G. Harry Stine Space History and Model Rocketry Collection

The G. Harry Stine Space History and Model Rocketry Collection consists of the personal papers of rocket scientist and early model rocket pioneer George Harry Stine. The material in the collection is made up of correspondence, technical drawings, manuscripts, research files, photographic and audiovisual materials, and ephemera. The papers document the founding of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), the growth of the model rocketry industry, and other research and developments on rocketry in the latter half of the twentieth century. The collection has been organized in six series: I. Model Rocketry, 1957-2008; II. Writings, 1957-1994; III. Aeronautical Research Files, 1918-1994; IV. Personal and Other Professional Work, 1955-1997; V. Slides and Audiovisual Materials, 1946-1992; and VI. Henri Coanda Archives, 1914-1965. The materials are primarily in English, with a few items in French, German and Russian.

Series I. Model Rocketry documents Stine’s involvement with the founding of the National Association of Rocketry through early committee records, publications, Plan Program Fact Sheets, safety codes and reports. Included in the material are thousands of photographs illustrating the founding years of the annual model rocket meets held by the organization beginning in the late 1950s. These photographs illustrate early meets and competitions of the NAR, as well as affiliated sections throughout the United States. In addition, there are numerous documents regarding international model rocketry and the symbiotic partnership in developing the hobby between the U.S. and Europe from the 1960s until the late 1980s.

Another set of records consists of Stine’s documents on safety codes and regulations pertaining to model rocketry. These records reflect his work on the Pyrotechnics Committee beginning in the early 1970s. The committee worked with the National Fire Protection Agency. Included are correspondence and meeting minutes, as well as documents on fire marshals and the Fire Prevention Committee.

Series I also includes numerous files on the various corporations who produced model rockets for consumers within the United States, most notably Estes Industries, Centuri Engineering, Inc., Aerospace Vehicles, and Model Missiles, Inc. Within the files there is a large amount of correspondence between Stine and Orville Carlisle, who together founded Model Missiles, Inc. beginning in 1957.

Series II. Writings is comprised of Stine’s writings, including contributions to publications such as American Modeler Magazine and Model Rocketry Magazine, spanning the 1950s to 1980s. These works are all well documented with original drafts of his articles as well as final publications. As part of the manuscript material there are also early versions and revisions of Stine’s renowned publication Handbook of Model Rocketry. Included are examples of his notes where he formulates new ideas for model rocket designs.

Series III. Aeronautical Research Files is the largest portion of the collection, representing Stine’s personal and professional interest in aeronautical research. These files encompass rocket designs and development; space programs within the United States and internationally, predominantly the Soviet Union; aircraft; and aerospace research facilities. A notable aspect of the material is the thousands of oversized technical illustrations of rockets and examples of model rockets designs inspired and based upon rockets listed in the subseries.

Series IV. Personal and Other Professional Work is an assortment of files documenting other personal and professional accomplishments of Stine, such as his contribution to research of commercial space travel, a few examples of his work as a science-fiction writer under the penname Lee Correy, his personal inventories of his model rocket collection, and documents related to his work at White Sands Proving Grounds in the 1950s.

Series V. Slides and Audiovisual Materials, 1946-1995 consists of audio-visual materials and 35mm slides. While the subject matter overlaps much of the rest of the collection, the materials were maintained as a series following Stine’s original organization of the collection. There are roughly 3,000 35mm slides related to model rocketry and the various meets and competitions that Stine attended throughout his lifetime. In addition to photo-documentation of model rocketry, there are also slides related to aeronautical research which illustrate individual rockets, manned space flight, and aircraft. Other formats in the audio-visual subseries are 8mm and 16mm film, VHS, 45-rpm records, a few instances of DVDs and a large grouping of both audiocassette tapes and open-reel magnetic audio recording tape.

The final and smallest series is the personal archives of Henri Coanda, Romanian aeronautical engineer with whom Stine worked at Huyck Research Center in the 1960s, including photographs, designs, and Coanda’s handwritten autobiography.

Digitized Materials: A selection of NAR photographs from Series I and films from Series V have been digitized from this collection.

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