ASSOCIATION OF PASADENA SCIENTISTS
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena
December 13, 1945
To Members of the Faculty of the California Institute of Technology:
On November 23 an open meeting was held in the Gates Laboratory to consider the formation
of an organization having as its purpose to discuss and act upon the problems created
by the release of atomic energy. The meeting was attended principally by graduate
students and junior Staff-members of the California Institute of Technology. An
organization, to be known as the "Association of Pasadena Scientists", was formed
at that meeting. A statement setting forth the tentative structure and purposes of
the organization is appended to this letter.
Since that time we have learned of the formation of the American Federation of Scientists,
a federation initiated by groups that have been organized at the atomic bomb laboratories
and at several leading universities. The aims and structure of the Federation are
described in another statement appended hereto. Professor J. R. Oppenheimer has suggested
that a member organization be formed at the California Institute of Technology, and
that it be formed from existing groups on this campus. Because of the informal character
of the existing faculty group, which meets Tuesday afternoons, Professor E. C. Watson
has expressed doubt that this faculty group should be made the nucleus of such a member
organization. It is felt, on the other hand, that the tentative structure and purposes
of the Association of Pasadena Scientists would be appropriate to the formation of
a member organization and that they could easily be adapted to suit the needs of such
an organization. In any case it is very desirable that a member organization be representative
of the California Institute community.
An open meeting will be held Tuesday evening, December 19, in Room 22, Gates Laboratory,
at which the development of such a member organization to the American Federation
will be discussed. Professor J. R. Oppenheimer and Professor Linus Pauling will speak.
You are cordially invited to attend this meeting and to participate in planning the
purposes and form of the organization.
Sincerely yours,
David P. Shoemaker
Corresponding Secretary
Appended: (l) Proposed Articles of Organization and Purposes of the Association
of Pasadena Scientists
(2) Statement of Aims and Description of Organization of the
American Federation of Scientists
ARTICLE IV. Amendment
Section 1. An amendment to these articles may be proposed by petition of five or
more members of the Association. Copies of any proposed amendment must be distributed
to the membership at least ten days before a meeting at which it will be voted upon.
Section 2. An amendment shall be considered adopted if it is approved by two thirds
of the members voting.
Purposes of the Association of
Pasadena Scientists
I. To study the problems associated with the relationship between society and scientific
developments, with special emphasis on problems of atomic power. To gather and disseminate
information pertinent to this end.
II. To promote freedom of research, particularly nuclear research.
III. To cooperate with other groups (such as the American Federation of Scientists
and the Faculty Group of the California Institute of Technology) which are working
to prevent the destructive use of atomic energy, and to convince the public at large
of the necessity for taking action designed to achieve this goal.
