Environmental Defense Collection
Manuscript Collection 232

Record Group 1 - Personal Papers
Sub-Group III: Robert Smolker Papers

Collection Description:
Research files, correspondence, financial documents, newsletters, clippings and memos, 1967-1985.
4.07 linear feet.
Processed by Meredith Bouchard, 2003.

Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Series Descriptions
Box and Container Listing

Biographical Note
Robert E. Smolker was a professor at Stony Brook University, an ornithologist, an environmentalist involved in local government, and one of the founders of Environmental Defense Fund.

Described by author Marion Lane Rogers in Acorn Days as "the guiding light of EDF" who "carried off his professional duties with deceptive grace" (p. 170), Smolker was a member of the Board of Trustees, serving as its secretary, and a chairman of several committees. In addition to his involvement in EDF activities, he was also active in environmental affairs of Brookhaven Town. His appointments included chairmanship of the Board of Waterways and Natural Resources, and memberships in several conservation councils such as the Regional Marine Resources Council.

Robert Smolker was also an early supporter of the creation of the Environmental Defense Archive in the Special Collections Department at Stony Brook.

Scope and Content Note
The Robert Smolker collection consists of memos, newsletters, correspondence, and monographs related to his work with the Environmental Defense Fund and the environmental issues of Brookhaven Town.

The EDF files span 1972-84 with the focus on 1977-81. Most of the files are copies of minutes and correspondence from trustee nomination and Executive committees. There are also bulletins describing activities in the regional offices during the late 1970s. The subject files are brief collections, usually 1-3 folders containing memoranda, clippings or manuscripts on a topic of interest.

Series Descriptions

Series 1. EDF documents: 1967-1985 [2 linear feet]
Arrangement: Sub-divided into correspondence, minutes, and communications.

This series is a collection memoranda, correspondence, office bulletins, minutes and publications reflecting the programs and committees of EDF. The series' focus is the minutes and memos of the Board of Trustees of which Smolker was secretary and later made an Honorary Trustee.

Series 2. Environmental Defense Fund Topical Files: 1967-1985 [2.5 linear feet]
Arrangement: Alphabetical.

This series is a record of the variety of cases and issues of interest to Robert Smolker. The bulk of the material relates to hydroelectric dams in Connecticut, Long Island water issues, and marine wildlife.

Series 3. Long Island Environment: 1970-1984 [1.5 linear feet]
Arrangement: Sub-divided into subject files of Brookhaven; Long Island Regional Planning Board; and Birding.

This series is a collection of Robert Smolker’s activities outside of the Environmental Defense Fund. It provides evidence of Mr. Smolker's activities as a local environmentalist. Included are: minutes of conservation councils; dredging proposals; open space reports; local policy drafts; and papers related to bird counting projects.

Box and Container Listing

SERIES 1: EDF Documents

Box 1

Correspondence:
Krutilla, John V., 1973-74
Lufkin, Dan, 1972
Yannacone, Victor, 1969-75

Memoranda:
To the Board of Trustees, 1972-81
To the Board of Trustees Nominating Committee, 1977-80

Box 2

Memoranda:
To the Executive Director Search Committee, 1974-78
To the Litigation Review Committee, nd

Memoranda--Programming:
General, 1974-78
Energy, 1977-79
Fundraising, 1975-77
Toxics, 1974-77
Water, 1971-72
Wildlife, nd
Personnel and organization, 1974-77

Box 3

Meeting minutes:
Board of Trustees, 1980-84
Executive Committee, 1972-85
Other committees, 1979-83

Box 4

EDF Communications:
EDF Bylaws, 1968-76
EDF Bulletin, 1968-70

Office Bulletins:
Berkeley office, 1978-81
Colorado office, 1977-81
New York office, 1977-80
Washington office, 1974-75
VA Project office, 1980

Newsletter:
ORV Monitor, 1974-75

SERIES 2: Subject Files

Box 5

Air pollution (Colorado), 1974-78
Asbestos [memos], 1977
Barrier Islands [memos], 1976-77
Blackbird Control (Dept. of the Army), 1974-75
Corcovado National Park (Costa Rica), 1975
Electric Power [articles], n.d.
Endangered Species, 1975
Federal Water Pollution Control Act [memoranda], nd
Fungicides (Amerigo Mosca correspondence), 1975

Box 6

Hydroelectric dams (Connecticut), 1972-81

Box 7

Land use [reprints & ms], 1970
Long Island--Fire Island master plan comments, 1975
Long Island--wastewater management, 1976
Long Island--water supply, 1975
Marine Mammal Protection Act [memo and report], 1975

Box 8

Mercury [ms and clippings], 1968, 1971
Monsanto Chemical Co. [symposium papers], 1973, 1978
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 1971, 1973
Northeast River Basins Commission on dredging, 1974, 1981
Off Road vehicles, draft environmental impact statement, 1973
Parathion [ms and correspondence], 1972
Pesticides [clippings & correspondence], 1974, 1978, 1980
Resource Conservation & Recovery [memoranda], 1977-78
Saccharine ban statement, 1977
Sewage (Brookhaven) [reprint], 1975
Tocks Island Reservoir--Flood control documents, 1972
Toxic chemical [memoranda], 1976, 1978

Box 9

Trans Alaska Pipeline [correspondence], 1971
TRIS [articles], 1977
Wetlands [memoranda] (Southeast US), 1978
Wind energy conversion (Batelle and Brookhaven Labs), 1977

SERIES 3: Long Island Environment

Box 10

Brookhaven Town:
Blue Ribbon Task Force, 1980
Board of Waterways and Natural Resources [correspondence], 1971
Board of Waterways and Natural Resources [forest inventory], 1971
Conservation Advisory Council [correspondence and minutes], 1968, 1984
Environmental concerns [memo to Planning Board], 1974
Survey of Town residents [Dept. of Environmental Conservation], 1983-84
Fire Island erosion control project, 1969
Land Use and Natural Resource Inventory (NYS) [map], 1971
Mount Sinai Harbor dredging proposal [correspondence], 1974-75

Box 11

Open Space Action Committee [reports and proceedings], 1965, 1967
Pollution [correspondence with William Rodgers], 1970-72
Port Jefferson Harbor--proposed dredging [correspondence], 1972-73
Seatuck Cove--dredging, 1966-68
Stony Brook Harbor--dredging [correspondence and impact], 1973
Waterfront revitalization program [policies], 1984

Box 12

Long Island Regional Planning Board:
Urban runoff program, 1983
Environmental plan for New York State, nd
Oil spill response (Fire Island), 1979

Regional Marine Resources Council minutes, 1979-84

Birding:
Breeding Bird Atlas newsletter, 1980-84
Breeding Bird survey [planning papers], 1980-84
Index to bird sanctuaries on Long Island (author unknown), 1970
Kestrel [ms], n.d.
Philippine Eagle [photo], n.d.
Smithtown Christmas bird count, 1967-71, 1974-81