Vincent J. Schaefer papers,
- Author:
- Schaefer, Vincent J.
- Call Number:
- MSS UA-902.010 local
- Abstract:
- The Vincent J. Schaefer papers span almost all of Schaefer's life. This collection has been divided into six main subgroups: the Biographical and Autobiographical Information subgroup contains Schaefer's personal journals, his calendars for 1960-1993, itinerairies for 1962-1968, drafts of his unpublished autobiographies, autobiographical articles and addresses, newspaper and journal articles about Schaefer, correspondence, inventory lists, photograph and film collections. Correspondence, research notes, and reports make up the bulk of the materials documenting Subgroup 2, Schaefer's work at GE. Subgroup 3 documents Schaefer's Scientific Educating Activities at the Loomis School, student papers, yearbooks, final reports of the Director, and the National Sciences Field Station Research, field station files, student notebooks, nominee transcripts, letters, and clippings. Subgroup 4 pertains to a selection of Schaefer's publications from the 1930s to the 1990s. Subgroup 5 includes 3-D photographs, negatives, prints, and slides from all periods of Schaefer's life. Subgroup 6 concerns Schaefer's interests in environmentalism during his years as Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center at the State University of New York at Albany and during his retirement.
- Historical Note:
- This collection documents the life and work of Vincent J. Schaefer of Schenectady, New York. From 1922-1926, he completed a four-year apprenticeship as a machinist and was assigned to the machine shop at the General Electric Research Laboratory. In 1929, Schaefer became a modelmaker at GE where he started building equipment for Irving Langmuir who had won the Nobel Prize for his work in surface chemistry. In 1932, Langmuir made Schaefer his assistant. Schaefer studied and published articles on surface chemistry techniques, electron microscopy, polarization, ice studies, studies of protein films, television tube brightness, and submicroscopic particulates. In 1938, he was promoted to research associate and continued working with Langmuir on military projects such as gas mask filtration of smokes, submarine detection with binaural sound, and the productions of artificial fogs and smoke screens. In 1946, Schaefer developed a method to seed supercooled clouds with dry ice. In 1954, Schaefer left GE to become Director of Research at the Munitalp Foundation where he worked with the U.S. Forest Service in the Rocky Mountains on Project Skyfire. In 1958, Schaefer worked with the American Meteorological Society and the National Science Foundation on an education film project and to develop the Natural Sciences Institute Summer Programs. From 1959-1961, Schaefer was Director of the Atmospheric Science Center at the Loomis School in Connecticut. In 1960, Schaefer helped found the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center at the State University of New York at Albany where he served as Director of Research until 1966 when he became its Director. He attracted highly-qualified scientists from all over the world to Albany. During the 1970s, his own research interests focused on environmental issues.
- Physical Description:
- 49.83 cu. ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to the collection is unrestricted.
- Notes:
- Part of the University Archives. local
- Subjects:
- Atmospheric physics, Atmosphere Research, Precipitation (Meteorology), Rain-making, Snowpack augmentation, Weather forecasting, Weather control, Air Pollution, Smoke screens, Fog Control, Conservation of natural resources New York (State) Citizen participation, Ecology New York (State), Environmental education New York (State), Environmental protection New York (State), Air Pollution, Atmosphere Research, Atmospheric physics, Conservation of natural resources Citizen participation, Ecology, Environmental education, Environmental protection, Fog Control, Precipitation (Meteorology), Rain-making, Smoke screens, Snowpack augmentation, Weather control, and Weather forecasting
- Genres/Forms:
- Autobiography (genre) aat, Clippings (information artifacts) aat, Contracts. aat, Correspondence. aat, Fliers (printed matter) aat, Maps. aat, Minutes. aat, Newsletters. aat, Notes. aat, Periodicals. aat, Photographs. aat, Press releases. aat, and Publications. aat
- Names:
- Schaefer, Vincent J and Schaefer, Vincent J
- Corporate Names:
- General Electric Company, Munitalp Foundation, State University of New York. Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, General Electric Company, Munitalp Foundation, and State University of New York. Atmospheric Sciences Research Center
- Geographic Terms:
- New York (State)
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