![The Goddard Rocket Researches: A Photographic Record [Individual Photographs]](../assets/md5images/5563c8f0ce3ad094e6aae9409d220fb9.jpg)
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.
![[181] Damaged rear end and bent middle after the flight of May 19 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1180/thumbnail.jpg "[181] Damaged rear end and bent middle after the flight of May 19 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[182] Flight with gimbal steering, July 28 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1181/thumbnail.jpg "[182] Flight with gimbal steering, July 28 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[183] Gimbal-steered rocket after flight of July 28 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1182/thumbnail.jpg "[183] Gimbal-steered rocket after flight of July 28 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[184] Gimbal-steered rocket in tower with new catapult, August 26 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1183/thumbnail.jpg "[184] Gimbal-steered rocket in tower with new catapult, August 26 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[185] A good flight, gimbal steering and catapult launching, August 26 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1184/thumbnail.jpg "[185] A good flight, gimbal steering and catapult launching, August 26 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[186] Assembled nitrogen tank, engine, and pump, October 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1185/thumbnail.jpg "[186] Assembled nitrogen tank, engine, and pump, October 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[187] Bellows engine, high-pressure engine valve, and regulator, October 19 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1186/thumbnail.jpg "[187] Bellows engine, high-pressure engine valve, and regulator, October 19 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[188] Rocket motor with spiral copper tube jacket, blast vanes, and one retractable air vane, October 19 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1187/thumbnail.jpg "[188] Rocket motor with spiral copper tube jacket, blast vanes, and one retractable air vane, October 19 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[189] Setup for test of nitrogen pump and motor, with oxygen jacket around nitrogen tank, October 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1188/thumbnail.jpg "[189] Setup for test of nitrogen pump and motor, with oxygen jacket around nitrogen tank, October 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[190] Static test to check nitrogen pressure regulation, November 2 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1189/thumbnail.jpg "[190] Static test to check nitrogen pressure regulation, November 2 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[191] Instrument board and camera, static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1190/thumbnail.jpg "[191] Instrument board and camera, static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[192] Gauge glasses for gasoline and liquid oxygen for static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1191/thumbnail.jpg "[192] Gauge glasses for gasoline and liquid oxygen for static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[193] Removing cap from Sept camera for photographing gauge glasses, static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1192/thumbnail.jpg "[193] Removing cap from Sept camera for photographing gauge glasses, static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[194] Goddard at control keys and two men at dugout for static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1193/thumbnail.jpg "[194] Goddard at control keys and two men at dugout for static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[195] Lawrence Mansur and Albert Kisk at the dugout, ready for static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1194/thumbnail.jpg "[195] Lawrence Mansur and Albert Kisk at the dugout, ready for static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[196] Telephoto picture of a static test, December 23 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1195/thumbnail.jpg "[196] Telephoto picture of a static test, December 23 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[197] Sample of moving picture frames showing instruments and gauges during static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1196/thumbnail.jpg "[197] Sample of moving picture frames showing instruments and gauges during static test, December 15 1937 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[198] Instrument board for high pressures, used in static test, January 11 1938 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1197/thumbnail.jpg "[198] Instrument board for high pressures, used in static test, January 11 1938 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[199] Double deflector for liquid oxygen, January 27 1938 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1198/thumbnail.jpg "[199] Double deflector for liquid oxygen, January 27 1938 by Esther C. Goddard")
![[200] Double deflector and cone for liquid oxygen, January 1938 by Esther C. Goddard](https://commons.clarku.edu/goddardphotographs/1199/thumbnail.jpg "[200] Double deflector and cone for liquid oxygen, January 1938 by Esther C. Goddard")
