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Allison Transmission

In-Person History Lecture and Q&A Session

Join us in the Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) at Central Library for an in-person lecture and Q&A session on the history of Allison Engineering Company, now Allison Transmission.

Join us in the Indianapolis Special Collections 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 James A. Allison, Prest-O-Lite and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Allison’s contributions during World Wars I and II, turboprops, rocket work and the Apollo Program, and the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust.

Presenter: John Leonard grew up in Speedway, Indiana, and graduated 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 Indianapolis for about 12 years.

Currently, he serves as the archivist for the Allison Branch of the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, which houses both an archive of Allison information 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 Society, and frequent articles for the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust.

His grandfather and father each worked for about 30 years for the Allison Division of General Motors and both served on the Town Board of Speedway.

Location: Held in the Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) on the 6th floor within Central Library located at 40 East Saint Clair Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Parking: The Central Library has a parking garage available to patrons during their time at the Library. Garage pricing information is detailed here. The garage can be accessed on Pennsylvania Street.

This free in-person program is part of the Culture, History, and Society: Historic Indianapolis Metropolitan Area programs hosted by the Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) located on the 6th floor within Central Library. Made possible by Friends of the Library through gifts to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation and the NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors Volunteer Program. 

Age Group: Adults

Contact: Special Collections Librarian Montoya Barker

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