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Barbara Marie Stephens Sullivan Cape Canaveral and Eau Gallie, Florida photographs and memorabilia

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 202

Scope and Contents

The Barbara Marie Stephens Sullivan Cape Canaveral and Eau Gallie, Florida photographs and memorabilia document activities at Cape Canaveral in the late 1950s through early 1960s. Included are selected community and aerospace materials related to the United States Space Program activities at the Cape during the mid-1960s through the 1980s and photographs of Eau Gallie, Florida from this time period.

Of note are brochures and commemorative publications of the John F. Kennedy Space Center; Cape Kennedy; Apollo 11 and 17; and a souvenir booklet of the "3rd Century America," a bicentennial exposition on science and technology held at Kennedy Space Center in 1976.

Unique photographs feature the first missile launched at Cape Canaveral; photos from around the RCA Air Force Missile Test Center Patrick Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral; United States Air Force Titan III Complex (includes RCA cameras); photographs of John W. Young and Alan B. Shephard and the Gemini-3 spacecraft; several purported images of UFOs; and commemorative prints featuring Apollo 8, 9 and 11.

Commemorative newspapers include the 15th anniversary of the first Cape Kennedy missile launch, Apollo 1, 4 and 11, Space Shuttle Columbia's first launch and Challenger's last. Also included are other newspapers related to space history and the "Third Century America," bicentennial exposition held at Kennedy Space Center in 1976.

Types of materials include: photographs, commemorative prints, brochures, public relations publications, full issue commemorative newspapers, and a View Master and reels.

Dates

  • Creation: 1950 - 1986
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1965 - 1969

Creator

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Portions of material in this collection are in the public domain. Other material copyrights held by Purdue University or original creator. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Biographical Information

Barbara Marie Stephens Sullivan was born to Frank E. and Mary Catherine (Bauerlein) Stephens on July 26, 1927 in Nashville, Tennessee. She married James W. Sullivan in 1952, and their jobs took them to Melbourne, Florida. Barbara Sullivan did reporting for the Eau Gallie Courier and served as a Beautification/Visitor's Center Coordinator for the City of Melbourne. This collection focuses on this time period of her life. She died on November 17, 2013.

James W. Sullivan, Jr. (Barbara's husband at the time) worked at the RCA Air Force Missile Test Center Patrick AFB Cape Canaveral. He manned the cameras for RCA during the late 1950s-early 1960s. The Missile Test Project was a United States Air Force Program operated by RCA Service Company from Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Under the program, RCA instrumented and operated various ships and stations on the Air Force Eastern Test Range with electronic tracking and telemetry equipment. The instrumented ships and stations tracked incoming ballistic missiles launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and also tracked unmanned or manned space vehicles orbiting the Earth.

*Historical note: Cape Canaveral was named Cape Kennedy from 1963-1973. The Florida legislature passed a law to restore the name Cape Canaveral on October 9, 1973.

Source(s): Obituary of Barbara Marie Stephens Sullivan and material related to the collection

Information about the RCA Air Force Missile Test Center Patrick AFB Cape Canaveral and Cape Canaveral/Kennedy came from Wikipedia.

Extent

1.137 Cubic Feet (One letter-size full-width manuscript box, one small archival box, and one flat box)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The collection has been arranged into three series.

  1. Brochures and Photographs
  2. Prints, Photographs, and Newspapers
  3. Artifacts

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by Gretchen Stephens in memory of her sister, Barbara Marie Stephens Sullivan, April 1, 2014.

Processing Information

All materials have been housed in acid-free folders and acid-free boxes. Polyester sleeves were used where warranted. Oversized prints and newspapers have been separated and boxed for preservation purposes.

Title
Barbara Marie Stephens Sullivan Cape Canaveral and Eau Gallie, Florida photographs and memorabilia
Status
Completed
Subtitle
Sullivan, Barbara Marie Stephens Cape Canaveral and Eau Gallie, Florida photographs and memorabilia
Author
Mary A. Sego
Date
2020-04-06
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Second edition. Collection description first completed 2017-04-17.

Revision Statements

  • 2020-04-06: Collection description updated to new standards by Mary A. Sego.

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
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West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839