Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu
The processing, arrangement, and description of this collection was created as part of the project, "Piercing the Veil: Creating Access to the Archives of American Aerospace Exploration at Virginia Tech," funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) from 2022 to 2024.
Kat Zinn, Archivist
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction .
Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives ( specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Nuclear Pioneers: Conference on Nuclear Developments Videotapes and Papers, 1991, Ms1993-004, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Nuclear Pioneers: Conference on Nuclear Developments Videotapes and Papers were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1993.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement and description of the Nuclear Pioneers: Conference on Nuclear Developments Videotapes and Papers was completed as part of the project, "Piercing the Veil: Creating Access to the Archives of American Aerospace Exploration at Virginia Tech," funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) in May 2024. Initial description was created prior to 2002.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of seven videotapes recorded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (or Virginia Tech) in August 1991. The tapes contain interviews with six nuclear pioneers: Sigvard Eklund, Bertrand Goldschmidt, Robert E. Marshak, Glenn T. Seaborg, Gerald F. Tape, and Herbert F. York. Five of the tapes cover four main topics in nuclear history during the period from about 1945 through 1965: weapons and the arms race, civilian vs. military control in post-World War II United States, peaceful uses of the atom and basic research, and international perspectives on research, development, and cooperation. Two additional tapes cover a two-hour public round table where the pioneers were interviewed by Jerry Bishop of the Wall Street Journal, Gloria Lubkin of Physics Today, Albert Moyer of Virginia Tech, and Paul Torgersen of Virginia Tech.
In addition to the tapes, the collection includes supporting documentation and papers for the sessions such as event cards, partial transcripts, and planning information.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Related Material
Virginia Tech University Libraries has circulating copies of the seven videotapes in this collection, under the title "[Virginia Tech video history on nuclear developments, 1945-1963]" (Call number: Video 4489).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Archives of American Aerospace Exploration (AAAE)
- Faculty and staff
- Science and Technology
- University History
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Nuclear Pioneers: Conference on Nuclear Developments Videotapes and Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Bishop, Jerry E., 1931-2007
- Eklund, Sigvard Arne, 1911-2000
- Goldschmidt, Bertrand, 1912-2002
- Lubkin, Gloria, 1933-2020
- Marshak, Robert E. (Robert Eugene), 1916-1992
- Moyer, Albert E. (Albert Earl), 1945-2000
- Seaborg, Glenn T. (Glenn Theodore), 1912-1999
- Tape, Gerald Frederick, 1915-2005
- Torgersen, Paul E. (Paul Ernest), 1931-2015
- York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank), 1921-2009