Date: 24.1.94
KENNETH SCOTT'S ORAL HISTORY
The Crocker and Donner Labs
Martin Kamen wasin charge of isotope production
Dorothy Axelrod Heller made radioautographs with plutonium (because it is an alpha
emitter and gets good pictures). Aside from fission metabolism work, Hamilton shared a
contract with Axelrod, on the radiographyoffissionable products.
Dr. Robert Stone worked in the UC Medical Center Radiology; did neutron therapy with
John Larkin; he later went to the Metallurgical Laboratory Project as director of medical
research.
When Crocker was started, and Lawrence left, Hamilton was brought in from outside to
direct it. John Lawrence moved to the new Donner Lab with Hardin Jones and Cornelius
Tobias.
Hamilton had the support of E. Lawrence, although he was not so close with John
Lawrence. He had enough physics knowledgeto run the 60" Cyclotron, so the cyclotron
was tumed over to him. He was working on a secret project on fission metabolism when
he becamedirector. Scott was hired as a lab technician | at Crocker and was notpart of
the secret.
Earl Miller, the doctor who administered the injections to human subjects, became
interested in treating thyroid diseases with i!
through Scott and moved to the lab at the
UC Medical Center.
Everything at the Crocker lab waclassified at leasttill Scott left in 1951.
Manhattan District and the Project years
Hamilton had influence with people in charge. The 60” and the facility at the University
of Chicago could produce isotopes, which is why they became important in these circles.
Stafford Warren, one of Scott's bosses, was a full colonel in the Manhattan District. He
supervised people who worked onthe first plutonium to experimentwith,to find out
where it went in the body.
There was a relationship between Hamilton and Seaborg. Hamilton was responsible for
making a decision to have plutonium set aside for biological research, through Seaborg.
Stone was notin this part ofit.
Roy Overstreet and Louis Jacobson were soil chemists; they later worked on the
Operation Crossroads in Bikini.
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
Archives and Records Office
Human Radiation Experiments Search and Retrieval Project
Anna Berge Research Notes
Electronic DocumentTitle: Scott
April 4, 1994
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