York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank)

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Experimental physicist who was founding director of the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and first Chancellor of the University of California, San Diego. York also was a member of Presidential Scientific Advisory Committee under Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson, and Chief Scientist of the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1958-1999. (University of California, San Diego). WorldCat record id: 20293837

A physicist by profession, York (b. 1921) worked on the Manhattan Project, directed the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, and served as nuclear arms advisor to Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Carter. After helping to found the new campus of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) at La Jolla and serving as its first chancellor, he remained at UCSD as a professor of physics, dean of graduate studies, and from 1983 as director of the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. He has achieved international prominence for his active role in arms control negotiations.

From the description of Papers, 1961-1983. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78403408

York was Director of Defense Research and Engineering.

From the description of Recommendation Against Scheduled Transfer of Centaur to NASA : letter to T. Keith Glennan, NASA Administrator, 1959 May 18. (Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives). WorldCat record id: 733095984

Born 1921-1982.

From the description of Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1975 September 9 and 13 May 1976. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79664137

From the description of Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1980 September 24. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78228376

Biography

Herbert Frank York was born on November 24, 1921, in Rochester, New York. He earned B.A. and M.S. degrees at the University of Rochester in 1942 and 1945, and the Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley, in 1949, all in experimental physics. His early career as a physicist and military science advisor (1943-58) focused on the development of nuclear weapons, while his later career as an advisor, consultant and professor have focussed on disarmament.

In 1943, while still a graduate student, York was recruited by the University of California Radiation Laboratory to work on uranium production for the Manhattan Project. After the war, York finished his graduate work at UC-Berkeley in 1949, and in 1950, with Hugh Bradner, planned and designed Operation Greenhouse, the atomic test at Eniwetok for diagnostic measurements of atomic blast. The following year he joined the physics faculty of UC-Berkeley.

In 1952, E. O. Lawrence asked York to prepare plans for a new weapons development laboratory, today known as Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Following Atomic Energy Commission approval for the lab, York served as director of the lab from 1952-1958. It was during this period that he began informing U.S. defense policy-makers, serving on Army, Air Force and Defense Department advisory groups (1953-57: USAF Science Advisory Board; 1955-58: Secy Defense Ballistic Missile Advisory Committee; 1956-58: US Army Science Advisory Panel). York left Livermore for Washington, D.C., in 1958 to accept two positions within the Office of the Secretary of Defense: Director of Defense Research and Engineering and the Chief Scientist of the Advanced Research Project's Agency (ARPA, later known as DARPA). Before leaving Washington, York also served as the youngest member on Eisenhower's Presidential Science Advisory Committee (1957-1958). He served on PSAC again under Johnson in 1964-68.

In 1961, York returned to the west coast to become the first chancellor of the University of California, San Diego. After moving to UCSD, York maintained his involvement in high-level defense policy-making. President Kennedy appointed York to the General Advisory Committee of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (USACDA) in 1962, a position he held until 1969. He has been on the board of trustees of two not-for-profit think tanks since the 1960s, the Aerospace Corporation and the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). York acted also as an advisor to IDA's JASON division, a high-level science advisory group that York helped establish as Chief Scientist of ARPA in the late 1950s. York returned to Washington, D.C., (1977-81) to be a senior consultant to the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 1977-1981 and served on the Defense Science Board in 1978-1981. During the Carter Administration, York served as U.S. ambassador to the Comprehensive Test Ban talks (1978-80).

At UCSD, York's tenure as UCSD chancellor was brief. He stepped down from the post in 1964, preferring to join the physics faculty. In 1969-1970, he was dean of graduate studies and in 1970-1972 was re-appointed as acting chancellor after William McGill's departure from that position until the appointment of William McElroy. York set up a program at UCSD called Science, Technology and Public Affairs to teach about and do research related to the arms race. After his four-year leave in Washington, D.C., York was appointed director of UCSD's Institute on Global Conflict on Cooperation, whose mission is "...to promote academic study of peace and security issues on all campuses of the university." York retired in 1988 and is currently director emeritus. He has written three books on his experiences as a defense advisor, RACE TO OBLIVION (1970), THE ADVISORS (1976), and MAKING WEAPONS, TALKING PEACE (1987).

From the guide to the Herbert F. York Papers, 1958-1999, (University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). Papers, 1961-1983. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). Papers, ca. 1958-1999. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). Herbert F. York : physics at Berkeley and Livermore, 1943-1952 : oral history transcript of a tape recorded interview conducted by Arthur Norberg on September 9, 1975 and May 13, 1976. History of Science and Technology Program, the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, California, 1982. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Herbert F. York Papers, 1958-1999 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
referencedIn Andreĭ Sakharov papers, 1852-2002 (inclusive), 1960-1990 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Goldberger, Marvin L. Oral history interview with Marvin L. Goldberger, 1986 February 12. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn National Air and Space Museum. Dept. of Space History. The Glennan-Webb-Seamans Project for Research in Space History, 1985-1990. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Wheeler, John Archibald, 1911-2008. Oral history interview with John Archibald Wheeler, 1988 May 4 to November 28. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf York, Herbert F. ASTIA services extended to NASA contractors : letter to Dr. Gelnnan, 1959 Feb 28. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf York, Herbert F. Recommendation Against Scheduled Transfer of Centaur to NASA : letter to T. Keith Glennan, NASA Administrator, 1959 May 18. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
creatorOf Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Harold Urey memorial symposium [sound recording] : Harold Urey, the scientist and Harold Urey, the man / 1981 February 7. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Hamburger, Robert N.,. Origins of the School of Medicine at UCSD : a symposium, 1984-1986. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Arnold, James R. (James Richard), 1923-. James Arnold papers, 1946-2001. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Bradbury, Norris Edwin, 1909-1997. Oral history interview with Norris Edwin Bradbury, 1976 February 11. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). [Interview, July 31, 1998 [sound recording] / Herbert York ; interviewed by Stanley Chodorow]. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). [Interview, July 31, 1998 [sound recording] / Herbert York ; interviewed by Stanley Chodorow]. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn University of California, San Diego. Office of the Chancellor. UCSD Chancellor's subject files, 1958-2000. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). Herbert F. York interview : transcript, 1978 August 20. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1986 February 7. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn James Arnold Papers, 1946-2001 Mandeville Special Collections Library
referencedIn Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Virginia Tech Video History on Nuclear Developments, 1945-1963, [videorecording] / recorded by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ; moderated by Albert E. Moyer and Paul E. Torgersen ; 1991 August 29, 30. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Alfvén, Hannes, 1908-1995. Papers, 1945-1991. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Nordheim, Lothar, 1899-. Oral history interview with Lothar Wolfgang Nordheim, 1977 July 24. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). Interview with Dr. Herbert York, August 9, 1984... / interviewer, Dr. Kathryn Ringrose. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf University of California, San Diego. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. Records, 1959-1963. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). [Interview, Sept. 3, 1998 [sound recording] / Herbert York ; interviewed by Stanley Chodorow]. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Stanford University Press archival book copies, 1900-2012 Cecil H. Green Library. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Petersen, Laurence E., 1931-. Papers, 1954-1994. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Brown, John C. Photographs, September 1964. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Helen S. Hawkins Collection, 1974 - 1987 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
referencedIn Office of the Chancellor. Subject Files, 1958-2000 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
creatorOf Revelle, Roger, 1909-1991. Papers, 1929-1976, bulk 1946-1976. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Bullard, Edward Crisp, Sir, 1907-1980. The effectiveness of scientific advice to government [sound recording] : a lecture series at the University of California, Santa Barbara / 1976. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Watson, Kenneth M. Oral history interview with Kenneth M. Watson, 1986 February 10. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Reynolds, Wallace B. Oral history interview with Wallace B. Reynolds, 1975 December 12. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Hawkins, Helen S. Collection, 1974-1987. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). Herbert F. York : physics at Berkeley and Livermore, 1943-1952 : oral history transcript of a tape recorded interview conducted by Arthur Norberg on September 9, 1975 and May 13, 1976. History of Science and Technology Program, the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, California, 1982. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Oskar Morgenstern papers, 1866-1992 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Michael S. Mahoney papers., 1923-2008 University of Minnesota Libraries. Charles Babbage Institute.
creatorOf Alfvén, Hannes, 1908-1995. Papers, 1945-1991. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1975 September 9 and 13 May 1976. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Hannes Alfven Papers, 1945-1991 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
creatorOf York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank). Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1980 September 24. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Joseph Mayer Papers, 1920 - 1983 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aaserud, Finn, person
associatedWith Advanced Research Projects Agency. corporateBody
correspondedWith Alfven, Hannes, 1908- person
associatedWith Alfvén, Hannes, 1908-1995. person
associatedWith Armed Services Technical Information Agency (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Arnold, James, 1923- person
associatedWith Arnold, James R. (James Richard), 1923- person
associatedWith Bethe, Hans A. (Hans Albrecht), 1906-2005, person
associatedWith Bradbury, Norris Edwin, 1909-1997. person
associatedWith Bradner, Hugh, 1915- person
associatedWith Bromberg, Joan Lisa. person
associatedWith Brown, John C. person
associatedWith Brueckner, Keith A. person
associatedWith Chodorow, Stanley. person
associatedWith Christman, Albert B., person
associatedWith DuBridge, Lee A. (Lee Alvin), 1901-1994. person
associatedWith Fermi, Enrico, 1901-1954. person
associatedWith Glennan, Thomas Keith, 1905-1995, person
associatedWith Goldberger, Marvin L. person
associatedWith Goldberger, Marvin L., 1922- person
associatedWith Hawkins, Helen S. person
associatedWith Institute for Defense Analyses. corporateBody
associatedWith Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Killian, James Rhyne, 1904-1988, person
associatedWith Kistiakowsky, George B. (George Bogdan), 1900-1982. person
associatedWith Kistiakowsky, George Bogdan, person
associatedWith Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958. person
associatedWith Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. corporateBody
associatedWith Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. corporateBody
associatedWith Mahoney, Michael S. (Michael Sean) person
correspondedWith Mayer, Joseph Edward, 1904- person
associatedWith McMillan, Edwin M. (Edwin Mattison), 1907- person
associatedWith McNamara, Robert S., 1916-2009. person
associatedWith Morgenstern, Oskar, 1902- person
associatedWith Morgenstern, Oskar, 1902-1977. person
associatedWith National Air and Space Museum. Dept. of Space History. corporateBody
associatedWith Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000. person
associatedWith Norberg, Arthur L. (Arthur Lawrence), 1938- person
associatedWith Nordheim, Lothar, 1899- person
associatedWith Oak Ridge National Laboratory. corporateBody
associatedWith Oppenheimer, Frank, 1912-1985. person
associatedWith Petersen, Laurence E., 1931- person
associatedWith Revelle, Roger, 1909-1991. person
associatedWith Reynolds, Wallace B. person
associatedWith Ringrose, Kathryn M. person
associatedWith Sakharov, Andreĭ, 1921-1989 person
associatedWith Scripps Institution of Oceanography. corporateBody
associatedWith Segrè, Emilio. person
associatedWith Serber, R. (Robert) person
associatedWith Stanford University. Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Teller, Edward, 1908-2003. person
associatedWith Townes, Charles H. person
associatedWith United States. Advanced Research Projects Agency. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of Defense. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Navy. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. President's Science Advisory Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley. corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, San Diego corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, San Diego. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, San Diego. Office of the Chancellor. corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, San Diego. School of Medicine corporateBody
associatedWith University of Rochester. corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. corporateBody
associatedWith Watson, Kenneth M. person
associatedWith Weisskopf, Victor Frederick, 1908-2002, person
associatedWith Wheeler, John Archibald, 1911-2008. person
associatedWith Wiesner, Jerome B. (Jerome Bert), 1915- person
associatedWith Wigner, Eugene Paul, 1902-1995. person
associatedWith York, Herbert (Herbert Frank) person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
United States
Soviet Union
United States
California
California
United States
Subject
Particle accelerators
Arms race
Arms race
Atomic bomb
Calutron
Centaur project
Cloud chamber
Cyclotrons
Korean War, 1950-1953
Mesons
Military research
Nuclear arms control
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy
Nuclear nonproliferation
Nuclear physics
Nuclear physics
Nuclear reactors
Nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons
Physicists
Physics
Physics
Science and state
Selective dissemination of information
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Physicists
Activity

Person

Birth 1921-11-24

Death 2009-05-19

Americans

English

Information

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