American Friends Service Committee: Rocky Flats Project records
Scope and Contents
In 1974, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the Rocky Flats Action Group (RFAG) began to publicize their stance on the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Production Plant (1952-1992) located west of Denver, Colorado. Although these two groups were not one cohesive group, they were very closely related. The AFSC and RFAG primarily focused on the damages Rocky Flats could inflict on the environment and the health of citizens downstream from the plant. The facility was operated by the Dow Chemical Company and Rockwell International. It was chosen by the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to manage bomb production and in 1953, the plant began to produce plutonium triggers. Throughout the years, the AFSC Rocky Flats group would host rallies, campaigns, and demonstrations to bring community and political attention to the bomb production plant and all of their unsafe practices. In 1983, Tom Rauch would become a staff member of the AFSC and not just a supporter. Rauch stressed the need for disarmament and wanted to challenge plans for new nuclear weapons. The Rocky Flats Project also focused on the influence that Rocky Flats would have on the environment and its health. In 1986, the group played a role in the halting of the use of the Rocky Flats incinerator. In the following year, the FBI conducted a raid of the plant. Eventually in 1989, the plant would be shut down and, many years later was transformed into a wildlife refuge once cleanup was complete. Rauch is the donor of all the Rocky Flats materials to the University of Colorado Boulder Archives.
Dates
- Creation: 1966 - 1987
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for access. This collection contains or may contain private and personally identifiable information (PPII). Researchers must sign the University Libraries’ Private and Personally Identifiable Information Agreement in advance of access to collection materials. Contact sca@colorado.edu for more information.
Copyright statement
The University Libraries may not own the copyright to all materials in this collection. Researchers are responsible for contacting the copyright holder(s) for this material and obtaining permission to publish or broadcast. The University Libraries will not grant permission to publish or broadcast this material and are not responsible for copyright violations resulting from such use.
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers may not make notes, reproductions (including photographs), or other record of any private and personally identifiable information (PPII) located in this collection and may not publish, publicize, or disclose that PPII to any other party for any purpose. Exclusions may apply to researchers who have obtained authorization from the University of Colorado Institutional Review Board to produce human subject research records in de-identified form. All researchers must sign the University Libraries’ Private and Personally Identifiable Information Agreement indicating their understanding of the use restrictions for PPII found in this collection. Contact sca@colorado.edu.
Historical Note
In 1974, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the Rocky Flats Action Group (RFAG) began to publicize their stance on the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Production Plant (1952-1992) located west of Denver, Colorado. Although these two groups were not one cohesive group, they were very closely related. The AFSC and RFAG primarily focused on the damages Rocky Flats could inflict on the environment and the health of citizens downstream from the plant. The facility was operated by the Dow Chemical Company and Rockwell International. It was chosen by the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to manage bomb production and in 1953, the plant began to produce plutonium triggers. Throughout the years, the AFSC Rocky Flats group would host rallies, campaigns, and demonstrations to bring community and political attention to the bomb production plant and all of their unsafe practices. In 1983, Tom Rauch would become a staff member of the AFSC and not just a supporter. Rauch stressed the need for disarmament and wanted to challenge plans for new nuclear weapons. The Rocky Flats Project also focused on the influence that Rocky Flats would have on the environment and its health. In 1986, the group played a role in the halting of the use of the Rocky Flats incinerator. In the following year, the FBI conducted a raid of the plant. Eventually in 1989, the plant would be shut down and, many years later was transformed into a wildlife refuge once cleanup was complete. Rauch is the donor of all the Rocky Flats materials to the University of Colorado Boulder Archives.
Extent
13.5 linear feet (9 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that encourages peace with justice, as their “practical expression of faith in action”. The AFSC is the service arm of their religious organization and the service organization branches into a wide array of social and international causes. The Colorado Area Program specifically worked with the Rocky Flats Project, and the group aimed to educate and organize community support for nuclear disarmament.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into the following series: Series 1: Monitoring Committee General Material, 1971-1983 Series 2: Materials Requested from Energy Research and Development Administration by the Rocky Flats Monitoring Committee, 1975-1976 Series 3: Rocky Flats Monitoring Committee General Material – Chronological Files, 1966-1987 Series 4: Newsclippings, 1969-1985
Physical Location
B68 M2-6
- Author
- Processed by Elizabeth Payne, January 1990. Edited by Alex Duncan, October 2014. Transcribed into ArchivesSpace by Katelyn Morken May 2018.
- Date
- January 1990
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries, Rare and Distinctive Collections Repository
