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Adeline Levine Love Canal research materials (Part II)

 Collection — Box: 1-12
Identifier: 22-3F-1113

Scope and Contents

This collection contains notes from meetings attended, reference materials, communications and other related materials regarding the environmental impact on the Love Canal disaster area. The bulk of the collection is related to the Love Canal Technological Review Committee, which performed the habitability and environmental studies. Adeline Levine's handwritten notes are on many of the meeting handouts.

Dates

  • 1980-1991

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

Adeline Levine Love Canal Research Materials (Part II) are open for research.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical Note

In 1978 Adeline Levine, professor of Sociology at the University at Buffalo visited the Love Canal days after it was declared a national disaster. After speaking with local residents and government officials, Levine was motivated to research the psychosocial impact of toxic waste dump site on the local community. Her published book, Love Canal: Science, Politics, and People (1982) examined the crisis at Love Canal by following the development of local community organizations and scrutinizing the government's response.

In 2007 Levine wrote an described how she became involved in researching the Love Canal environmental disaster.

"Motivated by curiosity I visited the Love Canal for the first time nine days after it was declared a health hazard... The situation was very chaotic at that time. On that first visit I saw people moving out of their well-kept homes, met a pregnant woman convinced she was carrying a monster; spoke to another woman afraid that her daughter would be unable to bear children; saw worried men and women lined up to get information from newly established government offices; talked to some of the government workers trying to bring some order out of the chaos; and met the young woman (Lois Gibbs) who was suddenly thrust into prominence as the leader of a brand new citizen's organization. After eight hours, I came home, determined to do research at Love Canal."

1
Levine, Adeline G. "The Love Canal: Social Science Research in a Community in Crisis." Research in Social Problems & Public Policy, 2007, Volume 14, pages 19-29

Extent

4.8 Linear Feet (11 manuscript boxes, 1 half box)

Abstract

Materials collected by Dr. Adeline Gordon Levine, Department of Sociology, State University of New York at Buffalo, for her research on Love Canal; specifically research on the environmental studies of the area later published in her monograph.

Arrangement

Arranged in three series: I. Government Agencies, II. CECOS International, Inc., and III. Related Love Canal Documents. The collection is chronologically arranged unless otherwise noted.

Acquisition Information

The collection was originally donated by Adeline Levine to the University at Buffalo Law Library. It was later transferred to the University Archives in 2003. One carton of material came from Barry Boyer.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected to this collection.

Related Resources in the University Archives

22/3F/634
Adeline Levine Love Canal Research Materials (Part I), 1953-1981 (1978-1981 bulk)

Processing Information

Collection processed by Nathan Tallman, November 2007.

Title
Finding Aid for the Adeline Levine Love Canal research materials (Part II)
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Nathan Tallman.
Date
2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)