Ultimate weapon: the H-bomb dilemma videocassettes, 1987-2001

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Summary

Creators:
History Channel (Television network)
Abstract:
Videotape raw footage, relating to the American decision to develop the hydrogen bomb. Used in preparation of the television program produced by the History Channel. Includes interviews with scientists and government officials involved in the decision.
Extent:
18 tape boxes,14 AV trays (15.0 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ultimate weapon: the H-bomb dilemma video tape, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Videotape raw footage, relating to the American decision to develop the hydrogen bomb. Used in preparation of the television program produced by the History Channel. Includes interviews with scientists and government officials involved in the decision.

172 U-Matic tapes and 208 Betacam tapes. Includes a variety of interviews with those involved in the Manhattan Project, or with knowledge regarding the "Superbomb" and its subsequent use and purpose. Contributors include Edward Teller, Robert Krohn, George Cowan, Robert Johnson, Vasily Ginzberg, Kenneth Pitzer, Emil Konopinski, Barton Bernstein, John Manely, Hans Bethe, Ted and Caro Taylor, Kenneth Ford, Françoise Ulam, Paul Nitze, Gordon Arnison, Foster Evans, Carson Marks, Louis Rosen, Norris Bradbury, Professor John Wheeler, Nicholas Metropolis, Robert Serber, Professor Rabbi, Richard Garwin, Herbet York, Frederick Reines, Victor Weisskopf, Peter Hoving, Greg McCleary. Videotapes also include historic footage and versions of the television program produced.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2003.
Processing information:

In Spring 2025 the entire collection was re-inventoried to ensure the content of the described items are in the boxes listed. Nearly every item has now been accounted for and the finding aid has been updated. The information you see listed is exactly as transcribed from the tape labels. Therefore, please only order items from this collection if you are interested in having them reformatted for viewing purposes. You will not be gleaning any new or additional information by looking at the actual tapes.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically. Dates, titles and notes were taken directly from the tape label; the content of the recording may not exactly match the label.

Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ultimate weapon: the H-bomb dilemma video tape, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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