Collection Summary
Harold Gardiner Bowen
Papers
1907-1977
(bulk 1940-1959)
1907-1977
(bulk 1940-1959)
MSS31476
Bowen, Harold Gardiner,
1883-1965
1,000
items
4 containers
1.6 linear feet
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Naval officer and
engineer. Correspondence, military orders, news clippings, writings, and other
papers relating to Bowen's activities with the Newcomen Society and the Thomas
Alva Edison Foundation and his various business interests. Some material
pertains to his duties as chief of the United States Navy Bureau of Engineering
and as director of the Naval Research Laboratory during World War
II.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Bowen, Harold Gardiner, 1883-1965.
Nimitz, Chester W. (Chester William), 1885-1966--Correspondence.
Stevenson, Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing), 1900-1965--Correspondence.
Strauss, Lewis L.--Correspondence.
Organizations
Naval Research Laboratory (U.S.)
Newcomen Society in North America.
Thomas Alva Edison Foundation.
United States. Navy Department. Bureau of Engineering.
Subjects
Radar--Research.
Uranium.
World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, American.
Occupations
Marine engineers.
Naval officers.
Provenance
The papers of Harold Gardiner Bowen, naval officer and engineer, were
deposited in the Library of Congress by the Naval Historical Foundation in 1970
and 1984. The deposit was converted to gift in 1998.
Processing History
The papers of Harold Gardiner Bowen were arranged and described in
1996. The finding aid was revised in 2008.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Harold Gardiner
Bowen is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Harold Gardiner Bowen are open to research. Researchers
are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many
collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these
items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Harold Gardiner Bowen Papers, Naval
Historical Foundation Collection, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Harold Gardiner Bowen (1883-1965) span the years
1907-1977, with the bulk of the material dating between 1940 and 1959. The
papers consist primarily of correspondence, writings, news clippings, Navy
Department orders, and presidential executive orders for plant seizures during
World War II. Bowen was an engineer for the navy, and as chief of the Bureau of
Engineering from 1935 to 1939, he advocated and implemented the redesign of the
fleet using high pressure, high temperature steam. From 1939 to 1942 Bowen
served as director of the Naval Research Laboratory, which did pioneering work
on radar and the concentration of uranium 235 during his tenure. From 1942 to
1945 he served as special assistant to the under secretary and the secretary of
the navy. The majority of these papers, however, date from after his retirement
in 1947 and primarily relate to his various business interests and his work
with the Newcomen Society and the Thomas Alva Edison Foundation. Notable
correspondents include Chester W. Nimitz, Adlai E. Stevenson (1900-1965), and
Lewis L. Strauss.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Biographical material,
1943
1943
1
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States,
1945-1947
1945-1947
1
Commissioning of the
Bowen (frigate),
1971
1971
1
Distinguished service medal,
undated
undated
1
Financial material,
1948-1954
1948-1954
1
General correspondence
1
"A" miscellaneous,
1941-1958
1941-1958
1
Baekelund, George,
1951-1955
1951-1955
1
Bailey, Herbert S.,
1948-1955
1948-1955
1
Barchet, Stephen G.,
1947
1947
1
Bowen , Harold G., Jr.,
1942-1962
1942-1962
1
Bowen, William M. P.,
1951-1954
1951-1954
1
"B" miscellaneous,
1939-1964
1939-1964
1
Committee on Plans for Mobilizing
Science,
1949
1949
1
"C" miscellaneous,
1936, 1947-1955
1936, 1947-1955
1
Davis, B. Vincent,
1960
1960
1
"D" miscellaneous,
1947-1953
1947-1953
1
Edison, Charles,
1937-1942, 1953, 1961
1937-1942, 1953, 1961
1
"E" miscellaneous,
1948-1954
1948-1954
1
Folsom, Frank M.,
1948-1950
1948-1950
1
Furth, Frederick R.,
1952-1955
1952-1955
1
"F" miscellaneous,
1950-1955
1950-1955
1
Gibbs, William Francis,
1936, 1948-1955
1936, 1948-1955
1
Gunn, Ross,
1948-1958
1948-1958
1
"G" miscellaneous,
1946-1955
1946-1955
1
Hensel, Struve,
1953-1955
1953-1955
1
Herr, Donald L.,
1952-1954
1952-1954
1
"H-L" miscellaneous,
1931-1971
1931-1971
(3
folders)
2
"M" miscellaneous,
1947-1955
1947-1955
2
Nanus, Burt,
1959
1959
2
Nimitz, Chester W.,
1946-1959
1946-1959
2
"N-O" miscellaneous,
1947-1954
1947-1954
2
Princeton University Library,
Princeton, N.J.,
1955
1955
2
"P-R" miscellaneous,
1947-1958
1947-1958
2
Scarff, James C.,
1948-1955
1948-1955
2
Stevenson, Adlai E. (1900-1965),
1947-1955
1947-1955
2
Strauss, Lewis L.,
1946-1959
1946-1959
2
"S-U" miscellaneous,
1938-1955
1938-1955
(2
folders)
2
Veterans' Administration,
1948-1951
1948-1951
2
"V" miscellaneous,
1948-1954
1948-1954
2
Wakelin, James H.,
1953-1960
1953-1960
2
Wallach, Sidney,
1953-1955
1953-1955
2
"W-Z," unidentified,
miscellaneous,
1943-1958
1943-1958
2
Miscellany,
1929-1960
1929-1960
2
Navy Department
2
Correspondence,
1912-1919, 1936-1958, 1971
1912-1919, 1936-1958, 1971
2
Orders,
1915-1948
1915-1948
3
Newcomen Society,
1951-1955
1951-1955
(2
folders)
3
News clippings,
1925-1955, 1977
1925-1955, 1977
3
Photographs,
undated
undated
3
Plant seizures
3
Brewster Aeronautical Corp.,
1942
1942
3
Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Co.,
1941-1942
1941-1942
3
General Cable Co.,
1942
1942
3
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.,
1945
1945
3
Howarth Pivoted Bearings Co.,
1943
1943
3
Jenkins Brothers, Inc.,
1944
1944
3
Lord Manufacturing Co.,
1944
1944
3
Los Angeles Shipbuilding and
Drydock Corp.,
1943
1943
3
Miscellaneous,
1944-1946
1944-1946
3
Radio interview re radar,
1943
1943
3
Speech file,
1942-1967
1942-1967
(2
folders)
3
Thomas Alva Edison Foundation,
1907, 1947-1955
1907, 1947-1955
4
United States Naval Base,
Bremerton, Wash.,
1945-1950
1945-1950
4
Volunteer Naval Research Reserve,
Unit 4-2, Philadelphia, Pa.,
1949-1954
1949-1954
4
Writings
4
The Edison Effect
,
1951
1951
4
"England--Her Loss of Commercial
Supremacy: A Case History,"
undated
undated
4
"The Invention of the
Phonograph,"
circa 1952
circa 1952
4
"One Hundred Years of Marine
Transportation,"
undated
undated
4
Miscellaneous,
1939-1949
1939-1949
4
Ships, Machinery, and Mossbacks
, jacket cover and
reviews,
1954-1956
1954-1956
4
Speeches,
1938-1957
1938-1957