University of California, Los Angeles Isotope Lab records, 1943-1997, undated

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Summary

Creators:
University of California, Los Angeles. Isotope Laboratory
Abstract:
The University of California, Los Angeles Isotope Lab records document the daily operations of the University of California, Los Angeles Isotope Lab. The records contain sample records, correspondence, commercial catalogs for equipment, chemicals and electronics, grant proposals, procedural documents, date lists, punch cards and other material documenting the activities of the UCLA Isotope Lab.
Extent:
46.88 linear feet (51 boxes)
Language:
The collection is in English .
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [date if possible]. University of California, Los Angeles Isotope Lab records (UA 015). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Background

Scope and content:

The University of California, Los Angeles Isotope Lab records document the daily operations of the University of California, Los Angeles Isotope Lab. The records contain sample records, correspondence, commercial catalogs for equipment, chemicals and electronics, grant proposals, procedural documents, date lists, punch cards and other material documenting the activities of the UCLA Isotope Lab.

Biographical / historical:

The UCLA Isotope Laboratory was the first of five labs devoted to radiocarbon dating in the UC system. The Isotope Lab operated in the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics from 1959 to 2004. It was founded by Professor Willard F. Libby (1908-1980), a noted chemist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1960 for his role in developing the science of radiocarbon dating. Libby joined the Chemistry department at UCLA in 1959. In 1962, he was appointed director of the Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics.

Prior to his tenure at UCLA, Libby earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from UC Berkeley. He began his career as an Assistant Professor there in 1931. During WWII, Libby was actively involved in the Manhattan Project. He played a key role in developing a gaseous diffusion method to separate the uranium isotopes, which was used in the process for uranium enrichment. After the war, Libby joined the chemistry department at the University of Chicago, where he founded the nation's first laboratory devoted to radiocarbon dating at the University's Institute for Nuclear Studies.

The UCLA Isotope Laboratory was supervised by Professor C. Rainer Berger (1930-2002) beginning in 1967. Berger was hired by Libby as a research associate in 1963 to help develop the Isotope Lab. Throughout his long career at UCLA, Berger served as a professor in several departments, including history, geography and anthropology. He retired in 1994.

In addition to their work in establishing and running the Isotope Lab, Libby and Berger authored numerous publications. Most notably, Radiocarbon Dating (Libby, 1955) and Scientific Methods in Medieval Archaeology (Berger, 1970). Both Libby and Berger received numerous distinctions throughout their respective careers.

Acquisition information:
This collection was transferred by former UCR Anthropology professor and director of the UCR Radiocarbon Lab, Dr. Erv Taylor, in 2016.
Processing information:

Processed by Andrea Hoff, University Archivist, 2022.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into eight series as described below. Series 2 consists of several sub-series, which are described at the series level.

  • Series 1. Catalogs of Companies, Electronics, Equipment and Chemicals, 1944-1979, undated
  • Series 2. Correspondence, 1943-1991, undated
  • Series 3. Grants, 1961-1991, undated
  • Series 4: Lab Operations, 1962-1984, undated
  • Series 5: Radiocarbon Date Lists, 1962-1969, undated
  • Series 6: Sample Records, 1952-1997, undated
  • Series 7: Tritium Dating, 1953-1962, undated
  • Series 8: Punch Cards, undated
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [date if possible]. University of California, Los Angeles Isotope Lab records (UA 015). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Riverside - Special Collections and University Archives
P.O. Box 5900
Riverside, CA 92517-5900, US
Contact:
(951) 827-3233
specialcollections@ucr.edu
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