4. [Aviation – Space]. Mercury Astronauts typed document signed (“M. Scott Carpenter” , “Leroy G. Cooper, Jr.” , “Virgil I. Grissom”, “Walter M. Schirra, Jr.”, “Alan B. Shepard, Jr.”, and ”D. K. Slayton”), 4 pages (8.5 x 13 in.; 216 x 330 mm.), no place, in which the six astronauts retained the services of agent Harry A. Batten to represent them for the sale of their rights to their personal stories. Countersigned “Harry A. Batten” and by each of the astronauts’ wives, “Rene Carpenter”,Trudy Cooper”, “Betty Grissom”,Josephine Schirra”,Louise Shepard” and “Marjorie Slayton”. File holes at left margin; several staples at top left corner, usual folds. Together with: John Glenn typed letter signed (“John Glenn”), 1 page 8.5 x 11 in.; 216 x 279 mm.), on his personal letterhead, Columbus, Ohio, 7 September 1972, written to the President of the Civil War Roundtable. Fine condition.
 
Members of the Mercury Seven retain an agent to represent their story rights for future books, film and television.

The agreement reads in part:
Whereas the above named…Astronauts have been selected to train for participation in Projects Gemini, Apollo and other Space Flight Projects of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (hereinafter referred to as NASA), and…[the] Astronauts and their families have valuable rights to stories of their personal experiences in connection with these Projects, including their personal stories of their space flights…[the] Astronauts have selected and hereby appoint Harry A. Batten to represent them in the sale of the rights they may have arising out of the projects… The agreement stipulated that all parties to the agreement would be entitled to an equal distribution of any proceeds, irrespective of the level of participation in any individual project associated with the contract.
 
Even two years after the end of the Mercury program, public interest continued to be very high for these new heroes, each of whom would go on to write at least one book about his own experiences. John Glenn decided not to participate in this group effort, and instead retained his own representation for the rights to his life story. 
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by Profiles in History
June 11, 2015 11:00 AM PDT
26662 Agoura Rd
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