Papers of David Lasser, labor activist and aerospace visionary. In the early 1930s, David Lasser founded and became the first president of both the American Interplanetary Society and the Workers Alliance of America. He wrote one of the first books in English dealing with the possibility of space exploration titled, THE CONQUEST OF SPACE. The collection is arranged in seven series: 1) BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL, 2) CORRESPONDENCE, 3) ECONOMIC COOPERATION ADMINISTRATION COURT CASE, 4) INTERVIEWS, 5) ORGANIZATIONS, 6) SUBJECT FILES, and 7) WRITINGS. The accession processed in 2000 contains mostly correspondence and photographs, and is arranged in two series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE and 2) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.

David Lasser was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1902. After attending a half year of high school, he quit, and lying about his age, enlisted in the United States Army. He was sent to France where he suffered shell shock and was later honorably discharged. Upon release from the hospital, he entered M.I.T. where he graduated with a B.S. in Engineering Administration, despite his lack of a high school education.

8.53 linear feet (17 archives boxes and 1 oversize folder.)

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Collection is open for research.