Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Joseph Stenoien papers, 1941-1992
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Stenoien, Joseph O.
- Title
- Joseph Stenoien papers
- Dates
- 1941-1992 (inclusive)19411992
1950-1958 (bulk)19501958 - Quantity
- 1.74 cubic feet (2 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 6409 (Accession No. 6409-001)
- Summary
- Publications, correspondence, clippings, and other documents collected and created by Joseph Stenoien and Floyd Hamilton related to communism, national security, and other instances of Red Scare persecution against scientists
- 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
-
No restrictions on access.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Joseph O. Stenoien was born in 1916 in Superior, Wisconsin. The son of a Lutheran Brethren Church minister, Stenoien was the eldest of 10 children. The family moved to North Dakota, then to Minnesota. Stenoien attended the North Dakota State Teachers College, most likely receiving a teacher's certification. After graduating, he taught high school science for a short period. During World War II, Stenoien enlisted in the Navy and married Irene Renk. After the war, the couple moved to Spokane, Washington, where Joseph continued to serve in the Naval Reserve for two years. His daughter Karen was born in Spokane in late 1945.
The family moved to Kirkland, Washington, in 1947 so Joseph Stenoien could attend the University of Washington, majoring in physics. At UW, Stenoien worked on the cyclotron and his Masters thesis was written about it. He received his MS in 1951 and began working for Boeing shortly after in the company's Physical Research Unit. During this time, Stenoien published an article with two coworkers in the Journal of Applied Physics. Because his research could be used in classified work, Stenoien applied for a security clearance in 1952, which was denied. Stenoien concluded that the denial might be due to two factors: His participation in the Progressive Party campaign for Henry Wallace in 1948, and/or his association with family dentist Richard Nelson (d. 1964), an avowed communist.
With extensive help from his labor union, the Seattle Professional Engineering Employees Association (SPEEA, later renamed to the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace), Stenoien appealed the clearance denial. At the time, SPEEA was a relatively new organization and used Stenoien’s case as a model for its later approach in defending employees in similar disputes. Additionally, Stenoien was also assisted by the Engineers and Scientists of America (ESA), a labor advocacy group with connections to SPEEA, in his security clearance appeals process. Under the leadership of Security Chairman Floyd Hamilton, an electrical engineer at Boeing, and president Joseph Amann, the ESA provided legal assistance in many similar cases during the McCarthy Era.
The Western Industrial Personnel Security Board heard Stenoien’s appeal in San Francisco, California, on January 21-22, 1954. Joseph's wife, Irene Stenoien, and two other SPEEA members testified at the hearing, as well as Dorothy Lassers, the chair of the East Side Progressive Party. Dan Hendricks of SPEEA acted as counsel for Joseph. In an unusual decision for the McCarthy Era, the Board reversed its decision and granted Joseph a security clearance. As a result of this and the union's support, Boeing gave Stenoien his job back, including back pay.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Record Group 1 contains materials collected by Floyd Hamilton in his role as Engineers and Scientists of America (ESA) Security Chairman, including an extensive collection of published material from the McCarthy Era related to communism, national security, and other instances of Red Scare persecution against scientists, notably J. Robert Oppenheimer. In addition, there are files related to security clearance appeals cases for Nathan Budish, Wilbur A. Hane, and Walter Lund; correspondence with ESA president Joseph Amann and lawyers; and information regarding the security clearance policy at Boeing.
Record Group 2 contains papers documenting Joseph Stenoien’s research at the University of Washington, his denial of security clearance for his political beliefs, and his subsequent efforts to obtain security clearance. This record group contains physics research Stenoien was involved in, court proceedings, his wife Irene Stenoien’s reflections on the case, and his Federal Bureau of Investigation file obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by his daughter Karen Stenoien Millward.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Forms part of the Labor Archives of Washington.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Donor's copyright transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as follows:
- RECORD GROUP 1: FLOYD HAMILTON PAPERS, 1950-1958
- SERIES I: SUBJECT FILES: MCCARTHY-ERA NATIONAL SECURITY PUBLICATIONS, 1951-1957
- SERIES II: FLOYD HAMILTON CORRESPONDENCE, 1950-1958
- SERIES III: SECURITY CLEARANCE APPEALS CASES, 1951-1958
- Subseries A: John P. Peters vs. Oveta Culp Hobby Briefs, 1954
- Subseries B: Wilbur A. Hane Case, 1951-1957
- Subseries C: Walter W. Lund Case, 1954 Subseries D: Nathan Budish Case, 1953-1958
- Subseries E: Media and Press, 1952-1957
- SERIES IV: CHANGES TO SECURITY CLEARANCE PROGRAM, 1952-1955
- RECORD GROUP 2: JOSEPH STENOIEN PAPERS, 1941-1992, BULK
1952-1954
- SERIES I: PHOTOS OF JOSEPH STENOIEN, 1941-1949
- SERIES II: STENOIEN’S SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, 1952-1953
- SERIES III: COURT DOCUMENTS FROM APPEALS HEARING, 1953-1955
- SERIES IV: IRENE STENOIEN REFLECTIONS, 1954-1980
- SERIES V: KAREN STENOIEN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS, 1949-1992
Materials in Series I of Record Group 1 are arranged alphabetically. All other materials in each series and subseries are arranged chronologically.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Karen Millward, daughter of Joseph Stenoien, October 2022.
Processing Note
Initial rehousing completed by Joann Keenan in 2022. Final processing completed by Eulalie Mathieu in 2023.
Related Materials
Published materials may also be available through University of Washington Libraries.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
RECORD GROUP 1: FLOYD HAMILTON PAPERS, 1950-1958Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
SERIES I: SUBJECT FILES: MCCARTHY-ERA NATIONAL SECURITY
PUBLICATIONS |
1951-1957 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | "The Problems of American Democracy: Security in a
Free Society." Current History. Vol. 29, No. 170. New York: Events Publishing
Company, 1955. |
1955 October |
1/2 | Alsop Joseph and Stewart Alsop. "We Accuse! The Story
of the Miscarriage of American Justice in the Case of J. Robert Oppenheimer."
Harper's Magazine. Vol. 209, No. 1253. New York: Harper & Brothers,
1954. |
1954 October |
1/3 | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Scientists and
Loyalty: A Symposium. Vol. VII, No. 12. Chicago: Educational Foundation for
Nuclear Science, Inc., 1951. |
1951 |
1/4 | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Special Issue:
Secrecy, Security, and Loyalty. Vol. XI, No. 4. Chicago: Educational Foundation
for Nuclear Science, Inc., 1955. |
1955 April |
1/5 | Engineers and Scientists of America. ESA News Digest.
Vol. IV, No. 5. Washington, DC: Engineers and Scientists of America, 1956.
|
1956 November |
1/6 | Federation of American Scientists Constitution,
Newsletter, Articles |
1951-1954 |
1/7 | Hofstadter, Samuel H. The Fifth Amendment and the
Immunity Act of 1954; Aspects of the American Way. New York: The Fund for the
Republic, 1954. |
1954 August 20 |
1/8 | League of Women Voters (U.S.). 1956. Liberty and
Security : Our Federal Loyalty-Security Programs : Origins Operations and
Improvements Which Have Been Proposed. Washington D.C: League.Comparative
Chart: Five Federal Loyalty-Security Programs |
1956 October |
1/9 | McLeod Scott. 1955. American Political Democracy and
the Problem of Personnel Security. Washington D.C: Dept. of State. |
1955 |
1/10 | Millis Walter and Fund for the Republic. 1956.
Communism and Civil Liberties. New York: Fund for the Republic. |
1956 November |
1/11 | Millis Walter. 1957. Individual Freedom and the Common
Defense. New York: Fund for the Republic. |
1957 November |
1/12 | Office of Personnel Security. 1956. Industrial
Personnel Security Review Program: First Annual Report. Washington, DC: US
Government Printing Office |
1956 September |
1/13 | Office of Personnel Security. 1956. Industrial
Personnel Security Review Program: First Annual Report. Washington, DC: US
Government Printing Office |
1956 September 4 |
1/14 | Office of the Armed Forces Information and Education,
US Department of Defense. Know Your Communist Enemy: Who are Communists and
Why? Washington, DC: 1955. |
1955 December 8 |
1/15 | Public Affairs Abstracts from the Library of
Congress |
1951 |
1/16 | Report of the Commission on Government Security.
Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office |
1957 June |
1/17 | Rovere Richard H. 1955. "The Kept Witnesses." New
York: Harper's Magazine. |
1955 May |
1/18 | Science, Secrecy and Security. Joseph Amann (Discusses
the Engineers and Scientists of America (ESA), the formation of the group and
their own "security risk" issues. (carbon copies of pages with handwritten
notes) |
Approximately 1956-1957 |
1/19 | The Blessings of Liberty. Unto the Least of These, Thy
Brethren. Address of Harry P. Cain, Subversive Activities Control
Board. |
1955 September 19 |
1/20 | The Case of John Peters: Test of Security Program.
U.S. News and World Report Article |
1955 May 13 |
1/21 | The Yale Law Journal. Vol. 62, No. 6. New Haven,
Connecticut: Yale Law Journal Company, Inc., 1953 |
1953 |
1/22 | U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. 1954. In the Matter of
J. Robert Oppenheimer : Transcript of Hearing Before Personnel Security Board
Washington D.C. April 12, 1954 through May 6, 1954. Washington: U.S. Govt.
Print Off. |
1954 |
1/23 | US Atomic Energy Commission. In the Matter of J.
Robert Oppenheimer: Texts of Principal Documents and Letters of Personnel
Security Board, General Manager, Commissioners. Washington, DC: US Government
Printing Office, 1954. |
1954 |
1/24 | US House Committee on Un-American Activities. Guide to
Subversive Organizations and Publications (and Appendix). Washington, DC: US
Government Printing Office, 1951. United States. 1952. Documentary Proof That
the Communist Party USA. Teaches and Advocat |
1951-1952 |
1/25 | Voorhees, Melvin B. "One Man's Opinions: Conant, Bush,
Dean, Lilienthal, McCloy OK Oppenheimer." The Argus. Vol. 62, No. 9. Seattle:
Argus Publishing Company, 1955. |
1955 February 26 |
1/26 | Yarmolinsky Adam. 1955. Case Studies in Personnel
Security. Westport Conn: Greenwood Press. |
1955 August |
SERIES II: FLOYD HAMILTON CORRESPONDENCE |
1950-1958 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/27 | Security Clearance Documents and
Correspondence |
1950-1953 |
1/28 | Floyd Hamilton Correspondence About Security Clearance
Cases |
1954-1955 |
1/29 | Floyd Hamilton Correspondence Regarding Legal
Fees |
1955 |
1/30 | Letter of Confirmation of Security Access for Peter
Dessau to Floyd Hamilton |
1958 November 21 |
SERIES III: SECURITY CLEARANCE APPEALS CASES |
1951-1958 | |
Subseries A: John P. Peters vs. Oveta Culp Hobby Briefs |
1954 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/31 | US Supreme Court Briefs: Peters v. Hobby |
1954 |
1/32 | American Civil Liberties Union Amicus Curiae Brief
in Peters v. Hobby |
1954 October |
Subseries B: Wilbur A. Hane Case |
1951-1957 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/33 | Wilbur A. Hane Case Files |
1951-1956 |
1/34 | Wilbur A. Hane Case Files |
approximately 1951-1956 |
1/35 | Wilbur A. Hane Security Clearance Appeal |
1952 December 30 |
1/36 | Wilbur A. Hane Case Correspondence |
1955-1957 |
Subseries C: Walter W. Lund Case |
1954 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/37 | Walt Lund Affidavit |
1954 September 19 |
Subseries D: Nathan Budish Case |
1953-1958 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/38 | Nathan Budish Case Documents |
1954 October 13 |
1/39 | Budish-Stenoien Fund Banking Records |
1953-1958 |
1/40 | Budish-Stenoien Fund Checkbook, Receipts,
Notes |
1955-1957 |
Subseries E: Media and Press |
1952-1957 | |
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | Newspaper Articles |
1952-1955 |
2/2 | Engineers and Scientists of America News
Releases |
1953-1954 |
2/3 | Interviews and News Articles |
approximately 1953-1954 |
2/4 | Newspaper Articles |
approximately 1955 |
2/5 | Draft Article Regarding the Industrial Security
Program |
approximately 1956-1957 |
SERIES IV: CHANGES TO SECURITY CLEARANCE PROGRAM |
1952-1955 | |
Box/Folder | ||
2/6 | Jean L. Whitehill's Letter to P. Abbenhouse Denying
Charges by Un-American Activities Committee |
1952 August 13 |
2/7 | Engineers and Scientists of America Security Committee
Report and Resolution |
1954 April |
2/8 | Senate Bill 3428 |
1954 April 14 |
2/9 | House Joint Resolutions 527 and 528 |
1954 May 17 |
2/10 | Letters from J.O. Stenoien and H.E. Kren Regarding
Western Security Board Issues |
1954 |
2/11 | Updates to Boeing Security Program |
1955 |
2/12 | Department of Defense Industrial Personnel Security
Review Regulation |
1955 February 2 |
2/13 | Joseph Amann Testimony to US Senate Committee on
Government Operations |
1955 March 15 |
RECORD GROUP 2: JOSEPH STENOIEN PAPERS, 1941-1992, (bulk 1952-1954) Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
SERIES I: PHOTOS OF JOSEPH STENOIEN |
1941-1949 | |
Box/Folder | ||
2/14 | Photos of Joseph Stenoien |
approximately 1941-1949 |
SERIES II: STENOIEN’S SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH |
1952-1953 | |
Box/Folder | ||
2/15 | Physics Research Co-Authored by Joseph
Stenoien |
1952 May 5 |
2/16 | Aircraft and Missile Model Reports |
approximately 1953 |
SERIES III: COURT DOCUMENTS FROM APPEALS HEARING |
1953-1955 | |
Box/Folder | ||
2/17 | Joseph Stenoien Personal Statement |
1953-1954 |
2/18 | Proceedings of Joseph Stenoien Appeal Hearing [1 of
2] |
1954 January 21 |
2/19 | Proceedings of Joseph Stenoien Appeal Hearing [2 of
2] |
1954 January 21 |
2/20 | Engineers and Scientists of America Documents and
Statements on Security Clearance Policy and Stenoien Case |
1953-1955 |
SERIES IV: IRENE STENOIEN REFLECTIONS |
1954-1980 | |
Box/Folder | ||
2/21 | "The Hearing - A Family Threatened" by Irene
Stenoien |
approximately 1954-1980 |
SERIES V: KAREN STENOIEN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
REQUESTS |
1949-1992 | |
Box/Folder | ||
2/22 | Karen Stenoien Freedom of Information Act Requests for
Joseph Stenoien's Federal Bureau of Investigation File |
1949, 1979-1980 |
2/23 | Confidential Files Obtained Regarding Joseph
Stenoien |
approximately 1949-1954, 1992 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington) (host institution)