NRA Document Archives
by Charles R. Watson
Notice: The National Radiobiology Archives (NRA) have been transferred to Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. To inquire about NRA materials or learn more about the Northwestern University Radiobiology Archives (NURA) visit: https://sites.northwestern.edu/nura/
Dr. William J. Bair Collection
This document collection, obtained after Dr. Bair’s retirement from the Life Sciences Center at PNNL in April 1993, contains the supporting materials for the Hanford Sheep Studies, PNNL Beagle Inhaled Radionuclide Studies, Plutonium Inhalation Beagle Study, the Health, Environment and Safety Research Project, and the Hanford Life Sciences Symposia.
Colorado State University (CSU) Collection
This collection includes an incomplete set of Annual Reports, the final report to the Food and Drug Administration, excellent documentation of the CSU electronic database, and the support documentation for the transfer of the final electronic database to the NRA.
Dr. Miriam Finkel Collection
These documents describe work carried by Dr. Miriam Finkel at Argonne National Laboratory and were donated by Dr. Patricia Durbin, LBL, in October 1994. The Finkel Collection includes the 1960-1965 226Ra animal records, cage sheets, gross pathology, and final diagnoses. The gross pathology laboratory log books from several other studies are available:
- 1950-1951–MsTh, RdTh, Thx, and RdTh-Thx
- 1951–intravenously injected single dose 226Ra
- 1951–intravenously injected single dose 239Pu
- 1954–intravenously injected 45Ca 1956–single dose intravenously injected 90Y
- 1954–intravenously injected 90Sr 1958–ingested 90Sr
- No date– 210Po
There are no electronic or specimen data available for these studies at this time.
Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute (ITRI) Rodent Studies Collection
This collection currently consists of a finding aid document assembled by Dr. David Lundgren in April 1993. The document describes 12 studies conducted at ITRI beginning in 1972.
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) Non-human Primate Studies Collection
The materials in this collection are related to the 90Sr, 238Pu, and 241Am studies conducted at LBL in primates. These materials, donated to the NRA in 1990, are being stored as a sequestered donation; the materials are not available for general access until release by LBL. The agreement between the NRA and Dr. Durbin states the LBL laboratory director must authorize access to these materials. This sequestered collection consists of photocopies; all original data records and research materials remain in the custody of Dr. Durbin at LBL.
LBL Rodent Studies Collection
In October 1994, Dr. Edward Alpen prepared a finding aid to inventory the supporting documentation and specimens for the LBL rodent studies to be transferred to the NRA. These studies include 78 harderian gland life span experiments using 9800 animals.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Beagle Studies Collection
These documents are related to the PNNL life-span beagle studies of inhaled 239Pu02, 238Pu02, and 239Pu(NO3)4 conducted by Drs. James F. Park and Gerald E. Dagle. The materials available include animal clinical records, radiobioassay count sheets, and photocopies of the associated laboratory notebooks. The original laboratory notebooks are in permanent storage at the Battelle PNNL Records Center and are available upon request through the PNNL Records Management staff. This collection was transferred to the Document Archives in July 1995.
PNNL Rat Studies Collection
These documents are related to the PNNL low-level 239Pu02 inhalation rodent studies conducted by Dr. Charles L. Sanders. The materials available include animal clinical records, radiobioassay count sheets, and photocopies of the associated laboratory notebooks. The original laboratory notebooks are in permanent storage at the Battelle PNNL Records Center and are available upon request through the PNNL Records Management staff. This collection was transferred to the Document Archives in June 1994.
PNNL Mouse Studies Collection
These documents are related to the PNNL low-level radon inhalation rodent studies conducted by Dr. Fred Cross. The materials available include animal clinical records, radiobioassay count sheets, and photocopies of the associated laboratory notebooks. The original laboratory notebooks are in permanent storage at the Battelle PNNL Records Center and are available upon request through the PNNL Records Management staff. This collection was transferred to the Document Archives in August 1995.
Dr. J. Newell Stannard Collection
This collection contains the supporting documentation for the comprehensive 2000 page history Radioactivity and Health: A History authored by Dr. J. Newell Stannard and originally published in 1988 by Battelle Press. Professor Stannard began donating these documents in 1989. Included in this collection are rare journal articles, Vignettes of Radiation Workers interviews recorded on videotape produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the original audio cassette tapes and unedited and edited transcriptions of personal interviews between Dr. Stannard and key individuals in the field of radiation research. The redacted transcripts of the interviews are available at the DOE Reading Room located in the library at Washington State University – Tri- Cities.
The NRA Stannard Collection compliments the University of Tennessee Library Radiation Research Collection which contains Dr. Stannard’s original writings.
Dr. Arthur H. Smith Collection
Transferred to the NRA in December 1992, this is a complete collection of articles from Dr. Smith’s work in life span radionuclide exposure research with fowl, primarily chickens, and in rabbits at the University of California at Davis from 1948 through 1987. Also included are materials on radio-labeled fly migration studies.
Dr. Roy C. Thompson Collection
This collection contains the extensive collection of reference materials used by Dr. Thompson in writing his book, Life-Span Effects of ionizing Radiation in the Beagle Dog which was published by Battelle Press in 1989. Documents include Pacific Northwest Laboratory Annual Reports, General Electric-Hanford Reports, and the Reassessment of Radiation Dose in the Enewetok and Bikini Atolls, 1975 – 1983. The Thompson Collection was transferred to the NRA in January 1993.
University of California at Davis Collection
The UC Davis Collection contains clinical records and supporting documentation for each beagle dog in the X-ray, 226Ra, and 90Sr, life span studies conducted at the Laboratory for Energy-Related Health Research (LEHR). These files include annual progress reports, and clinical records for both control and exposed animals. A typical folder contains a lineage chart, histopathology report, pathology report, all clinical work-ups, whole body counts, electrocardiograms, and pictures/slides of the animal (or remarkable tissue growths) for the life of each animal. The X-ray folders include multiple samples of hair from each dog. This collection was shipped to the NRA in June 1992.