Inventory of the Carl R. Gerber papers
Finding aid prepared by Tess McCarthy
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2014, 2015
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: Carl R. Gerber papers
Date (bulk): 1962-1971
Collection Number: 2015C9
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
4 manuscript boxes
(1.7 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, memoranda, reports, printed matter, and photographs relating to the Atomic Energy Commission's Plowshare Program,
which developed proposals for peaceful uses of nuclear explosions, including Project Gasbuggy plans for natural gas release.
Creator:
Gerber, Carl R.
Creator:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
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.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2014.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Carl R. Gerber papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
Carl Reading Gerber was born April 12, 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated with a B.A. in chemistry from Oberlin College
in 1958. Gerber's summer employment included positions at the Lewis Laboratory of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) in Cleveland, Ohio and the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York. He taught freshman chemistry part time at
the University of Wisconsin, where he earned his M.A. in inorganic chemistry in 1960. From June 1960 to June 1961, Gerber
worked as a technical intern at the Division of Technical Information (DTI) of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge,
Tennessee, and he worked as Technical Editor of DTI's Publications Branch from December 1960 to December 1961.
Gerber next worked for the Division of Peaceful Nuclear Explosives of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), where he was involved
with the planning and gathering of technical information needed to successfully launch the Plowshare Program. He served as
a Program Development Specialist engaged in research and the dissemination of program materials, and in 1969 Gerber became
Assistant Director of the Division.
In later years, he continued to be involved with research related to energy and the environment, including serving as the
U.S. representative on the Energy and Environment Group of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development.
Scope and Content of Collection
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, and printed matter (such as supplements and brochures) relating to the Plowshare Program,
which proposed peaceful uses of nuclear explosions, including Project Gasbuggy plans for natural gas release. These materials
provide details about Plowshare experiments, complete with date, name, purpose, location, and research areas, such as: natural
gas stimulation, engineering, peaceful explosions, excavation, underground engineering, seismic effects, and neutron physics.
Other materials, such as symposium proceedings, illustrations, diagrams, communications, and photographs, are also included.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Nuclear energy
Nuclear excavation
Atomic Energy Comission (AEC) Correspondence
1962-1972
Scope and Contents note
Letters to stakeholders, including United States government entities (such as the United States Congress) and private sector
interests (such as the El Paso Natural Gas Company). Correspondence is related to the dissemination of information regarding
the various Plowshare operations and the AEC's informational materials, which include transcripts of talks, project information
sheets, proposals, and memoranda.
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Plowshare Program Records
1962-1995
box 2, folder 5
Sections A - C
1962-1995
Scope and Contents note
[Bulk dates: 1963-1972]
A) Carl R. Gerber personal files
B) Glossary of Plowshare and related terms, December 1962; Plowshare chronology, July 31, 1971
C) Annual reports
box 2, folder 6
Section D
1962-1995
Scope and Contents note
[Bulk dates: 1962-1972]
D) Technical information; fact sheets
box 3, folder 1
Sections E - G
1962-1995
Scope and Contents note
[Bulk dates: 1963-1972]
E) Public information, general--press clipping, releases, brochures, booklets
F) Critique of Final Report of the A-PICSC, April 1971
G) GAC review, May 1972
box 3, folder 2
Sections H - K
1964-1995
Scope and Contents note
[Bulk dates: 1964-1973]
H) Congressional hearings, general
I) Non-proliferation/disarmament
J) Charges for nuclear explosives
K) Publications/presentations:
--Talk given to the New York section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, April 15, 1964
--Engineering with Nuclear Explosives, Chemical Engineering, July 6, 1964
--Industrial and scientific applications for nuclear explosives, BNES lecture, September 26, 1966
box 3, folder 3
Sections L - P,
1962-1995
Scope and Contents note
[Bulk dates: 1962-1972]
L) Briefings/remarks:
--Remarks at Gasbuggy briefing, December 9, 1969
--ANS and Southern Colorado State College talk outline, October 1969
--"Nuclear Explosives as an Engineering Tool," book chapter, 1988
--Thirteen other outlines (1968-1972)
M) Scientific uses
N) Excavation
O) Underground engineering uses, except Gasbuggy
P) Gasbuggy, general
box 3, folder 4
Sections Q - S
1965-1995
Scope and Contents note
[Bulk dates: 1965-1971]
Q) Gasbuggy background/data sheets/etc.
R) Gasbuggy press clippings, releases, speeches, etc.
S) Gasbuggy project planning
box 3, folder 5
Sections T - XYZ,
1967-1995
Scope and Contents note
[Bulk dates: 1967-1968]
T) Gasbuggy project operations
U) Gasbuggy detonation day
V) Gasbuggy related material
W) Gasbuggy critique
XYZ) [No materials follow this tab]
box 3, folder 6
Project Gasbuggy scrapbook,
after 1967
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) File,
1963-1997
Scope and Contents note
Bound printed materials, including selected annotated bibliographies for
Peaceful Uses for Nuclear Explosives and
Plowshare, published by the United States Atomic Energy Commission.
box 4, folder 1
Peaceful Uses for Nuclear Explosives, 6th revision, annotated bibliography,
circa 1963
box 4, folder 2
Peaceful Uses for Nuclear Explosives, 7th revision, annotated bibliography,
1964 January
box 4, folder 3
Peaceful Uses for Nuclear Explosives, 7th revision, supplement 1, annotated biliography
1965 April
box 4, folder 4
Plowshare, booklet,
1966 March
box 4, folder 5
Plowshare, 8th revision, annotated bibliography,
1966 May
box 4, folder 6
Plowshare, 8th revision, supplement,
1969 April
box 4, folder 7
Plowshare: A Selected, Annotated Bibliography of the Civil, Industrial, and Scientific Uses for Nuclear Explosions, 9th revision
1971 September
box 4, folder 8
Nuclear explosives, printed materials
1964-1997
