Joseph M. Schneider Collection

Collection

Identifier: SDASM-SC-10249

Staff Only

Abstract

Dates

Majority of material found within 1957 - 1999

Conditions Governing Use

The collection is open to research. Some restrictions may apply.

Biographical / Historical

This is a collection of commemorative material for various American and Soviet manned spaceflight programs, including Apollo, Soyuz, Vostock, and Skylab missions. It is chiefly a collection of photographic prints, magazine clippings, and correspondence, with some photos and letters signed by astronauts and/or cosmonauts. Each collection is accompanied by philatelic material, including first day covers, individual stamps, and souvenir sheets and/or blocks. Contents were originally arranged in binders labeled by mission and/or astronaut. Stamps in the collection represent many countries.

Joseph M. Schneider lived in Zürich, Switzerland where most of his collecting took place. He sent complimentary copies of these compiled collections to the astronauts and received letters in return. Most of the correspondence is in the English language, but some material is in the German language. Schneider made these binders available for purchase and his inventories and catalog are in this collection.

At some point in its history, Schneider’s collection made its way to the United States, specifically to the Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside, California. It was donated to the Museum in 2014. Archivists Katrina Pescador and Alan Renga retrieved the material from the Abbey.

Extent

4 Cubic Feet (This material was arranged by Joseph Schneider in sleeves placed in 1” binders. Previous titles of binders are reflected in the folder names. The collection is about 40% philatelic, containing individual stamps, block stamps, first day issues, and commemorative sheets issued by various governments. It also contains magazine clippings, postcards, and prints pertaining to various U.S. and Soviet missions and personalities. Each clipping, postcard, and print was affixed to cardstock with captions provided by Schneider, chiefly in German or English. Some pages were numbered. Some material is repeated across the collection, especially stamps and prints. Photos of the Schneider collection as it was kept at the Abbey can be found in the donation file. Some of Schneider’s compiled sales copies/advertisements were destroyed due to water damage and smell (Abscheid von Apollo: Berichte – Analysen – Dokumentation and Weltraum: Sammlung besonderer Art). Refer to digital copies stored on the DAMS. ) ; This collection is housed in eight archival boxes: five measuring 7” x 12 ¼” x 10 ¼” and three measuring 5” x 12 ¼” x 10 ¼”. The collection in total measures four cubic feet.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated to SDASM.

Physical Description

This collection is housed in eight archival boxes: five measuring 7” x 12 ¼” x 10 ¼” and three measuring 5” x 12 ¼” x 10 ¼”. The collection in total measures four cubic feet.

This material was arranged by Joseph Schneider in sleeves placed in 1” binders. Previous titles of binders are reflected in the folder names. The collection is about 40% philatelic, containing individual stamps, block stamps, first day issues, and commemorative sheets issued by various governments. It also contains magazine clippings, postcards, and prints pertaining to various U.S. and Soviet missions and personalities.

Each clipping, postcard, and print was affixed to cardstock with captions provided by Schneider, chiefly in German or English. Some pages were numbered. Some material is repeated across the collection, especially stamps and prints.

Photos of the Schneider collection as it was kept at the Abbey can be found in the donation file. Some of Schneider’s compiled sales copies/advertisements were destroyed due to water damage and smell (Abscheid von Apollo: Berichte – Analysen – Dokumentation and Weltraum: Sammlung besonderer Art). Refer to digital copies stored on the DAMS.