uagross Preliminary Inventory of the Paul M. Gross papers, 1939-1979 Processed by: Emily J. Glenn; machine-readable finding aid created by: Emily J. Glenn University ArchivesDuke University
Durham, N.C., U.S.A.

003. Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

Aleph Number: 003205754

 Machine-readable finding aid derived from automated markup system. Date of source: January, 2003. Processed by Emily J. Glenn January, 2003.; Finding Aid encoded by Emily J. Glenn, University Archives, Duke University, March, 2003. Description is in English. 05-01-2006 PUBLIC "-//University Archives//TEXT (US::NDD::::Paul M. Gross papers)//EN" uagross.xml converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).Also, the top level of the finding aid (above the dsc) was changed to conform to the NC EAD Best Practice Guidelines. Within the dsc, dates for series were normalized. Preliminary Inventory of the Paul M. Gross papers, 1939-1979 University Archives Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0202 USA

2003. Duke University. All Rights Reserved.

 Descriptive Summary Paul M. Gross papers, 1939-1979. Gross, Paul Magnus, 1895-1986. 60 Linear Feet, 60,000 Items (42 boxes) University Archives, Duke University. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University. Contains the personal and professional records of Paul Magnus Gross, a Duke University administrator, researcher, educator, and scholar. Gross was an Assistant Professor of Chemistry (1919-1920), William H. Pegram Professor of Chemistry (1920-1965), Chair of the Chemistry Department (1921-1948), Dean of the Graduate School (1947-1952), Dean of the University (1952-1958), and Vice-President in the Educational Division (1949-1960). The Paul M. Gross Chemistry Laboratory was named in his honor. Gross was also an independent consultant with the United States Army and various commercial companies. Types of materials include correspondence, clippings, reports, research papers, meeting notes, conference materials, contracts, speeches, dedications, eulogies, lecture notes, financial information, postcards, and building plans. Major subjects include Duke University, the Graduate School, the Department of Chemistry, University Council, the Board of Trustees, University Research Council, Duke University administration, University Committee on Long-Range Planning, Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, study and teaching of physical sciences, military training, war education, munitions development, United States Navy, United States Army, Office of Ordnance Research, universities in the southern United States, and the Gross-Edens controversy. Major correspondents include J. Deryl Hart, Robert Lee Flowers, Douglas M. Knight, Marcus Hobbs, Charles E. Jordan, and Arthur Hollis Edens. Materials range in date from 1935-1979. English. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.

In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is required for use.

 Use Restrictions

Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

 Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Paul M. Gross papers, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

 Provenance

Gift; 1993; A93-43 (Boxes 1-6, 10-27)

Gift; 1965; 65-122 (Boxes 7-9)

Gift; 1965; 65-28 (Boxes 28-42)

Transfer; 1986 (no accession number)

 Processing Information

Processed by Emily J. Glenn

Completed January, 2003.

This collection is partially processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Encoded by Emily J. Glenn, March 2003

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

 Biographical and Historical Note

Paul M. Gross was born in 1895. He received degrees from the City College of New York (B.S., 1916) and Columbia University (M.S., 1917 and Ph.D. 1919) in physical chemistry. He arrived at Trinity College in 1919, and began his tenure as Assistant Professor of Chemistry, teaching physical, organic, and fluorine chemistry. He led the Chemistry Department as Duke University underwent the transformation from regional college to research university. Gross served Duke University as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry (1919-1920), William H. Pegram Professor of Chemistry (1920-1965), Chair of the Chemistry Department (1921-1948), Dean of the Graduate School (1947-1952), Dean of the University (1952-1958), and Vice-President in the Educational Division (1949-1960). Gross was a proponent of scientific research and its value for education and society and held many seminars for science educators in North Carolina.

Gross directed Duke University's scientific research for both the U.S. Army and Navy during wartime. Naval Research on organic fluorine gases, compounds, and batteries was carried out by the Chemistry Department under contract with the Office of Naval Research. As part of the Army Scientific Advisory Panel, Gross advised top U.S. Army researchers on scientific matters. Gross was also involved in the Frangible Bullet Project, the largest military research project at Duke University. The frangible bullet, developed in 1942, was a plastic explosive that behaved like a bullet and enabled accurate training practices. The project earned Gross the President's Medal of Merit.

While a successful scientist, Gross is perhaps best known at Duke University as an administrator. Gross' administrative career at Duke University began in 1934 when he was named Chair of the University Research Council, a position he held until 1949. The Research Council helped to guide the University as it developed into a respected research institution. He also chaired the University Committee on Long Range Planning from 1959-1960. His opinions on administrative matters, along with his Vice President of Educational Division status, led to conflicts with President A. Hollis Edens around 1960, in what came to be known as the Gross-Edens Affair. The conflict mostly concerns the debate over whether Duke University should become a regional or national university, and to what degree the institution should be known for its devotion to research or teaching. Edens resigned from his position as University President, and Gross was removed from his administrative position as a result of the conflict.

In addition to his university positions, Paul Gross also served on numerous state, regional, and national boards relating to scientific research. In the late 1940s, he was a founder of the Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies (later Oak Ridge Associated Universities) and served as its President until 1949. President Harry S. Truman appointed Gross to the original National Science Foundation board in 1950, a position he held for 12 years. Gross held other administrative positions within the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the United States Health, Education, and Welfare Committee on Environmental Health, the Council of Southern Universities, the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology, Research Triangle Institute, Governor's Research Triangle Committee, and the North Carolina Atomic Energy Advisory Committee.

As an independent contractor, Gross was called upon to evaluate the composition of products including beer, cosmetics, film, and fire extinguishers. He was a sought-after speaker among his colleagues, giving many dedications, eulogies, lectures, panel discussions, testimonials, and dinner addresses during his career. When Gross retired from teaching at Duke University in 1965, the Gross Chemical Laboratory on Duke University's West Campus was named in his honor. Paul M. Gross died in 1986 at the age of 91.

Paul M. Gross was the son of Magnus and Ellen Sullivan Gross of New York. He married Gladys Cobb Peterson in 1918. They had two children: Paul M. Gross, Jr. and Beatrix Gross Ramey.

Collection Overview

Contains the personal and professional papers of Paul M. Gross. Gross served as a leader of many national scientific organizations. At Duke University, he was Assistant Professor of Chemistry (1919-1920), William H. Pegram Professor of Chemistry (1920-1965), Chair of the Chemistry Department (1921-1948), Dean of the Graduate School (1947-1952), Dean of the University (1952-1958), and Vice-President in the Educational Division (1949-1960). Types of materials include correspondence, clippings, reports, research papers, meeting notes, conference materials, contracts, speeches, dedications, eulogies, lecture notes, financial information, postcards, and building plans. Materials range in date from 1935-1979. Box 43 was added to the finding aid 8 March 2007 and is unprocessed.

Subject Headings

These and related materials may be accessed under the following subject headings in the Duke University Libraries online catalog.

Chemistry--Study and teaching (Higher)--North Carolina--Durham. Council of Southern Universities, Inc. Southern Fellowships Fund. Duke University. Duke University--Administration. Duke University. Dept. of Chemistry. Duke University--Faculty. Duke University. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Duke University--History--20th century. Duke University. Board of Trustees. Education, Higher--Aims and objectives. Education, Higher--United States--Administration. Edens, Arthur Hollis. Education, Higher--Southern States. Flowers, Robert Lee. Gross, Paul Magnus, 1895-1986. Hart, Deryl, 1894- Hobbs, Marcus E., 1909- Jordan, Charles E. Naval gunnery--Technological innovations. North Carolina Board of Science and Technology Oak Ridge Associated Universities. Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies. Ordnance, Naval--Technological innovations--United States. Paul M. Gross Chemical Laboratory. Trinity College (Durham, N.C.)--Faculty. Trinity College (Durham, N.C.)--History--20th century. Universities and colleges--Southern States. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Universities and colleges--Administration United States. Office of Naval Research. United States. Navy--Artillery. United States. Army--Artillery--History. World War, 1939-1945--Education and the war. Preliminary Inventory Accession number: A93-43. 10-27 1 Speeches, 1945-1979

Topics include the importance of graduate schools, specialization in science, and the environment. Includes addresses, dedications, eulogies, lectures, panel discussions, and retirement and testimonial dinner addresses.

Gross-Edens Controversy, clippings, 1960 2 Speeches, 1945-1979

Topics include the importance of graduate schools, specialization in science, and the environment.

 Addresses, dedications, eulogies, lectures, panel discussions, and retirement and testimonial dinner addresses. 3 Military research files, 1941-1973

Includes science-related advisory committees for military agencies.

Army Scientific Advisory Panel (ASAP), 1963-1973

Includes meeting files of note include a 1965 meeting with visitor packet for the new US Army John F. Kennedy Center for Special Warfare (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. Also included are two folders of correspondence, lists and biographical sketches of panel members, organizational charts, ASAP newsletters (1965-1968) published by the Research and Development branch of the Army, and chemical war service files.

Frangible Bullet Project, 1941-1951

The Frangible Bullet Project was the largest military research project at Duke centered on gunnery training ammunition for aircraft bombers. Also includes "History of the Frangible Bullet Project" which is Gross' account of his involvement in the project.

 Correspondence, financial information, and reports 4 Frangible Bullet Project, 1941-1951 5 Frangible Bullet Project, 1941-1951 6 Munitions Advisory Group, 1963-1970

Contains agendas and minutes, correspondence, memoranda, and lists of participants. Includes inaugural meetings of the Munitions Advisory Group and U.S. Army Munitions Command.

Accession number: 65-122. 6 Naval Research materials, 1942-1951 (bulk 1946-1951)

Contains annual reports, progress reports, correspondence, and budgetary information documenting research on organic fluorine compounds and batteries carried out by the Duke Chemistry Department under contract with the U.S. Office of Naval Research.

Office of Ordnance Research, 1951-1963

Contains meeting files, research reports, and correspondence pertaining to the U.S. Army's Office of Ordnance Research (OOR), established at Duke University in 1951. Includes a 1959 building dedication and a 1951 proposal for establishing an Ordnance Institute of Chemical Physics at Duke.

Senior Scientific Steering Group (OOR), 1958-1970

Contains correspondence, meeting files and reports (1969-1970) pertaining to SSSG, the advisory group to the OOR. Materials pertain to munitions malfunction during testing.

Topic files: Chemical Warfare Service, National Materials Advisory Board, National Academy of Sciences, supply inventories Correspondence, 1933-1970

Contains personal correspondence, memoranda, postcards, calendars, invitations, and financial material (1947- 1963) Includes correspondence related to travel, his beach house on the coast of North Carolina, and boating. Also included are letters of congratulations and invitations to speak or attend events. Correspondents include his family members and University administrators Deryl Hart and Arthur Hollis Edens. Also contains consulting correspondence (1933-1943) regarding evaluation of the chemical composition of products like beer, cosmetics, film, and fire extinguishers

7 Professional organizations, 1935-1979

Includes correspondence with some professional organizations, mostly American Chemical Society and UNESCO-related

8 Professional organizations, 1935-1979

Includes meeting notes, lectures, speeches, correspondence, reports, member lists, and general material regarding Gross and the American Chemical Society and UNESCO.

 9 Professional organizations, 1935-1979

Includes meeting notes, lectures, speeches, correspondence, clippings, and reports of the National Science Foundation and the National Science, Board Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Science Committee

Accssion number: A93-43 10 Professional organizations and endowments of Duke University, 1950-1979 American Association of University Professors (1953-1956), reports, meeting notifications, clippings, correspondence Association of Graduate Schools, reports, notes, correspondence, pamphlets, 1950-1958 Criticism regarding Gross' retirement Carnegie Corporation, correspondence, reports, applications, 1950-1953 Rockefeller Foundation materials Conference on Dean of Graduate Schools, Council of Southern Universities, 1969-1979 11 Council of Southern Universities, general meeting notes, reports, and correspondence, 1969-1979 12 Professional Organizations Southern Fellowship Fund, Executive Committee and Board of Director meeting notes. Council of Southern Universities, general meeting notes Ford Foundation Institute of International Education

Includes grant proposals, reports on higher education funding, behavioral studies, and occupational retirement.

13 Graduate School, correspondence, 1947-1950 Graduate Council notes Menhaden oil (in fisheries), studies, correspondence Marine Laboratory studies and projects, proposals to National Science Foundation Cooperative Research Vessel Program in Biological Oceanography National Institute of Health meeting at Duke University, 1958 President M. Toure of Guinea, 1959 President's Reports, report of the VP in charge of the Educational Division, 1949-1959

Includes Arthur Hollis Edens correspondence

 14 Professional organizations President's Science Advisory Committee, 1963-1965 Southern Association of College and Secondary Schools, 1949 Southern Association of Science and Industry, Inc., 1949 Southern University Conference, 1955 U.S. Atomic Energy contract, teaching and study Atomic Energy in the South, 1956, meeting notes Fallout preparedness at Duke University, seminar notes, schematics for buildings, 1963 Woodrow Wilson fellowships, 1965-1966 15 Office of Ordnance Research at Duke University, publications, research notes Laboratory Conference for Science and Math Teachers, held at Duke University, 1954 AAUP report "The Rights and Responsibilities of Universities and Their Faculties" Correspondence, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the U.S. Army (regarding environmental health) Civil Defense Lectures, Sigma Xi (1951) and memorial for Dr. F. London (1963) Council on Aging University Research Council Grant, 1961-1965 Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, N.C Accelerated Program at Duke University, 1942-1943 16 Duke Council for American Defense University Defense Committee, 1941 Research Associate material, 1960-1961 Science Teachers Workshop, 1952 Duke University N.A.S.A. Space Committee, 1963-1964 Proposal for a space studies program at Duke University Duke Endowment, 1962-1968, meeting notes "The Status and Needs of the Private University for Meeting the Task Ahead, with Special Reference to Graduate Education", author unknown, ca. 1960 Aging Center plans, 1958 Biology building, Zoology, Forestry, and Botany Departments, ca. 1956 17 Emeritus payments, correpsondence, general correspondence Administrative Committee, minutes and meeting notes Duke Endowment 50th Anniversary materials Speech by Gross dedicating the Fritz London auditorium General study materials Committee on Educational Institutions Paul Clyde correspondence, mostly concerning faculty compensation, general university matters, 1962-1967 Memo to President Arthur Hollis Edens regarding faculty salaries, 1953 Duke University Development General correspondence and reports Ratings of universities in the U.S. 18 Chemistry Department Graduate papers, 1927-1940 Correspondence, 1933-1934 General materials, 1949-1960 Phi Lambda Upsilon (chemistry honor fraternity) Sigma Xi materials 19 Chemistry Department, general files, 1960-1964

Includes correspondence, notes, reports, and minutes from various Duke University committees, professional organizations, and other university chemistry departments.

20 Chemistry Department, general files, 1964-1967

Includes correspondence, notes, reports, and minutes from various Duke University committees, professional organizations, and other university chemistry departments.

 Woodrow Wilson fellowship meetings, 1968-1969 21 Awards letters of recognition, and some meeting notes Woodrow Wilson fellowship meetings, 1970-1973 U.S. Army award, 1963 Herty Award correspondence, 1945 Southern Association of Science and Industry, 1951 Lecture/talk to the American Chemical Society, Florida section, 1952 Committees American Council on Education, 1963 University Council, 1960-1961 Executive Committee of Academic Council Chemistry Library Paul Gross Symposium, 1965 Retirement dinner of Paul Gross Dr. Henry Heald's speech, 1965 Letters of congratulations, 1949-1950 22 Graduate records, 1941-1946 Joe Taylor Adams, correspondence and subject files Selective service, correspondence and subject files, 1940-1949 Joseph Allen, correspondence and subject files CRESAP report on organization and administration of Duke University Gross speech Founder's Day 50th Anniversary, 1975 Southern Association of College and Secondary Schools, 1947-1950 Association of American Universities, 1948-1949 Graduate School, correspondence and subject files, 1951-1952 23 Committees Undergraduate Affairs Committee Faculty Advisory Committee University Planning Committee University Council New science building Correspondence, 1969 Duke Endowment, 1968-1969 Senator Lister Hill's Testimonial, 1961 Various reports on environmental health, radiological health, and toxicology, ca. 1961 24 Committees Environmental Health Committee President's Science Advisory Committee Various reports for Gross Committee, ca. 1961 Development Program at Duke University Claude Cary Gravatt, Jr., Ph.D. student, writings and correspondence committee materials Departmental reports, ca. 1959 25 Medical Center Building Committee reports, ca. 1959-1960 Correspondence President R.L. Flowers Dean Wannamaker Social Science Research Council Gross-Edens reports and correspondence Apparatus research Atomic Industrial Forum Conference Award, 1969 Subject files on furniture manufacturing and textiles Testimonial dinner for Paul M. Gross, 1959 Paul M. Gross Chemical Laboratory dedication, 1969 U.S. Atomic Energy Award, single University Council on Aging and Development President Arthur Hollis Edens correspondence, reports, subject files, ca. 1959 General University organization Faculty Senate, ca. 1951 Navy contract, superconductivity, 1947-1948 26 Duke University committees Committee on Development Educational Committee Committee on Faculty Reorganization Long-Range Planning and Development Departments and Schools reports Travel abroad, 1958-1969 Northwestern University National Academy of Sciences Chemstrand Research Laboratories Dedication, 1961 American Association for the Advancement of Science, congratulations on being selected to serve as President-Elect Duke Symposium (Gross was a panel speaker) Dinner in honor of Dr. Lucius Bigelow, 1961 (speech in box 2) Conference given in honor of Dr. W.C. Davison, 1961 (speech in box 2) 27 Bylaws of Duke University, revisions, ca. 1961 Salary increase discussion, 1961-1962 Correspondence President Douglas M. Knight Thomas L. Perkins, ca. 1961-1971 Commercial vendors UNESCO-related Massachusetts Institute of Technology Accession number: 65-28 28 Duke University, departments and committees Academic Standards Committee - Committee Appointments Paul Hibbert Clyde Columbia University Duke Mathematics Journal 29 Duke University, departments and committees Computation Center - Engineering, 1954-1955

Includes Divinity School and Department of Education

30 Engineering, 1956-1975 - Faculty

Includes Department of English and enrollment statistics

31 Faculty member lists - Graduate School

Includes German Department and School of Forestry

32 Graduate School, foreign language requirement - Libraries, Flowers Collection

Includes History Department and Law School

33 Mathematics Department - Medical Center 34 Medical Center, staff, correspondence, subject files 35 Medical Center - Parapsychology Laboratory

Includes Nursing School

36 Parking and Traffic - Psychology Department

Includes Physical Education (from Women), Physics, and Political Science

37 Psychology Department - Romance Languages Department

Includes Registrar, Religion Department, and Research Council

 38 Romance Languages Department - Sociology and Anthropology Department

Includes space allocation, and summer session

 39 Sociology and Anthropology Department - Zoology Department

Includes University Council and Woman's College

 Duke University Press DuPont Grants for Advancing Undergraduate Teaching President Arthur Hollis Edens correspondence, 1949-1958 40 Fidelity Bank branch establishment Correspondence Ford Foundation Herbert Herring John J. Gergen Edwin Hobbs Charles E. Jordan Alan K. Manchester, 1949-1959 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1949-1958 Highland Biological Station 41 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1954-1957 Southern Regional Education Board files, 1949-1954 42 Southern Regional Education Board files, 1954-1959 National Defense Education Act, 1958-1959 Fulbright scholarships, 1950-1959 Yale University teaching 43 This box is unprocessed. Related Material Duke University. President. Douglas M. Knight records, 1963-1969. University Archives, Duke University. Duke University. Office of the President. Robert Lee Flowers records, 1940-1948. University Archives, Duke University. Duke University. Office of the President. A. Hollis Edens records, 1949-1960. University Archives, Duke University. Duke University. Office of the President. J. Deryl Hart records, 1960-1962. University Archives, Duke University. Duke University. Department of Chemistry records. University Archives, Duke University. James R. Dean. Paul M. Gross : Leading the Good Against the Best, 1994 [904 D877 1994-DE] University Archives, Duke University.