Papers of Herbert Frank York, founding director of the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (1952-58); member of the Presidential Scientific Advisory Committee under Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson (1957-58; 1964-68); chief scientist of the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA); first chancellor of the University of California, San Diego; and director emeritus of UCSD's Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. The papers highlight York's work on nuclear arms negotiations and disarmament, particularly after 1969, and contain correspondence, reports, memos, drafts of articles and books, news clippings, autobiographical sketches, date books and wall calendars, invitations, teaching materials, lectures, speeches, interviews, and video tapes. Correspondents include many scientific leaders, particularly Hans Bethe, James Killian, George Kistiakowsky, Jerome Wiesner, and Victor Weisskopf. Correspondence contains discussion of participant's memories of events in the development of U.S. defense policy, later published in York's books RACE TO OBLIVION (1970), THE ADVISORS (1976), and MAKING WEAPONS, TALKING PEACE (1987). York's involvement in the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and Presidential Scientific Advisory Committee is documented, as is York's role in the debate over the Antiballistic Missile (ABM). Teaching materials include syllabi and lecture notes for York's classes on science, technology and public affairs. Also included is an unpublished history of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, commissioned by that agency, and materials related to York's work as ambassador and chief negotiator to the Comprehensive Test Ban negotiations. Absent from the collection are papers related to York's directorship of the Livermore Laboratory (1952-1958) and his files as UCSD chancellor (1961-1964; 1970-1972).

Herbert Frank York was born on November 24, 1921, in Rochester, New York. He earned B.A. and M.S. degrees at the University of Rochester in 1942 and 1945, and the Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley, in 1949, all in experimental physics. His early career as a physicist and military science advisor (1943-58) focused on the development of nuclear weapons, while his later career as an advisor, consultant and professor have focussed on disarmament.

48.30 linear feet (108 archives boxes and 16 oversize folders)

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.