Celebrating the Rocket Man, Robert Hutchings Goddard

Title page from Robert Goddard Biography, with note "Flown to the Moon on board APOLLO 11 July 16-24 1969, signed by Buzz Aldrin

Miniature Robert Goddard biography that went to the moon with Buzz Aldrin

On 16 March 1926, Dr. Robert Hutchings Goddard launched a rocket from his aunt’s farm (now a golf course) in a town a few miles from where I live.

The rocket did not go far in terms of physical distance. It shot up forty-one feet into the air and landed one hundred eighty-four feet away, having traveled for two and a half seconds.

That short flight changed everything.

In July 1969, the little book pictured above, a biography of Goddard, was the first book to travel to the moon. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin took it there.*

Artemis II, the first crewed flyby mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, is expected to launch in a few weeks, if all goes well.

In short, that brief flight started us on the path to the moon and beyond. It showed what was possible and led to more than space travel. But I’m not going to tell a story that others have covered. You’ll find abundant links, with wonderful images, online, that are part of the Goddard Centennial celebration. The images exist thanks to Goddard’s wife, Esther. She documented all he did and kept his memory alive. During Women’s History Month, of course it makes sense to recognize Esther Goddard. You can see many of Esther’s images online.

The Goddard Library is offering several exhibitions and two lectures. The latter will be available to view online, as well. On 17 March at 7PM, John Emond, former NASA program manager offers, “Robert Goddard: A Vision. A Reality. A Hope.” On 19 March at 4PM, Kevin Schindler, co-author of Robert Goddard's Massachusetts, offers “The Dreamer Who Launched the Space Age.”

You can learn more about Clark University’s Goddard Centennial events here.

Robert H. Goddard and a liquid oxygen-gasoline rocket

Dr. Robert H. Goddard and a liquid oxygen-gasoline rocket at Auburn, Massachusetts.

If you’re in the Central Massachusetts area between now and 1 August, you can also visit the Museum of Worcester’s Goddard exhibition, “Worcester to the Stars: The Goddard Rocket Centennial.” If you’re around between now and early April, you might want to catch “The Rocket Man: The Robert Goddard Musical.”

More about Goddard celebrations here.

I’ll finish by pointing out that this celebration, which has gone nationwide, very likely would not have happened if not for my indefatigable friend, fellow alum, and former colleague at Clark, Charles Slatkin.

*A couple of years ago, I saw the little book up close and personal at the Robert Hutchings Goddard Library. This is a building with which I’m familiar, having studied there as an undergraduate and post-graduate student as well as having done research some years later for my historical romances.

Photo credit for miniature Goddard bio, Walter M. Henritze; Goddard and rocket image courtesy NASA via Wikipedia.

The James Museum & Edward S. Curtis's "The North American Indian"

Going by the principle that one never knows where story ideas will come from, I visit museums that have nothing whatsoever to do with my books. The James Museum is a fine example.

What drew me and especially my long-suffering (from far too much 19th C England) spouse was an exhibition of works by Edward S. Curtis. Visual art of all kinds can trigger ideas, and photography certainly does that. Frankly, though, I just wanted to see the photographs from his magnum opus, The North American Indian.

You can view the complete collection of these beautiful photographs here at the Northwestern Libraries site. If you’re in the St. Petersburg, Florida area, though, I’d strongly recommend visiting the James Museum, to see the photographs full size. Below are a few of the images that struck me particularly.

Top row left to right: Edward S. Curtis ~ Sun Dance Encampment - Piegan ~ The Storm - Apache. Bottom row left to right: A Paguate Entrance ~ The Hopi Maiden ~ Untitled (Two Hopi Girls in a Window)


The Wallace Collection, Part 1

Please note: If you receive this blog via email and are unable to see the videos, please click through to the blog itself. I hope to have this annoyance resolved by the next London blog post.

The first time I walked through the door of the Wallace Collection, my jaw actually dropped.

And that was simply standing in the Entrance Hall and gaping at the staircase. I’ve returned several times, and never cease to marvel or make a discovery.

The building itself is Hertford House, familiar to many of us who set books in the early 19th century. We know that the Marchioness of Hertford (wife of the 2d Marquess) and the Prince Regent had a thing going on for more than a decade.

Hertford House in 1813, from Ackermann’s Repository, June 1813

The Court Journals of the early 1830s make numerous references to this lady’s entertainments. By the 1830s, she’s the Dowager Marchioness. Her son, the third Marquess of Hertford, truly began the art collection with his wife’s money. She was Maria Emilia Fagnani, the lady who won the half-million pounds, reported in the news clipping below. This pair separated—unsurprisingly, since he was definitely not romance hero material.

“Lord Hertford paid £700 for the exclusive use of the steam-boat which conveyed himself and suite from Marseilles to Naples, in the autumn; to the great inconvenience of various persons who were detained for some weeks in the former city, for want of the usual conveyance."—Court Journal 4 January 1834.

Their son, the fourth marquess, grew up in Paris, and added substantially to the collection. The wife of his illegitimate son, Richard Wallace, left the collection to England. This family’s life is so complicated that I’ll leave it to you to pursue if you wish.

After recovering from the Entrance Hall swoon, we make our way to the Front State Room, which gives an idea of what the place was like in the 1870s. This is where one received important visitors, and it was meant to impress.

In this room hang the famous 1822 Thomas Lawrence portrait of the Countess of Blessington (which you’ve no doubt seen on countless book covers and social media accounts), Sully’s 1838 portrait of the young Queen Victoria, and John Hoppner’s portrait of King George IV when he was the Prince of Wales.

Moving on to the Back State Room:

The chandelier dates from 1751. This is where Sir Richard Wallace entertained guests amid the rococo splendor of works from the time of King Louis XV and his mistress Madame de Pompadour.

The Billiard Room holds some beautiful furniture by André Boulle(1642-1732) as well as many works created in the time of King Louis XIV. A huge billiard table did stand here in 1897. I have no idea where it is now. Like virtually every other room in the house, this contains many fine paintings, which you can view on the website’s online collection.

Here and elsewhere I tend to focus on what I might use in a book, and that tends to be furnishings rather than paintings (although a Botticelli plays an important role in Vixen in Velvet). For instance, what’s on the mantel? These sorts of items give my characters something to look at. And I often have something to say about the clocks. Note that one didn’t encounter clocks in such profusion (or at all) in the residences of the less affluent. Here’s what drew my eye in the Billiard Room.

The Small Drawing Room these days showcases works from the time of Louis XV. In Sir Richard Wallace’s day, it was the Reynolds Room, as shown in the black and white photo below. As to my photo choices: Yes, I’m drawn to the various timekeeping devices—a stunning contrast to our digital clocks.

The video below will give you an idea of the other treasures in this room. If you’d like to investigate the paintings, the online collection allows you to search by gallery.

This is another large collection of interesting objects, which means I will attempt another blog post in the near future. With any luck, I’ll also have my YouTube site functioning properly, which will allow for easier (I hope) viewing of these and other short video tours.