Guide to the Clarence E. Larson Science and Technology Oral History collection, 1983-1993
A Collection in
Special Collections and Archives
Collection Number C0079
George Mason University Libraries
2006 By George Mason University Libraries. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Special Collections and Archives Staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Clarence E. Larson Science and Technology Oral History collection, Accession #C0079, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.
Acquisition Information
Collection donated by Clarence Larson in 1993.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty in March 2009.
Biographical Information
Chemist Clarence E. Larson (1909-1999) was born in Cloquet, Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Chemistry and completed his Ph.D. work at the University of California at Berkeley. Larson was one of the talented American scientists working on the Manhattan Project during World War II. Later he served as a director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a member of the Atomic Energy Commission, and an executive at Union Carbide. Dr Larson was a recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award of the American Society for the Advancement of Science. He was also a member of the American Nuclear Society, the American Institute of Chemists, the American Chemical Society, and the Cosmos Club.
Scope and Content
This collection contains 49 videotape cassettes, some of which have been copied to DVD, featuring interviews with famous scientists and historians of twentieth-century technology conducted by Clarence E. Larson.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically by surname of interviewee.
Related Material
Special Collections and Archives also holds other science and technology collections, such as the Harold Morowitz papers and the Carol D. Litchfield Microbiology collection.
Index Terms
- Science--History--20th century.
- Technology.
Subjects:
Contents List
- box: 1
Abelson, Phil (1913-2004) 12-20-83
Co-discoverer of the first transuranic element. Inventor of thermal diffusion for uranium isotope production. Bethesda, MD. 17 minutes.
- box: 1
Agnew, Harold, UCSD (1921- ) 12-21-83
Crew of the first sustaining reactor. Fermi Award winner. La Jolla, CA. 11 minutes.
- box: 1
Alvarez, Luis (1911-1988) 3-13-84
Inventor of ground control radar. Developer of high energy linear accelerators. Nobel Prize winner.
- box: 1
Arnold, William
Originator of the word fission, while he worked with Niels Bohr in Copenhagen in 1938.
- box: 1
Atanasoff, John V. (1903-1995)
- box: 1
Bacher, Robert (1905-2004)
Pioneer in nuclear energy research.
- box: 1
Backus, John (1924- )
- box: 1
Bechtel, Steve Sr. (1900-1989) 7-10-84
San Francisco, CA. 30 minutes.
- box: 1
Blueprint for Space- Science Fiction to Science Fact- Hosted by Astronaut Alan Shepard
- box: 1
Brobeck, William (1908-1998)
- box: 1
Calvin, Melvin (1911-1997)
Berkeley, CA. 25 minutes.
- box: 1
Clarke, C. Arthur- "A Failed Recluse" (1917- ) copy
- box: 1
Cohen, Karl
- box: 2
Delbecco, Rene 3-25-86
La Jolla, CA. 25 minutes.
- box: 2
Djerassi, Dr. Carl (1923- ) 7-12-84
Copies 1, 2
- box: 2
Edgerton, H.E. (1889-1990)
- box: 2
Eklund, Dr. Sigurd 4-30-84
Bethesda, MD. 18 minutes.
- box: 2
Glennan, Dr. Keith (1905-1995)
- box: 2
Goldschmidt, Dr. Bertrand (1913-2002) 12-7-83
Nuclear pioneer starting with work with Madam Curie. Bethesda, MD. 18 minutes.
- box: 2
Hafstad, Dr. Lawrence (1904-1993)
Discoverer of delayed Neutrons. 41 minutes.
- box: 2
Hoff, Dr. Ted (1937- ) 12-22-88
- box: 2
Hollaender, Dr. Alexander (1898-1997) 12-20-83
Bethesda, MD. 16 minutes.
- box: 2
Hurd, Cuthbert (1911-1996)
Pioneer in computer science. Started IBM computer project.
- box: 2
Jukes, Thomas (1906-1999)
- box: 2
Kamen, Dr. Martin (1913-2002) 3-24-86
Santa Barbara, CA. 14 minutes.
- box: 3
Magoun, Dr. Horace (1907-1991) 8-20-84
Los Angeles, CA.
- box: 3
McMillan, Dr. Edwin (1907-1991) 3-15-84
Co-discoverer of Neptunium and Plutonium. Nobel prize winner. Inventor of synchrotron.
- box: 3
Nichols, Kenneth David (1907-2000) 11-6-85
General manager of the Manhattan Project. General manager of the Atomic Energy Commission. Bethesda, MD. 20 minutes.
- box: 3
Oliphant, Dr. Mark (1901-2000) 11-3-88
Bethesda, MD.20 minutes.
- box: 3
Packard, David (1912-1996) 3-15-84
Co-Founder of Hewlitt-Packard Corporation. Deputy Secretary of Defense.Copy 1.
- box: 3
Pauling, Linus (1901-1994) 2-12-93
Chemical bond theory. Winner of two Nobel Prizes. Copy 1 (Cassette 1 of 2)
- box: 3
Pauling, Linus
Chemical bond theory. Winner of two Nobel Prizes. Cassette 2 of 2.
- box: 3
Peierls, Rudolph (1907-1995) 4-25-89
Bethesda, MD. 27 minutes.
- box: 3
Pioneers- Djerassi, Hollifield, Goldschmidt, Bechtel, Packardi, and Pauling
- box: 3
Rush, Dr. Kenneth 11-6-85
Bethesda, MD. 19 minutes.
- box: 3
Schawlow, Dr. Arthur (1921-1999) 10-28-84
Palo Alto, CA. 28 minutes.
- box: 3
Seaborg, Dr. Glenn (1927-1999) 12-29-93
Co-discoverer of Plutonium. Nobel Prize winer. Discovery of many transuranic elements. Copy 1.
- box: 3
Segre, Emilio (1905-1989) 3-20-84
Discovery of slow Neutrons and anti-proton. Nobel Prize winer. Copy 1.
- box: 4
Singer, S. Fred (1924- )
Pioneer in space research.
- box: 4
Starr, Dr. Chauncey (1912- ) 12-20-85
Palo Alto, CA. 28 minutes.
- box: 4
Stehling, Dr. Kurtiz
- box: 4
Tape, Dr. Gerald (1915-1905) 4-30-84
Fundamental research on radar and nuclear science. Bethesda, MD. 23 minutes.
- box: 4
Taylor, Lauriston (1902-2004)
Pioneer in radiation reseaech.
- box: 4
Teller, Dr.Edward (1908-2003) 12-29-83
Pioneer in nuclear theory. Fermi Award Winner. Copy 1.
- box: 4
Townes, Dr. Charles (1915- ) 3-21-84
Inventor of Maser-Laser Principle.Nobel Prize winner. Copy 1.
- box: 4
Weinberg, Alvin (1915-2006) 3-21-84
Washington, D.C. 12 minutes.
- box: 4
White, Dr. Robert 4-25-89
Development of modern weather forecasting. President of National Academy of Engineering. Bethesda, MD. 27 minutes.
- box: 4
Wigner, E.P. (1902-1995) 3-4-86
Instrumental with Szilard in persuading President Roosevelt to start Nuclear Energy Project. Nobel Prize winner in Physics.
- box: 5
DVD Copies
DVD copies of many of the interviews.