Managing the Met Lab

The rapid increase in the scale of the Manhattan Project in 1943 brought a wave of additional scientists and lab staff to the University of Chicago campus. At its peak, the Met Lab at the University of Chicago employed more than 2,000 workers; by the end of World War II, more than 1,300 were still on the payroll.

The administrative structure of the Met Lab consisted of numerous divisions: Theoretical Physics, Experimental Nuclear Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mass Spectroscopy, Medical, Health Physics, and Patents, among others. Divisions were further subdivided into sections and groups. Some Met Lab workers were recruited from the greater Chicago area, but others drawn to the project from elsewhere in the country. Many of those who found employment in the laboratories and offices were women.

The growing space needs of the Met Lab required appropriation of all or part of many University of Chicago campus buildings. Eckhart, Jones, Kent, and Ryerson halls were all called into service, as were the North Stand and West Stand of Stagg Field. A sprawling structure known as the New Chemistry Building and Annex was erected along Ingleside Avenue from 56th to 57th Street, while south of the Midway Plaisance a former brewery company building owned by the University was expanded and outfitted as a laboratory known as Site B. Some Met Lab facilities were also located in non-University buildings in the immediate neighborhood, at the Museum of Science and Industry in Jackson Park and at the 124th Field Artillery Armory on Cottage Grove Avenue.

The typed message in a New Year's card from Arthur H. Compton to staff with his signature at the bottom
Arthur H. Compton, New Year's card to Metallurgical Laboratory staff, message, January 1, 1945

Robert L. Platzman Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collection Research Center, University of Chicago
The front cover of a New Year's card from Arthur Compton, featuring a military-esque crest with the American flag and a golden eagle
Arthur H. Compton, New Year's card to Metallurgical Laboratory staff, cover, January 1, 1945

Robert L. Platzman Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collection Research Center, University of Chicago
The typed message from Arthur Compton with his signature at the bottom
Arthur H. Compton, New Year's card to Metallurgical Laboratory staff, message, January 1, 1945

Robert L. Platzman Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collection Research Center, University of Chicago
A blue paper pass, marked "Unrestricted Pass" and issued to James Franck, allowing admission to the G. H. Jones Laboratory
Metallurgical Laboratory, unrestricted pass issued to James Franck, November 19, 1942

James Franck Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago
James Franck's ID photograph for his unrestricted pass
Metallurgical Laboratory, unrestricted pass issued to James Franck, November 19, 1942

James Franck Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago
A typed memorandum addressed to "All Metallurgical Laboratory Employees" from the director of the Security Department regarding employee identification badges and property pass regulations
Metallurgical Laboratory, security memorandum to staff, June 22, 1944

Lawrence Lanzl Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago
The handwritten warrant/commission for Francis W. Test to join a war industry, which includes a black and white identification photo
Francis W. Test, application for US Naval Reserve warrant/commission, August 30, 1943

Francis W. Test Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago
A black and white photo of a construction site, captioned, "Accelerator Building, Research Instititues, University of Chicago"
Metallurgical Laboratory, New Chemistry Building standing behind construction, photograph, 1948

University of Chicago Photographic Archive
A black and white photo of a stadium stand, which appears like it has not been used for it's usual purpose in some time
Stagg Field West Stand, modified for Metallurgical Laboratory use, photograph, undated

University of Chicago Photographic Archive
A typed list of Metallurgical Laboratory personnel, dated August 15, 1944, provided by Samuel Schwartz. In two places, corrections have been made: for one staff member, their title was amended to "Scientist," while another staff member was crossed out completely
Metallurgical Laboratory, lists of personnel by unit, August 15, 1944

Samuel Schwartz Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago
A typed list of Metallurgical Laboratory personnel, provided by Samuel Schwartz, organized by location and academic and non-academic staff members.
Metallurgical Laboratory, lists of personnel by unit, February 10, 1945

Samuel Schwartz Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago
A black and white photo of men standing in a field in front of a University building
U.S. Army Air Forces and University of Chicago Department of Physics, Institute of Meteorology, meteorology instrument launchg, Stagg Field, 1942

James W. Cronin Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago
An employment contract to Lawrence Lanzl from J.C. Stearns, the Personnel Director, with the original red "Confidential" stamps in the upper and lower right hand corners
Contract of Employment, Metallurgical Laboratory

Lawrence Lanzl Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago
A letter from Samuel Allen discussing an incident in which a man working near the Metallurgical Laboratory was "apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and charged with aiding our enemies." Samuel Allen's signature appears at the end of the letter.
Letter from Samuel Allison, February 10, 1944

Lawrence Lanzl Papers, The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago