Description
The Claude Schwob papers document the scientist’s professional, personal and erotic life. Schwob (1910-2000) was a research
nuclear chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project. The collection contains photographs, erotica, correspondence, materials
about his scientific career, slides, 8mm film, and artifacts.
Background
Claude Schwob (June 16, 1910-July 24, 2000) was born in New York and grew up in France. He received his B.S. M.S. and doctorate
in Chemistry from Fordham University in 1931, and taught at the University’s St. Peter’s College. He enlisted in the U.S.
Army during WWII. He volunteered for the Chemical Warfare Service (soon renamed the Chemical Corps) and worked on the Manhattan
Project at the University of Chicago and Los Alamos, New Mexico. He taught at Chicago’s Carnegie Institute of Technology until
1947. In 1948, he applied for a position at the U S. Naval Radiological Defense Lab in San Francisco, where he spent the remainder
of his professional life. He became one of the nation’s foremost experts on radiation and the focus of his work was safe ways
of detecting, preventing, and responding to radiation exposure. According to his obituary in the B.A.R., Schwob loved San
Gregorio beach, the Russian River, the pool at the Oasis, beautiful men and photography. He supported programs for homeless
gay youth, such as Hospitality House. During much of his adult life, Schwob collected or took photographs of nude young men
and accumulated a large number of these prints. According to the donor of his papers Schwob continued to be sexually active
until close to his death at age 90.
Extent
4.85 linear feet (1 carton, 7 boxes, 1 rolled item (in oversize box), 1 oversize folder)
Availability
Collection is open for research.
Funding for processing this collection was provided by the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).