Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, 1963-1987

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0429
Creators:
Senate of Scientists Project (National Museum of Natural History)
Dates:
1963-1987
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
7 cu. ft. (7 record storage boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These records document the establishment and activities of the Senate of Scientists. They were primarily created by the chairmen of the senate and include constitutions and amendments; committee files; minutes of council and annual meetings; records concerning dinner forums, seminars, and other senate events; membership records; treasurers files and financial records; files concerning senate publications; project files; and photographs of senate members.

Historical Note

Historical Note
In 1963, the Senate of Scientists was established to represent professional concerns of the scientific research staff of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). Modeled on faculty senates in universities, the senate was structured to function as a trouble-shooter and source of collective opinion outside normal administrative channels. The senate is managed by a council consisting of a chairman, chairman-elect, secretary, and one councilor elected by each curatorial department. Full membership in the senate is restricted to scientists employed by the NMNH, but associate membership is extended to research associates of the museum and to scientists located in the museum but employed by other government agencies.
Significant issues addressed by the senate have included library service, parking policies, off-mall storage and curatorial facilities, technical assistance, automated data-processing facilities, funding for systematics research, and publications policies. In addition, the senate has served as a stimulus to collegiality within the museum, through its publications, seminars, teas, and dinner forums.
Chairmen of the Senate of Scientists have include Gordon D. Gibson, 1963-1964; Richard S. Boardman, 1964-1965, 1978-1979; W. Donald Duckworth, 1965-1966; Roy S. Clarke, Jr., 1966-1967; Francis M. Hueber, 1967-1968; Clifford Evans, Jr., 1968-1970; Martin A. Buzas, 1970-1971; Clyde F. E. Roper, 1971-1972; Thomas R. Waller, 1972-1973; W. Duane Hope, 1973-1974; Erle G. Kauffman, 1974-1975; Donald J. Ortner, 1975-1976; Richard H. Eyde, 1976-1977; Meredith L. Jones, 1977-1978; Jack W. Pierce, 1979-1980; Herman J. Viola, 1980-1981; W. Ronald Heyer, 1981-1982; David L. Pawson, 1982-1983; William G. Melson, 1983-1984; Richard W. Thorington, Jr., 1984-1985; George R. Zug, 1985-1986; and Raymond B. Manning, 1986-1987.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 429, Senate of Scientists Project (National Museum of Natural History), Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Evans, Clifford, 1920-1981 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gibson, Gordon D. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boardman, Richard S. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Duckworth, W. Donald Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clarke, Roy S. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hueber, Francis M. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Buzas, Martin A. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Roper, Clyde F. E., 1937- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Waller, Thomas R. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hope, W. Duane, 1935- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kauffman, Erle G. (Erle Galen), 1933- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ortner, Donald J. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Eyde, Richard H. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jones, Meredith L. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pierce, J. W. (Jack Warren), 1927- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Viola, Herman J. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Heyer, W. Ronald Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pawson, David L. (David Leo), 1938- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Melson, William G., 1938- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Thorington, Richard W. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Zug, George R., 1938- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manning, Raymond B. (Raymond Brendan), 1934-2000 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museums -- Administration Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Color photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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