Joseph Stenoien papers, 1941-1992

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Stenoien, Joseph O.
Title
Joseph Stenoien papers
Dates
1941-1992 (inclusive)
1950-1958 (bulk)
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.

Request at UW

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)