History

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Alfred K. Blackadar, 1989. Interviewed by Earl Droessler. 1 sound cassette (ca. 1 hr.) : analog, mono. Two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (9 pgs.). Access restrictions; the interview may be examined by scholars approved by UCAR. Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. Alfred K. Blackadar speaks about his time on the UCAR Board of Trustees; his involvement as Penn State representative in the 1960s and 1970s. During this time he...

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with John Calhoun, 1988. Interviewed by Earl Droessler. 1 sound cassette (ca. 1 hr.) : analog, mono. Two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (24 pgs.). Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. Dr. John C. Calhoun was one of the early pioneers and contributors to UCAR/NCAR development. Calhoun became acquainted with UCAR and a plan for developing a national program (the “Blue Book”) while at Texas A&M University in an administrative...

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Harriet Crowe, 1990. Interviewed by Earl Droessler. 1 sound cassette (ca. 1 hr.) : analog, mono. Two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (22 pgs.). Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. In this interview Harriet Crowe, one of the first UCAR employees, discusses studying astronomy under Walter Orr Roberts, her role at the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) and her involvement in the early development of UCAR. Crowe discusses how...

Abstract Oral history interview with Judy Green, 2015. Interviewed by Kathleen Legg. Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. Judy Green, long time telecommunications assistant at NCAR, shares her unique perspective of NCAR, its people and culture. Green discusses her early career as a telephone operator at Mountain Bell in Cheyenne, Wyoming and how her and her family came to NCAR. Green talks about her experience with the various telephone systems at NCAR over the years, including the...

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Roy Jenne, 2005. Interviewed by Stuart Leslie. 2 sound cassettes (ca. 2 hrs.) : analog, mono. Two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (17 pgs.). Forms part of UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. Dr. Roy Jenne provides an overview of his career at NCAR in the computing division. Jenne discusses the Mesa Laboratory and its facilities; his recollections of the various computing systems at NCAR, starting with a Control Data 3600; the significant work...

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This website was created in 2010 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of UCAR and NCAR and features video from major events, an interactive photo timeline, and links to feature articles chronicling NCAR and UCAR history from 1960 to 2010.

Scope and Contents From the Collection: Since February 2013, the NCAR Archives has been crawling and harvesting UCAR/NCAR websites using Archive It. The harvested websites include most UCAR/NCAR webpages and associated images, video, PDF files, and other content. The collection also includes the U.S. Weather Commission, a group that brings together the American weather industry, state and local governments, and academia in an organized effort to urge Congress and the Executive Branch to undertake, promote, and support our nation’s...

Scope and Contents Oral History Interview with I.M. Pei, 1985. Interviewed by Lucy Warner. 1 sound cassette (ca. 1 hr.): analog, mono. Two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (15 pgs.). Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. In this interview I.M. Pei, chief architect of the Mesa Laboratory and the Fleischmann Building, speaks passionately about his inspirations; the placement of the structures and the relationship between building and setting; the design process, down to the...

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Daniel Rex, 1988. Interviewed by Earl Droessler. 1 sound cassette (ca. 1 hr.) : analog, mono. Two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (23 pgs.). Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. Walter Orr Roberts, the director of the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) and the first director of NCAR, recruited Daniel (Dan) F. Rex from the Navy in the early 1960s to join the not yet materialized national center as chief administrator officer with a...

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Walter Orr Roberts, 1966. One sound cassette (ca. 1 hr.) : analog, mono. Two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (24 pgs.). Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. In this interview Walter Orr Roberts discusses the war time (World War II) and working in isolation at the observatory in the mining community of Climax, Colorado. He talks about observing the Sun’s corona, using the chronograph and doing special cosmic ray work with gold....

Scope and Contents Oral History Interview with Walter Orr Roberts, 1985. Interviewed by Lucy Warner. 3 sound cassettes (ca. 3 hrs.): analog, mono. UCAR/NCAR 1; two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (86 pgs.). Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. In this interview Walter Orr Roberts discusses the Mesa Laboratory and surrounding site, including the Fleischmann Building, and its architect, I.M. Pei. Roberts speaks briefly about his experience designing the High Altitude...

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Walter Orr Roberts, 1987. Interviewed by Ed Wolff. 1 sound cassette (ca. 1 hr.) :analog, mono. Two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (24 pgs.). Forms part of the UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection. Walter Orr Roberts discusses how he came to be NCAR's first director, the purpose for creating a national center, the process for identifying NCAR's initial priorities, the issue of competition between NCAR and university programs, the debate regarding...

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Vincent Schaefer, 1993. Interviewed by Earl Droessler. 1 sound cassette (ca. 1 hr.) : analog, mono + transcript (12 pgs.). UCAR/NCAR 81; two physical versions (one master, one copy). Transcript (12 pgs.). Vincent J. Schaefer begins by talking about the gathering led by Tom Malone in the late 1950s to generate a plan for a center to work with problems related to the atmosphere. He describes the differences between the majority of the group, and himself and Vonnegut...