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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 274

Smithsonian Institution. Office of International Programs

Records, 1964-1976

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Smithsonian Institution. Office of International Programs
Title:Records
Dates:1964-1976
Quantity:5.5 cu. ft. (11 document boxes)
Collection:Record Unit 274
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This record unit consists of files created primarily by the Office of Environmental Sciences (OES), 1970-1973, prior to its merger with the Office of International Activities, and by the resulting Office of International and Environmental Programs, 1973-1975. Files predating the creation of OES in October 1970 are those of Irvin Eugene Wallen, in his capacity as Assistant Director for Oceanography, National Museum of Natural History, and head of the Office of Oceanography and Limnology, 1964-1969. The records consist of correspondence and memoranda, project proposals and reports, and publications. Included are records documenting the administration and operation of the Center for Short-Lived Phenomena, a program reporting to OIP and its predecessors, 1967-1976, and general administrative records of the office, 1964-1975. These records are closely related to those in Record Unit 218, and may be part of the same file.

Historical Note

The history of the Office of International Programs (OIP) can be traced to October 1969 when the Office of Environmental Sciences (OES) was established under the Assistant Secretary for Science. Irvin Eugene Wallen, who had served since 1962 as Assistant Director for Oceanography, National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and Head of the Office of Oceanography and Limnology, was appointed Director of OES. William L. Eilers replaced Wallen as Director in 1971. Programs and offices under OES direction included: the Ecology Program; the Oceanography and Limnology Program (OLP), including the Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center and the Mediterranean Marine Sorting Center; the Center for Short-Lived Phenomena (CSLP); and the Chesapeake Bay Center for Environmental Studies (CBCES), which become an independent bureau in 1973.

In October 1973, OES was merged with the Office of International Activities to form the Office of International and Environmental Programs (OIEP). Wymberley D. Coerr, former Ambassador to Ecuador and Uruguay, was appointed Director of the new office. Eilers became Deputy Director of OIEP. Programs under the direction of OIEP included the Smithsonian Foreign Currency Program and the International Liaison Program, as well as the programs administered by its predecessor, OES. In May 1975 OIEP was renamed the Office of International Programs (OIP).

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Descriptive Entry

This record unit consists of files created primarily by OES, 1970-1973, and OIEP, 1973-1975. Also included are some records of OIP, 1975-1976. Files predating the creation of OES in October 1969 are those of Irvin Eugene Wallen, in his capacity as Assistant Director for Oceanography, NMNH, and Head of the Office of Oceanography and Limnology, 1964-1969. The records consist of correspondence and memoranda, project proposals and reports, and publications; and include a file documenting the administration and operation of the Center for Short-Lived Phenomena, 1967-1976, and administrative records, 1964-1975. For other records of OES and OIEP see Record Units 218, 271, and 273.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 274, Smithsonian Institution, Office of International Programs, Records

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Container List

Series 1

CENTER FOR SHORT-LIVED PHENOMENA FILES, 1967-1976.

The Center for Short-Lived Phenomena (CSLP) was established in January 1968 with Robert Citron as Director. CSLP operated as a global alert network and clearing-house designed to notify scientists of unexpected, ephemeral environmental events. CSLP was located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in order to utilize the facilities of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. From its creation in 1968 until December 1970, CSLP was an independent Smithsonian Bureau reporting to the Assistant Secretary for Science. In December 1970, CSLP became an administrative unit of the Office of Environmental Sciences (OES). CSLP remained under the direction of OES and its successors the Office of International and Environmental Programs (OIEP) and the Office of International Programs (OIP) until December 1975. At that time, CSLP's affiliation with the Smithsonian ended and it became an independent, non-profit, privately funded organization. All federal functions of CSLP were transferred to the newly created Scientific Event Alert Network (SEAN) of the National Museum of Natural History.

This series consists of records maintained by OES, OIEP, and OIP documenting the administration, operation, and termination of CSLP. The records include correspondence, memoranda, reports, and publications concerning projects conducted by CSLP; film and television programs on CSLP; CSLP relations with scientific organizations and government agencies; and the transition of CSLP from a Smithsonian bureau to an independent organization.

Box 1

Folders 1-6 General correspondence and memoranda, 1967-1973

Box 1 of 11

Box 2

Folders 1-2 General correspondence and memoranda, 1974-1975

Box 2 of 11

Folder 3 Advisory Committee, 1972-1973

Box 2 of 11

Folder 4 Atomic Energy Commission, 1970-1971

Box 2 of 11

Folder 5 Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1973. Concerns a CSLP proposal for support of a Smithsonian National Environmental Education Program.

Box 2 of 11

Folder 6 Educational Expeditions International, 1971-1974

Box 2 of 11

Folders 7-8 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): State and Local Pollution Monitoring Directory (contract #68-01-2442), 1974.

Box 2 of 11

Box 3

Folder 1 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Proposed survey of national and international environmental monitoring and surveillance activities, 1972-1974.

Box 3 of 11

Folder 2 EPA: Institute for Environmental Education, 1973

Box 3 of 11

Folder 3 EPA: Selected Critical Environmental Problems, 1971

Box 3 of 11

Folder 4 Film and television, 1972-1975

Box 3 of 11

Folder 5 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 1974-1975

Box 3 of 11

Folder 6 Ford Foundation, 1970-1973

Box 3 of 11

Folder 7 German Marshall Fund, 1973

Box 3 of 11

Folder 8 International Environmental Alert Network, general, 1970-1973

Box 3 of 11

Box 4

Folder 1 International Environmental Alert Network: Bamboo Survey, 1973

Box 4 of 11

Folder 2 International Pollution Alert Network, 1971-1975

Box 4 of 11

Folder 3 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 1971

Box 4 of 11

Folder 4 Italian Biologists Association, 1971-1973

Box 4 of 11

Folder 5 Massachusetts Audubon Society, 1974

Box 4 of 11

Folder 6 National Academy of Sciences, 1972-1973

Box 4 of 11

Folder 7 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Earth Resources Satellite, 1970-1973

Box 4 of 11

Folder 8 NASA: Skylab, 1971-1974

Box 4 of 11

Folder 9 New York Botanical Garden, 1973

Box 4 of 11

Folder 10 Pan American Health Organization, 1975

Box 4 of 11

Folders 11-12 Proposals, 1970-1973

Box 4 of 11

Box 5

Folder 1 Publications, 1970-1975

Box 5 of 11

Folder 2 Publicity, 1968-1975

Box 5 of 11

Folder 3 Shift of Administrative Responsibilities to Washington, 1973-1974

Box 5 of 11

Folders 4-6 Spinoff, 1974-1976. Concerns the transition of CSLP from a Smithsonian Bureau to an independent, privately funded organization.

Box 5 of 11

Folder 7 United Nations Diaster Relief Office (UNDRO), 1971-1974

Box 5 of 11

Box 6

Folder 1 United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), general, 1971-1974

Box 6 of 11

Folder 2 UNEP: Earthwatch, 1972-1974

Box 6 of 11

Folder 3 UNEP: Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS), 1970-1974

Box 6 of 11

Folder 4 United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Man and the Biosphere Program, 1970-1973

Box 6 of 11

Folder 5 UNESCO: Volcanic Eruptions, 1973-1974

Box 6 of 11

Folder 6 United States Geological Survey, 1971

Box 6 of 11

Series 2

ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, 1964-1975

This series consists of records documenting the administration and operation of the Office of International Programs (OIP), 1975, and its predecessors, the Office of Environmental Sciences (OES), 1969-1973, and the Office of International and Environmental Programs (OIEP), 1973-1975.

Records prior to October 1969 were created by Irvin Eugene Wallen in his capacity as Assistant Director for Oceanography, NMNH, and Head of the Office of Oceanography and Limnology. The records consist of correspondence and memoranda, reports, proposals, manuscripts and publications concerning office administration; projects conducted in cooperation with the Agency for International Development; relations with Smithsonian bureaus and scientific organizations; and environmental programs in foreign countries.

Box 7

Folders 1-6 Administration, 1964-1974

Box 7 of 11

Box 8

Folder 1 Administration, 1975

Box 8 of 11

Folder 2 Administration: L'Enfant, 1972-1975

Box 8 of 11

Folder 3 Administration: Policy and Procedure, 1970-1975

Box 8 of 11

Folder 4 Administration: Reports, 1974

Box 8 of 11

Folder 5 Administration: Space Requirements, 1971-1975

Box 8 of 11

Folder 6 Agency for International Development (AID): Ghana, Indonesia, and Korea, 1975

Box 8 of 11

Folders 7-8 AID: Mekong Basin Project, 1974. Manuscript of final report.

Box 8 of 11

Box 9

Folder 1 Agency for International Development (AID): Post-Impoundment Assessment of the Ecological Effects of the Nam Ngum Dam and Reservoir, Laos, 1975.

Box 9 of 11

Folder 2 American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1972-1974

Box 9 of 11

Folder 3 Annual Reports, 1967-1974

Box 9 of 11

Folder 4 Archeology, 1970-1974

Box 9 of 11

Folder 5 Asia Foundation, 1972-1974

Box 9 of 11

Folder 6 Bureau Director's Meetings, 1971-1974

Box 9 of 11

Folder 7 India, 1972-1975

Box 9 of 11

Folder 8 Mediterranean Marine Sorting Center (MMSC), 1970-1972

Box 9 of 11

Box 10

Folders 1-2 Mediterranean Marine Sorting Center (MMSC), 1973-1975

Box 10 of 11

Folders 3-4 MMSC: Reports, proposals and related materials, 1966-1975

Box 10 of 11

Folder 5 Office of Academic Studies, 1972

Box 10 of 11

Folder 6 Pakistan, 1970-1974

Box 10 of 11

Folder 7 Phykos, 1969-1973

Box 10 of 11

Box 11

Folder 1 Public Relations, 1973-1975

Box 11 of 11

Folder 2 Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 1964-1975

Box 11 of 11

Folder 3 Smithsonian Executive Committee, 1973-1974

Box 11 of 11

Folder 4 Smithsonian Foreign Currency Program, 1974

Box 11 of 11

Folder 5 United Nations, 1971-1974

Box 11 of 11

Folder 6 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 1970-1974

Box 11 of 11

Folder 7 UNESCO: Man and the Biosphere Program, 1974

Box 11 of 11

Folder 8 United Nations Environment Program, 1974-1975

Box 11 of 11

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