Jack Real papers, 1932-2005

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Summary

Creators:
Real, Jack G. (Jack Garrett)
Abstract:
The Jack Real papers consist of research material related to Howard Hughes’ biography. Also included are books, printed matter, photographs, and VHS belonging to Real and his career in the aerospace industry.
Extent:
21 boxes, 1 oversize folder, and 1 tube
Language:
The records are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

The bulk of this collection appears to be material related to Jack Real’s research about his best friend, Howard Hughes. There are multiple drafts of "The Real Story" and a final draft of "Howard’s Last Best Friend," which appears to be an earlier version of "The Asylum of Howard Hughes," (2003). Other research material includes excerpts from various texts, newsletters, aircraft information, correspondence, permission requests, and feedback about the book. It also appears that Real also used the weekly agendas and memos from the Evergreen Aviation & Museum for his book as well.

Cataloger's notes: Any drafts labeled "The Real Story" in the footnote are found in Box 8 and 9. The newspaper clippings that Real may have used for his book are found in Box 8 (2).

The subject files also constitute a large part of this collection. Various material may be found in each subject file from correspondence, biographical data, printed matter, newsletters, technical data, and photographs. There are a few topics, such as the TriStar (Jet transport) and Constellation, which are found independently from the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation file.

Also found in this collection are books, appointment books, and VHS belonging to Jack Real. There are also commemorative annual meeting books, programs, correspondence, and printed matter related to the Conquistadores del Cielo, a club for airline executives, where Real was a member.

Arranged by genre.

Biographical / historical:

Jack Real was born on May 31, 1915 in Calumet, Michigan. He graduated from the Michigan Technological University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1937.

From 1939 through 1971, Real worked for Lockheed-California Company designing, developing and testing numerous Lockheed aircrafts including the B-14 Hudson Bomber, Constellation, and AH-56A Cheyenne. In 1971, Real served as Senior Vice President of Aviation at Hughes Helicopters and became president in 1979. Real guided the successful AH-64 Apache helicopter program for the United States Army. After the acquisition of Hughes Helicopters by McDonnell Douglas, Real was named President and Chief Executive Officer of that company until his retirement in 1987. During his retirement, Real was instrumental in relocating the Hughes-H4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, where he served as President from 1995 through 2001.

Real met Howard Hughes in November 1957 while working at Lockheed-California Company. Real became Hughes' trusted friend and personal advisor until Hughes' death in 1976. Real published "The Asylum of Howard Hughes" where he details his 20-year friendship with Hughes including his death on board an aircraft en route to a hospital in Houston, Texas.

Real passed away due to heart failure on September 6, 2005 in Mission Hills, California.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Betty O'Connor, July 2010.
Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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