Science for the People.
Science for the People Records
1966-2014
1969-1992
MS 859
6 boxes
(7 linear ft.)
Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries
At the height of the antiwar struggle in the late 1960s, a group of scientists and engineers based in Cambridge, Mass., began to turn a critical eye on the role of their fields in the larger political culture. Calling themselves Scientists and Engineers for Social and Political Action (SESPA), the group took the slogan "Science for the People," which in turn became the name of their organization. With a collective membership that spread nation-wide, Science for the People was a voice for radical science and an active presence framing several of the scientific debates of the day. Through its vigorous publications, SftP explored issues ranging from the impact of military and corporate control of research to scientific rationalization of racism, sexism, and other forms of inequality; and they contributed to the discussions of recombinant DNA, sociobiology, IQ and biological determinism, women's health care, nuclear power, and the rise of biotechnology. Many members were engaged in supporting anti-imperialist resistance in Central America and Asia during the 1980s. The organization gradually waned in the 1980s and published the last issue of its magazine in 1989.
Donated by several members of the organization, the Science for the People collection provides a window into the organization and operation of a collective devoted to radical science. In addition to meeting minutes and notes, and some correspondence, the collection includes a nearly complete run of the Science for the People magazine, and a substantial representation of the national and Nicaragua newsletters and topical publications. Photographs from the group's trip to China and other areas abroad in 1978 are available online, along with videos of the talks and sessions from a 2014 conference on the history and legacy of SftP.
English
In the late 1960s, a group of radical scientists and engineers began to turn a critical eye on the role of their fields in the larger political culture. Calling themselves Scientists and Engineers for Social and Political Action (SESPA), announcing that "if you are tired of science for the pentagon or science for business, try science for the people." Their slogan "Science for the People" (SftP), became the name of their organization.
With a collective membership, decentralized, and little hierarchy, SftP was truly a grassroots organization, spawning chapters nationwide, usually based in research universities, though not limited to them. As Herb Fox, one of the group's founders noted, there was a vigorous debate in the early years of the organization over precisely what SftP should be: whether they should see themselves as engaged primarily in class struggle (in a Marxist sense) emphasizing the issues of science, as an organization devoted to using science in the interest of the people, or more generally as a group that would take a critical approach to examining the social and political impact of science and the misuse of science.
From these sometimes contentious beginnings, SftP emerged into a powerful voice for radical science, communicating its ideas through the bi-monthly magazine it published from 1970 to 1989 and a string of pamphlets and books on the major scientific issues of the day. In the 1970s and 1980s, members of the organization were influential in building opposition to military and corporate control of research and to scientific rationalization of racism, sexism, and other forms of inequality. SftP were indispensable participants in high-profile debates over recombinant DNA technologies; sociobiology, IQ, and biological determinism; women's health care; nuclear power; and the rise of biotechnology. Many of its members were engaged in supporting anti-imperialist resistance in Central America and Asia during the 1980s.
Although the organization gradually waned in the 1980s, publishing the last issue of its magazine in 1989, the issues it confronted have not. After a conference on the history of the organization was held at UMass Amherst in 2014, Science for the People has reorganized, with chapters reappearing at universities around the country including University of Michigan, MIT, and UMass Amherst.
The Science for the People Records documents the organizational life, publication history, and research of the science activist group from 1966 to 1992, as well as a conference about the group held in 2014.
The collection contains a nearly complete run of the Science for the People magazine which was published bi-monthly from 1969-1989; in addition there are various publications about sociobiology, racism, sexism, and war. There are organizational notes, as well as national and regional newsletters from New York, Nicaragua, and Boston chapters. There are also subject files related to the organization's research pertaining to sociobiology, recombinant DNA, nuclear power, anti-war, and other topics. Photographs from the group's trip to China and other areas abroad in 1978 are available online, along with videos of the talks and sessions from a 2014 conference on the history and legacy of SftP.
The collection is organized into three series:
[Series 1: Organizational Materials](series1)
[Series 2: Publications](series2)
[Series 3: Subject Files](series3)
The collection is open for research.
Cite as: Science for the People Records (MS 859). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.
Acquired from Science for the People members Terri Goldberg, Scott Schneider, Al Weinrub, and Bob Ogden, 2014.
Additional materials related to the 2014 conference on the history and legacy of SftP is available on their Science for the People conference website.
Alternative energy
Antinuclear
Antiracism
Environment
Peace
Political activism
Science and technology
Social justice
Vietnam War
Women and feminism
Selected material from the Science for the People Records is available online through Credo.
Processed by Kyle Boyd, 2017.
Science--Social aspects
Technology--Social aspects
Protest movements
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements
Science for the People (Organization)
Science for the People (Organization). Food and Nutrition Group
Science for the People (Organization). Sociobiology Study Group
Ann Arbor Science for the People (Organization)
Magazines (periodicals)
Newsletters
Series 1. Organizational Materials
1970-2014
.5 boxes (.75 linear feet)
Series 1 contains documents related to the organization's day to day operations. There are
meeting notes from the steering committee, board of directors, and various chapters. There are
national newsletters and those for the Boston and Nicaragua chapters. It also contains promotional
materials, correspondence between members, videos from a 2014 conference, and information about the Valentine and Unity Caucuses.
Series 2. Publications
1959-2004
2 boxes (3 linear feet)
Series 2 contains publications by Science for the People, and various regional SftP groups. This includes issues of the bimonthly SftP magazine from 1970-1989. There are also subject specific publications relating to topics including food resources, nuclear power, sociobiology, the military, and health care produced by the national SftP organization and local chapters.
Series 3. Subject Files
1970-2004
3.5 boxes (3.25 linear feet)
Series 3 contains topical research for a variety of subjects which SftP published about or discussed. It contains information on China, food, energy, nuclear power, recombinant DNA, sociobiology, and war.
Series 1. Organizational Materials
1970-2014
.5 boxes (.75 linear feet)
5
1
American Association for the Advancement of Science Meeting in Boston
1976
1
1
Benefit Cocktail Party Invitations
undated
1
2
Board of Directors
1990-1991
1
3
Board of Directors: Ross Feldberg notes
1990-1992
1
4
Boston Area Science for the People
1973-1974
1
5
Boston Area Science for the People: Meeting Notes
1976
OS 1
Conference: Posters
2014
1
6
Conference: Planning and Promotion
2014
6
Conference: Promotional Bags
2014
Conference: Session Videos
2014 Apr
Science for the People: Stories from the Movement
2014 Apr 11Plenary 1
The History and Lasting Significance of Science for the People
2014 Apr 12Plenary 2
Science and Ideology
2014 Apr 12Session 1, Panel 1
Math and Computer Technology
2014 Apr 12Session 1, Panel 2
Teaching Social Justice in Science
2014 Apr 12Session 1, Panel 3
The Militarization of Science: SftP's Historical Impact and Current Challenges
2014 Apr 12Session 1, Panel 4
Agriculture Science and Food Justice
2014 Apr 12Session 2, Panel 5
Challenging Myth of Race and Gender
2014 Apr 12Session 2, Panel 6
Toxics and Occupational and Public Health
2014 Apr 12Session 2, Panel 7
DC Metro Science for the People: Continuing our Legacy in the 21st Century!
2014 Apr 12Session 2, Panel 8
Keynote Lecture
2014 Apr 12Mentoring Comrades: The Dialectics of Political Mentoring in the Natural Sciences
SftP in the World
2014 Apr 13Session 3, Panel 9
Climate Change and Energy Technology and Policy
2014 Apr 13Session 3, Panel 10
Women and Science
2014 Apr 13Session 3, Panel 11
Health, Medicine, Pro- and Anti-People Healthcare Models
2014 Apr 13Session 3, Panel 12
Closing Plenary: "SftP 2.0...Where Do We Go From Here?"
2014 Apr 13Plenary 3
1
7
Correspondence
1978-1979
1
8
Correspondence: Promotional Mailings
1981
1
9
Correspondence: Schneider, Scott
1977
1
10
Correspondence: Weinrub, Al
1976-1983
4
38
The Fundamental amd Principal Contradictions in SftP
undated
1
11
Historical Benchmarks
1970-1979
1
12
Impact: Report on Science and Technology
1980
1
13
Internal Discussion Bulletin
1979
1
14
Internal Discussion Bulletin
1982
1
15
Magazine: Solicitations for Subscriptions
1975-1980
1
16
Magazine: Statistics
1979
4
39
Nature article: Science for the People
1978 Aug
1
17
Newsclippings
1970-1972
1
18
Newsclippings
1970-1972
1
19
Newsletter: Boston
1974-1975
1
20
Newsletter: National
1976 Jan
1
21
Newsletter: National
1981 Feb
1
22
Newsletter: National
1981 Jun-Jul
1
23
Newsletter: National
1981 Aug-Sep
1
24
Newsletter: National
1981 Oct-Nov
1
25
Newsletter: National
1981 Dec-1982 Jan
1
26
Newsletter: National
1982 Feb-Mar
1
27
Newsletter: National
1982 Apr-May
1
28
Newsletter: National
1982 Jun/Jul
1
29
Newsletter: National
1982 Aug-Sep
1
30
Newsletter: National
1982 Oct-Nov
1
31
Newsletter: National
1982 Dec-1983 Jan
1
32
Newsletter: National
1982 Feb-Mar
1
33
Newsletter: National
1983 Aug-Sep
1
34
Newsletter: National
1983 Oct-Dec
1
35
Newsletter: National
1984 Spring
1
36
Newsletter: National
1984 Fall
1
37
Newsletter: National
1985 Spring
1
38
Newsletter: New York
1975
1
39
Newsletter: Nicaragua
1987
1
40
Newsletter: Nicaragua
1988
1
41
Newsletter: Nicaragua
1989
1
42
Newsletter: The Principal Investigator
1990
1
43
Newsletter: SESPA
1969
5
2
Organizational Chart
undated
1
44
Organizational Structure: Discussion
1970
1
45
Position Paper on the Four Questions
1975
1
46
Promotional Brochures
1970-1980
5
3
Publication Promotion
1981
4
40
Revolution's Evolution: Radical Group 10 years later
1979 Jun
1
47
Steering Committee
1973-1974
1
48
Steering Committee
1975
1
49
Steering Committee
1988-1989
1
50
Twentieth Anniversary Benefit Reception
1989 Jun 8
1
51
Unity Caucus
1974-1975
1
52
Valentine Caucus
1975
Series 2. Publications
1959-2004
2 boxes (3 linear feet)
1
53
Science for the People magazine
1970 Aug-Dec
1
54
Science for the People magazine
1971 Feb-Jul
1
55
Science for the People magazine
1971 Sep-Nov
1
56
Science for the People magazine
1972 Jan-Mar
1
57
Science for the People magazine
1972 Jul-Nov
1
58
Science for the People magazine
1973 Jan-May
1
59
Science for the People magazine
1973 Jul-Nov
1
60
Science for the People magazine
1974 Jan-May
2
1
Science for the People magazine
1974 Jul-Nov
2
2
Science for the People magazine
1975 Jan-May
2
3
Science for the People magazine
1975 Jul-Nov
2
4
Science for the People magazine
1976 Jan-May
2
5
Science for the People magazine
1976 Jul-Dec
2
6
Science for the People magazine
1977 Jan-Jun
2
7
Science for the People magazine
1977 Jul-Dec
2
8
Science for the People magazine
1978 Jan-Jun
2
9
Science for the People magazine
1978 Jul-Dec
2
10
Science for the People magazine
1979 Jan-Jun
2
11
Science for the People magazine
1979 Jul-Dec
2
12
Science for the People magazine
1980 Jan-Jun
2
13
Science for the People magazine
1980 Jul-Dec
2
14
Science for the People magazine
1981 Jan-Jun
2
15
Science for the People magazine
1981 Jul-Dec
2
16
Science for the People magazine
1982 Jan-Jun
2
17
Science for the People magazine
1982 Jul-Dec
2
18
Science for the People magazine
1983 Jan-Jun
2
19
Science for the People magazine
1983 Jul-Dec
2
20
Science for the People magazine
1984 Jan-Jun
2
21
Science for the People magazine
1984 Jul-Dec
2
22
Science for the People magazine
1985 March
2
23
Science for the People magazine
1985 Jun
2
24
Science for the People magazine
1985 Jul-Dec
2
25
Science for the People magazine
1986 Jan-Jun
2
26
Science for the People magazine
1986 Jul-Dec
2
27
Science for the People magazine
1987 Jan-Jun
3
1
Science for the People magazine
1987 Jul-Dec
3
2
Science for the People magazine
1988 Jan-Apr
3
3
Science for the People magazine
1988 Jul-Dec
3
4
Science for the People magazine
1989-01/06
3
5
Science for the People magazine: Index
1977
3
6
Science for the People magazine: Inside covers
1973-1980
3
7
The AMRC Paper
1973
3
8
Beyond Earth Day
1990 May
3
9
Biology as Destiny: Scientific Fact or Social Bias
1984
3
10
Biology as a Social Weapon
1977
3
11
Censored
1971 Dec
3
12
China: Science Walks on Two Legs
1974
3
13
Feed, Need, Greed: Food Resources and Population
1980
3
14
Feed, Need, Greed: Where Will it Lead?
1974 Dec
3
15
Hard Times: Employment, Unemployment, and Professionalism in the Science
1973
3
15a
Interrupt: Newsletter of Computer People for Peace, nos. 19, 20
1973
3
16
I.Q., Scientific or Social Controversy
1976 Feb
3
17
Los Nuevos Conquistadores
1973 Jun
3
18
Nuclear Power Pamphlet
1976
3
19
Science Against the People
1972 Dec
3
20
Science and Society Series: The Energy Crisis
1973 Nov
3
21
Science and Society Series: Genetic Engineering
1973 Nov
3
22
Science and Society Series: Issues of Health Care
1973 Nov
3
23
Science and Society Series: The Politics of Ecology
1974
3
24
Science and Society Series: Resources for Teachers
1976
3
25
Science and Technology in Latin America
1972 Dec
3
26
Science Teaching torward an Alternative
1972 Apr
5
4
Scientists and the Military
1981
3
27
Sociobiology: The New Synthesis
1975
3
28
The Sociobiology Packet
1979 Jul
3
29
The 3 Mile Island Disaster
1979 Apr
5
5
Thistle: Special Science for the People issue
1990 Feb
3
30
Torwards a Science for the People
1972 Dec
3
31
Woman and Health Care Packet
1977-1980
Series 3. Subject Files
1970-2004
3.5 boxes (3.25 linear feet)
3
32
American Association for the Advancement of Science Convention
1977-1979
3
33
Anarchy
1970-1971
3
34
Anti-War
1969-1972
3
35
Black Panther Party
1971
3
36
Biological Determinism Symposium
1975
3
37
Biology as a Social Weapon: Book Reviews and Press
1976-1979
3
38
Boston Racism
1974
3
39
Brazil's Economy
1972
3
40
China
1975
6
China: audiocassettes
1970-1978
Fifteen audiocassette tapes recorded in the early 1970s when Science for the People members
travelled to China to learn more about Chinese science. Peking University, Tsinghua University,
Futan University, Okinawa, May Seventh Cadre School. Photographs of a SftP trip to China and
other places abroad in 1978 are available online through Credo.
6
China: compact disc
1980
5
6
De Paul University
1972
3
41
Energy
1974-1978
3
42
Ephemera
1970-1982
3
43
Feed, Need, and Greed
1974-1977
3
44
Flyers
1975-1987
3
45
Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture
1974-1976
3
46
Food and Nutrition Group
1975-1976
3
47
Food and Nutrition Group
1976-1978
3
48
Genetics and Social Policy
1973-1976
3
49
Genewatch
1985
3
50
How AMRC Helps the Army
1973
3
51
Hospitals
1975
3
52
Imperialism
1975
3
53
International Nutrition and Global Food Resources
1974-1976
3
54
IQ and Race
1970-1976
3
55
Jensenism
1975
4
1
Marine Science Unite: Esenada
1975-1978
4
2
Mathematics Action Group
1970-1977
4
3
May Magazine Articles
1975
4
4
Miscellaneou - advertisements, clippings, poems
1970-1975
5
7
Miscellaneous - labor, occupational health
1975
4
5
Miscellaneous Publications
1974-1975
4
6
New Patriotism
1976
4
7
Newsclippings
1968
4
8
Newsclippings-Chicago
1976-1980
5
8
Newsletter: What's Happening
1972
5
9
Newsletter: What's Happening-Notes
1972-1976
4
9
Notes-Bob Ogden
undated
5
10
Nuclear
1978
4
10
Nuclear Power
1979-1983
4
11
Occupational and Environmental Health
1974-1976
4
12
The Outlaw: St. Louis Underground Newspaper
1970
4
13
People's Health
1970
4
41
Photograph: Large Computer Machine
1970-1979
4
14
Photographs-Bob Ogden
1975-1980
4
15
Photographs-Terri Goldberg
1980
4
16
Recombinant DNA
1975-1976
4
17
Recombinant DNA
1976-1977
4
18
Recombinant DNA
1981
4
19
Ruth Hubbard
1990
4
20
SANE: A Citizens Organization for a Sane World
1978
4
21
Science
1974-1979
4
22
Science and Society Study: Materials from a Manifest Perspective
1969
4
23
Science for Viet Nam
1971-1972
4
24
Situationalist Surealists
1976
4
25
Sociobiology
1976-1979
4
26
Sociobiology
1979-1980
5
11
Sociobiology
1975-1979
4
27
Sociobiology: Ann Arbor Group
1976-1980
4
28
Sociobiology Study Group
1978-1980
4
29
Sociiobiology Study Group
1982-1985
4
30
SPARK: Magazine by the Committee for Social Responsibility in Engineering
1971-1973
4
31
SPARK: Magazine by the Committee for Social Responsibility in Engineering
1974-1975
4
32
Students for a Demented Society
1966-1969
4
33
Subway Steel Dust
1975 Jan
5
12
Uptown Community Organization
1972
4
34
War (Vietnam and IndoChina)
1972-1973
4
35
The War Physicists (manuscript)
1976
4
36
Women
1970-1980
4
37
XYY
1974-1976