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Clarence Weston Hansell Collection
Manuscript Collection 209
Description:
Papers, 1928-1967.
11.2 cubic ft.
Research engineer. Worked partially out of RCA facility at Rocky Point,
Long Island, New York.
Professional and personal correspondence, scientific manuscripts, and
publications relating to Mr. Hansell's radio and television research
(ca. 1928-1948) for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), his service
(1945) for the United States Government as a scientific investigator
in Germany, and his research and publications on the ionization of air
and its biological effects, and on the nature of matter and energy.
Correspondents include the American Institute of Medical Climatology
and W. Wesley Hicks, president of Wesix Electric Heater Company of San
Francisco, California.
Donated by Mrs. Clarence W. Hansell in 1970.
Introduction
Clarence Weston Hansell was born on January 20, 1898 at Medaryville,
Indiana. As an Indiana farm boy he attended the one room elementary
school of White Post Township, Pulaski County, and the Medaryville high
school, from which he graduated in 1915. He attended Purdue University,
receiving the Bachelor's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering
in 1919 and an honorary Doctorate of Electrical Engineering in 1952.
From the age of thirteen he served during summer vacations as a farm
hand on various Indiana farms. In 1917 he spent the summer as a lathe
operator for Ross Gear and Tool Company in Lafayette, Indiana. In the
summer of 1918 he took an operations training course with the Commonwealth
Edison Company in Chicago. In the fall of the same year he was enrolled
in the Student Army Training Corps of the U.S. Army, stationed at Purdue
University, until after the end of the first World War.
After graduation, from June 1919 to May 1920, he was employed in the
test training course of the General Electric Company at Schenectady,
N.Y., during a portion of which time he was in charge of factory tests
of Alexanderson high frequency generators. Urged by the U.S. Navy, the
General Electric Company organized and incorporated the Radio Corporation
of America for the U.S. application of Alexanderson's generators.
From May to September 1920 he was in the Radio Engineering Department
of General Electric Company, engaged in testing and placing in service
trans-oceanic radio transmitting stations for the Radio Corporation
of America. Some of this work was done at the former Marconi Station,
located on the Raritan River between New Brunswick and Bound Brook,
New Jersey.
From September 1920 until 1929 he was employed by the Radio Corporation
of America, during which time he was engaged in developing and placing
in service the transmitting facilities with which RCA established its
world-wide public service radio communications business. His activity
was taken over by RCA Communications, Inc. in 1929 and then by RCA Laboratories
in 1942.
In 1925 Hansell founded the RCA Radio Transmission Laboratory at Rocky
Point, Long Island, N.Y. This laboratory developed the world's largest
radio transmitting station, which was located adjacent to its facilities.
The Rocky Point Laboratory had an active part in RCA developments of
radio and television broadcasting and radio relaying systems, which
have grown to services of great magnitude. During the second World War
the laboratory was engaged in development of radio communications equipment,
radio navigational equipment, and radar and low drag antenna systems
for high speed military aircraft.
In 1932 Hansell became interested in ionized air and its biological
effects after having observed powerful effects produced by strongly
ionized air upon one of his associates in the Rocky Point Laboratory.
In 1945, while serving as a scientific investigator with the Technical
Industrial Intelligence Committee in Germany for the U.S. Government,
he obtained and reported information concerning air ionization investigations
there. This led to an association with Mr. W. Wesley Hicks of San Francisco.
President of Wesix Electric Heater Company, Mr. Hicks soon became one
of the most active promoters and the most effective supporter of air
ionization research in the United States. This association continued
until the death of Mr. Hicks on December 8, 1960. Many others were brought
into the field and have made important contributions. The present result
is that the utilization of artificially ionized air seems to be ready
to assume great importance in air conditioning and in therapeutics.
A nonprofit membership organization called The American Institute of
Medical Climatology has been organized in Philadelphia. One of its purposes
is to promote air ionization medical research and to spread knowledge
of its results. Hansell was General Chairman for an International Conference
on Ionization of the Air sponsored by the Institute in 1961, at the
Franklin Institute, in Philadelphia.
Hansell was a Fellow of RCA Laboratories, The American Institute of
Electrical Engineers and The Institute of Radio Engineers. He was a
member of the Franklin Institute, Electrochemical Society, American
Association for the Advancement of Science, Sigma Xi, and American Institute
of Medical Climatology. He was the author and co-author of technical
papers and was issued more than 300 United States patents and many more
in other countries.
Before moving to Princeton, New Jersey, in 1958, he was President of
the Board of Education of Union Free School District No. 6, Port Jefferson,
Long Island, N.Y. He also was President of the Port Jefferson area Planning
Commission and was a member of the Port Jefferson Rotary Club. Mr. Hansell
retired from RCA in 1963 and moved to Florida. Until his death in 1967
he spent a great deal of time in Port Jefferson, N.Y., with his married
daughter and her family. During his retirement he worked on several
manuscripts on ionization and the nature of energy and matter.
(This biographical sketch is based on materials prepared by Mr.
Hansell.)
Contents
The Clarence W. Hansell Collection has been arranged chronologically
by subject. The listing below is general only. There is a tremendous
amount of overlap among the various groups of materials.
General: Boxes 1, 13, 28
Radio and Television: Boxes 1-8
Germany, 1945-1947: Boxes 5-8
Ionization: Boxes 10-28
General. Publications, notes, drafts, bibliographies, etc. 1941-1961:
Boxes 10-15
Ionization. Correspondence, notes, drafts, papers. 1933-1967: Boxes
16-22
Publications. Magazine articles, offprints, periodicals, etc. 1926-1968:
Boxes 22-28
Box 1
Biographical and personal
Photograph of Mr. Hansell
Cabin Cruiser Plover (1933-1934)
Newspaper clippings, primarily about Port Jefferson and the School District.
Purdue University alumni circulars and correspondence
American Institute of Medical Climatology. Miscellaneous.
Unidentified, bark-like material
Court briefs
Miller, John M., Plaintiff, v. National Broadcasting Company, Inc. and
RCA Communications Inc. on Miller Patent no. 1,756,000. U.S. District
Court, District of Delaware. Brief for Defendants.
Miller, John M., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. same parties in above. U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeal for the Third Circuit, October Term, 1934. Brief
for Defendants-Appellees.
Box 2
Private Note Books
1924, January 8-1928, May 3. Belfast, Maine-Rocky Point, New York "Wave
Antenna for Transmission, Belfast Station, Field Log, E.L.J.-219."
93 p.
1925, April 11-1930, September 12. Rocky Point, New York Engineering
Department, RCA. unnumbered leaves.
1930, September 26-1933, July 22. Rocky Point, New York, RCA Communications,
Inc. 329 p.
1933, July 27-1935, November 19. Rocky Point, New York, RCA Communications,
Inc. unnumbered leaves
1935, November 22-1937, January 27. Rocky Point, New York, Transmitter
Research and Development Laboratory, RCA Communications, Inc. 333 p.
Some notes laid in.
1937, February 8-1939, January 21. Rocky Point, New York, RCA Communications,
Inc., Transmitter Research and Development Laboratory. 121 p.
Report on Trip to England. October, 1937.
Box 3
Hansell Docket 8018 - Chemical Process of Separation
Various patents. None by Mr. Hansell, but all are about radio direction
finders and airplane detection
Pulse system patents
U.S. Army. Signal Corps. Contract W-2279-sc-8, File 9-SCRL-42... Report
on work done by Rocky Point Laboratory... RCAC SO-42-105 and 124, RCAL
SO-21501.... Typescript, with photographic illustrations. 1942. Correspondence
attached.
Miscellaneous, ca. 1939-1943
RCA Laboratories Planning Committee, Television and Frequency Modulation
Sub-Committee, Group VI-Radio Relay. 1943-1944.
RCA Laboratories Planning Committee, Television and Frequency Modulation
Sub-Committee, Group VI-Radio Relay. 1943-1944 (continued).
Box 4
RCA Laboratories Planning Committee, Television and Frequency Modulation
Sub-Committee, Group VI-Radio Relay. 1943-1944 (continued).
Radio Relay Report for Planning Committee. Includes Typescript draft
notes for "Radio and Cable Television Relay Systems," by Mr.
Hansell. Also, Radio Technical Planning Board reports, 1944.
RCA Laboratories Planning Committee, Television and Frequency Modulation
Sub-Committee, Group VI-Radio Relay. 1943-1944 (continued).
"History of Frequency Shift Keying," (by Mr. Hansell?) Typescript
carbon. 75 p.
Modern pioneers; Antenna history; Suggested research. ca. 1939-1947.
Letters, correspondence, reports, etc. Includes: Hansell, C.W., "Development
of Radio Relay Systems." Reprinted from RCA Review, 7(Sept. 1946),
no. 3, 367-84.
Radio relay. 1944-1945. Letters, correspondence, papers, etc.
"Development of Radio-Relay Systems by the Radio Corporation of
America. " Typescript carbon and galley proofs.
Correspondence and notes about the paper, and correspondence with the
Institute of Radio Engineers, for whose 1946 Cleveland Section Meeting
the paper was originally prepared.
Box 5
Correspondence, notes, memoranda, applications, etc. 1943-1946. Includes
20 p. "Suggestions" on "How to make a success of RCA
Laboratories." Typescript carbon memorandum.
Correspondence, notes, papers concerning preparation and actual stay
in Germany.
Combined Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee Evaluation Reports. Also
other reports.
Four small note books used by Mr. Hansell in Germany.
Guellich, G.E., Optical Industries in Germany. July, 1945. FB-15955.
Facsimile of typescript, prepared for Technical Industrial Intelligence
Committee (T.I.I.C.)
Box 6
Hansell, C.W., Miscellaneous Developments in German Science and Industry.
PB-1638. Original typescript. Other Correspondence and reports related
to investigations made in Germany, 1945-1947.
PB-1638, photostatic copy, with various correspondence and maps attached.
1945-1947.
Correspondence and papers concerning arrangements for the trip to Germany
and correspondence on further investigation of material microfilmed
in Germany. 1945-1947.
Correspondence and notes, ca. October-November, 1945. (In folder marked
"German Science.")
Correspondence and notes, ca. December, 1945.
Box 7
U.S. Publication Board. Report. 1945.
No: 28, 31, 55, 58, 59, 60, 67, 69, 70, 76, 77, 78, 81, 93, 95, 113,
115, 124, 128, 132, 145, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 164,
166, 185, 197, 199, 202, 205, 215, 232, 234, 243, 272, 273, 295, 301,
303, 305, 308, 309, 310, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 336, 337, 338, 354,
358, 359, 361, 371. (Mr. Hansell was co-author of no. 303)
Combined Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee (C.I.O.S.)
Telefunken G.M.B.H. Item no. 1, 7 and 9. File no. XXXI-52. London, 1945.
Combined Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee (C.I.O.S.)
Restricted cyclotron investigation Heidelberg. Item no. 21 and 24. File
no. XXIX-47. 1945.
Combined Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee (C.I.O.S.)
Institutes of the Bevollmächtigter für Hochfrequenz-Forschung.
Item no. 1 and 7, File no. XXXI-37. (1945)
(Mr. Hansell contributed to all three C.I.O.S. reports above)
Box 8
Correspondence and notes, 1946-1947
Correspondence with Knoll, Max, Dr. and Lamberty, Oscar J.E.; also some
C.A.R.E. folders and personal items. ca. 1945-1947.
Correspondence, notes, and clippings, ca. 1946.
Cost of radio relay systems. ca. 1946-1948
National Electronics Conference meeting, Chicago, 1946
Matter and energy. Research notes, papers, correspondence, etc.
Box 9
Hansell, C.W., A Proposed Model to Explain Creation of Matter and the
Interchange of Matter and Energy. Princeton, New Jersey, RCA, 1959.
duplicated. PEM-1388 Correspondence, copies of correspondence, carbon
typescripts and other materials included.
Unidentified holograph notes on Matter and Energy.
Notes, clippings, etc. on Matter and Energy, ca. 1950-1963
Electron Dynamics. 1946-1965. Research notes, drafts, articles and photostats
and correspondence
Matter and Energy. Research notes, and holograph drafts. Many notes
dated 1964-1965
Matter and Energy, holograph drafts and notes
"Thermodynamics Handbook." Holograph notes.
Box 10
PEM-1399 (See Box 9, f.,1), with notes, corrections, correspondence,
etc. 1959.
Unidentified draft of manuscript on matter, energy, and electrons, with
notes, typescript drafts. ca. 1961-1965.
Unidentified draft of manuscript on matter, energy, and electrons, with
notes, typescript drafts. ca. 1961-1965 (continued).
Unidentified draft of manuscript on matter, energy, and electrons, with
notes, typescript drafts. ca. 1961-1965 (continued).
Manuscript notes on electron affinities of atoms and Bohr's hydrogen
atom.
Typescript manuscript of an alphabetical glossary or dictionary of scientific
information. (For Atmospheric Ionization book? For Electron book?)
Hansell, C.W., Atmospheric Ionization and It's Effect upon Life, An
Important Factor in Therapeutics and in Air Conditioning. Corrected
typescript for proposed book. 1961.
Box 11
Atmospheric Ionization... (see Box 10, f.7), Chapter 3, with notes,
correspondence, articles, offprints, extracts, etc.
Atmospheric Ionization... (see Box 10, f.7), Chapter 4, with notes,
etc. ca. 1950-1952.
Holograph and typed drafts of another book on ionization, with notes
and correspondence. This may be the work Mr. Hansell referred to in
a draft of a letter (laid in Box 11, f.1) dated after 1963, "From
time to time I have engaged in the writing of a book in which my intention
is to present what I have learned and suspected concerning air ionization,
over a period of about 35 years." Includes the typescript of Mr.
Hansell's Bibliography of Published References Relating to Ionization
of the Air and its Biological Effects (See also Box 12)
"Hansell's Handbook." Reading and research notes, reference
information, etc. ca. 1941-196?
Box 12
Matter and Energy papers and drafts, as well as notes and correspondence
on ionization. ca. 1950-1962
Matter and Energy papers and drafts, as well as notes and correspondence
on ionization. ca. 1950-1962 (continued)
Matter and Energy papers and drafts, as well as notes and correspondence
on ionization. ca. 1950-1962 (continued)
Hansell, C.W., Atmospheric Ionization and its biological effects, summary
of research to August 1, 1960. Princeton, New Jersey, RCA Laboratories,
August 15, 1960. PEM-1755. 95 p. duplicated.
Hansell, C.W., comp., Bibliography of published references relating
to ionization of the air and its biological effects. Princeton, New
Jersey, RCA Laboratories, December 15, 1960. duplicated.
Hansell, C.W., Errors and duplications in original of published references
relating to ionization of the air and its biological effects. Princeton,
New Jersey, RCA Laboratories, 1960 1 p. duplicated.
Hansell, C.W., Supplement to Bibliography of Published References...
Princeton, New Jersey, RCA Laboratories, August, 1960. Includes Supplement
II, added December 15, 1960. 8 leaves. duplicated.
Hansell, C.W., comp, Ionization of the air and its biological effects;
bibliography of published references. Original typescript, with memoranda.
Hansell, C.W., comp, Ionization of the air and its biological effects;
bibliography of published references. Princeton, New Jersey, RCA Service
Company, Government Service Department, June, 1962.
Hansell, C.W., Ionization of the air and its biological effects. Supplement
to bibliography of published references. Princeton, New Jersey, RCA
Laboratories (1962) 2 leaves.
King, G.W.K., Ionization of the air and electrical field effects in
biology; bibliography of published references, 1962-1966. 3d ed. Princeton,
New Jersey, Radio Corporation of America, Astro-Electronics Division,
November, 1966. duplicated.
Hansell, C.W., Bibliography of published references relating to ionization
of the air and its biological effects. Rocky Point, New York, RCA Laboratories,
1955? 7 p. duplicated. Lists 112 references.
Hansell, C.W., Bibliography of references relating to ionization of
the air and its biological effects. n.p., 1959? 11 p. duplicated. Lists
159 references.
Box 13
Hansell, C.W., Ionization of the air and its biological effects. Rocky
Point, New York, RCA Laboratories Division, Radio Transmission Section,
October 31, 1951. 114 p. Engineering Memorandum 62-42. Typescript carbon.
Correspondence and notes about PEM-1755, Atmospheric ionization and
its biological effects. 1960. (see Box 10, f.7)
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Hansell, C.W., Air ionizers and ionization instruments offer new business
for RCA. August 5, 1960. 14 p. duplicated.
Hansell, C.W., Some notes relating to therapeutic application of ionized
air. Princeton, New Jersey, RCA Laboratories, November 15, 1960. 7 p.
duplicated.
Hansell, C.W., Selected references relating to therapeutic applications
of ionized air. November 15, 1960. 4 p. duplicated.
Papers prepared by Mr. Hansell for the International Conference on
Ionization of the Air, sponsored by the American Institute of Medical
Climatology in 1961. (See box 25)
"An attempt to define 'Ionization of the air.'" Unnumbered
leaves. duplicated.
"Post Conference Comment by the General Chairman, Dr. Clarence
W. Hansell." 16 p. duplicated.
Medical Summary. An alphabetical listing of the effect of ionization
on various diseases. Holograph.
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Various holograph manuscript drafts.
"Chapter 1 - A Definition and Description of Air Ionization."
"The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine in biological responses to atmospheric
ionization."
"The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (Serotonin, Enteromine)
Miscellaneous research notes.
Drafts of two articles and miscellaneous notes.
"Should the Production, Distribution and Use of Fossil Fuels Be
Banned?" (1966)
"Is the Universe Expanding?"
PEM-1755, Atmospheric ionization...(See box 10, f.7.) with collections
of supplementary materials, xeroxed articles, etc.
PEM-1755, Atmospheric ionization...(See box 10, f.7.) with collections
of supplementary materials, xeroxed articles, etc. (continued)
(N.B. Mr. Hansell apparently sent binders with materials as in folders
9 and 10 to friends and associates in ionization research for their
comments.)
Box 14
Subject files. These alphabetically arranged files include clippings,
articles, working papers, correspondence, and related materials.
Antibiotics
Bacteriology
Biology
Diathermy
Electrets
Electric Heating
Electrical Precipitation
Electrofax
Endocrine Systems
Box 15
Subject files. (continued)
Ionization-Morocce Experiment
Ionization Patents
JTAC Subcommittee on Spurious Radio Emissions
Medical Electronics
Physics
Psychology
Ionization: 1933-1950, 1951, 1952
Ionization: 1953, 1954
Ionization: 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958
Ionization: 1958, 1959, 1960
Ionization: 1960, 1961, 1962
Ionization: 1960, 1961
Ionization: 1962, 1963-1966, 1966-1967, 1965
Vedeneev, Vladimir Ivanovich et al, Bond energies ionization potentials
and electron affinities. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1966.
Publications: ca. 1935-1962, 1926?, 1931, 1934
Publications: 1936, 1944, 1946, 1947-1952 (Includes correspondence),
1949, 1951, 1952, 1953.
Publications: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960
Publications: 1960, 1961, 1962
Publications: 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966. Includes:
Proceedings of the International Conference on Ionization of the Air.
Philadelphia, 1961. 2 v.
Publications: 1968.
Undated and unidentified publications
Two compilations of articles (mostly photocopy and duplicates)
RCA and American Telephone and Telegraph: Miscellaneous annual and other
reports.
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