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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[261] Cap support and release mechanism on top of gasoline unit, February 1940

[262] Gas generator and neighboring parts, February 1940

[263] Complete vane system showing fixed air vanes, blast vanes, and movable air vanes, February 1940

[264] Gyroscope in box held by frame with improved wiring, February 1940

[265] Pump rocket, 18 feet 9 inches in length, February 6 1940

[266] Placing the rocket in the tower, using rope block and tackle, February 6 1940

[267] Setting up the rocket, February 6 1940

[268] Working on the nose cone, February 6 1940

[269] Preparing the large pump-type rocket for test, January 31 1940

[270] Checking rocket in tower, ready for fueling, January 31 1940

[271] Rocket ready for test of February 9 1940

[272] Rocket ready for test, March 21 1940

[273] Rocket ready for test, March 21 1940 [2]

[274] Oxygen pre-cooling valve, lighter than earlier models, March 21 1940

[275] Winding copper tube jacket onto rocket motor, April 12 1940

[276] Rocket ready for test, August 1 1940

[277] Rocket ready for test, August 9 1940

[278] Closeup of liquid oxygen pump and gasoline pump, April 1940

[279] Manifold support, December 18 1940

[280] Rocket leaving tower, using pumps for propellants, August 9 1940

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