Guide to the University of Pittsburgh Van de Graaff Accelerator Records, 1947-1974, UA.90.8.29.1

ULS Archives & Special Collections

Summary Information
History
Scope and Content Notes
Administrative Information
Controlled Access Headings
Collection Inventory: Series I. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Series II. Lasley K. Lacewell; Series III. University of Pittsburgh; Series IV. Contractors

Summary Information

Repository: ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title: University of Pittsburgh Van de Graaff Accelerator Records
Creator: University of Pittsburgh.
Collection Number: UA.90.8.29.1
Date: 1947-1974
Extent: 3.75 linear feet (3 boxes)

Abstract: This collection consists of letters, diagrams, catalogs, and reports documenting the University of Pittsburgh's construction of an advanced cyclotron, called the Van de Graaff Accelerator, in the early 1960s.
Sponsor Note: This collection was processed thanks to a grant from the Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics

Preferred Citation

University of Pittsburgh Van de Graaff Accelerator Records, 1947-1974, UA.90.8.29.1, University Archives, University of Pittsburgh Library System

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History

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.

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Scope and Content Notes

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.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

ULS Archives & Special Collections, November 2020

University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
412-648-3232 (ASC) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright

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.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Physics and Astronomy in June 2015.

Processing Information

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.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

University of Pittsburgh.

Geographic Name(s)

Pittsburgh (Pa.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.

Subject(s)

Nuclear physics
University of Pittsburgh

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Collection Inventory

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

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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

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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

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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

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