Philip Hauge Abelson
A Register of His Papers in the Library of Congress
Prepared by Donna Ellis
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2003
Contact information: http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/mss/address.html
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress
Manuscript Division, 2003
2004-07-19 converted from EAD 1.0 to EAD 2002
Title: Papers of Philip Hauge Abelson
Span Dates: 1939-2002
Bulk Dates: (bulk 1970-1989)
ID No.: MSS84803
Creator: Abelson, Philip Hauge
Extent: 16,100 items; 46 containers; 18.4 linear feet
Language: Collection material in English
Repository: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Abstract: Nuclear physicist, chemist, and editor. Correspondence, notes, reports, speeches and writings, and other papers documenting
Abelson's contribution to scientific policy-making through committees, organizations, and publications.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped
by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.
Names:
Abelson, Philip Hauge
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Geophysical Union
Bio-energy Council
Carnegie Institution of Washington
International Union of Geological Sciences
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.)
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Subjects:
Science
Science
Science--Societies, etc.
Occupations:
Chemists
Editors
Nuclear physicists
Provenance: The papers of Philip Hauge Abelson, nuclear physicist, chemist, and editor, were given to the Library of Congress by Abelson
in 2001 and 2002.
Copyright Status: Copyright in the unpublished writings of Philip Hauge Abelson in these papers and in other collections of papers in the
custody of the Library of Congress has been dedicated to the public.
Preferred Citation: Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Philip Hauge Abelson
Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
| Date |
Event |
| 1913, Apr. 27 |
Born, Tacoma, Wash. |
| 1935 |
M.S., Washington State University, Pullman, Wash. |
| 1936 |
Married Neva Martin (died 2000) |
| 1939 |
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
Identified products of uranium fission
|
| 1940 |
Codiscoverer with Edwin M. McMillan of Element 93 (Neptunium) |
| 1941-1945 |
Associate physicist, physicist, senior physicist, and principal physicist, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. |
| 1945 |
Awarded U.S. Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Medal |
| 1946-1953 |
Chairman, Biophysics Section, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C. |
| 1953-1971 |
Director, Geophysics Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C. |
| 1959 |
Elected to National Academy of Sciences |
| 1960-1963 |
General Advisory Committee, Atomic Energy Commission |
| 1962-1984 |
Editor, Science magazine
|
| 1968-1981 |
Council member, National Academy of Sciences, with a seven-year absence from 1971 to 1978 |
| 1971-1978 |
President and trustee, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C. |
| 1972 |
Awarded Kalinga Prize, UNESCO |
| 1978-1980 |
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Bio-Energy Council |
| 1984 |
Received Distinguished Public Service Award, National Science Foundation |
The papers of Philip Hauge Abelson (1913- ) span the years 1939-2002, with the bulk of the material dating from 1970 to
1989. The papers are organized in the following series: Committees and Organizations, Science Magazine, Speeches and Writings, and a Miscellany consisting of awards, biographical material, general correspondence, photographs, and printed material.
The Committees and Organizations series contains correspondence, financial records, grant proposals, minutes, publications, and reports relating to Abelson's
participation in scientific professional organizations and advisory committees. Notable organizations include the American
Geophysical Union, Bio-Energy Council, Carnegie Institution of Washington, International Union of Geological Sciences, Jet
Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, and the National Academy of Sciences.
The Science Magazine series consists of texts of editorials written by Abelson during his tenure as editor of the chief publication of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science. An index to the editorials is included. The correspondence primarily contains
reactions of the general public and the scientific community to opinions voiced by Abelson in his editorials. As editor of
this important publication, Abelson visited both foreign and domestic research laboratories. His notes and correspondence
regarding these trips are included.
The Speeches and Writings series contains chiefly texts of speeches given by Abelson to educational institutions, private companies, and scientific
organizations. Also included are articles written for publications other than Science and correspondence regarding two of Abelson's books.
The collection is arranged in four series:
| Container |
Series |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
| BOX 1-24
|
|
|
Correspondence, financial records, grant proposals, minutes, publications, and reports relating to Abelson's participation
in scientific professional organizations and advisory committees.
|
|
Arranged alphabetically by name of committee or organization and therein chronologically. |
|
| BOX 25-36
|
|
|
Texts of editorials written by Abelson, correspondence in reaction to his editorials, and notes taken on business trips.
|
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein chronologically. |
|
| BOX 36-42
|
|
|
Articles, books, and texts of speeches along with related correspondence and administrative material. |
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein chronologically. |
|
| BOX 42-46
|
|
|
Awards, biographical material, general correspondence consisting primarily of invitations to speak, photographs, and printed
matter.
|
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein chronologically. |
| Container |
Contents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BOX 1-24
|
Committees and Organizations, 1946-2001, n.d.
|
|
Correspondence, financial records, grant proposals, minutes, publications, and reports relating to Abelson's participation
in scientific professional organizations and advisory committees.
|
|
Arranged alphabetically by name of committee or organization and therein chronologically. |
|
| BOX 1
|
Ad Hoc Geological Committee on Remote Sensing from Space, 1975-1976 |
|
|
Advisory Committee, American University, Washington, D.C., 1973 |
|
|
Advisory Panel on the Documentation, Dissemination, and Use of Research and Development Results, 1963-1964, n.d. |
|
|
American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1965-1966, 1972-1979, 1990 |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
American Chemical Manufacturers Association, 1980 |
|
|
American Council on Education, 1978 |
|
|
American Geophysical Union |
|
|
1973-1979 |
|
| BOX 2
|
1980-1983 |
|
(6 folders) |
|
|
American Philosophical Society, 1973-1979 |
|
|
Bio-Energy Council |
|
|
Correspondence |
|
|
1977 |
|
| BOX 3
|
1978-1979 |
|
(7 folders) |
|
|
Financial records, 1978-1980, n.d. |
|
| BOX 4
|
Grant proposals, 1979-1980, n.d. |
|
(7 folders) |
|
| BOX 5
|
Meeting minutes, 1978-1979 |
|
|
Miscellany, 1979-1980, n.d. |
|
|
Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., 1964-1966, 1977-1983 |
|
|
Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C. |
|
|
Correspondence, 1967-1970, 1980-1982 |
|
|
News releases and printed matter, 1962-1963, n.d. |
|
|
Reports |
|
|
Director of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, 1946-1954 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Director of the Geophysical Laboratory |
|
|
1953-1963 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 6
|
1963-1969 |
|
(6 folders) |
|
| BOX 7
|
1969-1971 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
General Electric Corporate Research and Development, 1977-1978, n.d. |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
President |
|
|
1946, 1956-1961 |
|
| BOX 8
|
1964-1977 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Specialized Conference on the Application of Science and Technology to Latin American Development, Brasilia, Brazil, 1972
|
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 9
|
Studies of Biosynthesis in Escherichia Coli, 1963
|
|
|
Chemical Abstracts Service, 1976-1980 |
|
|
Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology, Research Triangle Park, N.C., 1979, 1985 |
|
|
Council on Science and Technology for Development |
|
|
1977-1979 |
|
(5 folders) |
|
| BOX 10
|
1980-1981, n.d. |
|
|
Encyclopedia of Bioethics, 1973-1974
|
|
|
Energy Information Administration, 1979 |
|
|
Geological Survey of Canada, 1979 |
|
|
International Geological Correlation Program, 1978-1981 |
|
|
International Union of Geological Sciences |
|
|
1972-1979 |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
1980 |
|
|
Jan.-Mar. |
|
| BOX 11
|
Apr.-Nov. |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif. |
|
|
Correspondence, 1976-1984 |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
Notes, 2001 |
|
|
Photographs, 1978-1980 |
|
|
Printed matter |
|
|
1978-1980 |
|
| BOX 12
|
1981, n.d. |
|
|
National Academy of Public Administration, 1978-1984 |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
National Academy of Sciences |
|
|
Awards, 1981-1982 |
|
|
Committee on an Aging Society, 1982-1983 |
|
|
Committee to Review the Office of Information, 1982 |
|
|
Congressional endowment proposal, 1980 |
|
|
Correspondence |
|
|
1978 |
|
| BOX 13
|
1979-1980 |
|
(7 folders) |
|
| BOX 14
|
1981-1984 |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
Finance Committee, 1974-1979 |
|
|
Geology Section, 1979-1983 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Institute of Medicine, 1973-1982 |
|
|
Meeting minutes |
|
|
1978 |
|
| BOX 15
|
1979-1981 |
|
(6 folders) |
|
|
National Research Council |
|
|
Advisory Committee on International Investment, Technology, and Development |
|
|
1980 |
|
| BOX 16
|
1981-1983 |
|
|
Biomass Substitutes for Liquid Fuels Symposium, Campinas, Brazil, 1981-1982 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Climate Research Board, 1980-1984 |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 17
|
Commission on International Relations, 1976-1981 |
|
|
Commission on Natural Resources |
|
|
Board on Mineral and Energy Resources, 1975-1980 |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
Miscellany, 1979 |
|
| BOX 18
|
Committee on Abiogenic Methane, 1979 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Committee on Geology, 1979 |
|
|
Committee on Internal Management Structure, 1981-1982 |
|
|
Committee on International Human Resources Issues, 1979 |
|
|
Division of Earth Sciences, 1973-1975 |
|
|
Division of Medical Sciences |
|
|
Committee on Radiation Cataracts, 1949-1955 |
|
|
Subcommittee on Shock, 1950-1953 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Geological Sciences Board, 1979-1983, n.d. |
|
|
Geophysics Research Board |
|
|
1973-1978 |
|
| BOX 19
|
1979 |
|
(6 folders) |
|
| BOX 20
|
1980-1984, n.d. |
|
(8 folders) |
|
| BOX 21
|
Governing Board meeting, 1979 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Miscellany, 1973, 1979 |
|
|
U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, 1973-1974, 1981-1983 |
|
|
Printed matter, 1978-1983 |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
Treasurer's reports, 1979-1981 |
|
|
National Association of Science Writers, 1963, 1976-1978 |
|
|
National Commission on Air Quality, 1981 |
|
| BOX 22
|
National Science Foundation, 1964-1966, 1973-1984, n.d. |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Phi Beta Kappa, 1979-1982, n.d. |
|
|
President's Science Advisory Committee, 1980 |
|
|
Sigma Xi, 1964, 1973, 1979-1981, n.d. |
|
(5 folders) |
|
|
Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT), 1979 |
|
|
United States Association for the Club of Rome |
|
|
1977 |
|
| BOX 23
|
United States Association for the Club of Rome |
|
|
1978-1981 |
|
(5 folders) |
|
|
United States Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, 1978-1979 |
|
|
United States Geological Survey, 1979-1984 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 24
|
United States Navy, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. |
|
|
Atomic Energy Submarine, 1946 |
|
|
Liquid Thermal Diffusion, 1946, 1958, 1985-1998 |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
Washington Gas Light Co., 1974-1975, 1981-1984 |
|
| BOX 25-36
|
Science Magazine, 1962-2000, n.d.
|
|
Texts of editorials written by Abelson, correspondence in reaction to his editorials, and notes taken on business trips.
|
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein chronologically. |
|
| BOX 25
|
Correspondence |
|
|
1962 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
1963 |
|
|
Jan.-Aug. |
|
(6 folders) |
|
| BOX 26
|
Sept.-Dec. |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
1964-1965 |
|
(6 folders) |
|
| BOX 27
|
1966-1969 |
|
(8 folders) |
|
| BOX 28
|
1970-1972 |
|
(9 folders) |
|
| BOX 29
|
1973-1974 |
|
(8 folders) |
|
| BOX 30
|
1975-1985, n.d. |
|
(8 folders) |
|
| BOX 31
|
Editorials |
|
|
Index, 1962-2000 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
1962-1971 |
|
(7 folders) |
|
| BOX 32
|
1972-1973 |
|
(7 folders) |
|
| BOX 33
|
1974-1987 |
|
(7 folders) |
|
| BOX 34
|
1988-2000 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Trips |
|
|
California, 1962 |
|
|
China, 1978-1979 |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 35
|
India and Thailand, 1984 |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
London, England, 1963-1964 |
|
|
Research laboratories |
|
|
Bell Laboratories, 1964, 1979 |
|
|
E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co., 1978, n.d. |
|
|
Exxon Research and Engineering Co., 1978 |
|
|
General Electric Co., 1975-1978 |
|
|
General Motors Research Laboratories, 1977-1979 |
|
|
International Business Machines Corp., 1978 |
|
|
Miscellany, 1978-1983, n.d. |
|
| BOX 36
|
Texas Instruments, 1978 |
|
|
3M Co., 1979 |
|
| BOX 36-42
|
Speeches and Writings, 1950-1999, n.d.
|
|
Articles, books, and texts of speeches along with related correspondence and administrative material. |
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein chronologically. |
|
| BOX 36
|
Articles |
|
|
1950-1992 |
|
(7 folders) |
|
| BOX 37
|
1993-1999, n.d. |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
Books |
|
|
Energy: Uses, Conservation, and Supply, 1974
|
|
|
Enough of Pessimism, 1985-1987, 1993-1998, n.d.
|
|
|
Speech file |
|
|
1963-1964 |
|
(4 folders) |
|
| BOX 38
|
1965-1973 |
|
(9 folders) |
|
| BOX 39
|
1974-1979 |
|
(7 folders) |
|
| BOX 40
|
1980-1981 |
|
(6 folders) |
|
|
1982 |
|
|
Jan.-May |
|
| BOX 41
|
July-Nov. |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
1983-1990 |
|
(4 folders) |
|
| BOX 42
|
1991-1999, n.d. |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 42-46
|
Miscellany, 1939-2002, n.d.
|
|
Awards, biographical material, general correspondence consisting primarily of invitations to speak, photographs, and printed
matter.
|
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein chronologically. |
|
| BOX 42
|
Abelson, Neva, 1991-2000, n.d. |
|
|
Appointment books and calendars, 1963-1979 |
|
(5 folders) |
|
| BOX 43
|
Awards and honors, 1962-1963, 1974-1995 |
|
|
Biographical material |
|
|
Autobiography, 1997, n.d. |
|
|
Miscellany, 1962-1965, 1972-1985, n.d. |
|
|
Oral history transcripts, 2002, n.d. |
|
|
Correspondence |
|
|
1962-1970 |
|
(6 folders) |
|
| BOX 44
|
1971-1976 |
|
(10 folders) |
|
|
1977 |
|
|
Jan.-Sept. |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 45
|
Oct.-Dec. |
|
|
1978-1981 |
|
(6 folders) |
|
|
1983 |
|
|
Jan.-Apr. |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 46
|
May-Dec. |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
1984-1991, 1997, n.d. |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
Photographs, 1939, 1968, 1984, n.d. |
|
|
Printed matter, 1961-1975, 1982, n.d. |
|
(2 folders) |
|
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