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Letter from Col. John C. Nickerson at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, to Gen. James A. Pickering in Atlanta, Georgia.
In this letter, Nickerson thanks Gen. Pickering for his support and explains why he believes the Army is the best service branch to develop ballistic missiles. He also discusses the need for missiles in case of war with the Soviet Union. Nickerson was a staff officer at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal assigned to work on the Jupiter, the United States' first mid-range ballistic missile. He was arrested and court martialed for espionage in 1957 after releasing sensitive documents about the United States missile program to the press. At the time, Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson granted the Air Force sole authority to develop intermediate range ballistic missile systems. Nickerson disagreed with this policy, and in response, leaked documents that demonstrated the superiority of Army missiles compared to those developed by the Air Force. He eventually pled guilty to lesser charges and was suspended from the Army for one year and was fined $1,500. Dr. Wernher von Braun was among those who testified on Nickerson's behalf. -
Frances C. Roberts at commencement at the University of Alabama.
This photo was taken at the time of Roberts' doctoral graduation from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in history from the University of Alabama. On either side of her are Howard C. Elliot, Jr., Ph.D. in biochemistry, and Elmer Dean Calloway, Ph.D. in chemistry. -
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Letter from Sen. Lister Hill, Sen. John Sparkman, and Rep. Bob Jones to Huntsville radio stations.
Addressed to stations WBHP and WFUN, the letter announces that the U. S. Senate passed "legislation authorizing construction work for Redstone Arsenal totaling $4,250,000." The letter also mentions building rocket test stations and a flight test range. -
Photo album of downtown Huntsville from the city's sesquicentennial celebration.
The album includes photos of the Confederate monument and banners and decorations on the street. -
Photo album of downtown Huntsville from the city's sesquicentennial celebration.
The photos show scenes from the sesquicentennial festivities in and around the square, including people dressed in early nineteenth century attire, storefronts, and street decorations. -
Topographical map of Monte Sano.
This map was drawn by William W. Varnedoe, Jr. and published by the Monte Sano Civic Association. It shows Monte Sano's neighborhoods, the state park, and the mountain's natural features, including springs and caves. The map also notes changes in elevation. -
Space Journal, vol. 1, no. 1., Summer 1957.
This issue of Space Journal includes articles written by Fred L. Whipple, Hermann Oberth, and Ernst Stuhlinger, as well as a foreword by Wernher von Braun. The issue also includes drawings for an observatory to be built at the top of Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama. Produced by the Rocket City Astronomical Association (now known as the Von Braun Astronomical Society), Space Journal was published in Huntsville from 1957 to 1959. This digitized copy was generously provided by Jeff Bennett at the Von Braun Astronomical Society (VBAS). -
