UAH Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives

Browse Items (213 total)

  • spc_nick_000228_000228.pdf

    This character testimony has no known author nor is it clear of whom the author is speaking about.
  • spc_nick_000229_000231.pdf

    The author provides information to Colonel Zimmer about Colonels Sisson and Townsend. Though the author signed the letter, possibly Jimmie, it is difficult to read and they provide no last name.
  • spc_nick_000235_000235.pdf

    "Present prospective list of other witnesses to be called by the government on the merits in the case of United States vs. Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr."
  • spc_nick_000256_000258.pdf

    List of names pertaining to the Nickerson case include Dr. Wernher von Braun, Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, and Dr. Charles A. Lundquist among others.
  • spc_nick_000259_000260.pdf

    List of names, locations, and credentials of those who are a part of the trial panel in the case of United States vs. John C. Nickerson, Jr.
  • spc_nick_000261_000264.pdf

    Detailed information regarding the two charges brought against Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. and the corresponding specifications.
  • spc_nick_000265_000279.pdf

    As will be presented in court, this document details the points the counsel will make in defense of Colonel Nickerson and the corresponding witnesses that will testify under those points for each charge and specification.
  • spc_nick_000280_000284.pdf

    A list of potential witnesses to give testimony as related to certain important aspects of the case including Nickerson's character and Nickerson's testimony as it stands prior to the trial.
  • spc_nick_000299_000300.pdf

    "Curly" writes in support of Nickerson and states that while someone else will have to decide if what he did was right or wrong, he "might be one of the best qualified people alive to testify in your behalf." The second half of the letter is handwritten and discusses personal events in "Curly's" life such as a new grandson and a family member in the Navy.
  • spc_nick_000381_000386.pdf

    This document contains various letters of appreciation received by Colonel Nickerson, efficiency reports, testimonies of Nickerson's character, certificates of achievement, and other services and recommendations pertaining to Nickerson.
  • spc_nick_000405_000414.pdf

    This compilation covers periods in Nickerson's career from 1939 to 1953. In includes various reporting officers writing of Nickerson's character, actions, and command.
  • spc_nick_000446_000446.pdf

    Alexander writes to thank Quarles for making the arrangements that allowed him and his party to "see so many things of interest in the guided missile field." He adds that Lieutenant Colonel Nickerson was very "helpful and informative".
  • spc_nick_000447_000449_000506_000508.pdf

    These handwritten copies contain the testimony of Mr. Weisman.
  • spc_nick_000450_000457.pdf

    Various handwritten notes on the Army missile program and other information pertaining to the case of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr.
  • spc_nick_000458_000458.pdf

    Handwritten contact information for Drew Pearson. Pearson was the journalist whom make Nickerson's classified documents public.
  • spc_nick_000459_000459.pdf

    Addressed to the "Gentlemen of the court", this statement outlines the reason for the trial and ends stating, "Colonel Nickerson pleads not guilty to all the charges and specifications."
  • spc_nick_000460_000466_000575_000577.pdf

    A typed version and the andwritten notes regarding the Nickerson case. The author is unknown. These notes regard Nickerson's "Considerations on the Wilson Memorandum" and more.
  • spc_nick_000471_000471.pdf

    This handwritten note states that Colonel Nickerson "has pleaded guilty." It also notes that there are stipulations in the charges that are duplicates. It also contains the names of various people involved with the case including Dr. Stuhlinger, Dr. von Braun and General Pickering.
  • spc_nick_000472_000474.pdf

    This handwritten document contains notes for a witness examination by both the prosecution and defense during the trial of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr.
  • spc_nick_000475_000475.pdf

    This handwritten note states that "he" is unable to inform the court-martial of the "essential components" of the defense without disclosing top secret information.
  • spc_nick_000476_000479.pdf

    These trial notes include information given by a witness named James during his final testimony. James states that he is the one who suggested the name of journalist Drew Pearson to Colonel Nickerson.
  • spc_nick_000480_000483.pdf

    This note states that according to "certain rules of evidence" established by the Federal courts, all information that is necessary for the case must be made available "regardless of the classification of the evidence."
  • spc_nick_000484_000497.pdf

    These handwritten notes include general information from the case of Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. Topics include general information and assessment related to the missile program, particularly in the transfer of the program from Army to Air Force direction. It also includes notes on the postponement of the trial.
  • spc_nick_000498_000499.pdf

    This includes clarifications from the interrogation of General Medaris and other various information.
  • spc_nick_000500_000505.pdf

    This is the summary of the testimony of a witness in the Nickerson case. He is referred to as "B" throughout the document.
  • spc_nick_000509_000524.pdf

    Detailed notes that provide information on Colonel John C. Nickerson's career in the military and involvement with the missile program. The information on Nickerson follows his career up until the disclosure of classified materials that led to his court-martial and trial.
  • spc_nick_000525_000525.pdf

    These notes include a summary of the court proceedings, the order in which testimonies were heard or stipulations were read, and a seating chart at the top.
  • spc_nick_000526_000529.pdf

    Handwritten notes regarding the Nickerson case. The author is unknown.
  • spc_nick_000530_000531.pdf

    Handwritten notes regarding the Nickerson case. These include lists of various aspects related to Nickerson and other witnesses including Dr. von Braun and Dr. Stuhlinger.
  • spc_nick_000532_000535.pdf

    These notes contain detailed information about Dr. Ernest Stuhlinger including his background, experience, training, knowledge of John C. Nickerson, Jr., his thoughts on the Wilson Memo, and the Jupiter missile program.
  • spc_nick_000536_000536.pdf

    Various handwritten notes on aspects of the Nickerson trial including published news articles, the Jupiter missile and army ballistic missile agency, and statements made by Dr. von Braun.
  • spc_nick_000537_000540.pdf

    These notes related to Dr. Wernher von Braun's testimony and knowledge of the situation surrounding Colonel Nickerson. It also includes factual information on the missile program and its switch from Army control to Air Force control.
  • spc_nick_000603_000608.pdf

    A conversation between Lieutenant General Austin W. Betts, Colonel Henk, and Colonel Wahle, published as a part fo the US Army Military History Research Collection. This conversation details the "Army versus the Air Force difficulties in the late '50's" during the transfer of the missile and space program. This program switch was the basis of the case United States v. Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. as Nickerson was in charge of the program. This document contain only the portion relative to Colonel Nickerson.
  • spc_nick_000609_000609.pdf

    This is a copy of an index that contains entries related to Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. and his court martial. The index contains entries that are found in the Army Navy Register and the Army Navy Journal.
  • spc_nick_000611_000615.pdf

    This article, "Army 'Leak' Probe Agitates Redstone", published in the February 1957 issue, details secret information that went public in 1957 through Drew Pearson. The "leak" concerns the "Wilson Memorandum" that transfers the Army's role to the Air Force in the development and control of guided and ballistic missiles and rockets. The leak is traced back to Colonel John C. Nickerson, Jr. The article states that the "prevailing opinion is that Col. Nickerson is being made a scapegoat by persons very high up in the Army." The article further details the events that led to the court martial of Colonel Nickerson.
  • spc_nick_000616_000616.pdf

    Colonel John C. Nickerson was accused of leaking classified information after expressing anger when the missile and rocket program was transferred from the Army to the Air Force. He was tried by court martial, fined $1,500, and exiled to Panama for two years. A few years later on March 1, 1964, Nickerson and his wife, Carol, died in a car accident in New Mexico.
  • spc_nick_000617_000617.pdf

    Medaris assumed command of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency in 1955 under which Dr. Wernher von Braun and the German Rocket Team developed the Jupiter missile in 1958.
  • spc_nick_000618_000618.pdf

    Ray H. Jenkins (center) was a lawyer that, along with Robert K. Bell, Lt. Col. Charles Zimmer, and Lt. Lewis G. Cole, would make up Nickerson's defense counsel for his court martial trial. Jenkins was considered the best lawyer in East Tennessee and appeared on the cover of Time magazine on May 17, 1954 during the Army-McCarthy hearings.
  • spc_nick_000619_000619.pdf

    Dr. Wernher von Braun was a part of the German Rocket Team that developed the Jupiter missile in 1958 under General John Bruce Medaris.
  • spc_nick_000620_000620.pdf

    Robert K. Bell (left) was an attorney based in Huntsville, Alabama. He would form a part of Nickerson's (right) defense counsel in 1957 along with Ray H. Jenkins, Lt. Col. Charles Zimmer, and Lt. Lewis G. Cole.
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