The International UFO Museum located in Roswell, New Mexico has accepted an extensive collection of UFO-related items from two separate benefactors, George D. Fawcett of Lincolnton, NC and E.R. (Bob) Sabo of St. Petersburg, FL.
The items, transported to Roswell by semi-truck, encompass everything from UFO sighting reports to photos and videos of UFOs, dating from the late 1940s to present day.
Mayflower Transit Company valued the collection at $50,000, but first estimates by UFO researchers place the value at upwards of $250,000. Many of the items are priceless, one-of-a-kind documents, photos, and publications.
A key component of the collection has already been under public scrutiny and proven its worth, being added to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air Museum in 1961 as the "Sauceriana Collection."
An October 25, 1960 Massachusetts press release stated, "Director Philip S. Hopkins of the Smithsonian Institution... said that Fawcett's 'Sauceriana' would make a good core to build around... Added impetus [is] given by a recent Air Force announcement that the UFOs are SERIOUS BUSINESS and that such sightings will tend to increase in the future."
The 'Sauceriana' Collection contains materials dealing with flying saucers consisting of 20 scrapbooks (dated 1947 through 1960) bound in 10 volumes, over 150 photographs of strange phenomena, hundreds of bulletins, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, and numerous books by both American and foreign authors. Many of these items are originals.
Both benefactors specifically requested that the collection be used to enhance research opportunities not only for the International UFO Museum and its investigative processes but also for other researchers and the public. The Museum plans to incorporate some of the items into present exhibits. Many of the loose newspaper clippings, journals, and books will be added to the International UFO Museum library, which is open to the public.
Bob Sabo was a field investigator and member of the investigative subcommittee of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP) in Washington, DC from 1964 to 1980. Sabo was the founder of the UFO Research Organization of St. Petersburg, FL (1964-1969), through which he edited and published monthly newsletters. These 47 newsletters are included in the archive collection. Sabo continued to collect UFO materials which include audio and video tapes, slides and photos, field investigations, correspondence, bulletins and magazines, books and symposium publications, newsletters and journals. Sabo estimates that his entire collection incorporates in excess of 10,000 individual items.
George Fawcett has investigated over 1,200 UFO sighting reports since 1944. His illustrated UFO lectures have been presented at 600 different colleges and universities, service clubs, military and scientific organizations, technical and special interest groups in the United States and oversees. Fawcett was the founder and chief advisor to the New England UFO Study Group (1957), the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Two-state UFO Study Group (1965), the Florida UFO Study Group (1968), the Tar Heel UFO Study Group (1973), and the Mutual UFO Network of North Carolina, Inc. (1989). Fawcett instructed a 3-hour accredited college course entitled "UFOs: A New Frontier of Science" at the Lincoln County Campus of Gaston College in North Carolina from 1979 to 1982. Dozens of Fawcett's articles were listed in the 1969 Library of Congress book, "UFOs and Related Subjects: An Annotated Bibliography," published under contract with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. His research and archival efforts were featured in the UFO Encyclopedia by Margaret Sachs and The Encyclopedia of UFOs by Ronald D. Story, both published in 1980.
The International UFO Museum & Research Center, located on Main Street in Roswell, New Mexico, is striving to become the world's leading clearinghouse of information concerning UFO phenomena. Named as the Top Tourist Destination in New Mexico by the Tourism Association of New Mexico, the UFO Museum is open seven days a week. Admission is free.
Original file name: CNI - Fawcett collection
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