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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Title
Clarence Weston Hansell Collection
Collection Number
SC 209
OCLC Number
122487859
Creator
Hansell, C. W. (Clarence Weston), 1898-1967
Provenance
Donated by Mrs. Clarence W. Hansell in 1970.
Extent,
Scope, and Content Note
Professional and personal correspondence, scientific manuscripts, and publications
relating to 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.
Arrangement and Processing Note
Finding aid updated and revised by Kristen J. Nyitray in June 2019.
The Clarence W. Hansell Collection is arranged chronologically by subject.
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
Language
English
Restrictions on Access
The collection is open to researchers without restriction.
Rights and Permissions
Stony Brook University Libraries' consent to access as the physical owner of the collection
does not address copyright issues that may affect publication rights. It is the sole
responsibility of the user of Special Collections and University Archives materials
to investigate the copyright status of any given work and to seek and obtain permission
where needed prior to publication.
Citation
[Item], [Box], Clarence Weston Hansell Collection, Special Collections and University
Archives, Stony Brook University Libraries.
Historical Note
This biographical sketch is based on materials prepared by Hansell.
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.
Subjects
Hansell, C. W. (Clarence Weston), 1898-1967
Radio Corporation of America.
Wesix Electric Heater Company (San Francisco, Calif.)
Biology -- Research -- United States.
Ionization.
Long Island (N.Y.) -- Intellectual life.
Intellectual life.
Biology -- Research.
United States.
New York (State) -- Long Island.
INVENTORY
Box 1
Biographical and personal files
Photograph of Clarence Weston 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
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 notebooks
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 rnergy, holograph drafts and notes
"Thermodynamics Handbook." Holograph notes.
Box 10
PEM-1399 (See Box 9, f.,1), with notes, corrections, correspondence, etc. 1959.
Manuscript on matter, energy, and electrons, with notes, typescript drafts. ca. 1961-1965.
Mmanuscript on matter, energy, and electrons, with notes, typescript drafts. ca. 1961-1965
(continued).
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 eenrgy 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)
Assorted 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: annual and other reports.
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