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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[321] Setup for high pressure tank test, May 14 1942

[322] Setup for high pressure tank test, May 19 1942

[323] Closeup of apparatus for high pressure tank test, June 5 1942

[324] Setup for high pressure tank test, June 9 1942

[325] Rear end of apparatus using Alundum lining for jackets, June 12 1942

[326] Closeup of apparatus which uses the chamber developed in two preceding tests, June 19 1942

[327] Setup for final test of JATO unit at Roswell, June 27 1942

[328] JATO device test for Navy, December 3 1941

[329] Early test of JATO unit showing excess of smoke, circa 1941

[330] Test of Navy JATO unit, showing somewhat improved combustion, circa 1941

[331] Further improvement of combustion for variable thrust pump unit, circa 1941

[332] Test of JATO unit, showing pointed striated flame and steady larger flame, circa 1941

[333] Test of JATO unit on a PBY, Severn River, September 23 1942

[334] View of interior of Robert Goddard's shop at U.S. Naval Engineering Experiment Station, Annapolis, Maryland, Fall 1942

[335] Robert Goddard and his staff at Naval Engineering Experiment Station, Annapolis, Maryland, July 1942-July 1945

[336] 24ST aluminum turbine in blast of 350-lb thrust acid-aniline motor, July 3 1944

[337] Setup for pump tests with compressed air power used to operate the turbines, August 3 1944

[338] Test with acid-aniline pumps operated by motor jet, October 9 1944

[339] Rotating combustion chamber without seals and bearings, October 1944

[340] Rotary motor tested with acid and aniline, December 11 1944

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