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Declassified record · U.S. Department of Energy

Annual Report of the Board of Directors to the Council of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, Inc.

Dated
Jun 30, 1947
Document type
Report
Length
36 pages
Open the original scanArchive record OSTI ID 16111122 · public domain

Document text

Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.

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T€IZ BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO THE COU?!TCIL THE OAK RIDGE INSTITUTE SF NJCLEAR STUDIES,IYC.

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The first meeting of the board of Directors of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, Inc.., was held i n Oak Ridge on February 14 and 15, 1947. This meeting marked the transfer of the management of the Institute from the Executive Committee t o the Board of Directors according t o the action taken by the Council atits October, 1946 meeting. The meeting w a s attended by t h e President, Frank P, Graham, who served as Chairman, and by the following members I Jesse Vi. Beams , Ernest W. Goodpasture, Yi; McDaniel was also present i n an advisory capacity. A draft of a contract rvhich had been prepared by the Manhattan District was rejected as unworthy ofthe extensive program for which the Institute was designed. The desirability of having the Commission give great thought tothe suitability of arrangements for the administration of CEVf research facilities i n such a way as t o insure the development on as table basis of a n outstanding National Laboratory devoted t o high level education of research sci ez ti sts and vigorous support o f fundamental research was emphasizsd. A committee appointed by the Chairman, compos~dof Dr, Gross a s Chairman and Dr, Goodpasture and Dr, Pegran, drew up a statemerit "Sphere of Activity and Objectives of The Oak Ridge In st it ii te of hiuclear Studies" which was submitted t o and adopted by the Board. members i n March of this year. Pollard worked with the research and l sg nl divisions of AEC here a t Oak Ridge on tho preparation of a draft of a letter contract based on the statement refer red to above. Mr. Walter J. 1JilIianis, Director of Field Operations of AEC and Mr,A. V. Petersen assisbed inthe dcvelopment of this draft; ardMr. Bfilliams personally brought it to the st5.ntion of bir. Cw roll IYilsor! i n 'hshington on February 22. Ton days l nter Dr. Graham arid Dr.Poll c rd met i n Yashington t o complete the negotiations of this Letter Contract. spent the period March 5 - 7with the legal department of the Commission and discussed the Institute ' s programs and objectives a t lengCuh with members of this department and also with Dr.Fisk and briefly,with Dr. Bacher. had an opportunity t o speak informally about the program with Mr.Lilienthal Copy of this statement was sent to the Council k revised draft, United States Atomic Energy Commission Letter Contract No. AT-40-1-GEN-33, dated March 18, 1947 m d prepared i n Washington as a result of t h e s e dis.cussions, vias signed by Mr. Milliams on March 2 1 a s Contracting Officer for the Commission and by Dr. Graham on March 23for the Institute.

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IdEMBEEISHIP OF BOARD OF D1HECTOF.S AND OFFICERS Ofthe members of the I3onrd of Directors initially cle c ted by the Council at its first meeting i n Oak Ridge on October 17, 1946, Dr.G. W. 3eadle and Dr. M. Tuve had declined t o serve and fir. David E. Lilienthal had accepted, but later on November 11, 1946 tendered his resignation by letter. Harvey as alternate to Dr. Beadle. The terms of office of these members i n accordance with Article IV,section2 of the by-laws wero dctormined by a drawing conducted atthe meetinE and tho result wns as follows : For three year terms expiring June 30, 1949: Dr. Ernest W. Goodpssturc, Dean of School of ik di cine, Vanderbilt Dr.Jesse W. Beams, Professor of Fhysics, University of Virginia. For two year terms expiring June 30, 1918: D r . Paul M. Gross, Professor of Chemistry, Duke University Dr. William G. Pollard, Professor of Physics, University of Tennessoe Dr. Frederick Seit - z , Director of Training School, Clinton Laboratories and Chairman of the Department of Physics, Carnegie Institute of F o r one year terms expiring UTune 30, 1947: Tho position lc ft vacant by Nr. David 2. Lilienthal. Dr. Harvey resigned i n May and the result ire two vacant positions were not filled by tha Board but were left to the annual Council meeting for regular elec ti ons . secured . The Treasurer's bond was fixed at $50,000 and has been h nominatine; panel was appointed from whose nominations an Executive Director will be selected. This nominating panel consists of: Eugene P, Wigner, Chairinan

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DrrXi G. Pollard was appointed Acting Executive Director. until the permanent Director could be selected. The University of Tenriessee granted D r . Pollakd a leave n f Ebscnce from January 1, 1947 until Septembtr 1, 1947 t o permit him t o serve in this capacity. Shortly after the Letter Contract was signed the Atomic Znergy Commission provided the Institute with office space inthe Administration Building a t Oak The period from March 23to hp ril15 was devoted to details of organization. Payments of un j vers it y foes were requested and. letters were v;ritten t o members of tho Council reporting on the Board meeting. Dr. Graham wrote the University Presidents atthe same time. viewed for the positions of Administrative Assistant to the Acting Executive bi rector and o f General Secretary. the former position and employed on April17. Miss Barbara NcClannahan was selected for the latter 2nd employed on April 28, Mr, Mumford has tt R.Sc. degree i n Business lidministrntion from the University o f Febraska, has had a wide and varied experience i n nccountjng cnd administration, find has come tous from the position of Chief Contract T$rminp.tion Auditor with Tennessee Eastman Corporation, During this period a number of people were inter - Xr.J. W. Mumford was finally selected for Miss McClunnahsn also cnmc tous from Tennessee Eastman Corporation. The time since April15 has been occupied in establishing business and adn in is tr at ive procedures and in getting programs , authorized by the Letter C0ntrac.i formulated in detail and put into operation. During this period the main contrac-' negotiations between the Atomic Energy Commission and the hfonsanto Chemical Company for the operation of Clinton Laborstories have been carried on. As a result of khe uncertainty of the scientific staff about the outcome of these negotihtions it became urgently desirable for the Institute to put the case fora national laboratory a t Oak Ridge before the Commission. To this end, Dr. Graham and Dr.Pollard succeeded i n Getting a n appointment with Dr. Fisk i n WashinFton a basic research program, on the present scale as a minimum, would bs carried on a t Clinton Laboratories and that tho new opcrating contract must make provision for this.Dr. Fisk also indiccte4 that the Commission expected the Institute to play an ever increasing role in the opcrations a t Clinton Laboratories, but that the detailed Rrrangcnents could ba workod out only aftcr the basis for the new that this conference was most satisfactory. They obtninad afirm statement from him to the effect that The Monsanto Chemical Company accounccd publicly on May 29 that it would not renew its present cont rz ct with the Atomic Energy Commission for the operatioi of Clinton Laboratorios. Asa result, the rc lazio n ship of the Institute to the Clinton hb oratories cannot now bo established, and the program which the Inst it ute has submitted totke Coinmission for approval under its Letter Contract cannot be acted upon until a new operatin? contractor is selected. The possibility of the operation of this facility by the Institute was 3 studied and discussed at a special meeting of the Board of Directors rihich was called for the purpose by Dr. Graham and was held i n Oak Ridge on June 14. This

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meeting was attended by all members of the Boar J. who had been invited to attend by Dr, Graham - John F, Ferris and Floyd. Reeves of TVA, and E . P. Wirnsr, Director of Research a t Clint,on Laboratories, were present throughout the meeting and participated fully in a11 discussions and concurred i n .;ho actions taken. The meeting was adjournsd two hours for lunch I n additior, three advisors Material dealing with Clinton Laboratories operations was presented and discussed atthe meeting. studied i n some detail from the point of view of the various ways ir! which the Institute might assume responsibility for the condlict of apart or of all of these operations through a contract with the Atomic Energy Commission. Requirements for such operations were carefully As a result of these considerations, those present :it the meeting were able t o roach complete agreement on the fo1loi:in. findings: (a) That t h e operatior- of Cliiiton Laboratories had beon recognized a s an ultima ts obJective of the Oak iiidga Institute of Nuclear Studies by the Oak Ridge Conference of December, 1945 a t xhich it vias formed: that this objective i s recorded inthe minutes of that conference; and that this objective was roaffirmed i n February, 1947 by the Board of Directors of tha Corporation in its state - n entr to the Atomic Energy Commission entitled "Sphere of Activity and Objectives of The Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies." (b) That now that the Atomic Energy Commission isno longer cormitted t o the present industrial contractor for the continued opern7,ion of Clinton Laboratories,consideration by the Institute of the steps which it should take for the early attainment of this ultimate objective is necessary ar?d proper, (c) That, subject to certain changes i n the structure and composition of its Board of Directors, 'operation o f Clinton Laboratoriss by the 1ns.titu.te i s feasible and practicable and that such D. course isin accordance xi th there - sp on sibi lit y assumed by like associations of universities in o%hr regions for the operation of similar AEC LaSoratories. On the 'oasis of these findings, it was unanimously resolved that the Board of Directors of the Institute shal.1 seek R contract with the Atomic Snergy Commission for the operation of' Clinton Ln.boratori.c?s passed recommending tothe Council the adoption of amendments %othe by-laws t o provide fora Board of Directors of such composition and stability as would be appropriate for the administration of siich a contract. The Atomic Ehergy Commission has been informed of t h e s e findinl;s and nctions. Other resolutions were Among other things the Letter Contract between the Institute and the Commission directs the Institute to do all things necessary t o accomplish the

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. a) To establish an administrative organization of the Institute at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and t o administer and accomplish a program, evidenced i n writing, mutually agreed upon by the Institute and ths Commission, pursuant t o vhich selected graducte students from coopcrating institutions can complete thesis rcscarch for the degree o f Doctor of Philosophy, through employment with Contractor s at the Clinton Engineer Works, ORk Ridge, Tennessee. b) To establish a program vith ContrRctors, as approved by the Commission, pursuant t o which staff members and research morkors o f cooperating institutions can arrange to participate,either at the Clinton Engincer !forks or at their OVrn institutions,inthe research programs of said Contractors. c ) To conduct, i n and with facilities to be provided by the Commission, a t Oak Ridge, Tennessee, special training procrnms, approved by the Commission and designed t o provide scientific workers vrith training and experience inthe special techniques of research re latin2tothe resezrch prop-ams o f the ComI n order t o accomplish this directive,steps have been taken t o develop the general types of activity specified i n it inthe form of detailed programs with appropriate bugetary provisions which, i f approved by t h e Atomic Energy Commission, could be carried out under this contract. The status of each of these programs i s discussed under the appropriate heading i n thts following. This program was conceived at the hoginnin,? of tho movement for the formation of the Institute at the Knoxville Conference of' December 5, 1945 and 2he Oak Ridge Conference of Decem5er 28-29, 1945. j ect ive of securing a National Laboratory i n Oak Ridp devoted t o basic research and graduate eaucation, these confercncos were devoted t o an extensive study of the potentialities of Oak Ridge for advnncod training at the last year doctorate and post doctorate levels. knother important area of discussion contored around the "immedinte needs" for the provision of opportunities for graduate courses and a complete doctorata program a t Oak Ridgc i n order to retain in Oak Ridge Laboratories capable young sci cnt is ts whose education had been interrupted by the war. The Conference was urgently requested by the Manhattan District and the operating contractors to sponsor such R program and make the necessary provisions for carrying it out. sity of Tennessee agreed t o do yhatevcr i t coulc! t o conduct such a graduate program a t Oak Ridge as a branch of its Grcidunte School. of other universities agreed t o loan t o tho University of Tennessee any of their faculty capable o f giving graduate courses who could possibly be spared i n order t o tissist i n meeting the hehqr demands imposed by this program. In addition to tho priinary obA t tho requcst of the Conference, the UniverUi th these early considerpAtions as e background, the Graduate Training Program of the Institute has slolrly evolved. h numbor of early proposols have

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been studied by scientific personnel a t Oak Ridge, by Manhattan District. and, later, Atomic Energy Commission personnel, and by the faculties of member universities, Out of these studies many feLtures have been clarified and perfected and the general character of n workable and s ct is f nc tory plan has emerged. This plan hcs now been prepared i n t h e form 3f a Memorandum of Understanding, Part I(the second part will providc for the Frogram under b bolcnv) which, i n accordance with the provisious of our Letter Coiltract with The Commission, isto be accepted by the Oak Ridge opereting contractors and the Inst it ute and finally approved by the Atomio Energy Commission. k copy of this Memorandurn of UEderstanding i n its present form i s attached to this report as by all parties, and that final negotiatjon ofthe agreement may be expected soon, It i s believed that essential agreement on it has now been reached The program established by this Memorandurn of Understanding isin two dis - tinc t parts according t o the distinction established at the original conferences. standing and establishes the procedure by which the research facilities at Oak Ridge can be employed for Ph.D. thesis research by any university which agrees to participate in the program. The second part is established in section 14 of the Uemorandum of Understanding and consists in ple c in s the "inmediate needs" program of the original …

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