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The location of correspondence in this collection is based on how the archivist found the materials as donated by Schaefer. Although he filed a considerable amount of correspondence within materials from specific affiliations (ex. General Electric, Munitalp, consulting work), the archivist found still more correspondence boxed separately. Roughly half of these items were not subdivided or specially categorized in any way while others were foldered by topic. This arrangement has been retained by the archivist. Please note that this series contains letters, cards, and postcards that span the majority of Schaefer's life, from young adulthood to the weeks before he died in July 1993. Some are professional in nature while others are from friends and family.

Vincent Schaefer planned to write a book on the atmosphere for decades. Correspondence shows that he brought the idea to Houghton Mifflin Editor-in-Chief Paul Brooks in the mid-1950s (Box 1, Folder 40) but the book was not finished at that point. Later, Schaefer collaborated with Professor John A. Day of Linfield College, Oregon and Christy Day for the final version of the book. Much of their correspondence regarding drafts is preserved in this series. The finished product, , was published in 1981 in the Roger Tory Peterson Field Guide series, an inclusion that generated media attention and notoriety. Included in this series are both handwritten and typed drafts, proofread copies, correspondence regarding drafts and the finished product, individual chapter files along with many photographs, slides and negatives. The collection also includes three folders containing files from a collaborative project Schaefer worked on titled "Glories of the Sky."

Administrative Records from the term of H. Patrick Swygert (1990-1995)

Schaefer donated many films to the archives that are related to his work at General Electric, Munitalp, and the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center/University at Albany, SUNY. There are also some reels that document his consulting work as well as a few that cover personal interests such as hiking. Films vary between 16 millimeter and 35 millimeter, with an emphasis on the latter. Some footage is black and white while other footage is in color. There were some film containers that arrived at the archives with two ID numbers on them; using Schaefer's own list, the archivist made every attempt to follow the creator's original numbering system. Due to time constraints on processing as well as the delicate nature of the film reels, most of the footage has not yet been viewed by the archivist. Please also note that the film titles are taken directly from Schaefer's own labels, which is why many are abbreviated.

This series contains a variety of materials from Vincent Schaefer's personal life, some of it autobiographical. Subseries one features his unpublished memoir, Twenty Years at Langmuir University, but also family photographs, an extensive personal log, and awards. The series also documents his passions for hiking, Scouting, skiing, geology, artwork, Dutch Barns, local history and archeology.

The State Death Penalty Summaries contains state by state research on the Death Penalty in each state.