Papers of Spofford Grady English

Collection

Identifier: 2014-029

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

For a more detailed inventory, please view this record in our library catalog: https://othmerlib.sciencehistory.org/record=b1071743~S6

This is a small collection of material dealing with concerns over the atomic bomb and the need for nuclear disarmament on one hand, and the promise held forth by the peaceful use of atomic energy on the other. Of special interest are the mimeographed of lectures on the atom given at Oak Ridge, TN in 1944 and 10 Tennessee newspapers covering the period August 6-14, 1945.

Dates

Creation: 1943-1977
Creation: Majority of material found within 1945-1946

Creator

English, Spofford Grady, 1915-1981 (Person)

Language of Materials

Text in English.

Biographical sketch

Spofford G. English was born in Mt. Pleasant, TN in 1916. He attended the University of Oklahoma and received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. His field was Plutonium chemistry and he studied under Glenn T. Seaborg. Upon receiving his degree he became involved in the Manhattan Project as a member of Seaborg's group at the University of Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory. In 1947 he went to work for the Atomic Energy Commission and became Chief of the Chemistry Branch, Research Division until 1960. He retired from the A.E.C. in 1976 as Assistant General Manager, Research & Development. He served as a United States delegate to the United Nations Nuclear Disarmament Conference held in London in 1955 and the Conference for the Cessation of Nuclear Weapons held in Geneva in 1959. He died in Bethesda, MD in 1981.

Extent

1.8 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

This is a small collection of secondary source materials (photographs, newspapers, news clippings, informational pamphlets, mimeographed notes and a memoir assembled by Susan P. and Helen English, the daughters of Spofford G. English, highlighting his work as both a proponent of nuclear disarmament and an advocate for the development of peaceful uses of atomic energy. Photographs, mostly of group meetings that English attended have been separated from the papers and re-assigned to the CHF Image Archives.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Muriel Frodin English. Method of acquisition--Gift;; Date of acquisition--2014..

Digitized Materials

Selected materials from this collection have been digitized and are available online in our Digital Collections: https://digital.sciencehistory.org/collections/u7n6of6