Main content

Harold Gardiner Bowen Papers

Notifications

Held at: Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
MC033
Repository:
Princeton University Library: Public Policy Papers
Extent:
12 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Harold Gardiner Bowen Papers, Box and Folder Number; Public Policy Papers, Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Date:
1907-1955 (inclusive) and 1930-1945 (bulk)
Creator:
Bowen, Harold Gardiner, 1883-1965
Form:
Correspondence., Manuscripts., and Speeches.
Abstract:
Harold Gardiner Bowen was director of the Naval Research Laboratory (1939-1942), special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy (1939-1947), chief of the Office of Naval Research (1946-1947), and executive secretary of the Thomas Alva Edison Foundation. This collection consists of selected papers of Vice-Admiral Bowen, including speeches, articles, documents, printed matter, and manuscripts for his book Ships, Machinery, and Mossbacks, The Autobiography of a Naval Engineer (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1954).

Bowen, Harold Gardiner, 1883-1965

Vice Admiral Harold Gardiner Bowen served as the first Chief of Naval Research for the United States Navy. Born in 1883 in Providence, Rhode Island, Bowen graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1905 and was commissioned in 1907. After a stint as chief of the Bureau of Engineers, Bowen was appointed director of the Naval Research Laboratory in 1939 and served in that capacity until 1942. Bowen was decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal for his contributions to military research. Bowen died in 1965.

Consists of selected papers of Vice-Admiral Bowen including speeches, articles, documents, printed matter, and manuscripts for his book Ships, Machinery, and Mossbacks, The Autobiography of a Naval Engineer (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1954). The papers primarily refer to his various activities as director of the Naval Research Laboratory (1939-1942), special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy (1939-1947), chief of the Office of Naval Research (1946-1947), and executive secretary of the Thomas Alva Edison Foundation. Included are files of naval engineering data and research concerning boilers, submarines, destroyers, turbines, radar, and naval patents, and material related to wartime industrial management, plant seizure, and the organization of navy yards.

This is an unprocessed collection and remains in its original arrangement.

This is an unprocessed collection. The contents list provided is a preliminary inventory.

Biography written by Jessica Marati, '08.

Organization
Subject
Occupation

Publisher
Public Policy Papers
Finding Aid Date
2001
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. For quotations that are fair use as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission to cite or publish is required. For those few instances beyond fair use, any copyright vested in the donor has passed to Princeton University and researchers are free to move forward with use of materials without anything further from Mudd Library. For materials not created by the donor, where the copyright is not held by the University, researchers are responsible for determining who may hold the copyright and obtaining approval from them. In these instances, researchers do not need anything further from the Mudd Library to move forward with their use. If you have a question about who owns the copyright for an item, you may request clarification by contacting us through the Ask Us! form.

Collection Inventory

1919-1955, 1919-1955. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Includes Appointments (1946); Correspondence A-Z; Personal Files, etc.

Physical Description

1 box

1907-1952, 1907-1952. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Includes Autobiography and Biographical Data

Physical Description

1 box

1936-1952, 1936-1952. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Includes Articles and Speeches by Harold Gardiner Bowen; Photographs

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

4 boxes

1914-1945, 1914-1945. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Re: Boilers, Submarines Turbines, etc.

Physical Description

1 box

1935-1947, 1935-1947. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Re: Detroyers

Physical Description

1 box

1922-1953, 1922-1953. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Re: Radar, Research

Physical Description

1 box

1931-1946, 1931-1946. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Re: Scientific Information Policy; Scientists, etc.

Physical Description

1 box

1909-1945, 1909-1945. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Includes Organization of Navy Yards; Shipbuilding Companies

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

2 boxes

1941-1945, 1941-1945. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Includes Allis Chalmers; American Manufacturing Co., Fort Worth, Texas; Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.; General Cable Co.; Goodyear, etc.

Physical Description

1 box

1944-1951, 1944-1951. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Includes Lord Manufacturing Co.

Physical Description

1 box

1931-1946, 1931-1946. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Includes Publicity; "Radio Reminiscences" by A. Hoyt Taylor (printed)

Physical Description

1 box

1941-1945, 1941-1945. 1 box.
Scope and Contents

Includes Scrapbook

Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest