This History Timeline page incorporates a chronicle of significant events, projects, meetings, and other activities in the life of the Friends, featuring the people who support our mission through photographs and other documents. Select the document, right, for a brief history of the Friends.

1987

February 10, 1987

The Friends of the Air Force Academy Library is founded and chartered in Colorado.

1988

November 11, 1988

The Friends first annual meeting and luncheon, featuring guest speaker Mr. Henry Soderberg of Stockholm, Sweden. Among his many achievements, Mr. Soderberg served with the International YMCA in Germany, servicing allied prisoner of war camps in Eastern Europe during World War II.

1989

May 19, 1989

The Friends annual luncheon, featuring guest speaker Lt. Col. Yvonne C. Pateman, USAF (Ret.) and member of the WASP (Women's Airforce Service Pilots).

September 1989

Through the efforts of The Friends, the Academy library is designated as the official repository for the records of members of the Eagle Squadrons of World War II.

November 30, 1989

The El Pomar Foundation of Colorado Springs approves a grant of $25,000 for the preservation of prints, documents, and other items in the Colonel Richard Gimbel Aeronautical History Collection.

1990

July 25, 1990

The Friends annual luncheon, featuring George Fagan, who gave a biographical sketch of Richard Gimbel and how he amassed his famous aeronautical collection.

October 1990

The Boettcher Foundation of Denver approves a grant of $23,000 to remat and encase rare, antique prints of the Gimbel Collections.

1991

August 16, 1991

The Friends annual luncheon featuring guest speaker Lt. General Bradley C. Hosmer, USAFA Superintendent.

1991

The Friends partners with the Falcon Foundation to preserve the quality of the 207 oral history tapes developed by Air Force Historian, Dr. Murray Green, for his research of the career of General H. H. Arnold.

1992

May 8, 1992

The Friends annual luncheon, featuring Brigadier General Ruben Cubero, USAFA Dean of the Faculty.

1992

The Friends offers a new memorial program to honor individuals, groups (such as air crews and other combat units), or organizations through their contributions.

1993

May 6, 1993

The Friends annual luncheon, featuring retired Brigadier General Philip D. Caine, author of the book Eagles of the RAF.

1994

May 13, 1994

The Friends annual luncheon, featuring Brigadier General Patrick K. Gamble, USAFA Commandant of Cadets.

August 1994

Secretary of the Air Force Shelia Widnall visits with the Friends.

1995

March 17, 1995

The Friends first exhibit, highlighting photos, flight logs, memoirs, books, and artifacts from the Eagle Squadrons’ Collection.

April 1995

Mr. David Ganz, President, American Numismatic Association presents the Association's Presidential Award to Lt. General A. P. Clark.

Ed Rochette, ???, David Gantz, Lt. Gen. Clark, & Don Barrett

May 5, 1995

The Friends annual luncheon, featuring Brigadier General Ruben Cubero, USAFA Dean of Faculty.

1996

March 15, 1996

The Friends second Annual Lecture and Exhibit, featuring the Benjamin Steele collection, who served in the Army during World War II, endured the Bataan Death March and a Japanese prisoner of war camp as a slave laborer.

May 6, 1996

The Friends annual luncheon, featuring Brigadier General John. D. Hopper, Jr. USAFA Commandant of Cadets.

1997

April 25, 1997

The Friends annual exhibit, this year depicting the history of Stalag Luft III, with a presentation by historian Arthur Durand, author of Stalag Luft III: The Secret Story.

December 4, 1997

The Friends Annual Board Meeting at Doolittle Hall.

1998

May 7, 1998

The Friends annual luncheon with speaker Lieutenant General Tad Oelstrom, USAFA Superintendent.

1999

May 11, 1999

The Friends annual luncheon with speaker Brigadier General David A. Wagie, USAFA Dean of the Faculty.

2000

May 16, 2000

The Friends annual luncheon with speaker Dr. Frederick T. Kiley, civilian professor in the Academy's Department of English.

October 20, 2000

The Friends receives the World War II Papers of General George Stratemeyer from Mr. & Mrs. Tom Overlander.

October 26, 2000

The Friends hosts a gala luncheon and reception, celebrating the publication of The Genesis of Flight.

2001

May 11, 2001

The Friends annual luncheon with speaker Lt. General John R. Dallager, USAFA Superintendent.

2002

May 9, 2002

The Friends annual board meeting and luncheon with guest speaker Colonel Jim Shaw, USAFA Association of Graduates CEO

2003

April 10, 2003

Special Collections is dedicated as the Clark Special Collections Branch, recognizing the accomplishments of Lt. General A. P. Clark, USAF, Academy Superintendent and President, Friends of the Library.

May 13, 2003

The Friends annual board meeting and luncheon with guest speaker Lt. Colonel Lawrence E. Schaad, director of the Air Force Academy Falconry Program from 1981 to 1995.

Lt. General Clark also announced the publication of his book Falconry at the United States Air Force Academy.

2004

April 1, 2004

The Friends officially begins the 50th anniversary celebration of the Air Force Academy with a reception for over 200 people and the initial screening of the DVD Expect Great Things.

2005

May 19, 2005

The Friends annual luncheon meeting, featuring guest speaker Dean of the Faculty, Brigadier General Dana H. Born.

2006

May 17, 2006

The Friends annual luncheon meeting, featuring guest speaker USAFA Superintendent, Lt. General John F. Regni.

2007

May 15, 2007

The Friends annual luncheon meeting, featuring guest speaker Dr. Phil Meilinger, author of the book Hubert R. Harmon, Airman, Officer, Father of the Air Force Academy.

2008

The Friends annual Board of Directors’ meeting and luncheon at the Academy Falcon Club, featuring guest speaker Brig. General Susan Y. Desjardins, Commandant of Cadets.

2009

The Board of Directors of The Friends of the Air Force Academy Library annual meeting on April 16, 2009, featuring Dr. Phil Meilinger, the author of Hubert R. Harmon: Airman, Officer, Father of the Air Force Academy.

2010

May 11, 2010

The Friends annual luncheon meeting featuring guest speaker Lieutenant General Mike Gould, USAFA Superintendent.

2011

2012

May 8, 2012

The Friends annual luncheon meeting featuring guest speaker U. S. Navy Captain Mike McGrath.

2013

May 22, 2013

The Friends annual luncheon meeting featuring guest speaker Colonel Martin France, Permanent Professor and Head of the Academy Department of Astronautics.

2014

February 2014

The Friends makes The Genesis of Flight available online.

May 21, 2014

The Friends annual luncheon meeting featuring guest speaker USAFA Superintendent, Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson.

2015

May 19, 2015

The Friends annual luncheon meeting featuring guest speaker USAFA Dean of the Faculty, Brigadier General Andrew P. Armacost.

2016

May 2016

The Friends annual luncheon meeting featuring guest speaker Colonel Anglea Suplisson, head of the USAFA Aeronautics Department and the Unmanned Aerial Systems Center.

2017

May 9, 2017

The Friends annual luncheon featuring guest speaker NASA astronaut Susan Helms, Lieutenant General (USAF, Ret.).

2018

May 11, 2018

The Friends annual luncheon featuring guest speaker Lieutenant General Jay Silveria, USAFA Superintendent.

2019

May 7, 2019

The Friends Annual Board Meeting and Luncheon was held at the USAFA Falcon Club on May 7, 2019, featuring Ms. Diane Klare, the USAFA library director.

2020

2021

September 16, 2021

The Friends Annual Board Meeting and Luncheon featuring guest speaker Dean of the Faculty, Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre.

2022

March 2022

The Friends debuts a redesigned and expanded website.

May 11, 2022

The Friends Annual Board Meeting and Luncheon with guest speaker Dr. Joel Hebert, Chief of Clark Special Collections, USAF Academy Library.

2023

May 19, 2023

The Friends Annual Board Meeting and Luncheon with guest speaker Colonel Matt Dietz, Department Head of the History Department at the United States Air Force Academy.