Department of Atmospheric Sciences Records, 1968-1994

Title: Department of Atmospheric Sciences Records, 1968-1994

ID: RG 167

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. Department of Atmospheric Sciences

Extent: 2.25 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized into two subgroups: 1. Departmental Records; and 2. Climatic Research Institute Records.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Subgroup 1 includes files pertaining to graduate student policies and to the purchase/donation of a scientific library to the department. The Climatic Research Institute (CRI) Subgroup contains five series. The first series consists of 73 research reports produced by CRI between 1978 and 1989. Series two is a 1981 grant proposal to the National Science Foundation. Series three includes general files pertaining to CRI's administration, programs, visitors, and special events. Series four consists of newspaper clippings about CRI. Series five consists of monthly and yearly weather summaries and climatological data for Corvallis, Oregon.

An addition to the College of Atmospheric Sciences Department Records (Accession 2001:096) consists of records generated by the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and includes brochures, correspondence, course syllabi and exams, newspaper clippings, postcards, and reports. Among the subjects covered in these records include: the re-organization and merger of the dept. with the College of Oceanography, faculty and student awards, weekly lecture postings for the 407/507 seminar class, workshops and meetings sponsored by the dept., and social events organized by the staff of the dept. Established in 1969 within the College of Science, the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences merged with the College of Oceanographic Sciences in 1992 forming the College of Oceanographic and Atmospheric Sciences.

The Department of Atmospheric Sciences was established in 1969 within the School (now College) of Science to emphasize coursework and research on air pollution control, atmospheric chemistry and biometeorology. The first degree programs were graduate level only. Wendell Hewson was the first department chair. In 1992 the department was merged with the College of Oceanography (the latter then became the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences).

The Climatic Research Institute was established in 1976 in order to help meet the "need for coordinated and intensified climatic research." In 1978 CRI received a National Science Foundation Grant of $225,000 to participate in an international effort to monitor world weather patterns. W. Lawrence Gates was the director of CRI from its establishment until it was disbanded in 1989.

Related Materials: The OSU Archives holdings also include Atmospheric Sciences Department photographs (P 138) and publications (PUB 346). Other materials about the department are included in the Memorabilia Collection (MC - Atmospheric Sciences Dept. and MC - Weather, Station, OSU).

Preferred Citation: Department of Atmospheric Sciences Records (RG 167), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Other URL: A preliminary container list was created for this collection on or before November 19, 2015.

Oregon State University. Department of Atmospheric Sciences
Oregon State University. Climatic Research Institute

Gates, W. Lawrence (William Lawrence), 1928-
History of Science
Meteorology--Research--Oregon.
Meteorology--Study and teaching--Oregon.
Oregon State University. Climatic Research Institute
Oregon State University. Department of Atmospheric Sciences
University History