White Mountain Research Station Administrative Files, 1949 - 1996

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Summary

Creators:
Pace, Nello, Welch, William J., Powell, Frank Ludwig, White Mountain Research Station, and Hall, Clarence A.
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).
Extent:
9.7 Linear feet (21 archives boxes, 1 cardfile box, and 6 oversize folders)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

White Mountain Research Station Administrative Files, RSS 2308. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Not Available
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

All film and betacam-sp cassettes are restricted. Researchers must use VHS copies.

Terms of access:

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Preferred citation:

White Mountain Research Station Administrative Files, RSS 2308. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

Location of this collection:
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0175
La Jolla, CA 92093-0175, US
Contact:
(858) 534-2533
spcoll@ucsd.edu
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