174 Alaskan Science Conference 



History of the Geophysical Institute Building 



As early as 1936 the Board of Regents of the University 

 through the Martin Harrais Resolution offered to provide for 

 the creation of an arctic research center at the University of 

 Alaska. This resolution was as follows: 



"Whereas, In the building of the University of Alaska it is the 

 duty of the Board of Regents to make ample provision for the edu- 

 cation of those enrolled as students, and 



"Whereas, It is also the duty of the Board of Regents to build 

 the institution so that it can render a full degree of service to all 

 the people of the United States, and 



"Whereas, By virtue of its strategic location, the University of 

 Alaska, if properly equipped will be able to contribute immeas- 

 ureably to research in anthropology, archaeology, astronomy, at- 

 mospheric electricity, aurora, ethnology, formation and testing of 

 the soils, geology, geophysics, ionosphere meteorology, terrestrial 

 magnetism, and other branches of research, and 



"Whereas, The Territory of Alaska is unable to provide funds 

 sufficient to build, equip, and maintain a building calculated to 

 be of the greatest service in conducting scientific research as herein 

 outlined, but is able to provide heat, water, light, power, janitor 

 service, and maintenance of building. 



"Now Therefore Be It Resolved, That the Board of Regents of 

 the University of Alaska offer to the United States a site on its 

 campus on which to erect a building or buildings, to accomplish 

 any or all of the aforesaid purposes and agree in the event specified 

 to the end that the several departments of the Government of the 

 United States in prosecuting research in Alaska shall have the ad- 

 vantages offered by the laboratories, library, and cooperation of the 

 University of Alaska." 



This action followed many requests for research in arctic 

 natural science by various departments of the Government and 

 by the various scientific agencies. This was made more apparent 

 as a result of the interest in the activities of the Polar Year and 

 the minor definite realization of the fact that the United States 

 had no research facility in the Arctic. The proposal to con- 

 struct such a research institute soon aroused interest in inter- 

 national scientific circles. It was evident that a station in the 



