share some of his insights as convocation speaker in 2002. He then became the first William and Mary alumnus to fly into space as a member of the STS-107 Columbia research mission in January, 2003. Tragically, he and his fellow crew members lost their lives upon the shuttle's reentry to Earth. In honor of his achievements, he was posthumously awarded the William and Mary Alumni Association's Award and the athletics department established the Dave Brown Memorial Endowment for scholar-athletes in his honor.
For more information regarding David Brown's life and career, see the official NASA website:
Items received from Douglas Brown, 2004; items received 4/28/2006 from Fred Ward; items received from Cliff Gauthier.
David Brown's 1975-1976 Colonial Echo yearbooks from William and Mary are housed separately from other portions of the collection. Lastly, Philip Chien's autographed book Columbia Final Voyage: The Last Flight of NASA's First Space Shuttle is housed separately from this collection in the University Archives book collection and can be found in the library's online catalog.
A gymnastics award given to David Brown was separated from this collection and added to the University Archives Artifact Collection in March 2011, and was given the accession number 2011.155.
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
This collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
David Brown Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
A gymnastics award given to David Brown was separated from this collection and added to the University Archives Artifact Collection in March 2011, and was given the accession number 2011.155.
Arranged into the following series: Education and Biographical Materials; STS-107 Columbia Mission, Publicity and Memorials; and Columbia Mission Maintenance and Training Manuals.
This collection contains material related to David Brown's education at the College of William and Mary and his career in the Navy and NASA. It also contains material related specifically to the public promotion, research, operation, and remembrance of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The materials consist of photographs, articles, publications, news clippings, correspondence, and pamphlets, as well as artifacts such as patches, pins, coins, and decals. There are also CDs and DVDs regarding the shuttle mission. Larger artifacts include David Brown's Navy uniform and flight suit, his letterman jacket, a watercolor of the space shuttle and Brown's William and Mary blanket.
This series includes material related to David Brown's student years including at the College of William and Mary and his career in the U.S. Navy and NASA. Materials include articles, invitations, and William and Mary publications. Artifacts include Brown's William and Mary blanket as well as his navy uniform, flight suit, and letterman jacket.
A pin is affixed to the blanket. Dimensions: 60" W by 68" H; stored rolled
NASA Flight Suit, dark blue cotton used during speaking engagements with the public. In 1996, NASA issued the suit to David Brown, who was part of Group 16, the largest cohort of astronauts to that time.
Patch on the right chest is a NASA patch. On the left chest is a leather patch printed with a gold image of naval aviator wings and "D. M. Brown / LCDR USNR" also in gold print. U.S. flag patch on the left shoulder and a patch for Astronaut Group 16 on the right shoulder.
Khaki green naval flight suit with triangular patch "United States Naval Strike Warfare Center" and rectangular ID patch "Dave Brown / Naval Strike Warefare Center" with Alaskan flag pin affixed in the upper right corner.
This series includes material related to the launch, flight, and loss of the space shuttle Columbia. The material consists of publications, correspondence, articles, and memorials. Artifacts include CDs, DVDs, decals, patches, and commemorative coins and pins.
The astronauts listened to this album during their mission. It was later dedicated to them.
NOTE: 2 copies are in the collection.
NOTE: This item is a companion to the book by the same name, which can be located in the library catalog.
This decal is the offical NASA logo. Dimensions: 4.75"X4" Condition: Excellent
This decal is the official STS-107 mission emblem with the names of the astronauts included on it. There are two in the collection. Dimensions: 4"X5" Condition: Excellent
This decal is the emblem of the NASA Fundamental Biology Program. Dimensions: 4.75"X3" Condition: Excellent
This decal is the emblem of the astronaut class of 1996. Dimensions: 4"X4" Condition: Excellent
This decal is the group motto: "For Sardines Space is No Problem." Dimensions: 3"X3" Condition: Excellent
This patch is the official STS-107 mission logo. There are two in the collection. Dimensions: 3.5"X5" Condition:Excellent
This decal is the logo of astronaut class 1996. Dimensions: 4"X4" Condition: Excellent
This decal is a memorial patch for the crew. Dimensions: 3.5"X5" Condition: Excellent
Launch Guest Pin
Space Flight Awareness Pin
Official commemorative coin set in a decorated plastic box.
Novelty coin with STS-107 logo
Columbia memorial pin designed by the Space Shuttle Children's Trust Fund.
STS-107 crew memorial coin sealed in plastic. There are two in the collection.
Memorial ribbon pin.
Official logo of the STS-107 mission. There are two in the collection.
This series includes training and operational manuals for the Columbia shuttle mission, a schedule of daily activities, notes regarding pre-flight activities, personnel books, and flight checklists.