Two balloon fragments, one containing the following typed information: "Portion of gas balloon 'Explorer' used in stratosphere flight. Started - 5:40 A.M. July 28, 1934 from five miles SW of Rapid City, So. Dakota. Ascended to 60613 feet approx. when bag developed rip which forced flyers to descend by parachutes. Landed July 28 at 3:40 P.M. near Holdrege, Neb. where the gondola was wrecked." Fragment signed by W. E. Kepner, Albert W. Stevens, and Orvil A. Anderson.

This collection contains 14 photographs dealing with the United States Army Air Corps Captains Albert W. Stevens and Orvil Anderson and their trip to the stratosphere in 1935 in the Gondola Explorer II for the National Geographic Society.

Contains photographs of preparations for the Explorer II balloon flight in November 1935. This collection also includes photographs and postcards collected during the week that Ruth and Albert Stevens were in Poland in 1939. There is also a letter to Ruth Stevens from Richard H. Cracroft that he wrote after he read her manuscript for her husband's biography, and a copy of an obituary and funeral program for Ruth Stevens.