The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record [Individual Photographs]

'The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record' is an annotated photo album covering Robert H. Goddard's work and experimentation with rocketry. It was assembled and curated by Esther Goddard sometime after her husband's passing in 1945.

The vast majority of these photographs were taken by Esther herself. Esther was an avid camerawoman and photographer, and during Robert's lifetime she meticulously documented his career in rocketry -- from experiments and instruments to processes and workspaces. In his book Rocket Man: Robert H. Goddard and the Birth of the Space Age, David A. Clary states that Esther "became a pioneer in photographic documentation of technology, taking pictures of tests and flights--including deriving stills from movies--and illustrating Robert's notes with detailed photographs of everything manufactured in the shop and assembled into rockets". Esther also shot 16mm film footage when Robert bought her a movie camera in 1926. That footage can be seen here.

Following Robert's death in 1945, Esther dedicated the rest of her life to relentlessly crafting and promoting the legend and reputation of Robert’s life and work. This element of careful curation can be seen in this photo album, both in its construction and the classification system present in the bottom right of each photograph.

This page contains each individual photograph in the album, which can be seen in its entirety here.

Photographs were scanned at 400dpi.

Sources consulted for the descriptions in this series include Esther's photo album annotations, The Papers of Robert Goddard, and Rocket Man: Robert H. Goddard and the Birth of the Space Age by David Clary.

These images are the property of Clark University and are intended for non-commercial use. Images may be copied for research, teaching, personal, or any fair use as defined by U.S. copyright law. Images may not be altered in any way. Users of these images are asked to acknowledge Clark University. For questions or further information about usage rights, please contact archives@clarku.edu

All collection descriptions written by Katie Stebbins, Digital Projects Librarian.

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[001] Diagram of interior of combustion chamber and nozzle of dry-fuel rocket, 1915

[002] R.H Goddard with steel combustion chamber and nozzle for rocket, 1915

[003] R.H Goddard with circular vacuum tube used to prove rocket efficiency greater in vacuum than in air, 1916

[004] 3" rocket for trench warfare with convertible firing tube, 1918

[005] Multiple charge rocket, with gas-operated piston feed, 1918

[006] R.H Goddard loading the 1918 "bazooka", Mt. Wilson Observ., 1918

[007] Loading forerunner of "bazooka" of World War II, Mt. Wilson, Calif, 1918

[008] Smokeless powder single charge rocket, 1918

[009] Grooved nozzle for rotating 1" rocket projectile, 1918

[010] Preliminary design for Four Inch Aircraft Projectile, circa 1918

[011] Dr. Goddard at blackboard, Clark University, 1924

[012] Completed rocket, with combustion chamber and nozzle at top, August 1925

[013] Complete rocket, with double-acting engine, November 1925

[014] Sheet iron shelter at physics laboratory of Clark University, 1925

[015] Rocket in testing frame, Clark University, August 1925

[016] Inside sheet iron shelter at Clark University, first test of liquid propelled rocket lifting its own weight, December 6, 1925

[017] Combustion chamber and nozzle of pressure-operated rocket, December 6 1925

[018] Two tanks for pressure-operated rocket, Winter 1926

[019] Rocket ready for outdoor test, March 1926

[020] Testing frame and wind break at Ward Farm, Auburn, Mass., March 1926

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