I am Roger D. Launius (LAWN-ee-us). I was born in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1954 and grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. I graduated from Graceland College (now Graceland University), Lamoni, Iowa, in 1976 and received the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history in 1978 and 1982 at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, with major fields in American frontier and military history. I pursued my longstanding interest in the field of history when as an undergraduate I couldn’t conquer the higher math required for biology.
I am interested in Cardinals baseball, ranting about politics and religion, and analyzing movies (probably ad nauseum). I am also undertaking research to find the perfect single malt scotch.
I like to read American history, history of science and technology, history of religion, and works on popular science. I am an unapologetic liberal and vote Democratic most of the time, complain about politicians all of the time, and work hard to keep from becoming deeply depressed by the right-leaning nature of American society. My interests and hobbies include space, baseball, and watching movies.
I presently have two favorite quotes: “non illegitimi carborundum” (don’t let the bastards grind you down) and “time to bring in a lefty,” representative both of my basic belief about baseball pitching and national politics.
Hi Roger, I see your post all the time on my FB page. Thought it time I checked out your blog. Brilliant stuff! We simply MUST be related. Anyway, I have a friend in Playa del Carmen, MX. an ex San Francisco attorney turned hotel owner. Your writing, style, interest and political views are aligned pefectly with his (and my own). I’m forwarding a link to your blog to Tony.
Keep up the great work, my friend, cousin, brother …….? Oh, I am NOT into geneology that much, sorry.
Barry
Barry, I’m sure we are related as well. My family is from southern Illinois, grandfather Jeff Hillard Launius and father Jeff Doyle Launius, although I grew up in S.C. when my dad moved the family from Vandalia to Greenville when I was 7. Do keep in touch, and let your friend know that I’m happy to discuss issues with him. I’m envious about your living in Playa del Carmen. I’m in Washington, D.C., and will not be able to leave here until I am eligible to retire in a couple of years. But I can’t complain, the Smithsonian Institution treats me well.
Roger,
I went to a talk you gave here at NASA Langley. It was wonderful — I hope you will be giving another one here soon!
Delighted to hear it. I’m always happy to visit LaRC.
My daughter is majoring in history — I wish she could hear you speak, because you make history fascinating.
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Dear Roger,
Just read your blog for the first time. I enjoyed your story about the Beatles and Finley. My older brother saw the Fab Four when they came to DC when we were kids. I see we were born in the same year. I have read some of your RLDS related writings over the years and I would be curious to know your assessment of where the church is post name change. You indicate you are a liberal. I am a conservative in what I think is the best sense of the word. There is an aberrant liberalism that I feel has been in the driver’s seat of the CofC (and we all wanted to get away from the alphabet soup). Lastly, do you have a testimony that you share with others and would you be willing to share it with me.
Best wishes,
Cameron S. Brown
Cameron, thanks for your note. I am in Munich at present participating in a symposium at the Deutsches Museum on the historz of the cold war, but I’ll be glad to discuss the RLDS/CofC with you in a few days. I am liberal, and I approach the movement from that standpoint so I have no problem with such things as women’s ordination, etc. I do think the church’s leadership has downplayed critical distinctives to the organization’s detriment.
Roger,
I found your website via a Google search that surfaced your 1985 monograph about Wendover Field in Utah. I am not a professional historian but I am researching and writing a piece about my late father-in-law, who was base commander of Wendover during the training of the 509th Bomb Group, and would have been the pilot in the event a third bomb needed to be dropped. Even though he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (which cites his Wendover service), his story is virtually unknown. I would like to read your monograph, but the Ft. Douglas Museum website doesn’t seem to have a link to access it. I would very much appreciate your advice as to where I can access it.
Thank you,
Darrell Dvorak
Hi there, I love the image you have of the two shuttles ready for launch at KSC in 2008. To date it is the only photograph I have seen in which more than one orbiter vehicle appears. Do you know of any other images like this?
I don’t know if there are other photos like this one, but I suspect that there are. You might check out http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/index.html to see if there is anything available on-line.
Roger,I found your website via a Google search that surfaced your 1985 monograph about Wendover Field in Utah. I am not a professional historian but I am researching and writing a piece about my late father-in-law, who was base commander of Wendover during the training of the 509th Bomb Group, and would have been the pilot in the event a third bomb needed to be dropped. Even though he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (which cites his Wendover service), his story is virtually unknown. I would like to read your monograph, but the Ft. Douglas Museum website doesn’t seem to have a link to access it. I would very much appreciate your advice as to where I can access it.Thank you,Darrell Dvorak
+1
I wish I could be more help, but I don’t believe I have a copy any longer. I’ll look in some boxes later.
Roger, I’ve been familiar with your work for a long time, but didn’t realize until now that we have two major things in common: 1) Cardinals baseball (I grew up in St. Louis and remain devoted) and 2) single malt Scotches. On the latter, I lean to the island malts, and especially favor Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Talisker. Love that smoky peat!
A pleasure to find your blog.
Great. I like Talisker as well. I have enjoyed Laphroaig once, but have not had Lagavulin. I’ll try it soon. As to the Cards, they are hanging in there but it’s a weak division. I’d like to see them win it. I’d also like to see them resign Pujols.
Imagine where the Cards would be with a healthy Wainright! But such are the fortunes of baseball, one of the things I love about the game. Yes, by all means, try Lagavulin, which won me over gradually but has emerged as a favorite. I have to say, though, that if I had but one Scotch for the rest of my life, it would be Laphroaig.
Mr. Launius, My name is Alex Coleman and I am an 8th grader in Bakersfield, CA. I am doing a documentary with my classmate for the National History Day Competition. The theme this year is “Revolution, Reaction, Reform” and we have chosen to focus on the 1958 National Aeronautics and Space Act that created NASA. We have read some of your books and were wondering if you would grant us an interview by phone, email, Skype or FaceTime. It is my second year entering the competition and my partner’s 4th. We are very interested in interviewing you as an expert in our topic. Please respond to my mother’s email address with any questions/
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Alex Coleman and Chris Trickey
I’m happy to talk with you. Contact me at launiusr@si.edu.
Roger: I have been familiar with your work in the space field having taught space studies before and it was not until I watched the movie “A Mormon President”, that I saw that you have studied the Mormon religion as well. As a non-LDS member, I was wondering what was your religious background and what got you interested in writing about Joseph Smith and Mormonism? Maybe it is just space historians that study religion as well?
Keep up the good work.
Anthony
I am a member of the Commu nity of Christ, which is one of several organizations claiming a heritage in the LDS tradition, though CofC is much more moderate in its theology and practices. I have done considerable research on the history of Mormonism, but haven’t done much for several years. I do blog about it on occasion.
Reading your bio had me thinking that perhaps your favorite of the LDS-hymns-that-aren’t might be, “Choose the Left.”
Have you read the Invention of Air? You would like the mix of political history, religion, and science.