Join us in the Indianapolis Special Collec tions Room (ISCR) at Central Library for an in-person lecture and Q&\;A session on the history of Allison Engineering Company\, now Allison Transmission. Topics include Jam es A. Allison\, P rest-O-Lite and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway\, Allison&rsquo\;s contr ibutions during World Wars I and II\, turboprops\, rocket work and the Apollo Program\, and the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust .
\nPresenter: John Leonard grew up in Speedway\, Indiana\, and grad uated from Speedway High School in 1957. He studied mechanical engineering at the General Motors Institute and Purdue University. He then worked in the engineering departments at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis for 33 years . After retiring\, he worked intermittently for Rolls-Royce in Indianapoli s for about 12 years.
\nCurrently\, he serves as the archivist for t he Allison Branch of the Rolls-Ro yce Heritage Trust\, which houses both an archive of Allison informati on and a museum of Allison aircraft engines and other products. He is the author of four books on Allison and its engines\, two aviation articles for the American Aviation Historical Soci ety\, and frequent articles for the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust.
\nHi s grandfather and father each worked for about 30 years for the Allison Di vision of General Motors and both served on the Town Board of Speedway.
\nLocation: Held in the Indianapolis Special Collecti ons Room (ISCR) on the 6th floor within Central Library located at 40 East Saint Clair Street\, Indianapolis\, IN 46204.
\nParking: The Central Library has a parking garage available to patrons durin g their time at the Library. Garage pricing information is detailed here. The garage can be accessed on Pennsylvania Street.
\nThis free in-person progra m is part of the \;Culture\, History\, and Society: Historic Indianapo lis Metropolitan Area \;programs hosted by the Indianapolis Special Co llections Room (ISCR) \;located on the 6th floor within Central Librar y. Made possible by Friends of the Library through gifts to \;The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation and the NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors Volunteer Program. \ ;
\nAge Group: Adults
\nContact: Special Collections Librarian Mon toya Barker
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