Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences (University of Michigan) records, 1945-2002

Summary

Creator:

University of Michigan. Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences.

Abstract:

A unit of the University of Michigan's Institute of Science and Technology which conducts and sponsors interdisciplinary studies of fresh water lake ecology. It is the successor to the Great Lakes Research Institute and the Great Lakes Research Division of the University of Michigan. Primarily research data, analysis, and reports on two major studies: the Coherent Area Study of Lake Michigan, 1963-1971, and the Donald C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant Studies, 1967-1983.

Extent:

42.5 linear feet

Language:

English.

Call Number:

93813 Bimu 2

Authors:

Finding aid prepared by: Greg Kinney, 1989 Tina Tincher, 1991

Background

Scope and Content:

The records in this collection are largely research files from the period when John C. Ayers was director of research for the Great Lakes Research Division. The bulk of the records document two large research projects: the Coherent Area Study, 1963-1971, and Donald C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant Studies, 1967-1983. There is also documentation of several smaller research projects. The research files include reports, field and laboratory data, and a variety of logs documenting data collection. The collection has few if any administrative records of the GLRD or its successors.

The records are arranged in ten series: Historical Information, Coherent Area Study, Ship's Logs, Donald C. Cook Power Plant Studies, Lake Michigan Ice Studies, John C. Ayers Research Files, Administration, Grants, Topical files, and Visual materials. Because the records contain a variety of formats, including slides, fan-fold computer printouts, and outsize volumes, some subgroups and series are split between ranges of box numbers. The summary contents list provides an overview of the physical arrangement of the records.

Biographical / Historical:

The Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences (CGLAS) is the successor to the Great Lakes Research Institute (GLRI), the Great Lakes Research Division (GLRD) and the Great Lakes and Marine Waters Center (GLMWC). The mission of each was the "encouragement and integration of studies of the physical, chemical, biological and other aspects of the Great Lakes and related areas." It has sponsored both basic and applied research, published numerous research reports in its "Special Reports" series, and sponsored conferences on the Great Lakes. Though theoretically interested in all the Great Lakes, the center's studies have focused on lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior.

The Great Lakes Research Institute was established by a group of University of Michigan professors and chartered by the Board of Regents in 1945 as part of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. By 1953 it had initiated a broad range of studies, the aims of which were: to increase knowledge of the processes and phenomena occurring in large lakes, to determine the characteristics of the Great Lakes as a natural resource so that these could be effectively used and managed, to implement the university's educational goals related to this basic research, and to establish cooperative research programs with other universities and government agencies. The GLRI was governed by a Council of faculty members. David C. Chandler was named director of the Institute in 1953 and later chairman of the council.

The GLRI was reorganized in 1960 and became the Great Lakes Research Division of the University of Michigan Institute of Science and Technology (IST). A further reorganization within IST in 1974 placed the GLRD in the newly created Great Lakes and Marine Waters Center. The Center brought together a number of institutes and programs dealing with the Great Lakes including the Great Lakes Management Program, the Coastal Zone Laboratory, and the Sea-Grant Program, as well as the operation of the university's research vessels. Alfred Beeton was named director of the Center in 1975, succeeding Chandler. In a further reorganization in 1989, GLRD and GLMWC became the Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences, a division of the Institute of Science and Technology. Theodore C. Moore was named director of the Center in 1990.

The CGLAS and its predecessors have operated, or had at their disposal, a number of research vessels. These have included the Inland Seas, Mysis, Naiad, Halcyon, and Highland Lassie. The GLRD also used the General Dynamics submarine Starr II for several research projects in 1967. The staff of CGLAS has included full-time research scientists and faculty members who had joint or partial appointments in academic departments. CGLAS staff have conducted independent research and also worked on contracted projects for corporations and government agencies. Evidence suggests that the Center wound down between 2001 and 2007 as new initiatives in Great Lakes research emerged at the School for Environment and Sustainability. No future accretions are expected.

Directors of the Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences

Date	Event
1953-1975	David C. Chandler
1975-1986	Alfred M. Beeton
1982	Philip A. Meyers (Acting)
1988-1989	David K. Rea (Interim)
1989-1998	Theodore C. Moore

Name Changes

Date	Event
1945-1960	Great Lakes Research Institute (GLRI)
1960-1974	Great Lakes Research Division of the Institute of Science and Technology
1974-1989	Great Lakes Research Division of the Great Lakes and Marine Waters Center
1989-	Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences

Acquisition Information:

Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences, Donor no. 5394 , through Steve Schneider, June 1988, and Nov. 1990.

Arrangement:

1. Historical Information, 1945-1995 (boxes 1, 38)
2. Coherent Area Study, 1961-1973
   • Background and Summary Files (box 1)
   • Water Temperature Studies (boxes 1-2, 7-10)
     • Bathythermograph and other logs, (boxes 1-2)
     • Bathythermograph Slides (boxes 5-9)
     • Bathythermograph Photos (box 10)
   • Biological Studies (boxes 2-4)
   • Chemical Studies (boxes 4-5)
   • Meteorological Studies (boxes 5, 11-13)
   • Wind and Current Studies (boxes 5-6)
   • Standards and Procedures (box 6)
   • Miscellaneous CAS Files (box 6)
   • Audio Tapes (box 6)
   • Photographs and Film (box 6)
3. Ship's Logs and Operations, 1961-2002
   • Ship's Logs (Deck Logs), 1961-2000 (boxes 14-16, 33, 43)
   • Chief Scientist's Log, 1961-1979 (boxes 16-17)
   • Chronological Files, 1966-2002 (boxes 38-40)
   • (See also Topical Files under ship names (boxes 40-41))
4. Donald C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant Studies, 1967-1984
   • Limnological Studies, 1967-1984 (boxes 18, 24)
   • Phytoplankton Studies data (box 19)
   • Biological Studies (box 20)
   • Environmental Impact Statement and Other Reports, 1973-1983
     • Environmental Technical Specifications (box 20)
     • Licensing Hearings (box 20)
     • Environmental Operating Reports, 1974-1983 (box 21)
   • Environmental Regulatory Guidelines (box 22)
   • Ice Studies
     • "Shore Ice Structures at Cook Nuclear Plant" (box 22)
     • Ice Slides and Logbooks (boxes 25-32)
   • Chronological Files, 1969-1979 (box 36)
5. Lake Michigan Ice Study (boxes 22-23)
6. John C. Ayers Research Files, 1954-1973 (box 24)
7. Administration, 1971-1998 (boxes 34-36)
8. Grants, 1960-1980 (boxes 36-38)
9. Topical files, 1960-2002 (boxes 40-42)
10. Visual materials (box 42)

Physical Location:

Stored offsite, two days notice required for retrieval.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Environmental impact statements.
Environmental protection -- Michigan.
Limnology -- Great Lakes.
Nuclear power plants -- Environmental aspects -- Michigan.

Formats:

Photographs.

Names:

Donald C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant.
University of Michigan. Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences.
University of Michigan. Great Lakes and Marine Waters Center.
University of Michigan. Great Lakes Research Division.
University of Michigan. Great Lakes Research Institute.
West Michigan Environmental Action Council.
Ayers, John C. (John Carr), 1912-

Places:

Grand Traverse Bay (Mich.)
Great Lakes Region -- Research.
Michigan, Lake.