Sidney Marks Papers, 1946-1988

These papers document Sidney Marks's professional activities as a research scientist with a special expertise in the health effects of radiation. The collection includes reports, scientific data, correspondence, printed materials, and literature relating to Marks's professional activities.

Series 1: The Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC), 1940s-1970s -- This series includes reports, correspondence, and documents related to Dr. Marks's trip to Japan as part of the ABCC.

Series 2: The Conference and Symposia files, 1970s-1980s -- This series contains correspondence, programs, meeting notes, and papers from the conferences, symposia, and courses attended by Dr. Marks. These include the Heath Physics Society annual meeting, the National Council on Radiation, Department of Energy meetings and workshops, and the American College of Nuclear Medicine.

Series 3: The Hanford Mortality Study, 1970s-1980 -- This series documents Dr. Marks's deep involvement in the controversy that erupted over the study, primarily conducted by Dr. Thomas F. Mancuso. Dr. Mancuso was an epidemiologist contracted by the AEC in 1965 to study the long-term effects of low dose radiation exposure in nuclear bomb workers. In the mid-1970s, Mancuso's contract with the AEC was terminated. His termination led to much controversy within the nuclear community, among radiation scholars, and in popular press. Dr. Marks was Mancuso's AEC supervisor and took over the study after Mancuso was fired. The collection includes correspondence, Congressional testimony, drafts of the study, documentation of related research, and much of the literature surrounding the controversy and results of the Hanford Mortality Study.

Series 4: The Assurance Program for Remedial Action Project (APRA), 1980 -- This series includes a description of the project, correspondence, and reports. Marks served as one of the principal investigators for this project. Conducted at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Battelle Memorial Institute, the purpose of this project was to provide technical support and assistance to the Department of Energy's Office of Operation Safety in implementing its Assurance Program for Remedial Action. Marks and his associates provided review, technical support and advice to the Operational Safety staff in developing the procedural and technical content of the APRA, including Quality Assurance reviews and appraisals, radiological dose criteria evaluations and recommendations, and risk assessment reviews and appraisals.

Series 5: Subject files, 1960-1980s -- Much of the material in the Subject Files series consists of literature dedicated to Dr. Marks's professional interest in the health effects of long term low dose radiation exposure both natural and manmade and the controversies surrounding this highly debated issue.