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Ruth Stevens papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 8112

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

  • 1935-1990

Creator

Language of Materials

Most of the photographs have no linguistic content, but some of postcards are printed in Polish. The remaining materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research. Kept in cold storage; access requires 24 hours advance notice.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the reponsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Ruth Stevens collection of photographs, postcards, and other materials must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Ruth Stevens (1904-1990) was the wife of aviator Albert W. Stevens and author of his biography.

Ruth Fischer Stevens was born April 4, 1904 in Dayton, Ohio. She was married to Lt. Col. Albert W. Stevens, a decorated aviator, on August 8, 1938 in Maryland. Approximately a year later, she and her husband left for Poland, where he had been asked to help with a balloon flight. They were there for only a week before news broke of the Nazi-Soviet Pact and they had to get out of the country through Latvia and Sweden. Her husband died in 1949, and she later wrote a book about him titled, "My Husband, the First Astronaut". She died October 15, 1990.

Extent

1 box (0.5 linear ft.)

Arrangement

Collection is arranged into five series: 1. Ruth Stevens collection of postcards and photographs of the Explorer II and other balloons, November 1935. 2. Ruth Stevens photographs, between 1938-1949. 3. Ruth Stevens photographs of Poland, August 1939. 4. Ruth Stevens collection of postcards from Poland, August 1939. 5. Ruth Stevens funeral program, obituary, and other materials, April 16,1985 and October 1990.

Custodial History

The L. Tom Perry Special Collections received this from Lori Schlinker Reynolds, who received it from the creator, Ruth Stevens.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Lori Schlinker Reynolds; 2012.

Appraisal

Photographs (Photograph Archives).

Processing Information

Processed; Anne Ashton, student photograph processor; 2012.

Title
Register of the Ruth Stevens papers
Status
Completed
Author
Anne Ashton
Date
2012 October 28
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States