William Shockley and eugenics collection, 1965-1978

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Summary

Creators:
Saunders, John Bertrand deCusance Morant
Abstract:
This collection pertains to Shockley's embrace of and advocacy for eugenics, including his work on heredity, I.Q., and race. It includes papers and articles by Shockley, including several presented to the National Academy of Sciences; two issues of the PHI DELTA KAPPAN containing a debate between Shockley and N. L. Gage (Stanford professor of education) on heredity, environment, race, and I.Q., 1972; and clippings on Shockley's views as well as reactions to them, particularly in the academic world. Some of the clippings concern the controversy at Stanford when Shockley's proposed graduate class on dysgenics (1972) was not approved.
Extent:
2 Linear Feet
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], William Shockley and Eugenics Collection (SC0595). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The materials consist of correspondence, news clippings, publications and ephemera related to Shockley's embrace of and advocacy for eugenics, including his work on heredity, I.Q., and race.

Accession ARCH-2000-263 includes papers and articles by Shockley, including several presented to the National Academy of Sciences; two issues of the PHI DELTA KAPPAN containing a debate between Shockley and N. L. Gage (Stanford professor of education) on heredity, environment, race, and I.Q., 1972; and clippings on Shockley's views as well as reactions to them, particularly in the academic world. Some of the clippings concern the controversy at Stanford when Shockley's proposed graduate class on dysgenics (1972) was not approved.

Accession ARCH-2007-074 consists of materials, originally part of William Spicer's files, pertaining to William Shockley's embrace and advocacy of eugenics. Included are two papers by Shockley, "Possible Transfer of Metallurgical and Astronomical Approaches to the Problem of Environment versus Ethnic Heredity," 1966, and "City Slums and Research Taboos - A National Sickness Diagnosed," 1967; Shockley's letter to Spicer regarding the U.S. News and World Report interview with Shockley, 1965 (copy attached); form letter by Shockley in response to his 1965 talk on "Population Control and Eugenics" with 17 enclosures (articles, press releases, and other correspondence, including George W. Beadle); and form letter by Shockley requesting feedback on his drafted response to criticisms from faculty in the Genetics Department of S. U. School of Medicine, 1966.

Accession ARCH-2013-060 consists of Shockley and Foundation for Research and Education on Eugencis and Dysgenics (FREED) correspondence, news clippings, publications, and ephemera originally part of John B. deC. M. Saunders' files.

Biographical / historical:

William Shockley was a Professor of engineering at Stanford (1958-1975; emeritus 1975-1989). He was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in physics, 1956. While working at Stanford, Shockley embraced and advocated for eugenics.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Eleanor Thompson Wortz, 2000; Gift of W. E. Spicer, 2007; Purchase, 2013.
Arrangement:

The materials are arranged by accession.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/pubserv/permissions.html.

Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], William Shockley and Eugenics Collection (SC0595). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:
Stanford University Archives, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6064, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
specialcollections@stanford.edu
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