Skip to main content

National Defense: Civil Defense, Fallout Shelters, 1961-1962

 File — Box: 106, Folder: 4
Identifier: Folder 4

Scope and Contents

A collection of letters, statements, fact sheet, telegrams, memos & a “Fallout & Shielding Calculator.” These are not filed in systematic chronological fashion. Examples are: letters (Oct.- Nov. 1962) from constituent Aubrey C. Dunne, Wilson & R. E. Holt (Executive Asst., Asst. Dept. of Defense) re/ commentary on Fiscal Year 1960 and 1961 funds provided to design and build a limited number of prototype shelters, “Included in this program was the Lakeside Farms Elementary School;” letters (5/11 & 6/1/62) re/ a constituent is “categorically against federal aid for fallout shelters” & Wilson “wholeheartedly share[‘s] your concern;” stapled packet containing letters and DOD Office of Civil Defense Region 7 “Actions Necessary By Local Governments” and “Fact Sheet” (2/62) re/ “National Fallout Shelter Survey, Marking and Stocking Program”- multiple pages; letters (12/61-2/62) re/ comments from S.D. City Manager T. W. Fletcher, Wilson, Brigadier General C. R. Roderick (Dir., Office of Legislative Liaison, DOD) & R. E. Holt (Executive Dir., Asst. Sec. of State) concerning “proposed Federal incentives program for the provision of fallout shelters;” letters, telegrams & office notes(12/61-2/62) re/ inquiry about federal funds for fallout shelters; letters (Jan.-Feb. 1962) re/ La Jolla Methodist Church seeks information on building a fallout shelter in the basement of a proposed new building; letters (12/61 – 1/62) re/ City of San Diego seeks information about federal subsidy for fallout shelters, since they are in the preliminary stage of planning new public buildings; stapled packet of letters & a 14 page ”Civil Defense Program” from the Office Civil Defense (11/61- 1/62) re/ response to inquiry from 14 constituents seeking information to safeguard themselves from the “abuses perpetrated by vendors of ‘survival’ equipment;” letters (12/14/61 & 1/5/62) re/ Wilson responses to query from constituent about private or public fallout shelters. He said it was “the responsibility of each individual American” & supported “great deterrent strength” instead of building public shelters; a letter (1/2/62) from the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Southwest Div., Dept. of the Navy to Wilson re/ survey to be conducted by 15 private ArchitectEngineer firms as to National Fallout Shelters; letters (1/62) re/ La Mesa constituent suggests state and federal income tax exemptions for individuals constructing private bomb and fallout shelters; letters (Apr.-Dec. 1962), 10 pages of text & drawings entitled “Fallout” from Fry & Smith Ltd & a “Fallout and Shielding Calculator” re/ evaluation and commentary as to this device and possible state and federal purchases; letters (Jan.-Feb. 1963) re/ Asst. Secretary of Defense Steuart L. Pittman to Wilson indicating that “Our National Fallout Shelter Survey is about 90.5 percent complete . . . . in the State of California we have already identified 7,654,877 shelter spaces capable of providing from 40 to over 1000 times as much protection from nuclear fallout as would be available to an unsheltered person.” Wilson wished to send this information to Ken Kitson (President, Fry and Smith, Ltd.).

Dates

  • created: 1961-1962

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Access to some records is restricted, please consult with Special Collections & University Archives staff for details. Patrons wishing to use the Robert C. Wilson Papers must sign a "Researcher's Agreement," a copy of which can be obtained from Special Collections & University Archives staff.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

Contact:
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego CA 92182-8050 US
619-594-6791