The University of Chicago Library > The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center > Finding Aids > Guide to the Washington Association of Scientists Records 1946-1957
© 2007 University of Chicago Library
| Title: | Washington Association of Scientists. Records |
|---|---|
| Dates: | 1946-1957 |
| Size: | 1 linear ft. (2 boxes) |
| Repository: |
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center |
| Abstract: | The Washington Association of Scientists was formed in January, 1946, to impress upon the public the potentialities of atomic energy, and to urge satisfactory methods of control and development of this source of energy. Contains correspondence, constitution and by-laws, minutes, memoranda, financial records, and membership information. Material relates to the administration and activities of the Association. Also includes material relating to other organizations of scientists concerned with atomic energy control such as the Federation of American Scientists. |
No restrictions
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Washington Association of Scientists. Records, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
The Washington Association of Scientists was formed in January, 1946, to impress upon the public the potentialities of atomic energy, and to urge satisfactory methods of control and development of this source of energy. (see preambles to original and revised constitutions, Box 1, Folder 2). The association early associated with the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) (see Box 1, Folder 9 and 11, and Box 2, Folders, 12 to 16), and, in March 1947, was incorporated in the District of Columbia (see Box 1, Folder 1). Like similar groups in other parts of the country, it carried on various programs of education and agitation, directed toward both the general public and the government, and aimed at not only civilian and international control of atomic energy, but collective security, the promotion of scientific research and the integrity of the scientific profession as well. Somewhat longer-lived than many of its sister organizations, it continued to be active into 1957, but thereafter subsided. However, there is no record of the organization having been formally disbanded.
The present collection, which contains material from the organization’s inception until early 1957, is in two boxes and is divided into three general categories: internal affairs, correspondence, and activities, with a concluding section on other atomic energy control groups with which the association had contact. The “activities” section is divided in turn into “activities by type” and “activities by subject,” thus retaining as closely as possible the organization used by the association itself. The first sub-category is self-explanatory, while in the second, each subject heading contains both correspondence and documents of a varied nature, but all relating to the subject under which they are subsumed. The collection was turned over to the University of Chicago Library in 1959, with the Papers of the Federation of American Scientists, and is subject to such controls and limitations in use as the association or the library may direct.
The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/spcl/select.html
| Box 1 Folder 1 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, documents on constitution and by-laws (chronological) |
| Box 1 Folder 2 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, Executive Board; minutes of meetings (chronological) |
| Box 1 Folder 3 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, Executive Board; personnel and elections, memoranda to general membership (chronological) |
| Box 1 Folder 4 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, standing and ad hoc committees and study groups; Co-ordinating Committee, Fund Drive Committee, Program Committee, Science Legislation Study Group, Social Sciences and Humanities Committee, Study Group Committee (chronological) |
| Box 1 Folder 5 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, general membership lists (chronological) |
| Box 1 Folder 6 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, general membership promotion, general membership meetings (chronological) |
| Box 1 Folder 7 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, finances; budgets and financial statements, banking arrangements, special purpose allocations and expenditures, program expenditures, membership dues, special gifts (chronological) |
| Box 1 Folder 8 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, financial relations with the Federation of American Scientists (FAS); financial relations with the National Committee on Atomic Information (NCAI); financial relations with the Association of Scientists for Atomic Education (ASAE) (chronological) |
| Box 1 Folder 9 | Correspondence; general correspondence (A-Z) |
| Box 1 Folder 10 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, correspondence with FAS (chronological) |
| Box 1 Folder 11 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, correspondence relating to the Fund Drive (A-Z) |
| Box 1 Folder 12 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, correspondence relating to the National Science Foundation (A-Z) |
| Box 1 Folder 13 | Internal affairs; correspondence and documents on general organization, correspondence relating to the O'Mahoney amendments to the appropriation bill H.R. 4177 |
| Box 1 Folder 14 | Activities; WAS Bulletin (chronological) (1947-1955, with omissions). |
| Box 2 Folder 1 | Activities by type; mailing lists, conferences, policy suggestions, policy statements, press releases, panels, lectures, and exhibits, questionnaires Activities by type |
| Box 2 Folder 2 | Activities by type; mailing lists, conferences, Condon Case, 1948 |
| Box 2 Folder 3 | Activities by type; mailing lists, conferences, German Scientists ("Project Paperclip") |
| Box 2 Folder 4 | Activities by type; mailing lists, conferences, Hatch Act, International Control of Atomic Energy, Kamen Case |
| Box 2 Folder 5 | Activities by type; mailing lists, conferences, Loyalty Problems. |
| Box 2 Folder 6 | Activities by type; mailing lists, conferences, Opposition to the O'Mahoney Resolution, 1949 |
| Box 2 Folder 7 | Activities by subject; National Science Foundation (NSF); Proposed legislation |
| Box 2 Folder 8 | Activities by type; mailing lists, conferences, NSF; bill of 19483 |
| Box 2 Folder 9 | Activities by type; mailing lists, conferences, NSF, WAS press releases on NSF |
| Box 2 Folder 10 | Activities by type; mailing lists, conferences, Oppenheimer on atomic weapons, U.S. Public Health Service Research Grants, World Government |
| Box 2 Folder 11 | Atomic energy control groups; Association of New York Scientists, Association of Scientists for Atomic Education, Federation of American Scientists (FAS) - general, FAS to others |
| Box 2 Folder 12 | Atomic energy control groups; Association of New York Scientists, Association of Scientists for Atomic Education, FAS Council Meetings, FAS Questionnaires, FAS Information Bulletin, FAS Members Bulletin, FAS Newsletter, FAS Press Releases |
| Box 2 Folder 13 | Atomic energy control groups; Association of New York Scientists, Association of Scientists for Atomic Education, FAS Washington Chapter Meetings, FAS Operation Mimeograph Machine |
| Box 2 Folder 14 | Atomic energy control groups; Association of New York Scientists, Association of Scientists for Atomic Education, FAS Memoranda to Members (chronological) |
| Box 2 Folder 15 | Atomic energy control groups; Association of New York Scientists, Association of Scientists for Atomic Education, WAS Memoranda to FAS (chronological), WAS memoranda to members regarding FAS, WAS memoranda to members regarding the National Committee on Atomic Information |