Finding Aid to the James S. McCarthy Papers

James S. McCarthy and Nathan Isgur at PAC 4James S. McCarthyMcCarthy, York, Norum

Photos:

(left) James S. McCarthy (l) and Nathan Isgur during PAC 4, which occurred during one week in December, 1989, and one week in March, 1990. (credit: CEBAF)
(center) James S. McCarthy during a PAC 4 social evening. (credit: CEBAF)
(right) (l-r) James S. McCarthy, Richard York, Blaine Norum during the dedication ceremony changing the lab's name from CEBAF to Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, May, 1996. (credit: Jefferson Lab)

Table of Contents
Repository: Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
  Jefferson Lab Archives
  12000 Jefferson Ave., Room L203A
  Newport News, VA 23606
  Phone: (757) 269-7805
  Fax: (757) 269-5427
  Email: history@jlab.org
  https://www.jlab.org/info_resources/archives
Creator: James S. McCarthy
Title: The James S. McCarthy Papers
Dates: 1961 - 1986
Size: Analog: 12 Hollinger boxes, 1 blueprint tube; 5.21 linear feet
Digital: 3 files; 3 megabytes
Materials in collection: Correspondence, index cards, maps, blueprints, publications, budgets, testimony; also digital content
Abstract: James McCarthy was one of the strongest voices for the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, a dream that he shared with his colleagues until it became reality. From his work, SURA was formed in order to organize and fund CEBAF. This collection is comprised of papers, negotiations, and other information that was used to take Dr. McCarthy's dreams to fruition.
Identification number: JLS.005
Location: Jefferson Lab Archives Room.
Language: English, Russian (Pyccκий), German (Deutsche)

Biographical Note

Born in Santa Monica, California in May of 1938, James S. McCarthy grew up in the San Fernando Valley. Originally majoring in English at Occidental College in Los Angeles, he changed majors to physics in order to help his girlfriend with her physics classes.1 James would earn his Bachelors of Arts in 1961 from Occidental; both his Masters and Doctorate were earned at Stanford University. While working towards his Doctorate, McCarthy worked under Nobel Laureate Robert Hofstadter; it was during this time he became interested in atomic collisions.1 Post-graduation, Dr. McCarthy joined the "faculty at the University of Virginia as an assistant professor of physics in 1970, was awarded tenure in 1975, and was promoted to the rank of full professor in 1981."2 He remained at the university until 1999.

Dr. McCarthy (along with Drs. Harry Holmgren, Dana Hamel, and Franz Gross who were later referred to as the Four Horsemen of CEBAF) is widely thought to be the 'father' of CEBAF. His enthusiasm for the accelerator brought in many other scientists and started the consortium of higher educational institutions now known as the Southeastern Universities Research Association.

Dr. McCarthy passed away at the age of 83 at home in Verona, Virginia on 19 August 2021.3

1 University of Virginia. "James McCarthy: Story of A Smashing Success," http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/textonlyarchive/May_1996/mccarthy.txt (accessed 6 May 2016).
2 American Association of University Professors. "Academic Freedom and Tenure: University of Virginia." https://www.aaup.org/report/academic-freedom-and-tenure-university-virginia (accessed 6 May 2016).
3 "Obituaries in Stanton, VA: The News Leader." Newsleader.com, August 20, 2021. https://www.newsleader.com/obituaries/sdn027622 (accessed 05 October 2021).

Scope and Content

This collection consists of correspondences, publications, and the beginnings of what would become Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. There are diagrams, blueprints, annual reports, congressional testimony, and financial records.

 

Arrangement

Series I: Correspondence. This series, arranged chronologically, contains correspondence between Dr. McCarthy and other members of the scientific community as well as contractors.

Series II: SURA. Also arranged chronologically, this series contains annual reports for the Southeastern Universities Research Association as well as Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, various reports, policies, projects, meeting minutes, organizational charts and other information pertaining to the start-up of SURA and the recruitment of other institutions.

Series III: CEBAF. This series pertains to the design and construction of the accelerator. If dates are available, this series is in chronological order, broken up into two subseries:

  • Subseries A: Design and Construction
  • Subseries B: Technical

Series IV: Financial. This series has financial information from the early days of SURA and CEBAF including budgets, projection sheets and federal and state funding information.

Series V: Lab Oversight Committees. This series is composed of notes and minutes from the Council of Presidents, the Board of Trustees, NSAC, the Executive Committee, and other various oversight meetings.

Series VI: Testimony. Comprised of various testimonies to Congress and Committees, this series contains transcripts from various members of the scientific community including Dr. McCarthy.

Series VII: Department of Energy. This series contains all Department of Energy-related materials that were present within Dr. McCarthy's papers.

Series VIII: Tech. Containing evaluations regarding the amount of energy and type of accelerator SURA wanted to build, this series is divided into two subseries:

  • Subseries A: Papers
  • Subseries B: Correspondence

Series IX: Personnel. This series contains surveys of other national laboratories for potential salaries, personnel advertisements, job descriptions, and SURA personnel policies.

Series XI: Publications. Containing two sets of index cards as well as publication listings for Dr. McCarthy, as well as candidates for positions within CEBAF, this series also contains a few articles that were written about CEBAF in the mid-1980s.

Series XII: Miscellany. This series contains all else that did not fit within the other series. Among these are histories of collaborations, land use plans, conference information, and photographs.

 

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

  • The collection may be used solely for noncommercial, educational, and research purposes. Please contact history.org if you would like to use the collection.

Use Restrictions

  • Jefferson Lab is providing access to the materials in the Archives collections solely for noncommercial educational and research purposes. The unauthorized use, including, but not limited to, publication of the materials without the prior written permission of Jefferson Lab, is strictly prohibited. All inquiries regarding permission to publish should be submitted in writing to the Archivist. In addition to consent from Jefferson Lab, permission of the copyright owner (if not Jefferson Lab) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distribution, and other uses. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of any item and securing any necessary permissions rests with the persons desiring to publish the item. Jefferson Lab makes no warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.

 

Controlled Access Terms

Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF)
Clegg, Tom
College of William and Mary (W&M)
Department of Energy (Collection # JL.013, Site Office)
Gross, Franz (Collection # JLS.001)
Holmgren, Harry (Collection # JLS.004)
National Electron Accelerator Laboratory (NEAL)
Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC)
Old Dominion University (ODU)
Southeastern University Research Association (SURA)
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (formerly Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, or SLAC)
Virginia Associated Research Campus (VARC)
von Baeyer, Hans (Collection # JLS.008)
York, Richard

 

Administration Information

Preferred Citation: 
[Identification of Item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], The Ronald Sundelin Papers, Jefferson Lab Archives, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, 12000 Jefferson Ave., Room L203A, Newport News, VA, 23606

Acquisition Information:
This collection was acquired from various sources including the Director's Office, Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement Office (QACI, now ES&H), and Library.

Processing History:
This collection was processed by Melissa Erlandson from November, 2015 to January, 2016

Acknowledgement:
This collection was supported in part by a grant from the History Programs, American Institute of Physics.

 

Box and Container Listing 
Box 1

Series I: Correspondence
Sub-series A: General

  • Folder 1: E. Ritter, 10 March 1977
  • Folder 2: 1979
  • Folder 3: 1983
  • Folder 4: Physics Today, Late 1984
  • Folder 5: 1984
  • Folder 6: 1985
  • Folder 8: Architect - Engineering

Sub-series B: CEBAF Inception

  • Folder 9: 1976 - 1979
  • Folder 10: 1980 - 1981
  • Folder 11: 1981
  • Folder 12: 1982, 1 of 2

 
Box 2
  • Folder 1: 1982, 2 of 2
  • Folder 3: 1983, 2 of 2
  • Folder 4: 1984
  • Folder 5: Internal Memos, 1984
  • Folder 6: NEAL/SURA, 1 of 2
  • Folder 7: NEAL/SURA, 2 of 2
  • Folder 8: CEBAF/University of Virginia
  • Folder 9: SURA
  • Folder 10: University of Virginia

Series II: SURA

  • Folder 11: 1978 - 1981 Financial
  • Folder 12: Articles of Incorporation, 5 September 1980
  • Folder 13: Annual Report, 16 October 1981
  • Folder 14: NEAL Status Report, 23 November 1981
  • Folder 15: 1982 Briefings

 
Box 3
  • Folder 1: Astronomy Workshop, 15-16 October 1982
  • Folder 2: Annual Report, 26 October 1982
  • Folder 3: Comments on Accelerator Proposal: ANL, University of Illinois, MIT, NBS; 1983
  • Folder 4: NEAL Proposal Update, 15 February 1983
  • Folder 5: Materials Science Workshop, 26-27 August 1983
  • Folder 6: "Hall of the States," SURA Briefing, 16 November 1983
  • Folder 7: CEBAF Organizational Chart, 1984
  • Folder 8: SURA Response to Comments on NEAL Proposal, c. 1984
  • Folder 9: Users Group Charter, Draft, 1984
  • Folder 10: "Could SURA Become Another Isabelle?", 1984
  • Folder 11: Southeastern Speaking Tour, 12-14 February 1985
  • Folder 12: Statements before the Subcommittee on Energy Development and Applications, 22 February, 1984
  • Folder 13: Status Report, 9 August 1984
  • Folder 14: Current Projects, 1984-1985
  • Folder 15: CEBAF and the 99th Congress, 1985
  • Folder 16: National Advisory Board Meetings, 1985
  • Folder 17: Prep for DOE/Oak Ridge Meeting, Spring 1985
  • Folder 18: By-Law Recommendations, 22 April 1985
  • Folder 19: Summer Engagements, 1985
  • Folder 20: By-Laws
  • Folder 21: Scientific Justification/Cost
  • Folder 22: Various Board's Members
  • Folder 23: Member Institutions
  • Folder 24: Comments and Characterizations of Concepts and Theoretical Analysis
  • Folder 25: Theory Group
  • Folder 26: Undated Presentation re: SURA
  • Folder 27: Tuition Supplement Notice
  • Folder 28: Research and Development Project Management Plan

 
Box 4
Series III: CEBAF
Sub series A: Design and Construction
  • Folder 1: Design/Tech Research, 1981
  • Folder 2: Design Optimization Studies, 1982
  • Folder 3: Construction Cost Estimate, April 1982
  • Folder 4: Design Optimization Studies Proposal, October 1982 – September 1984
  • Folder 5: Addendum to NEAL Proposal Update, 16 February 1983
  • Folder 6: "Comparative Economic Analysis of Alternative Sites for an Electron Accelerator Facility", May 1983
  • Folder 7: NEAL Conceptual Project Schedule, 3 May 1983
  • Folder 8: Technical Specs for Klystron, 2 April 1984
  • Folder 9: Environmental Assessment Draft, November 1984
  • Folder 10: Electrostatic System & Klystron Testing Procurement Plan, 31 March 1985
  • Folder 11: Environmental Assessment, CEBAF
  • Folder 12: Accelerator Facilities
  • Folder 13: Facility Considerations
  • Folder 14: Comments on: "Research and Development of a 0.5 to 4 GeV Electron Accelerator Laboratory Using a Pulsed Linac and Stretcher Ring"

 
Box 5
  • Folder 1: Research and Development of a High Energy Continuous Duty Cycle Electron Accelerator
  • Folder 2: Research, Development and Advanced Engineering Studies, NEAL
  • Folder 3: Re: Computers
  • Folder 4: Revised Project Scope
  • Folder 5: Charts for R&D Development Project Management Plan
  • Folder 6: "NEAL Tech", notes
  • Folder 7: Spectrometer
  • Folder 8: Radiation Shielding
  • Folder 9: CEBAF Physicist Survey
  • Folder 10: Scientific Background, NEAL/CEBAF
  • Folder 11: Proposal for R&D Accelerator Studies
  • Folder 12: Klystrons, Modulators, and Magnets
  • Folder 13: Accelerator Parameters and AC Power Requirements
  • Folder 14: Tables: Recirculated Linac/Unrecirculated Linac Pulse Stretcher Ring
  • Folder 15: Automatic Data Processing (ADP)
  • Folder 16: Technical Spec. Tables
  • Folder 17: Requests for Bids

 
Box 6
  • Folder 2: Industry Recruitment
  • Folder 3: Construction
  • Folder 4: Conference Summary - A&E, HSMM
  • Folder 5: Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern
  • Folder 6: Science Applications, Inc.
  • Folder 7: Daniel, Mann, Johnson, & Mendenhall
  • Folder 8: Pulse Stretcher
  • Folder 9: Bean Yard Switch Schematics
  • Folder 10: Linac Plan
  • Folder 11: Science & Engineering Associates
  • Folder 12: Old Dominion University

Subseries B: Technical

  • Folder 13: Linac Options
  • Folder 14: "Preliminary Research and Development Proposal for a High Energy Continuous Duty Cycle Electron Accelerator", June 1979
  • Folder 15: Design/Tech Research, 1980
  • Folder 16: Bromley Committee
  • Folder 17: Addendum No. 1: To Request for Proposal CEBAF-RFP-DBA-0002, 30 April 1985

 
Box 7
Series IV: Financial
  • Folder 1: Calendar Year Finances, 1978-1980
  • Folder 2: Operating Budget, SURA, 1982
  • Folder 3: Schedule 44: FY 1985 Field Budget, June-October 1983
  • Folder 4: Management Review, Tech Cost Schedule, 1984
  • Folder 5: FY 1984/1985 Operating Budgets, Funding Schedules, PE&lD FY 1984
  • Folder 6: Operating Budget - SURA, 1 July 1983 - 30 June 1984
  • Folder 7: Construction Project Data Sheets, General Science and Research, June 1984
  • Folder 8: Funding Timeline, CEBAF, 30 August 1984
  • Folder 9: Federal R&D Budget, FY 1984
  • Folder 10: Research Budget, 1984-1985
  • Folder 11: Proposed Budget FY 1984-1985
  • Folder 12: Commonwealth Budget FY 1984-1985
  • Folder 13: Library Funding, 1985
  • Folder 14: Cost Management Report, January 1985
  • Folder 15: Federal Funds Status Report, 1985
  • Folder 16: NAB Report, 24 April, 1985
  • Folder 17: A/E Budget FY 1985-1986
  • Folder 18: Obligations for FY 1986
  • Folder 19: DOE Internal Budget Review FY 1986, Construction
  • Folder 20: SURA Management Fee
  • Folder 21: Cost Estimate, Proposal
  • Folder 22: Construction Budgets
  • Folder 23: CEBAF Federal Funding
  • Folder 24: Form 60
  • Folder 25: Schedule 44 and Supporting Documents
  • Folder 26: Commonwealth Funds - Investment
  • Folder 27: Project Validation Checklist
  • Folder 28: CEBAF Equipment Lists

 
Box 8
Series V: Lab Oversight Committees
Sub-series A: Council of Presidents
  • Folder 1: 1980
  • Folder 2: 1981
  • Folder 3: 1982
  • Folder 4: 1983
  • Folder 5: 1984
  • Folder 6: 1985

Sub-series B: Board of Trustees

  • Folder 7: 1981
  • Folder 8: 1982
  • Folder 9: 1983
  • Folder 10: 1984
  • Folder 11: 1985

Sub-series C: NSAC

  • Folder 12: Ad Hoc Subcommittee, 28 September 1984
  • Folder 13: Meeting, October 1984

Sub-series D: Executive Committee

  • Folder 14: 1981
  • Folder 15: 1982
  • Folder 16: 1983
  • Folder 17: 1984
  • Folder 18: 1985

Sub-series D: Other

  • Folder 19: Minutes/Progress Reports/Correspondence, 1980
  • Folder 20: NEAL Boards
  • Folder 21: Scientific Justification Committee, 1981
  • Folder 22: Public Information Committee, 1981
  • Folder 23: DOE/NSF Open Meetings, 1983
  • Folder 24: Business & Management Advisory Committee, 1983
  • Folder 25: National Advisory Board Meetings, 1984
  • Folder 26: Long-Range Plan Updates, Fall 1984
  • Folder 27: CEBAF Staff Meeting Minutes, 1985
  • Folder 28: Committees List, 1985

 
Box 9
Series VI: Testimony
  • Folder 1: Transcript: 16 May 1981
  • Folder 2: SAP Meeting, 27 February 1982
  • Folder 3: Keyworth Testimony: Science Policy & FY 1985 Budget, 1 February 1984
  • Folder 4: Holmgren and McCarthy, 2 March 1984
  • Folder 5: John Warner, 20 March 1984
  • Folder 6: Holmgren and McCarthy, 5 April 1984
  • Folder 7: John Warner, 17 April 1984
  • Folder 8: Keyworth Testimony: Science Policy & FY 1986 Budget, 5 February 1985
  • Folder 9: Alvin W. Trivelpiece: House Subcommittee on Energy Development and Applications, 27 February 1985
  • Folder 10: John P. Schiffer: House Subcommittee on Energy Development and Applications, 28 February 1985
  • Folder 11: J. Bennett Johnston, 1 April 1985
  • Folder 12: 2 April 1985
  • Folder 13: Transcripts: Tape 1, Side 1; Tape 2, Side 1

Series VII: Department of Energy

  • Folder 14: Construction Project Management, 1983
  • Folder 15: Long-range Plan, NSAC Review 1983
  • Folder 16: Report of the Panel on Electron Accelerator Facilities, April 1983 (DOE/NSF, NSAC)
  • Folder 17: DOE Contract #DE-AC05-84ER40150, 27 August 1984
  • Folder 18: Memorandum of Understanding: DOE, SURA, Oak Ridge; November 1984

 
Box 10
  • Folder 1: SURA/CEBAF and Oak Ridge/DOE Meeting Minutes, 1984-1985
  • Folder 2: Negotiations, 1984-1986

Series VIII: Tech
Sub-series A: Papers

  • Folder 4: CEBAF Status Report
  • Folder 5: NEAL Upgrade and Phasing
  • Folder 6: R&D of 0.5-4 GeV Electron Accelerator Lab Using Pulsed Linac Stretcher Ring
  • Folder 7: The Pulse Stretcher Ring
  • Folder 8: BSY - Beam Switch Yard
  • Folder 9: Experimental Facilities
  • Folder 10: Budget and Manpower Summary
  • Folder 11: Accelerator Overview and Scope
  • Folder 12: Statement of Work, draft
  • Folder 13: Accelerator Dept., Brookhaven, 23 August 1961
  • Folder 14: The Physics of Electron Storage Rings: An Introduction, November 1970
  • Folder 15: NEAL Support Buildings, 1980
  • Folder 16: Traveling Wave vs. Standing Wave Structures, 26 June 1980
  • Folder 17: Role of Spectrometer Costs in Choosing the Maximum Energy for an Electron Accelerator, 30 June 1980
  • Folder 18: Shielding Revisited, 29 August 1980
  • Folder 19: The Linear Accelerator, 13 April 1981
  • Folder 20: "Virginia Apples and Japanese Oranges", 23 February 1981
  • Folder 21: NEAL Status Report, 23 November 1981
  • Folder 22: Measurement of the M1 Form Factors to High Momentum Transfer, March 1982
  • Folder 23: Notes on Build Phases for NEAL, 8 February 1983
  • Folder 24: Panel on Electron Accelerator Facilities draft, 29 March 1983

Sub-series B: Correspondence

  • Folder 25: 1979
  • Folder 26: 1980
  • Folder 27: 1981
  • Folder 28: 1982
  • Folder 29: 1983

 
Box 11
Series IX: Personnel
  • Folder 1: Moving and Relocation Expenses
  • Folder 2: Department of Labor - Race/Sex Forms
  • Folder 3: Franz Gross (CV and Publications)
  • Folder 4: Position for H. Heminghaus, 1981
  • Folder 5: Manpower Surveys, 1982
  • Folder 7: Laboratory Salary Survey, July 1983
  • Folder 8: Governor's Distinguished CEBAF Professorships, 1983-1984
  • Folder 9: Personnel Advertisements
  • Folder 10: Personnel Correspondence, 1984
  • Folder 11: CEBAF Job Descriptions, 1984
  • Folder 12: Personnel Policies and Procedures
  • Folder 13: SURA Personnel Policies, Appendix A Contract, 1984
  • Folder 15: CEBAF Salaries, 1984
  • Folder 16: CEBAF Personnel List, 01 September 1984
  • Folder 17: Personnel Policy, 1985
  • Folder 18: SURA Recruitment for CEBAF Staff draft, February 1985

Series X: Press

  • Folder 19: NEAL At-A-Glance, 1980-1982
  • Folder 20: 1984
  • Folder 21: 1985

Series XI: Publications

  • Folder 22: Index Card, Set 1
  • Folder 23: Index Card, Set 2

Series XII: Miscellany

  • Folder 14: VARC Photographs
  • Folder 15: Costas Papanicolas (photographs)
  • Folder 16: Raul Page (Photographs)
  • Folder 17: Information Sheet
  • Folder 18: History of SLAC/CEBAF Collaborations
  • Folder 19: Land Use/Development, Newport News, 1980; 1983
  • Folder 20: Land Use Plan, Williamsburg, 1981
  • Folder 21: Conference, Misc., 1983
  • Folder 22: Soviet Accelerator Report, 1984
  • Folder 23: VARC Property Map by HSMM, 20 July 1984
  • Folder 24: Brodsky Memo - PEP, 15 August 1984
  • Folder 25: House at William & Mary, 21 August 1984
  • Folder 26: Internal Memos and Reports, 1985

 
Oversize Box 1
  • Item 1: VARC Property Map by HSMM, 20 July 1984
  • Item 2: VARC Map
  • Item 3: Test Holes Locations Sheets - Space Science Building; Coenen & Assoc. Engineers, 26 July 1967

 

 

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