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Paul J. Persiani Papers, 1938-2009

By Trevor Sandgathe

Collection Overview

Title: Paul J. Persiani Papers, 1938-2009

Predominant Dates: 1960-2000

ID: MSS Persiani

Primary Creator: Persiani, Paul J.

Extent: 8.5 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The Paul J. Persiani Papers are arranged into six series: Series 1: Argonne National Laboratory, 1961-2009; Series 2: Teaching and Education, circa 1953-1960; Series 3: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), 1965-1995; Series 4: Publications and Lectures, 1951-2004; Series 5: Conference Proceedings, 1954-2009; Series 6: Technical Reports and Publications, 1938-2009.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Paul J. Persiani Papers document the career of Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) physicist Paul J. Persiani. The collection includes research data related to neutron radiation, reactor development, and fuel analysis; administrative files, photographs, and memorabilia from Persiani's time at ANL; records of his participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START); publications, lectures, and teaching materials generated by Persiani; and reference materials including conference proceedings and scientific publications.

This collection contains a paper written by Persiana entitled "Nonproliferation and Safeguards Aspects of Alternative Fuel Cycle Concepts" received on a floppy disk that has been digitally presevered. The file is available upon request.

Scope and Content Notes

The Paul J. Persiani Papers document Persiani's work as a nuclear physicist at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), his efforts to limit proliferation of nuclear weapons, and his engagement in the international nuclear energy research community. The collection includes correspondence, photographs, and records of his professional activities while at ANL as well as extensive materials and data relating to his work with neutron radiation, reactor technology development, and spent fuel analysis. The collection also includes records of Persiani's work as a doctoral candidate at St. Louis University and role as a lecturer at Northwestern University, the Purdue University Summer Institute, and elsewhere. Of note are materials in Series 3 relating to Persiani's role as an advisor to the U.S. negotiators developing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) which sought to place limits on the development and stockpiling of nuclear arms by the United States and the USSR. Persiani wrote letters to his wife while stationed in Switzerland in 1990-1991; these letters are rich with details about the progress and complications of the negotiation process.

The Persiani Papers also include an extensive collection of Persiani's publications and lectures, many of which document projects he undertook at ANL, including his efforts as chief physicist and designer of the Fast Reactor Core Test Facility (FARET). Also present are research materials assembled by Persiani, including conference proceedings, scientific papers, technical reports, industry publications, and promotional materials.

This collection contains a paper written by Persiana entitled "Nonproliferation and Safeguards Aspects of Alternative Fuel Cycle Concepts" received on a floppy disk that has been digitally presevered. The file is available upon request.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Paul J. Persiani was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1921. In 1943, he joined the United States Army Air Corps, where he served as a first lieutenant in the European theatre of World War II. For this service he later was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Persiani received his bachelor's degree from the Clarkson College of Technology in 1948, and his Ph.D. in physics from St. Louis University in 1956. Persiani came to Argonne National Laboratory in 1949 as a junior mechanical engineer in what later became the Reactor Engineering Division and was among the first researchers using neutron radiation to study material structure. In the 1960s, he worked on the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II project, held the position of chief physicist and designer for the Fast Reactor Core Test Facility (FARET), and created materials for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Nuclear Safeguards Program. He later worked in the Reactor Physics Division where he researched fusion reactor technology and assisted in the design of radiation test facilities for the National CTR Materials Technology Program. In the early 1990s, he spent ten months as a technical advisor to the U. S. negotiating team at the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) talks. He authored several sections of the treaty while stationed in Geneva, Switzerland. He retired in 1996 but returned to Argonne shortly after as a term appointee physicist in the Technology Development and Nuclear Engineering Divisions. He died in 2015.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 43 photographic prints, 1 negative, 3 contact sheets, 101 35mm slides, 13 3"x4" slides, 14 3"x4" glass slides, 60 kilobytes of digital files; 9 boxes, including 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: This collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The Paul J. Persiani Papers were donated to the OSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center by Marcus Persiani in 2015. An addition of letters written by Persiani to his wife during the START treaty negotiations was received in July 2017.

Related Materials: Other materials pertaining to nuclear science and engineering can be found in the Barton C. Hacker Papers (MSS HackerB), Charter Heslep Papers (MSS Heslep), Leonard M. Maki Nuclear Power Collection (MSS Maki), Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers (MSS Pauling), John C. Ringle Papers (MSS Ringle), Theodore Rockewell Papers (MSS Rockwell), E. Dale Trout Papers (MSS Trout), Chih H. Wang Papers (MSS Wang), Radiation Center Records (RG 202), Ambassador Thomas Graham, Jr. Interviews on Arms Control and Nuclear Disarmament (OH 036), and the History of Atomic Energy Collection (RB Energy).

Preferred Citation: Paul J. Persiani Papers (MSS Persiani), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Processing Information: Electronic files received on a 3.5" floppy disk were transferred for digital preservation. The access copy of this disk includes one file title "IAEA972.DOC" and is accessible via the electronic records kiosk located in the OSU Special Collections and Archives Research Center reading room.

Finding Aid Revision History: The 2016 finding aid was updated in December 2017 to incorporate an addition to the collection.

Creators

Persiani, Paul J.

People, Places, and Topics

American Nuclear Society
Argonne National Laboratory.
History of Science
International Atomic Energy Agency
Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.)
Nuclear arms control.
Nuclear energy--Law and legislation--United States.
Nuclear industry.
Nuclear nonproliferation.
Nuclear physics.
Reactor fuel reprocessing.
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission

Forms of Material

Born digital.
Contact sheets.
Film negatives.
Glass transparencies.
Information artifacts.
Photographic prints.
Slides (photographs).


Box and Folder Listing