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Adeline Levine Love Canal research materials (Part I)

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 22-3F-634

Scope and Content Note

Reports, documents, photocopies of correspondence and other material used by Dr. Adeline Levine, Department of Sociology, State University of New York at Buffalo, as background for her book Love Canal: Science, Politics and People published by Lexington Books in 1982. The bulk of the documents date from 1978-1981, but few items concern the original transfer of the Love Canal site to the Niagara Falls Board of Education in 1953.

Dates

  • 1953-1981
  • Majority of material found within 1978-1981

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

The Adeline Levine Love Canal research materials (Part I), 1953-1981 (1978-1981 bulk), 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."

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

Extent

1.67 Linear Feet (4 manuscript boxes)

Abstract

Materials collected by Dr. Adeline Levine, Department of Sociology, State University of New York at Buffalo, for her book Love Canal: Science, Politics and People, published by Lexington Books in 1982. This collection includes a copy of the Quit Claim Deed, dated April 28, 1953, in which land was transferred from Hooker Electrochemical to the Niagara Falls Board of Education for the sum of $1.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in alphabetical order by author.

Acquisition Information

Materials in this collection were donated to the University Archives by Dr. Adeline Levine between 1980 and 1982.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected to this collection.

Related Resources

22/3F/1113
Adeline Levine Love Canal research materials (Part II),1980-1991 Love Canal Collections online portal

Processing Information

Collection processed by Archives staff.
Finding aid encoded by Danielle White, September 2014.

Title
Finding Aid for the Adeline Levine Love Canal research materials (Part I), 1953-1981 (1978-1981 bulk)
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Archives staff.
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)