Covers the development of the meteorite collection and reminiscences of colleagues, c. 1920-1970, including: Smithsonian support for the meteorite collection; Merrill's creation of the collection; competition with other museums; South American collecto...
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Collection Citation:
Sally K. Ride Papers, Acc. 2014-0025, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
National Museum of Natural History. Division of Meteorites Search this
Extent:
4.5 cu. ft. (9 document boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
1963-1970 and undated
Descriptive Entry:
This record unit consists of correspondence documenting the operation of the Division of Meteorites, 1963-1970. The correspondence is both incoming and outgoing and
concerns the identification and acquisition of specimens; the publication of scientific manuscripts; exhibits; participation in professional societies; and divisional administration.
Of special interest is correspondence concerning the acquisition of the Arthur R. Allen Meteorite Collection, 1963-1964, and Edward P. Henderson's collecting work in Australia,
1963-1965. Correspondents include geologists and mineralogists, meteorite collectors and dealers, Smithsonian and NMNH staff and administrators, government agencies, and the
general public. The correspondence is primarily directed to curators Henderson (after 1966, research associate), Clarke (prior to 1966, chemist), Fredriksson, and Mason. The
correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Historical Note:
The Division of Meteorites was established in 1963 as part of a reorganization in the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). At that time the Department of Geology
was divided into two new departments, Paleobiology and Mineral Sciences. Prior to 1963, the NMNH collection of meteorites was under the care of the Division of Mineralogy
and Petrology of the Department of Geology (see Record Unit 268). Staff of the Division of Meteorites included Edward P. Henderson, associate curator in charge, 1963-1964,
curator, 1965-1966, and research associate, 1966- ; Roy S. Clarke, Jr., chemist, 1963-1966, and associate curator, 1966- ; Kurt Fredriksson, curator in charge, 1964-1966,
and curator 1967- , including the years 1967-1968 when he also served as supervisor; Brian H. Mason, curator, 1965- , including 1968 when he also served as supervisor; Robert
F. Fudali, geochemist, 1967- ; Eugene Jarosewich, chemist, 1967- ; and Joseph A. Nelen, chemist, 1967- .
Washington, Henry S. (Henry Stephens), 1867-1934 Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Glass negatives
Date:
1890-1909
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of the correspondence of Henry Stephens Washington, a noted geochemist, who, along with Whitman Cross, Joseph Paxson Iddings, and Louis V. Pirsson,
created a system of normative nomenclature for the classification of igneous rocks, which became known as the CIPW Norm. Notable correspondents include James Furman Kemp and
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Fridtjof Nansen. Materials include incoming and outgoing correspondence; a glass negative; and other related materials.
National Museum of Natural History. Division of Meteorites Search this
Extent:
3 cu. ft. (3 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
circa 1970-1988
Descriptive Entry:
This record unit consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence and memoranda documenting the operations of the Division of Meteorites, 1970-1988. The records concern
the identification and acquisition of specimens, divisional administration, and professional activities of its staff members. Staff members represented by correspondence include
Brian H. Mason, curator, 1970-1984; Roy S. Clarke, Jr., associate curator, 1970-1973, and curator, 1973- ; Kurt Fredriksson, curator, 1970-1973, and geochemist, 1973- ; Robert
F. Fudali, geochemist, 1970- ; Eugene Jarosewich, chemist, 1970-1973; Joseph A. Nelen, chemist, 1971-1973; and Glenn J. MacPherson, associate curator, 1984- .
2.5 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
circa 1945-1984
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of Michael Fleischer's professional correspondence. Fleischer was a geochemist with the United States Geological Survey and Research Associate
in Mineral Science at the National Museum of Natural History.
These papers consist of materials created and maintained by Kurt Fredriksson, Curator and Geochemist with the National Museum of Natural History, Division of Meteorites.
Materials include incoming and outgoing correspondence as well as one folder of his research on early National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) space vehicles and
an award certificate. Also included are papers compiled by Sharat Kumar Roy, a colleague of Fredriksson.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory Search this
Extent:
13 cu. ft. (13 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Laboratory notebooks
Date:
1962-1986
Descriptive Entry:
These records document the operation of the Carbon-Dating Laboratory during its twenty-four year history. They include logbooks containing raw data on samples analyzed;
incoming and outgoing correspondence of Sigalove, Long, and Stuckenrath with Smithsonian and outside scientists concerning the analysis of samples submitted for dating; information
on dates provided by the Laboratory which were published in the journal Radiocarbon; and miscellaneous laboratory and record books.
Historical Note:
A Carbon-Dating Laboratory was established in the Division of Radiation and Organisms, Astrophysical Observatory, in September 1962. The function of the Laboratory
was to analyze samples of archaeological and geological interest submitted by Smithsonian and outside researchers. The Laboratory also conducted basic research in the techniques
of dating by the use of the carbon-14 method. Joel J. Sigalove, a geochemist, directed the Laboratory during its first year of operations. Austin Long was appointed Geochemist
in 1963 and given charge of the carbon-dating work. Long resigned in 1968, and was replaced by Robert Stuckenrath, who directed the Laboratory with the title of Anthropologist.
Stuckenrath remained
in the position until carbon-dating work ceased when the Rockville laboratory of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center closed in November 1986.
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
![view Covers the development of the meteorite collection and reminiscences of colleagues, c. 1920-1970, including: Smithsonian support for the meteorite collection; Merrill's creation of the collection; competition with other museums; South American collecto... digital asset: Kurt Fredriksson, Curator and Geochemist, 1964-1992, at the Division of Meteorites, Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History. Fredriksson is operating a Scanning Electron Probe used to study meteorites, 1967. [Image no. MNH-783C]](https://ids.si.edu/ids/deliveryService?max=170&id=https://sirismm.si.edu/siris/electronicresource.gif "Kurt Fredriksson, Curator and Geochemist, 1964-1992, at the Division of Meteorites, Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History. Fredriksson is operating a Scanning Electron Probe used to study meteorites, 1967. [Image no. MNH-783C]")
