Photograph of Cernan with Frank Sinatra and Doug Sanders, undated

This series contains photographs which relate to Cernan's life, most of which concern Cernan's career as an astronaut and post-NASA activities. Personal subjects include Cernan as a youth and later with his wife Barbara and daughter Tracy, slides from family vacations to Monterrey, California, and family activities from later in Cernan's life. Professional subjects include Cernan's training and service for Gemini and Apollo missions, as well as Cernan's subsequent NASA and post-NASA public activities which promote and celebrate both space exploration and Cernan's career. A number of photographs pertain to Purdue University, including a group photograph for Cernan's fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, from 1955, as well as multiple astronaut reunions in the 1990s and 2000s. Included in numerous photographs are notable politicians, other astronauts, and celebrities.

There are various commemorative photo books which feature events and trips Cernan had participated in from the 1990s-2000s. These appear at the end of this series.

Please also see Series 3, Box 17 for photographs related to Cernan's professional career, and Series 5, Box 35, for Special Correspondence binders containing additional photographs related to Cernan's personal and professional life.