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The purpose':Aof this memorandum isto report t o you formally and t o note for the record that the krgonne Cancer nesearch Hospital was officially dedicated on Harch 14, 1953, and i s now being occcpied and operate, and that the research program i s underway. The Argonne Cancer Research Hospital is the largest facility ever - built specifically designed for the purpose of studying and applSing the beneficial applications of atomic energy inthe treatmdnt of cancer and closely allied disorders i n man. the earliest # causes of certain forms of cancer. Radiation w a s one of since radiation is the sine qua non of the atomic energy industry, it is fitting and appropriate that the AEC should have made possible this excellent facility dedicated to the alleviation of one of the most persistent c au sq of discomfort and death t o mankind. A s you may recal1,the Congress made it abundantly clear in the specific language of the h prop riat ions Act for F.Y. 1948,that it wished thb Commission t o engage i n cancer researchiand funds inthe amount of $5,OOO,OOO were made avail abl z for that purpose, Of that amount $1,75O,gPO was provided t o commknce the Argonne Cancer Research Hospital Its construction ms approved by the President of sche United States, Harry S. Truman, on December 9, 1948.
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Construction was commenced i n June 1950 and was essentially completed dedicated during informal ceremony atthe University of Chicago. pating inthe ceremony were: On March 14, 1953 the hospital was of Cici ally Chancellor Lawrence A. Kimpton of t h e University of Chicago Shields Warren, formekrDirector of t h e AEC's Division of Biology and Medicine John C. Bugher, present Director of t h e AEC's Division of Biology and Medicine Alan Gregg, Chairman of the Advisory Committee for bio log and Leon 0. Jacobson, Director of t h e Argonne Cancer Research Hospital and Professor of %dicine at t h e University of Chicago Lowell T. Coggeshall, Dean of t h e Division of Biological Sciences, Uqivefsity of Chicago. Shields Warren, former Director of t h e Division of Biology and and member of the Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine, i n of the AEC, made symbolic delivery of the hospital to the Chancellor of t h e University of Chicago, Lawrence A. Khpton. enclosing a copy of Dr. Warren's remarks. with which they were given,make them especially appropriate t o include in this record. of w i t and wisdom. these renarks for the information of the Commission. I think you will also enjoy Dr. Sreggls conments,-- It occurs t o me that you may wish to circulate Briefly, the significant details of the Argonne Cancer Research it was built at a cost of $4,200,000 with fundsHospital.are these: provided by the AEC. care and provide 56 beds. It c ensis ts of 8floors,2floors are for patient The remainder of t h e building houses numerous
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kadiation devices and laboratories. Equipment includes powerful radiz-tion sources such as Van de Graaff generator, 50 bEV l i n e a r accelerator, a yetto-be-installed cobalt bomb as well as Facilities of the hospital will be available other research institutions in the Mid-west which are participating members of the laboratory. Under separate cover, Iam sending for your information recent photographs of the hospital and its facilities. They are part of the permanent file of the Division of Biology and Medicine. Dr. Smyth, in his letter of December 28, 1951 toDr. Goodpastme, Acting Chairman of the ACBM, stated that "the Commission has the responsibil it y to demonstrate the same skill i n finding constructive uses for atomic energy as we have demonstrated i n fashioning instruments of most direct contributions that we ca alte t o mankind." Eiesearch Hospital, the largest project ever sponsored by the AEC inthe field of cancer research, i s tangible evidence of policy being put ir;to Certainly, t h e study and treatment of cancer i s one of the The Argonne Cancer