The most seminal papers in the history of Python:
LutzPrechelt's [http://www.ipd.uka.de/~prechelt/Biblio/jccpprt_computer2000.pdf paper] comparing C, C++, Java, Perl, Python, Rexx, and Tcl, all on the same non-trivial task
GregStein's [http://www.lyra.org/greg/CaseStudy/ paper] at the [http://www.python.org/workshops/1997-10/ San Jose conference] (1997), on how his company used Python to make a commercial web app then sold it to Microsoft - helped convince me people could make money doing Python
[http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/network/2000/06/02/magazine/python_first_language.html Python as a First Language]
[http://web.archive.org/web/20010201170400/http://www.sunworld.com/sunworldonline/swol-02-1998/swol-02-python.html Getting Started With Python]
[http://web.archive.org/web/20001013152452/http://sunworld.com/swol-12-1998/swol-12-regex.html Batteries Included]
EricRaymond's [http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=3882 Why Python]
[http://pythonology.org/success&story=usa Python Streamlines Space Shuttle Mission Design]