Geophysical Institute-Alaska University— Wilson 175 



northwestern part of North America in typical arctic surround- 

 ings and within or close to the zone of maximum auroral 

 activity, would be a valuable asset to any comprehensive study 

 of the Earth by international agencies. Such a laboratory would 

 put the United States on a par with Russia, England, Greenland, 

 Norway and Finland— each of which has had at least one such 

 institution for years. In 1944 the American Geophysical Union 

 and the National Academy of Sciences adopted a resolution 

 endorsing the creation of a Geophysical station in Alaska and 

 suggested its location at the University of Alaska. 



Early Legislative Procedure 



Just before and during World War II the necessity for in- 

 creased knowledge of the Arctic became apparent. Activities 

 were initiated seeking to obtain support from Congress for the 

 establishment of a research institute in Alaska. Workers in the 

 small Geophysical Observatory and members of the University 

 staff were much interested and aided materially in initiating 

 action which finally led to the presentation of the bill for the 

 appropriation. Members of national and international scien- 

 tific organizations became definitely interested and participated 

 in the hearings, as did representatives of the various defense 

 agencies, the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Geological Survey 

 and the Department of Commerce. Among the many individu- 

 als who appeared before the various congressional committees 

 were E. L. Bartlett, Delegate from Alaska; Dr. John A. Fleming, 

 then Advisor in International Scientific Relations to the Carne- 

 gie Institution of Washington, President of the International 

 Council of Scientific Unions and General Secretary of the 

 American Geophysical Union; Stuart L. Seaton, representing 

 the University of Alaska; Rear Admiral L. O. Colbert of the 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey; J. H. Dellinger of the Bureau of 

 Standards; Robert Patterson, Secretary of War; Julius A. Krug, 

 Secretary of Interior; Irwin W. Silverman, Chief Counsel, Di- 

 vision of Territories and Island Possessions, Department of 

 Interior; Roger Revelle, Commander U. S. Naval Reserve, 

 Office of Naval Research, Navy Department, Washington, D. C; 



