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Finding Aid |
1971-1990

RG XXI: Committee on Human Values, Systems Analysis, and the Environment

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION


Historical Note

The Committee on Human Values, Systems Analysis, and the Environment (HVSAE) was officially active from 1971-1975. The purpose of the Committee was to explore the problems decision-makers faced in policy choices relating to environmental issues. The proposal to the NSF for funding was titled "Research Needs Concerning the Incorporation of Human Values into Environmental Decision Making". The Committee was chaired by Murray Gell-Mann for its duration. Through 1971 the Çï¿ûÊÓƵ held small exploratory meetings on the issue, largely under the direction of Lawrence Tribe. Meetings were held in April of 1973 and 1974. The second meeting, in 1974, was held in cooperation with the Center for Environmental Study at Princeton. 

Each meeting produced a book, published in 1976 by Ballinger Publishing Company. The first resulting from the 1973 meeting, When Values Conflict: Essays on Environmental Analysis, Discourse, and Decision, was edited by Lawrence Tribe, Corrine Schelling, and John Voss, and focused on conceptual and methodological problems. The second book, resulting from the 1974 meeting, was Boundaries of Analysis: An Inquiry into the Tocks Island Dam (NJ) Controversy. Edited by Harold Feiveson, Frank Sinden, and Robert Socolow, the book was a study of policy analysis and decision-making, with the Tocks Island Dam as a case study.

Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Scope and Content

The series is contained within the Çï¿ûÊÓƵ Archives’ Record Group XXI: Çï¿ûÊÓƵ Projects and Programs. It contains the administrative and project records of the Çï¿ûÊÓƵ relating to the Committee, from 1971-1976. The majority of the records were created or received from 1971-1974 by the Executive office of the Çï¿ûÊÓƵ, including Corrine Schelling and John Voss. Records include correspondence with publishers, meeting participants, and committee members. It also includes meeting transcripts, draft manuscripts, and reports. Later records created after the official life of the committee relate to the publication.

See related records RG XXI: Çï¿ûÊÓƵ Projects and Programs,  Environmental Ethics / Man and Nature / Wilderness. Also (unprocessed) Social Values and Technology Choice in an International Context.

Arrangement

Processing for the series utilized MPLP principles, thus minimum preservation steps were taken, and folder titles listed in the finding aid are as they appear on the actual folders. While most records were held by the Executive Office of John Voss, some files were kept out of the filing scheme and have been interfiled where appropriate. 

This series is arranged into two subseries: Subseries 1: General; and Subseries 2: Tocks Dam. Each has been arranged chronologically, with original order maintained as much as possible.

Volume

2 records center cartons (1.75 linear feet)

Preferred Citation

[Item title, date]. Record Group XXI: Çï¿ûÊÓƵ Projects – Committee on Human Values, Systems Analysis, and the Environment / Research Needs Concerning the Incorporation of Human Values into Environmental Decision-Making, 1971-1990. Archives, American Çï¿ûÊÓƵ of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Subjects

Feiveson, Harold A.
Gell-Mann, Murray
Schelling, Corinne Saposs
Sinden, F. W.
Socolow, Robert H.
Tribe, Lawrence H.
Voss, John, 1917-
National Science Foundation
Environmental policy
Environmental policy -- United States
Social values
Tocks Island Reservoir Project
Water resources development--Environmental aspects
Delaware River Watershed (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.)

ITEM LIST


Subseries 1: General, 1971-1975

Description: This subseries contains records relating to most activities of the Committee, including meetings. It primarily includes financial and grant records, however also included are meeting transcripts and correspondence.

Arrangement: Original order, mostly chronological. 

Box 1

Folder 1 HVSAE Meeting Reports and T manuscript - Originals, 1-15-71; 3-11/12-71; 7-6-71 [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 2 HVSAE Meeting Reports and T manuscript - Originals, 1-15-71; 3-11/12-71; 7-6-71 [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 3 Env Transcript Dec 71 [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 4 Env Transcript Dec 71 [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 5 Systems Analysis - General Correspondence 1971
Folder 6 HVSAE Proposal [1971-1972]
Folder 7 Systems Analysis [1971-1972] [folder 1 of 3]
Folder 8 Systems Analysis [1971-1972] [folder 2 of 3]
Folder 9 Systems Analysis [1971-1972] [folder 3 of 3]
Folder 10 [Systems Analysis - General] Correspondence [1971-1972] [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 11 [Systems Analysis - General] Correspondence [1971-1972] [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 12 AAAS - Tribe Project (Environment) [1971-1973]
Folder 13 Systems Analysis, Human Values, and the Environment [1971-1973] [folder 1 of 3]
Folder 14 Systems Analysis, Human Values, and the Environment [1971-1973] [folder 2 of 3]
Folder 15 Systems Analysis, Human Values, and the Environment [1971-1973] [folder 3 of 3]
Folder 16 Human Values and the Environment - Correspondence [1971-1977] [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 17 Human Values and the Environment - Correspondence [1971-1977] [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 18 AAAS - Systems Analysis [1972]
Folder 19 NSF Proposal-Original HVSA [1972]
Folder 20 (HVSH) Proposal to Fleischman Found [1972]
Folder 21 Human Values Proposals - NSF, EPA (NY), etc. Rockefeller [1972]
Folder 22 Rockefeller Foundation re-proposal [1972]
Folder 23 NSF Grant - NSF Proposal - HVSA - correspondence - material for [1972-1975] [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 24 NSF Grant - NSF Proposal - HVSA - correspondence - material for [1972-1975] [folder 2 of 2]

Subseries 2: Tocks island Dam Study

Description: This subseries contains records relating to the study of the Tocks Island Dam conflict. This includes primarily notes and transcripts of meetings, and draft publications.

Arrangement: Original order, generally chronological.

Box 2 (cont.)

Folder 13 Tocks Island Study and Princeton Group [1972-1973] [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 14 Tocks Island Study and Princeton Group [1972-1973] [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 15 Environment - Fall 73-1974
Folder 16 Tocks Island Project [1973-1976]
Folder 17 Some Notes on Tocks Island April 1974
Folder 18 Environment April 74 Transcript [folder 1 of 2]
Folder 19 Environment April 74 Transcript [folder 2 of 2]
Folder 20 Environment after April '74 meeting [1974-1975]
Folder 21 Environment Book - Ballinger (1975-1976)-1990 [folder 1 of 3]
Folder 22 Environment Book - Ballinger (1975-1976)-1990 [folder 2 of 3]
Folder 23 Environment Book - Ballinger (1975-1976)-1990 [folder 3 of 3]