Herbert M. Parker papers, 1938-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Parker, Herbert M
Title
Herbert M. Parker papers
Dates
1938-1984 (inclusive)
Quantity
11.83 cubic feet (13 boxes)
Collection Number
3616 (Accession No. 3616-001)
Summary
Papers of a radiation physicist and co-inventor of the Paterson-Parker Radium Therapy System
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Original videotapes should not be used. Researchers must request duplication of videotapes before viewing.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Herbert Parker was a radiation physicist and co-inventor of the Paterson-Parker Radium Therapy System. He was born in England in 1910, studied at the University of Manchester and the Holt Radium Institute in Manchester. He came to the U.S. and worked on nuclear projects during WWII at the Manhattan Project in Chicago and at Oak Ridge. He came to Hanford, WA in 1944 to head the operational radiation protection program and stayed to develop research and development programs in the radiological sciences. He managed the General Electric Hanford Labs from 1956 to 1965. He became a consultant to Batelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories after Batelle took over operation of the lab in 1965. In 1971 he left Batelle and became president of HMP Associates, his own consulting firm. He served on many scientific panels, committees, and boards, including the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, and bodies of the National Academy of Sciences and Atomic Energy Commission. He died in 1984.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Contains correspondence, speeches and writings, committee records, videotapes (3/4 inch U-matic).

The Parker papers provide only limited documentation of Parker's work at Hanford and Battelle. The bulk of the papers relate to his committee and consultant work. One such activity was the Portsmouth Study of Navy nuclear propulsion and other shipyard workers. The study was commissioned in 1978 by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and carried out by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the instigation of the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment. Parker was a consultant to the study, which investigated reports of excess cancer mortality among the shipyard workers.

The Parker papers also include material relating to the "Mancuso Controversy." Dr. Thomas F. Mancuso was the principle investigator for this project, which was a "Study of the Lifetime Health and Mortality Experience of Employees of AEC Contractors" commissioned in 1964 by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and later funded by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration. Dr. Mancuso's studies aroused controversy and his contract was terminated in 1975. In 1977 the U.S. Inspector General's Office was requested to conduct an investigation of irregularity on the part of the Department of Energy in terminating the contract. In 1971 Herbert Parker agreed to serve on a scientific advisory committee to the project and subsequently received correspondence and reports concerning the project and investigation.

Another consulting project for Parker was for Radiation Management Corporation, a Philadelphia business which offered services in "evaluation and management of human radiation problems associated with use of nuclear energy." Parker advised the company for several years.

Included in the papers are two videotapes with titles "Vignettes of Early Radiation Workers." Parker is one of the interviewees on these tapes.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries

Preferred Citation

Herbert M. Parker papers. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in 2 series:

  • Personal and professional papers, 1938-1984
  • Records from related organizations, 1955-1982

Acquisition Information

Gift of Margaret Parker, 6/14/1984.

Processing Note

Partially processed in 1984 and 1991.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Personal and Professional PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Biographical Information
See also box 13.
Box
1
Resumes and Publications Lists
1949-1983
1
Clippings
1961-1979
1
Battelle Associates
1970
Box
1
General Correspondence Concerning Parker's Retirement
1971
Outgoing Letters
Box
1
Parker at Battelle
2 folders
1965-1982
1
H.M.P. Associates
1973-1980
1
Personal
1970-1979
Incoming Letters
3 folders
Battelle Colleagues
Box
1
Ambrose, T. W.
1976
1
Bair, W. J.
1973-1981
1
Bartlett, J. W.
1977
1
Cross, F. T.
1975
1
Foster, Richard F.
1979
1
Furquay, J. J.
1984
1
Irish, E. R.
1976
1
Liikala, R. C.
1976
1
Paul, R. S.
1978
1
Richmond, Bill
1980
1
Unruh, Carl M.
1975
1
Watts, W. A.
1979
1
Wiley, W. R.
1978-1979
Non-Battelle
Box
1
American Association of Physicists in Medicine
1974-1980
1
American College of Radiology
1972, 1979
1
American Institute of Physics
1976
1
American Radium Society
1982
1
Boag, Jack W.
1972
1
Brennan, Dr. and Mrs. James T.
1982, 1984
1
British Nuclear Fuels, Ltd.
1973
1
California Agriculture and Services Agency, Consumer Affairs Department, Engineers Registration Board
1975
1
Dillon, R. L.
1965
1
Four Rivers Comprehensive Health Planning Council
1976
1
Fremling, Alex
1979
1
General Electric Company, Hanford Atomic Products Operation
1961, 1965
1
General Electric Company, Nuclear Energy Division
1969, 1974
1
General Motors Cancer Research Foundation
1979
1
Health Physics
1976, 1982
1
Health Physics Society
1974
1
Jackson, Henry M.
1973
1
Kentucky University Health Radiation Sciences
1981
1
Kozloff, Eugene N.
1980
1
MacLaren, James F., Ltd., Toronto
1980
1
Mark, J. Carson
1977
1
National Research Council
1949
1
Oregonians Against the Ban on Nuclear Energy
1976
1
Sullivan, William H.
1949
1
Taylor, Lauriston S.
1977
1
U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration
1976
1
U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
1981
1
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
1976-1979
1
University Hospitals of Cleveland
1976
1
Washington (State) Ecology Department
1978
1
University of Washington Arboretum
1979
1
University of Wisconson Medical Center
1966
1
World Health Organization
1972
Box
1-2
Speeches and Writings by Parker
37 folders
1938-1981
2
Speeches and Writings by Others
11 folders
1952-1982
2
Notes
undated
Subject Files
Box
3
American College of Radiology, Radiologic Aspects of Disaster Planning
1962
3
American Radium Society, Radiation Protection Symposium
1973
3
Atomic Industrial Forum
1972
3
Battelle Memorial Institute Seminar on Atmospheric Sciences
1977
3
Boaz v. Phillips Petroleum Company
6 folders
1977
3
Coolidge, William D. Award
1979
3
Electric Power Research Institute
2 folders
1976-1980
3
Environmental Guides
1970-1971
3
Hazardous Waste Disposal Site
1971-1972
3
Health Physics Conference on Environmental Nuclear Impact
1976
4
Health Physics Society
5 folders
1968-1980
4
Interaction of Radioactive Contaminants with the Constituents of the Marine Environment Symposium
1972
4
International Commissions on Radiological Protection and on Radiological Units and Measurements: Relative Biological Effectiveness Committee Report
1963
4-5
Mancuso (Thomas F.) Controversy
8 folders
1971-1978
5
U.S. Manhattan Project, Barton C. Hacker's History of
1981
5
U.S. Manhattan Project, Manhattan Engineer District
1945
5
National Academy of Engineering
1978-1982
5
Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy Conference
1964
5
Permissible Doses Conference
1949
5
Permissible Doses Tripartite Conference
1953
5
Plutonium Safety
undated
5
Quaternary Seminar
1974
5
Radioactive Waste Management
undated
5
San Francisco Cancer Symposium
1977
5
Short Course on Radiation Protection Standards and the Effects of Low Level Ionizing Radiation
1980
5
Stone (Robert S.) Papers
undated
5
Transuranic Wastes. Publications by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
2 folders
1977-1979
5
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Radiation Protection
1975-1976
5
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Plutonium Toxicity
1974-1975
6
Waste Disposal Management -- Testimony before Special Subcommittee on Radiation of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
1958
6
Waste Management in Foreign Nations
1974
6
Workshop on the Biological Effects and the Toxicity of 239-Pu and 226-Ra
1975
Box
13
Oral Histories -- "Vignettes of Early Radiation Workers"
2 folders
Includes 2 3/4 inch U-Matic videotapes, related correspondence, and miscellany.
Original videotapes should not be used. Researchers must request duplication before viewing.
1977
12
Ephemera and Miscellany
1971-1972

Records from Related OrganizationsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
6
American National Standards Institute
3 folders
Primarily reports of the International Electrotechnical Commission.
1969-1976
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Biomedical and Environmental Sciences Advisory Committee
5 folders
1974-1977
Box
6
A Capsule History of LASL Biomedical Research Programs and Miscellany
undated
6
LASL Third Life Sciences Symposium
undated
6
U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration Waste Site Evaluations
undated
6
Writings
undated
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements
35 folders
1956-1982
Box
6-8
Organizational Information
undated
6-8
General Correspondence
undated
6-8
Meeting Notes
undated
6-8
Lauriston S. Taylor's "History of Radiation Protection"
undated
6-8
L. S. Taylor Lecture on Radiation Protection and Measurement, First, Given by Herbert M. Parker
1977
6-8
Scientific Committee No. 1 -- General Correspondence
undated
6-8
Scientific Committees Nos. 1-73 -- Reports
undated
6-8
Miscellaneous Writings and Reports
undated
6-8
Testimony Before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Force, Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems Subcommittee
undated
6-8
Conferences and Meetings
undated
Radiation Management Corporation (Philadelphia)
3 folders
1970-1975
Box
8
General Correspondence
undated
8
Writings of H. M. Parker and Radiation Management Corporation
undated
8
Writings by Others
undated
Box
8
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission -- Agreement with Canada
1955
8
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Radioisotopes Licensing Review Panel
Letters, reports, and related articles.
1960-1968
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Reactor Safeguards Advisory Committee, Environmental Subcommittee
5 folders
1972-1977
Box
9
General Correspondence, Minutes
undated
9
Kerr-McGee/Silkwood Incident Investigation Reports
undated
9
Writings and Reports
undated
Box
9
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Reactor Safety Study Biomedical Advisory Group
1974
9
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Transportation Panel Reports
1963-1972
9
U.S. Center For Disease Control/U.S. National Institute For Occupational Safety and Health, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Study
10 folders
1978-1982
U.S. Federal Radiation Council, Uranium Mining Health Hazards Study
10 folders
1966-1970
Box
10
General Correspondence
undated
10
Statements to the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy, Research Development and Radiation Subcommittee
undated
10
Related Writings, Miscellany
undated
10
Reports
undated
Box
10
U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Federal Research on Biological and Health Effects of Ionizing Radiation Committee (Freir Committee)
2 folders
1979-1980
10-11
U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Radioactive Waste Management Committee
9 folders
1968-1975
11
U.S. National Plutonium Registry Advisory Committee
3 folders
1968-1970
11
U.S. National Research Council. Radioactive Waste Management Committee, Foreign Activities in Radioactive Waste Disposal Panel (ad hoc)
2 folders
1971-1973
11
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Proposed Rulemaking on the Storage and Disposal of Nuclear Waste
1980
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Three Mile Island Special Inquiry Group
7 folders
1979-1980
Box
11
General Correspondence
undated
11
Reports
undated
Box
12
U.S. Technical Electronic Product Radiation Safety Standards Committee (TEPRSSC)
1969-1972
12
U.S. Transuranium Registry Advisory Committee
4 folders
1974-1972
12
Washington (State) Social and Health Services Department, Radiation Advisory Committee
1971-1974

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Nuclear energy--Social aspects
  • Nuclear physicists--Washington (State)--Richland--Archives
  • Radiation--Safety measures

Personal Names

  • Mancuso, Thomas F
  • Parker, Herbert M.--Archives

Corporate Names

  • National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements
  • Pacific Northwest Laboratory
  • U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
  • U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Interviews
  • Oral histories
  • Speeches, addresses, etc
  • Writings

Occupations

  • Physicists

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)