A cyclotron is a powerful machine that has a wide array of applications for research in particle physics. It involves the use of a strong magnetic field to accelerate particles and resulting electric fields of varying strength to increase the speed at which they travel. In the early 1960s, the University of Pittsburgh was chosen to have one built on its campus that would be more powerful than others that had previously come before it. Pitt was able to secure over $1.6 million from the National Science Foundation and $1 million from the Sarah Mellon-Scaife Foundation to construct the building on campus.
Directed by Dr. James McGruer, construction began in November 1962 and was completed in March 1964. The first beams of protons were achieved in 1965 and the building itself was dedicated in 1966. Eventually, the building was renamed the Nuclear Physics Laboratory, although the building still goes by both names. Since its dedication, the accelerator has been an integral piece of equipment for both student and faculty research. Additions to the accelerator were made in the early 1970's to increase the power output of the machine.
This collection consists of letters, diagrams, catalogs, and reports documenting the University of Pittsburgh's construction of an advanced cyclotron in the early 1960s. These records involve correspondence written from contractors to the university, along with letters to and from different faculty involved with the project. Reports from the contractors and architects tasked with construction are present, along with the resulting blueprints and diagrams for the building itself. Records that span from the early discussions and proposals for the project to updates to the building after its completion are also found.
No restrictions.
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Transferred from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Physics and Astronomy in June 2015.
This collection was processed by Anish Bhagwat in June 2019 thanks to a grant from the Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics.
Series I. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Scope and Content Notes
Chicago architectural and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (S.O.M.) was hired by the University of Pittsburgh to design and oversee construction of the Van de Graaff accelerator building beginning in 1961. This series includes correspondence from S.O.M. to the University of Pittsburgh, primarily the Physics department and the university architect, as well as contractors like the George A. Fuller Company and material suppliers.
|
| Box | Folder | Correspondence, August 23, 1961-May 17, 1962 | 1 | 1 |
|
| Folder | Weekly Construction Reports (Unfiled), November 1, 1961 | 2 |
|
| Folder | Recapitulation, November 10, 1961 | 3 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, May 18-July 11, 1962 | 4 |
|
| Folder | Recapitulation, July 2, 1962 | 5 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, July 16, 1962-February 12, 1963 | 6 |
|
| Folder | Changes to Drawings and Specifications, July 30-October 25, 1962 | 7 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, August 10-September 4, 1962 | 8 |
|
| Folder | Electrical Energy Analysis Report, August 24, 1962 | 9 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, September 7, 1962-June 6, 1963 | 10 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, September 7-October 5, 1962 | 11 |
|
| Folder | Material Submittals, October 5, 1962 | 12 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, October 15-November 30, 1962 | 13 |
|
| Folder | Transmittals, October 19, 1962-February 5, 1963 | 14 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, October 22-December 27, 1962 | 15 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, December 3, 1962-January 15, 1963 | 16 |
|
| Folder | Color and Material Schedule, December 27, 1962 | 17 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, January 2-February 8, 1963 | 18 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, January 21-March 11, 1963 | 19 |
|
| Folder | Transmittals, February 11-April 29, 1963 | 20 |
|
| Folder | Revised Hardware Schedule, February 1, 1963 | 21 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, February 11-March 30, 1963 | 22 |
|
| Folder | Notification of Change Order, February 15-May 7, 1963 | 23 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, March 9-April 30, 1963 | 24 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, April 1-June 11, 1963 | 25 |
|
| Folder | Notification of Change Order, April 16-May 23, 1963 | 26 |
|
| Folder | Transmittals, April 30, 1963-April 9, 1964 | 27 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, May 1-June 13, 1963 | 28 |
|
| Folder | Notification of Building Change, May 21, 1963 | 29 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, June 13-July 31, 1963 | 30 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, June 17-July 9, 1963 | 31 |
|
| Folder | Recapitulation and Schedule, June 19, 1963 | 32 |
|
| Folder | Electrical Data Sheet, July 3, 1963 | 33 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, July 1-December 3, 1963 | 34 |
|
| Folder | Notification of Change Order, July 8-August 22, 1963 | 35 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, July 15-July 31, 1963 | 36 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence and Monthly Construction Reports, July 19, 1963 | 37 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, August 1-31, 1963 | 38 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, August 1-September 18, 1963 | 39 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, September 3-30, 1963 | 40 |
|
| Folder | Notification of Change Order, September 5, 1963-February 10, 1964 | 41 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, September 23-October 31, 1963 | 42 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, October 2-28, 1963 | 43 |
|
| Folder | Hinge Structure Calculations, October 25, 1963 | 44 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, October 30-December 27, 1963 | 45 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, November 1-December 30, 1963 | 46 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, January 2-February 6, 1964 | 47 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, January 2-February 25,1964 | 48 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, January 6-June 19, 1964 | 49 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, February 10-April 7, 1964 | 50 |
|
| Box | Folder | Notification of Change Order, February 24-August 19, 1964 | 2 | 1 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, March 2-April 30, 1964 | 2 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, April 15-May 28, 1964 | 3 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, May 4-August 25, 1964 | 4 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, June 1-July 23, 1964 | 5 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, August 4, 1964-June 7, 1965 | 6 |
|
| Folder | Heating and Ventilation Architectural and Mechanical Drawings | 7 |
|
Return to Table of Contents »
|
Series II. Lasley K. Lacewell
Scope and Content Notes
Lasley K. Lacewell was an inspector in the Physical Plant office of the University of Pittsburgh assigned to serve as the university's field representative for the project. In that role, Lacewell oversew progress on the construction of the Van de Graaff accelerator building and managed the overall construction site. This series includes correspondence and reports documenting the day to day activities and progress of the building's construction.
|
| Box | Folder | Correspondence, November 14, 1962-April 30, 1963 | 2 | 8 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, May 1, 1963-January 29, 1964 | 9 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, February 3-September 4, 1964 | 10 |
|
| Folder | Weekly Update Report Correspondence, November 23, 1962-June 26, 1964 | 11 |
|
| Folder | Daily Construction Reports, October 19, 1962-January 25, 1963 | 12 |
|
| Folder | Daily Construction Reports, February 2-April 12, 1963 | 13 |
|
| Folder | Daily Construction Reports, April 15-June 28, 1963 | 14 |
|
| Folder | Daily Construction Reports, July 5-October 4, 1963 | 15 |
|
| Folder | Daily Construction Reports, October 14-December 27, 1963 | 16 |
|
| Folder | Daily Construction Reports, January 3-March 27, 1964 | 17 |
|
| Folder | Daily Construction Reports, April 3-June 12, 1964 | 18 |
|
| Folder | Daily Construction Reports, June 19-September 4, 1964 | 19 |
|
| Folder | Weekly Construction Reports, October 19, 1962-October 4, 1963 | 20 |
|
| Folder | Weekly Construction Reports, October 18, 1963-September 25, 1964 | 21 |
|
| Folder | Monthly Construction Reports, November 14, 1962-August 14, 1964 | 22 |
|
Return to Table of Contents »
|
Series III. University of Pittsburgh
Scope and Content Notes
This series includes correspondence and memoranda from the University of Pittsburgh concerning the design and construction of the Van de Graaff accelerator building. Also included is the initial project proposal, as well as several subsequent proposals for equipment and upgrades. This series also contains drawings for several pieces of equipment utilized in the building and floor plans.
|
| Box | Folder | Cyclotron Correspondence, March 2, 1947-August 29, 1956 | 2 | 23 |
|
| Folder | Grants and Proposals (AEC, NSF) October 17, 1959-May 4, 1962 | 24 |
|
| Folder | Van de Graaff Accelerator Proposal, March 1, 1960 | 25 |
|
| Folder | Supplement to Van de Graaff Accelerator Proposal, November 1, 1960 | 26 |
|
| Folder | David Halliday Correspondence, November 1, 1960-April 24, 1961 | 27 |
|
| Folder | Congressional and National Science Foundation Support Correspondence, May 2, 1961-April 2, 1962 | 28 |
|
| Folder | Memoranda, November 16, 1961-July 18, 1962 | 29 |
|
| Folder | Van de Graaff Expenses and Progress Reports, 1961-1962 | 30 |
|
| Folder | Van de Graaff Construction Organization Charts, February 12-September 23, 1963 | 31 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence and Dedication, April 3, 1962-May 6, 1966 | 32 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, August 15, 1962-February 5, 1963 | 33 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, October 26, 1962-July 8, 1964 | 34 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, City of Pittsburgh, December 3, 1962-June 21, 1963 | 35 |
|
| Folder | Blasting Notices, December 14, 1962-January 7, 1963 | 36 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, February 8-July 31, 1963 | 37 |
|
| Folder | Proposal for Equipment Grant, April 8, 1963 | 38 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, City of Pittsburgh, June 28, 1963-May 29, 1964 | 39 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, August 7-December 30, 1963 | 40 |
|
| Folder | Foreign Correspondence, September 13, 1963-January 2, 1964 | 41 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, January 2-December 14, 1964 | 42 |
|
| Folder | Neutral Source Test Notes, January 9-10, 1964 | 43 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, February 5-June 29, 1964 | 44 |
|
| Box | Folder | Maintenance and Operating Instructions, May 15, 1964 | 3 | 1 |
|
| Folder | Correspondence, July 2, 1964-March 5, 1966 | 2 |
|
| Folder | Door Design, January 15, 1962-October 28, 1963 | 3 |
|
| Folder | Van de Graaff Building Costs and Layouts, March 14-16, 1962 | 4 |
|
| Folder | Electrical, Heating, and Cooling Calculations, June 28-August 21, 1962 | 5 |
|
| Folder | Beam Drawings, November 12, 1962-February 29, 1963 | 6 |
|
| Folder | Electrical Information, November 21, 1962-February 17, 1964 | 7 |
|
| Folder | Architectural Designs, December 14, 1962-December 11, 1963 | 8 |
|
| Folder | Architectural Drawings, December 17, 1962-January 27, 1963 | 9 |
|
| Folder | Electric/Power Supply, December 21, 1962-March 14, 1963 | 10 |
|
| Folder | Van de Graaff Building Floor Plans, December 31, 1962 | 11 |
|
| Folder | Architectural and Mechanical Drawings, January 1-August 2, 1963 | 12 |
|
| Folder | Lockset Designs, January 7, 1963 | 13 |
|
| Folder | Architectural Designs, January 11-February 15, 1963 | 14 |
|
| Folder | Architectural Diagrams, January 23-March 27, 1963 | 15 |
|
| Folder | Final Approved Design, January 24, 1963 | 16 |
|
| Folder | Sheet Metal Designs, January 29-April 9, 1963 | 17 |
|
| Folder | Architectural and Mechanical Drawings, February 28-April 22, 1963 | 18 |
|
| Folder | Schedule of Yale Hardware, April 1, 1963 | 19 |
|
| Folder | Lighting Fixtures, September 11-16, 1963 | 20 |
|
| Folder | Job Memorandums (1-7), May 2, 1961-March 5, 1962 | 21 |
|
| Folder | Job Memorandums (8-14), April 2-September 10, 1962 | 22 |
|
| Folder | Instructions to Bidders (Sections 1-14), June 22, 1962 | 23 |
|
| Folder | Instructions to Bidders (Sections 15-39), June 22, 1962 | 24 |
|
| Folder | Instructions to Bidders (Sections 41-54), June 22, 1962 | 25 |
|
| Folder | Instructions to Bidders (Sections 55-70), June 22, 1962 | 26 |
|
| Folder | Instructions to Bidders (Sections 80-85), June 22, 1962 | 27 |
|
| Folder | Concrete Test Papers, December 4, 1962-February 14, 1963 | 28 |
|
| Folder | Concrete Test Papers, February 18-July 27, 1963 | 29 |
|
| Folder | Concrete Test Papers, July 27-October 21, 1963 | 30 |
|
| Folder | Concrete Test Papers, October 22, 1963-May 8, 1964 | 31 |
|
| Volume | Proposal for the Conversion of the Pittsburgh 18 MeV Van de Graaff into a 24 MeV EN-SUPER-FN Facility, March 1, 1971 | 1 |
|
| Volume | Proposal for Transfer of Army Model FN Tandem Van de Graaff Accelerator to University of Pittsburgh Nuclear Physics Laboratory, March 1, 1974 | 2 |
|
Return to Table of Contents »
|
Series IV. Contractors
Scope and Content Notes
This series includes correspondence and progress reports from several contractors and equipment suppliers used during the construction of the Van de Graaff accelerator building. Also included are equipment catalogs from several companies considered during the bidding process.
|
| Box | Folder | George A. Fuller Company Correspondence, October 26, 1962-May 13, 1963 | 3 | 32 |
|
| Folder | George A. Fuller Company Correspondence, May 14, 1963-August 13, 1964 | 33 |
|
| Folder | George A. Fuller Company Progress Report, November 1, 1962-February 1, 1963 | 34 |
|
| Folder | George A. Fuller Company Progress Report, April 1-July 1, 1963 | 35 |
|
| Folder | George A. Fuller Company Monthly Progress Report, August 2-November 1, 1963 | 36 |
|
| Folder | George A. Fuller Company Monthly Progress Report, December 5, 1963-March 2, 1964 | 37 |
|
| Folder | George A. Fuller Company and Limbach Maintenance and Operating Instructions | 38 |
|
| Folder | Limbach Correspondence, March 8-September 30, 1963 | 39 |
|
| Folder | Ackenheil & Associates Inc. Correspondence, November 2, 1962-May 15, 1963 | 40 |
|
| Folder | Ackenheil & Associates Inc. Architectural Diagrams, October 31, 1962-February 15, 1963 | 41 |
|
| Folder | Ackenheil & Associates Inc. Architectural Diagrams, March 4-April 2, 1963 | 42 |
|
| Folder | Tuttle & Bailey Grille and Diffuser Schedule, September 25, 1957-November 28, 1962 | 43 |
|
| Folder | Equipment Catalogs | 44 |
|
| Folder | Equipment and Product Catalogs | 45 |
|
Return to Table of Contents »
|
| | | | |