Record Unit 150 - Assistant Secretary for Science, Research Award Proposals, Awards, and Contracts, 1965-1971

Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution

Record Unit 150
Assistant Secretary for Science,
Research Award Proposals, Awards, and Contracts,
1965-1971

By Linda Elmore et al.

Historical Note

Descriptive Entry

Series Descriptions

Series 1. RESEARCH AWARDS, 1966-1971. Arranged alphabetically by the recipient of the award.

Series 2. RESEARCH AWARDS, 1965. Arranged by project number.

Series 3. CONTRACTS, 1966-1969. Arranged alphabetically by name of recipient.

Series 4. FY 1967 NEW AND CONTINUED PROPOSALS. Arranged numerically.

Series 5. FY 1968 PROPOSALS. Arranged numerically.

Series 6. FY 1968 PROPOSALS. Arranged by bureau code number, and numerically within each bureau.

HISTORICAL NOTE

The first person named Assistant Secretary for Science was T. Dale Stewart, in 1965, although many functions of the Office existed previously in the Assistant Secretary. Sidney R. Galler was named Assistant Secretary for Science in 1966. Harry Hyman served as Special Assistant for Resource Planning and as Research Awards Administrator, 1966-1970. Michael A. Stahl was Administrative Officer, 1966-1973. Helen Hayes served as Special Assistant, 1967-1973. Harold J. Michaelson became Special Assistant in 1967 and still serves (1974). In February 1971, David Challinor became Assistant Secretary for Science.

The Assistant Secretary for Science serves as the administrative link between the Secretary and the following Smithsonian bureaus: Center for Study of Man, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, National Zoological Park, Office of Environmental Sciences, Radiation Biology Laboratory, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Science Information Exchange, and the Smithsonian Tropical Institute.

DESCRIPTIVE ENTRY

These files include the record copy of proposals for research awards for the fiscal years 1967 and 1968. Included are both new proposals and those proposals from previous fiscal years for which continued support was sought. The FY 1967 proposals and progress reports were generally made to Harry Hyman, Smithsonian Research Award Administrator through Sidney R. Galler, Assistant Secretary for Science. FY 1968 proposals were frequently accompanied by a covering memo from the Director of the participating museum. The memo was sent to Galler through Elbridge O. Hurlbut, Contracting Officer and contained the Director's comments on the proposal. The proposals themselves were addressed to the Smithsonian Research Awards Program and also contained biographical information about the principal investigator, usually including a resume and list of publications. The files in this record unit are from the Office of Harold J. Michaelson, Special Assistant (1967- ).

Records were filed according to a numerical system referring to the proposal number. Series 4 is filed numerically by FY 1967 proposal number. Series 5 is filed according to the last three digits of a seven digit proposal number. In this system the first two digits refer to the Smithsonian bureau; the third digit refers to the department; the fourth digit refers to the division; and the last three digits designate the order in which the proposals were received by the Office of Assistant Secretary for Science, regardless of originating bureau. Series 6 consists of files arranged first by bureau code number, then by departmental, divisional, and proposal numbers. See also Record Units 108, 147, and 152.