Phillip L. Merritt papers, 1948-1980

Phillip L. Merritt (1906-1981) was a geologist and expert in uranium resources. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1928, he engaged in copper exploration in Northern Rhodesia from 1928-1929 before enrolling at Columbia University, where he received his Ph. D in 1934. Merritt was a geologist for the Department of Mines and Petroleum in Colombia, South America from 1934-1935 and from 1936-1942 was an ore dressing engineer for American Cyanamid Company. During World War II, Merritt was in charge of uranium procurement for the Manhatten Project which developed the atomic bomb. When the Atomic Energy Commission was created after the war, Merritt became assistant director of the Raw Materials Division and was in charge of intensive uranium exploration efforts from 1946-1954. From 1954-1959 he was senior geologist for the geological consulting firm, E.J. Longyear Company and from 1961-1966 was vice president for exploration with the Atlas Minerals Division of Atlas Corporation. He was a consultant on uranium supplies for various public utility companies from 1966 until shortly before his death.