Sub-series 2. W. George Parks, 1944-1971, undated

Wilbur George Parks was the second Director of the of the newly renamed Gordon Research Conferences (1947-1968). A Professor of Chemistry at Rhode Island State College (now known as the University of Rhode Island), Parks assumed the directorship in 1947. He presided over a period of expansion for the organization, during which the conferences moved from Gibson Island, Maryland to Colby Junior College in New London, New Hampshire, then to a consortium of colleges and spread beyond the bounds of New England to the West Coast. He was succeeded by his longtime assistant Dr. Alexander M. Cruickshank in 1968.

Arranged alphabetically by subject, this sub-series contains the GRC’s W. George Parks files. The files in this sub-series document Parks’ activities as Director. Small amounts of materials predating and postdating his tenure as Director are also present here.

Correspondence makes up the bulk of the materials in the W. George Parks files. Other miscellaneous materials, including, but not limited to, minutes, conference schedules, speaker abstracts, attendee lists, financial documents, and newsletters are preserved in this sub-series as well.