Warren Weaver Sr.

Life

1898-1978

Relevant Employment

• University of Wisconsin
• Rockefeller Foundation

Contributions

Weaver worked at: Assistant professor, Throop College, Pasadena, CA 1917-18; Assistant professor of mathematics, California Institute of Technology 1919-20; University of Wisconsin (Madison): Assistant professor 1920-25; Associate professor 1925-28; Professor of mathematics and chairman of department 1928-32; Rockefeller Foundation: director of natural sciences 1932-55; Vice-pres. for natural and medical sciences 1955-59; Alfred P. Sloan Foundation: Trustee and member of executive committee 1956-67; Vice-pres. 1959-64; Consultant on scientific affairs 1964-78; Served on numerous boards and chaired numerous committees.

While at Rockefeller Foundation, Weaver promoted research in experimental biology and agricultural science, emphasizing improving human nutrition. He wrote autobiography entitled Science of Change: A Lifetime in American Science; See Contemporary Authors article (in Volume 89, p. 552) as well as Colin Burke's Information and Secrecy.

An excellent biographical memoir, by Mina Rees, and published by the National Academy of Sciences, is available at: http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/weaver-warren.pdf, 1987.

Awards

• 1948 Medal for Merit
• 1948 Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom (Great Britain)
• 1948 LL.D., University of Wisconsin
• Sc.D.: 1949, University of Sao Paulo--Brazil
• 1961 Drexel Institute of Technology
• 1964 University of Pittsburgh
• 1951 French Legion of Honor (officer)
• 1957 Public Welfare Medal (NAS)
• 1964 Kalinga Prize (UNESCO)
• 1964 Arches Science Award (Pacific Science Center)

Offices

• AAAS Fellow
• NAS: Pres.
• Chairman of the Board
• American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow
• APS Councillor 1957-60

Papers

LOCATION #1: Yale University Library; search under: Savage, Leonard Jimmie.

• Papers dates: 1946-1971
• Size:
• Includes:
  • Weaver is mentioned in Leonard Jimmie Savage's Papers
  • The collection includes correspondence between Weaver and Savage, a mathematican, statistician, and professor at Yale
  • Information on literary rights is also available at the repository
• Finding aid: Unpublished register is located in the repository
• Source: NUCMC, MS 76-1441, 1976

LOCATION #2 University of Illinois, University Archives; search under: Ridenour, Louis Nicot.

• Papers dates: 1946-1950
• Size: Total collection: 2 feet
• Includes: This collection contains correspondence between Weaver and Louis Nicot Ridenour, a professor of physics at University of Illinois, who was involved in a lot of scientific research including nuclear energy, atomic and hydrogen bombs, international understanding, consulting work, and various government and private organizations involved in scientific research.
• Finding aid:
• Source: NUCMC, MS67-471,1967

LOCATION #3 Columbia University Libraries, New York, NY; search under; Weaver, Warren. Additional papers are available at the Rockefeller Foundation Archives.

• PAPERS DATES: 1948-1968
• SIZE: ca. 540 items
• INCLUDES: Biographical oral history collection; Transcripts of tape-recorded autobiographical interviews; Persons interviewed are described in the Biographical Section of the Oral History Collection of Columbia University (1964) and Supplements 1966 and 1968; Partially restricted; New material added regularly.
• FINDING AID:
• SOURCE: NUCMC, MS 70-484, 1970.