uaphytotron Inventory of the Phytotron Records, 1958 - 1984 Processed by: Sara Busija; machine-readable finding aid created by: Jill Katte University ArchivesDuke University

Durham, N.C., U.S.A.

Aleph Number: 003396372

Machine-readable finding aid derived from automated markup system. Date of source: April 2004 Processed by Sara Busija April 2004; Finding Aid encoded by Jill Katte, University Archives, Duke University, May 2004 Description is in English. 05-26-2006 PUBLIC "-//University Archives//TEXT (US::NDD::::Phytotron Records)//EN" "uaphytotron.xml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Inventory of the Phytotron Records, 1958 - 1984 University Archives Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0202 USA

Descriptive Summary Phytotron Records, 1958 - 1984. Duke University. Dept. of Botany. 6.0 Linear Feet, 4,500 Items University Archives, Duke University For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University. Established in 1968 with funds from Duke and the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Phytotron is a controlled environment research facility located on the Duke University campus housing plant growth chambers, controlled greenhouses, and associated instrumentation and laboratories. The Phytotron Records contain correspondence, memoranda, financial records, reports, grant proposals, blueprints, schematics, contracts, supplier catalogs, specification books, and other records of the planning, construction, and operation of the facility. Major subjects include the Duke University Dept. of Botany and Dept. of Biology, greenhouses, and global environmental change. 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 required for use.

For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the office of origin and the University Archivist is required for use. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the University Archivist.

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], Phytotron Records, University Archives, Duke University.

Provenance

The Phytotron Records were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1980 and 1993.

Processing Information

Processed by Sara Busija

Completed April 2004

Encoded by Jill Katte, May 2004

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Historical Note

The Phytotron is a controlled environment facility located on the Duke University campus. It houses 48 plant growth chambers and six controlled greenhouses -- a total of over 450 square meters of growth space -- and associated instrumentation and laboratories. Established in 1968 with funds from Duke and the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Phytotron was designed by leading scientists in controlled environment (CE) research and technology.

Controlled environment facilities permit investigators to create experimental systems in which biotic and/or abiotic variables and factors are controlled by the investigator. The phytotron can reproduce different types of environments, ranging from the arctic to the desert to the tropics. Researchers are able to maintain precise control over environmental conditions (e.g., soil type, air temperature, light levels, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, relative humidity, nutrients) and the organisms under study (e.g., mixtures of plant and animal species and their spatial arrangement). This provides the opportunity to gain increased understanding of the complex interactions between plants and their environment in studies of global change.

[This text adapted from the Phytotron website: http://www.biology.duke.edu/phytotron/]

Collection Overview

The Phytotron Records contain correspondence, memoranda, financial records, reports, grant proposals, blueprints, schematics, contracts, supplier catalogs, specification books, and ot er records of the planning and construction of the facility, as well as the operation of the Phytotron. These materials include a 1962 feasibility study, meeting minutes, construction progress reports, descriptions of phytotrons in business and academic settings, architect's reports, a facilities review, and records of the opening and dedication (1968), the Phytotron Board, the Regional Phytotron Committee, and USDA workshops.

The records are organized by accession.

Subject Headings

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

Duke University. Dept. of Biology. Duke University. Dept. of Botany. National Science Foundation. Global environmental change--Research. Greenhouses--Design and construction. Greenhouses--North Carolina. Growth cabinets and rooms. Phytotron. Blueprints. Contents of Collection Container List [A80-33] 1 Index of Material for Archives Bibliography of reprints from research performed in the Phytotron Annual reports, 1968-1969, 1971-1978 Board Meetings of the Southeastern Plant Environment Labs, 1969 SEPEL and the Duke Phytotron Proposal for 1975-1976 SEPEL Brochure Oak Ridge Associated Universities Newsletter Utilities: Duke Unit of SEPEL, 1968-1974 Breakdown of Operations for Duke Unit of SEPEL, 1968-1974 Monies Collected on Space Charges for Duke Unit of SEPEL, 1968-1974 The Amount and Cost of Space Used During September 1974 Botany Departments in Southeast as of May 1975 Foreign Grads and Post-doctoral Students Who Have Used Duke's Phytotron Chamber Waiting List, Sept. 4, 1974-Oct. 22, 1974 History of Phytotron (SEPEL) SEPEL brochure (Duke and NC State Phytotron) Article: SEPEL: New Phytotrons for Environmental Research Article: Engineering Problems in the Design and Operation of Phytotrons Article: Controlled Environments for Plant-Life Research Letter: Henry Hellmers to Stephen C. Harward Formal History: SEPEL The Southeastern Plant Environment Laboratories of Duke University and North Carolina State University 2 Report: Controlled-Climate Facilities, February 1959 Controlled Environment-- Discussions and Committees, before 1962 Phototron Proposal from Duke University and NC State University, 1963 Proposal for SEPEL by Duke and NC State--effective 1 July 1967 Proposal for SEPEL by Duke and NC State, 1 January 1973 - 31 December 1974 Proposal for SEPEL by Duke, 1 January 1975 - 11 December 1975 Biotrons Committee 1958-1959 Site Visit Correspondence from Fred S. Dubin 3 Phytotron, Sept. 1975 R.J. Downs Correspondence, 1970-1973 Phytotron User's Committee Phytotron Project Reviews Phytotron Regional User's Committee Phytotron Board Phytotron Advisory Committee, 1974 Phytotron Advisory Committee, 1968-1970 Phytotron Publicity Atlanta Correspondence with Sievers, 1975-1977 1993 Additions [A93-34, A93-35] 4 Southeastern Plant Environmental Laboratories (SEPEL) Phytotron Concerning Duke's First Proposal, 1958-1960 Phytotron -- Notes on 1st Duke Proposal Hellmers Schematic Stage Report to the Phytotron Board Notes for Phytotron Planning, 1962-1963 (Evans, Senn, Lang, et al) 2nd Duke Phytotron Planning Notes Phytotron Correspondence, 1964-1965 Phytotron Correspondence, through February 1964 Robert D. Rodwell and Associates SEPEL: The Southeastern Plant Environment Laboratories of Duke University and North Carolina State University Phytotron Planning Proposal Phytotron History Proposed Phytotron Phytotron Costs (1st Duke Proposal), March 1959 Engineers Memos, 1965 Growth Chambers Misc. Environmental Growth Chambers Sherer-Gillett Installation Percival -- Assembly and Operation Greenhouse Greenhouses and Equipment Phytotron Expenditures Memoranda on Phytotron (to Williams, etc.), 1964 Lighting Cornell Notes and Specifications Windsor Plant Growth Chambers Sugarcane Phytotron -- Brisbane Notes on Phytotrons Wisconsin Phytotron, 1961-1962 Duke's 1st Proposal NASA 1962 Bids Phytotron Proposal and Grant Letters (Revised Budget, 1965-1966) Phytotron Personnel, 1964 Phytotron -- Agreement and Discussions, summer 1962 5 Phytotron Materials and Equipment Contract with Architects Engineering Problems (Growth Chambers) Phytotrons Historical and Informative Information on other Phytotrons Earhart Lab Cal Tech Miscellaneous Lighting Information NC State Unit (Memos) Phytotron Costs Final Settlements Construction Data Opening of Phytotron Opening of Phytotron (2nd folder) Carter Williams Construction Notes Recorders from Cal Tech Phytotron Expenditures Construction Progress Reports 1966-1968 Phytotron: Filing Code for Phytotron Correspondence NC State Unive sity Phytotron 1968- Phytotron Dedication Phytotron Construction, August 1966-1969 6 Phytotron Construction, Jan. 1965-July 1966 Duke University Heating and Air conditioning, 1965 Phytotron Construction NC State Univ., Aug 1966-March 1967 NC State University Phytotron Heating and Air-conditioning Contracts, 1965 Phytotron Construction NC State University, July 1965-July 1966 Schematic Stage Report to the Phytotron Board, October 15, 1964 Phytotron Specifications, Spring 1965 Schematic Stage Report to the Phytotron Board, November 1964 Proposed Phytotron NC State University Raleigh, NC Specifications Heating and Air Conditioning Two-Unit Phytotron Specifications Two-Unit Phytotron (bound copy) Board Meetings, 1974-1978 Phytotron Director 1981-1983 Regional Phytotron Committee Correspondence Regional Phytotron Committee, 1976-1977 Phytotron Director, 1979-1983 Southern Regional Education Board Phytotron Staff and User Meetings, 1981-1983 USDA Workshop, 1976 Workshop, 1975 (postponed) Facilities Review, 1979 Phytotron Research, 1970-1984 Related Material Dept. of Botany records. University Archives, Duke University. Paul J. Kramer papers. University Archives, Duke University. Photographic files, Buildings: Phytotron. University Archives, Duke University.