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Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility records, 1980-2018

Overview of the Collection

Cre
Physicians for Social Responsibility (U.S.) Oregon Chapter
Title
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility records
Dates
1980-2018 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.75 linear feet, (9 hollinger boxes, 1 box of oversized items, 1 box of 35mm slides, 1 box of audio and videocassettes. )
Collection Number
2010-007
Summary
Founded in 1961, Physicians for Social Responsibility made its mark by documenting the presence of highly radioactive waste products from atmospheric nuclear testing that led to the Limited Nuclear Test Ban treaty. Their work for the environment and public health continued, focusing on issues such as ending the nuclear arms race, global climate change and toxic pollution, the role of oil and diplomacy in conflict, research and development of renewable energy technologies, decreasing U.S. oil consumption, and increasing conservation and energy efficiency. The group created a local Portland, OR chapter in 1980. This collection includes administrative files, campaign information, various publications and books, and audiovisual materials.
Repository
Oregon Health & Science University, Historical Collections & Archives
OHSU Historical Collections & Archives
Oregon Health & Science University
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd. MC:LIB
Portland, OR
97239
Telephone: 5034945587
hcaref@ohsu.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
The bulk of the collection is in English. However, the international scope of activities means there is foreign language material. The bulk of this is Chinese, a little in Korean, and some publications in German.
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Content Description

This collection includes a range of publications, reports, research, and promotional materials, as well as audiovisual materials including 35mm slideshows and digitized audio and video. There are administrative documents, historical papers, advocacy materials, and photos from the work of the Oregon chapter of the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR). There are also 6 boxes of 35mm slides from slideshow presentations.

This collection is organized into five main series: I. Organizational records, II. Subject files, III. Publications, IV. Events and activism, V. Audiovisual and presentation materials.

The first series, "Organizational records", which dates from 1977 to 2012, includes administrative materials, founding documents, memorabilia, and accolades.

The second series, "Subject files", which dates from 1983 to 2017, consists of research materials and data collected on many of the issues that PSR worked on over the decades.

The third series, "Publications", which dates from 1980 to 2019, includes books, research papers, educational materials, and issues of Portland PSR's newsletter "The Folded Crane," spanning from 1981-2019.

The fourth series, "Events and activism", which dates from 1962 to 2019, is largely made up of promotional and administrative materials for Oregon PSR's yearly Hiroshima and Nagasaki memorial event. Additionally, it holds posters and programs from other activism events, awards dinners, conferences, and collaborations.

The fifth series, "Audiovisual and presentation materials", which dates from 1977 to 2018, contains 35mm slideshow presentations and scripts. There are also videocassettes, DVDs and CD-ROMs some of which have been digitized.

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Historical Note

Founded in 1961, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) soon made its mark by documenting the presence of Strontium-90, a highly radioactive waste byproduct of atmospheric nuclear testing, in children's teeth. This finding led to the Limited Nuclear Test Ban treaty that ended atmospheric nuclear testing.

In 1985, PSR shared in the Nobel Peace Prize awarded that year to the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), for building public pressure to reverse the nuclear arms race. In the 1990s, PSR built on its record of achievement by helping to end nuclear warhead production and winning U.S. passage of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty that still offers the possibility of a world without nuclear tests.

In 1992, PSR expanded its mission to apply its medical expertise to environmental health issues, in recognition of the grave risks to human health posed by global climate change and toxic pollution. That same year, PSR's mobilization of the medical community on environmental health issues led to a collaboration among MIT, the Harvard School of Public Health, Brown University, and PSR's Greater Boston chapter that resulted in Critical Condition, Dr. Eric Chivian's definitive volume on human health and the environment.

In 2006, PSR launched an Energy Security Initiative focused on environmental health and security issues and their impact on public health. They produced and held briefings on their report, "Powering Foreign Policy: The Role of Oil and Diplomacy in Conflict", that brought together a diverse array of public policy organizations, congressional policymakers, embassy staff, security experts, and the media; and mobilized thousands of PSR activists to send a letter to President Bush for inadequately funding research and development of renewable energy technologies and for failing to implement the most effective tools for decreasing U.S. oil consumption, and increasing conservation and energy efficiency.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

OHSU Historical Collections & Archives (HC&A) is the owner of the original materials and digitized images in our collections, however, the collection may contain materials for which copyright is not held. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials. Consult with HC&A to determine if we can provide permission for use.

Preferred Citation

Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility records, Collection Number 2010-007, Oregon Health & Science University, Historical Collections & Archives

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

This material was donated to OHSU by Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility; additional items donated by Joy Spalding Ph.D., a long-standing member of the group.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Jeff Colby; revised by Zoë Maughan (2022) and Amy Wagner (2024)
2010, rev. 2022, 2024

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