4 Replies Latest reply on Aug 20, 2020 10:42 AM by Cara Moore Lebonick

    Seeking record of Manhattan Project Award Certificates

    Edward Leary Newbie
    Edward Leary Aug 3, 2020 9:10 PM

      Seeking record of Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson's issuance of Award Certificates on August 6, 1945 to personnel who worked on the Manhattan Project.  The Certificates were issued by the "United States of America, War Department, Army Service Forces - Corps of Engineers, Manhattan District" and certified that [Name][Component] "has participated in work essential to the production of the Atomic Bomb, thereby contributing to the successful conclusion of World War II.  This certificate is awarded in appreciation of effective service."

        • Re: Seeking record of Manhattan Project Award Certificates
          Rebecca Collier Ranger
          Rebecca Collier Expert Aug 12, 2020 8:19 PM (in response to Edward Leary)

          Dear Mr. Leary,

           

          Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

           

          We searched the National Archives Catalog and located 8 series related to Stimson in the Records of the Office of the Secretary of War (Record Group 107) that may include correspondence about the citation for the Manhattan Project. We also located the Lieutenant General Leslie Richard Groves, Jr. Personal Papers, 1896 - 1970 (Collection GRO) that may include information pertaining to the award. For access to these records, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov.

           

          Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT2. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

           

          We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!

          1 person found this helpful
          • Re: Seeking record of Manhattan Project Award Certificates
            Muriel Sorensen Newbie
            Muriel Sorensen Aug 13, 2020 10:02 PM (in response to Edward Leary)

            Hello, Mr. Leary -

             

            Perhaps this might be of assistance.  Have you contacted the Hagley Museum?  If not, please go online at Hagley.org.  You can email them at askhagley@hagley.org. or call them at (302) 658-2400. They have some very interesting info on the Manhattan District Hanford.  They can give you the correct search terms if you need them.  They were so very helpful when I contacted them about information on my father who worked there in the 1940's.

             

            Also, their website has access to the "Sage Sentinel", a Hanford onsite newspaper.  The collection is categorized by years and has a search term feature on it.

             

            I certainly hope this might help you.  I know what it feels like to search for valuable information regarding this subject.

             

            Best wishes,

             

            Muriel Sorensen

              • Re: Seeking record of Manhattan Project Award Certificates
                Edward Leary Newbie
                Edward Leary Aug 14, 2020 9:39 AM (in response to Muriel Sorensen)

                Thank you for your suggestion.

                 

                In May 2020, in response to the question ...Can you provide any information...

                 

                a) Whether any Dupont personnel were awarded a certificate by Secretary of War Stimson and/or received an

                Award Pin in 1946 for their work on the Manhattan project;

                and

                b) If so, do you have a record of the identity of any of the Dupont personnel who were awarded a certificate by

                Secretary of War Stimson and/or received an Award Pin in 1946 for their work on the Manhattan project

                 

                The Hagley Historian advised by email on May 17-18, 2020

                 

                " Unfortunately we have no records for DuPont employees during that time period. Although Hagley has a large number

                of DuPont's record, since we are not part of the company they never turned those records over to us. If you contact

                DuPont directly they will just send you to us, so I'm afraid you've hit a dead end with DuPont employee records."

                 

                "The U.S. Department of Energy does have records for some of the civilian Manhattan Project employees. You can get

                more information on their holdings and contact them through their website."

                 

                Efforts to validate the issuance of the Manhattan Project certificates/ Award Pins through contacts with the Department of Energy have been unsuccessful to date, but are continuing.

              • Re: Seeking record of Manhattan Project Award Certificates
                Cara Moore Lebonick Adventurer
                Cara Moore Lebonick Expert Aug 20, 2020 10:42 AM (in response to Edward Leary)

                Dear Edward Leary,

                 

                You may also wish to contact the National Archives at Atlanta. Our National Archives facility in Atlanta, Georgia maintains basic information regarding employees of the Manhattan Project, including individuals who were contracted to work for the federal government and their awards. This series of records is entitled:

                Manhattan District Central Project Files- Formerly Classified Correspondence Files, 1942-1946.

                https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6921798

                https://catalog.archives.gov/id/2642241

                 

                 

                If the awards you are seeking happen to be issued for work at Oak Ridge or surrounding relevant aresas, you may consider requesting information from that facility by writing to:

                 

                National Archives at Atlanta

                5780 Jonesboro Road

                Morrow, GA 30260

                 

                 

                If not, a similar series for a different National Archives location may hold like materials for said different area. Thank you!

                 

                Cara Moore Lebonick

                Reference Archives Specialist

                National Archives at St. Louis