The Atomic Frontier Children’s Reading Hour

The new Atomic Frontier was in Richland, but the next frontier was obviously space

Enlargement
DDRS Record Details for Record Accession Number
“N1D0026850”
Accession Number N1D0026850
Document Number 7582-1-NEG-J
Alternate Document Number 7582-1-NEG
Title Description CHILDRENS STORY HOUR – RICHLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY – HALLOWEEN READING HOUR
Number of Pages 1
Key Word(s)
Author(s)
Company(s)
Document Date 24-Oct-1953
Public Availability Date 14-Feb-2002

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[column_one_half_last]Richland lived and breathed for Hanford. Most of the children who attended the Children’s Story Hour were likely going to be sons and daughters of employees at Hanford (such as scientists) and, if not, they were children of business owners and employees dependent on Hanford as their customers worked for Hanford. So, when you’re looking at this wall of children’s lit, you’re looking at “Atomic Frontier” approved reading material for young minds.

Before Sputnik, it was all “to the moon, Alice” and beyond

We see Richland’s vision of child astronauts floating in space and their favorite reads. Perhaps others may be able to help me out with identifying some of the books on this wall. I’m able to make out:

This is the Moon by Marion Benedict Cothren, 1946
The Mysterious Planet by Lester Del Rey, 1953
The Magic Ball from Mars by Carl Biemiller, 1953
Space Cat by Ruthven Todd and Paul Galdone, 1952
Rocket Away!, by Frances, illustrated by Paul Galdone Frost, 1953
The Stolen Sphere by John Keir Cross (1953)

A couple others are Moon Ahead and Rocket Away.

The year was 1953, so they were timely with the books! Most of those are new releases.
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Space Cat and The Magic Ball from Mars look like they could be pretty cool, judging by the cover art work.

I want Space Cat.

Enlargement
DDRS Record Details for Record Accession Number
“N1D0026851”
Accession Number N1D0026851
Document Number 7582-1-NEG-K
Alternate Document Number 7582-1-NEG
Title Description CHILDRENS STORY HOUR – RICHLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY – HALLOWEEN READING HOUR
Number of Pages 1
Key Word(s)
Author(s)
Company(s)
Document Date 24-Oct-1953
Public Availability Date 14-Feb-2002

Read the introduction to the Remixing the Hanford Declassified Project series of posts and digital paintings. View all digital paintings here.