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White Mountain Research Station Administrative Files
RSS 2308
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Table of contents
Languages:
English
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: White Mountain Research Station Administrative Files
Creator:
Pace, Nello
Creator:
Welch, William J.
Creator:
Powell, Frank Ludwig
Creator:
White Mountain Research Station
Creator:
Hall, Clarence A.
Identifier/Call Number: RSS 2308
Physical Description:
9.7 Linear feet
(21 archives boxes, 1 cardfile box, and 6 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1949 - 1996
Abstract: Administrative files of the White Mountain Research Station, a University of California Multicampus Research Unit (MRU) supporting
high altitude research. The station operated under the direction of Nello Pace (1950-1977) and William J. Welch (1977-1979)
of UCB, Clarence A. Hall, Jr., of UCLA and Frank Powell (1995-present) of UCSD. The files largely relate to facilities administration
and development, funding through contracts and grants, maintenance, events, and symposia. The collection includes administrative
correspondence, annual reports, minutes (1951-1996) of the Advisory Committee for the White Mountain Research Station, contracts
and proposals, facility development files, symposia files, teaching materials, publicity films, and numerous photographic
materials documenting facilities, the environment, personnel, and some of the experiments carried out at the site. Also included
are two films, an early promotional and informational work entitled WHITE MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION (ca. 1960) and SCIENTIFIC
DIVERSITY: WHITE MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION (1988).
All film and betacam-sp cassettes are restricted. Researchers must use VHS copies.
Not Available
White Mountain Research Station Administrative Files, RSS 2308. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
The White Mountain Research Station (WMRS), a multi-disciplinary and Multicampus Research Unit (MRU) within the University
of California, is located in the vicinity of Bishop, California. WMRS was established in 1950 to provide high-altitude laboratory
facilities to scientific researchers in the areas of astronomy, ecology, and physiology who needed a high-altitude site and
to serve as a teaching facility for field courses offered at the UC campuses.
Currently, the research station comprises four separate laboratories: 1) the Owens Valley Laboratory (elevation 4,050 ft),
3 miles east of Bishop; 2) the Crooked Creek Laboratory (elevation 10,150 ft.) on White Mountain northeast of Bishop; 3) the
Barcroft Laboratory (elevation 12,470); and, 4) the Summit Laboratory (elevation 14,250 ft.), which is the third highest point
in California.
Oversight of the facility is assigned to a Director and the UC President's Advisory Committee for WMRS, which is comprised
of faculty representatives from every UC campus. Directors have been Nello Pace (1950-1977) from UCB, William J. Welch (1977-1979)
from UCB, Clarence A. Hall., Jr. (1980-1995) from UCLA, and Frank Powell (1995-present) from UCSD. The Director's Advisory
Committee for Astronomy provides guidance for administration of research activities in the field of astronomy.
Scope and Content of Collection
Accessions Processed in 2000
The White Mountain Research Station administrative files document the activities and development of a University of California
Multi-Campus Research Unit (MRU) supporting high altitude research. The files include correspondence (1955-1995), committee
files, contracts and proposals (1949-1993), annual reports (1955-1995), subject files, publications, photographs (ca. 1940-1990s),
and films. The files are arranged by campus of administrative responsibility in three series: 1) UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
BERKELEY (1950-1979), 2) UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (1980-1995) and 3) UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO (1995
to present).
SERIES 1: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY (1950-1979)
The UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY series is arranged in seven subseries: A) Correspondence, B) Committees, C) Contracts
and Proposals, D) Publications, E) Subject Files, F) Photographs, and G) Films. The Correspondence subseries, arranged chronologicallly,
contains correspondence and budget documents related to the financial operation of the station. The Committees subseries contains
minutes and agendas of the Advisory Committee for the White Mountain Research Station, formerly the Advisory Committee on
High Altitude Research. The Contracts and Proposals subseries documents research contracts, projects, funding initiatives
and related correspondence. The Publications subseries contains mimeograph lists of flora and fauna observed in the White
Mountain range. The Subject Files subseries contains annual reports, facility plans, miscellaneous reports, symposium proceedings,
and other files documenting early activities at the station. The Photographs subseries documents early structures, construction
of the powerline, local landscapes, and facilities. Of particular interest is a group of early photographs located in box
6.
SERIES 2: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (1980-1995)
The UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES series is arranged in seven subseries: A) Correspondence, B) Committees, C) Contracts
and proposals, D) Publications, E) Subject Files, F) Photographs, and G) Films. The Correspondence subseries contains the
administrative correspondence, incoming and outgoing, of the director, Clarence A. Hall Jr., and relates largely to facilities
management. The Committees subseries continues the documentation of the Advisory Committee for the White Mountain Research
Station (1980-1994). The Contracts and Proposals subseries, arranged by title of proposal, relates to facilities improvements
and development. The Publications subseries contains a publicity brochure, natural history research papers and the stations
1994 quinquennial review report. The subject files document dedications, funding, symposiums, and activities summarized in
annual reports (1981-1994). The Photographs subseries contains informal photographs taken by researchers and visitors of landscapes,
flora, fauna, and events. Of particular interest are images printed on contact sheets from Ansel Adams's negatives created
for the illustration of FIAT LUX (1967). The Film subseries comprises videorecording transfers for the film entitled "Scientific
Diversity: White Mountain Research Station."
SERIES 3: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO (1995-present)
The UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO series is arranged in four subseries: A) Committees, B) Publications, C) Subject
Files, and D) Photographs. The materials represented from UCSD are sparse. The files related to the Advisiory Committee for
the White Mountain Station were created by Frank Powell.
Accession Processed in 2005
The accession processed in 2005 includes correspondence, grant proposals, publications and a large scrapbook documenting
the construction of the Summit Laboratory. The accession dates from 1950 to 1996 and is arranged by campus of administrative
responsibility.
SERIES 1: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY (1950-1979)
The UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY series is arranged in five subseries: A) Correspondence, B) Contracts and Proposals,
C) Publications, D) Subject Files, and E) Photographs. The Correspondence subseries, arranged chronologically, contains correspondence
between the President's advisory committee and other directors of the station. The Contracts and Proposals subseries contains
proposals for research grants and financial support from the University. The Publications subseries contains published reports
of studies conducted at the station and a newsletter (1956-1960). The Subject subseries contains a brief biography of Nello
Pace and a map of the station used in publications. The Photographs subseries contains a scrapbook documenting the construction
of Summit Laboratory.
SERIES 2: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (1980-1995)
The UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, series is arranged in two subseries: A) Correspondence and B) Publications. The
Correspondence subseries, arranged chronologically, contains correspondence between the President's advisory committee members
concerning the administration of the laboratory. The Publications subseries contains brochures, mailings and a 1983 annual
report.
SERIES 3: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO (1995-present)
The UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, series contains one folder of correspondence from Frank Powell to White Mountain
Research Station users in 1995.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Natural history -- White Mountains (Calif. and Nev.)
Natural history -- California -- Owens River Valley Region
Botany -- White Mountains (Calif. and Nev.)
Botany -- California -- Owens River Valley Region
Geology -- White Mountains (Calif. and Nev.)
Geology -- California -- Owens River Valley Region
Ecology -- White Mountains (Calif. and Nev.)
Ecology -- California -- Owens River Valley Region
Owens River Valley Region (Calif.)
White Mountains (Calif. and Nev)
Laboratories -- California -- Design and Construction
Altitude, Influence of
Research -- California -- Owens River Valley Region
Research -- White Mountains (Calif. and Nev.)
White Mountain Research Station (University of California, Los Angeles). Symposium
Dill, David Bruce
Pace, Nello
White Mountain Research Station -- History -- Archives
White Mountain Research Station -- Buildings
Hall, Clarence A.
White Mountain Research Station -- Administration
Smith, Arthur Clayton
Powell, Frank Ludwig
University of California (System). Office of the President. Advisory Committee for the White Mountain Research Station
United States. Office of Naval Research
Welch, William J.