From July 1957 to December 1958 an international cooperative scientific program was conducted to study the earth and its environment. This program was the International Geophysical Year. More than 70 countries participated in the project which led to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts around planets, the theory of plate tectonics, exploration of outer space, construction of earth satellites, and increased research in the Arctic and Antarctic polar regions. IGY was sponsored by the International Council of Scientific Unions and involved nearly 30,000 scientists. In a radio and television address on June 30, 1957, President Eisenhower expressed his belief that “the most important result of the International Geophysical Year is that demonstration of the ability of peoples of all nations to work together harmoniously for the common good. I hope this can become common practice in other fields of human endeavor.”
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Documents:
Letter, Chester I. Barnard, Chairman, National Science Board to the President concerning IGY and President's response:
Letter Barnard to DDE - June 22, 1954
I GY/Letter DDE to Barnard - June 24, 1954
Hearing before Subcommittees of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, on the International Geophysical Year:
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Cover
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 In Cover
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Contents
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 1
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 2
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 3
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 4
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 5
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 6
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 7
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 8
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 9
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 10
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 11
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 12
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 13
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 14
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 15
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 16
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 17
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 18
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 19
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 20
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 21
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 22
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 23
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 24
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 25
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 26
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 27
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 28
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 29
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 30
IGY Hearing on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 3-26-58 Page 31
Letter, Sinclair Weeks, Secretary of Commerce, to Detlev Bronk, President of the National Academy of Sciences concerning U.S. program in geophysical research:
Letter Sinclair Weeks to Detlev Bronk-3-23-1954-Page 1
Letter Sinclair Weeks to Detlev Bronk-3-23-1954-Page 2
List of 29 nations participating in International Geophysical Year:
List of nations in IGY June 7-1954
Memorandum, James R. Killian, Jr., Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, to Secretary of Defense Neil McElroy and Deputy Secretary of Defense Donald Quarles, concerning the United States IGY Satellite Program:
Memo Killian to McElroy & Quarles-12-23-57-Page 1
Memo Killian to McElroy & Quarles-12-23-57-Page 2
Memorandum on U.S. Program for International Geophysical Year (includes listing of the International Council of Scientific Unions Special Committee for the International Geophysical Year and a listing the U.S. National Committee for the International Geophysical Year):
Memo on US Program for IGY-1954-Page 1
Memo on US Program for IGY-1954-Page 2
Memo on US Program for IGY-1954-Page 3
Memo on US Program for IGY-1954-Page 4
Memo on US Program for IGY-1954-Page 5
Memo on US Program for IGY-1954-Page 6
Memo on US Program for IGY-1954-Page 7
Memorandum to James R. Killian, Jr. from Dr. George Kistiakowsky, Dr. Emmanuel Piore and Dr. Herbert York on the "U.S. IGY Satellite Program Prognosis and Recommendations":
Memo York to Killian 12-19-57-Page 1
Memo York to Killian 12-19-57-Page 2
Statement by President Eisenhower concerning the Amundsen-Scott IGY South Pole station:
Message by DDE re Amundsen-Scott IGY South Pole Station Jan 11-1957
"Outline of International Geophysical Year Program" by the U.S. National Committee, International Geophysical Year 1957-58:
National Academy of Science Outline of IGY July 26-1955-Page 1
National Academy of Science Outline of IGY July 26-1955-Page 2
National Academy of Science Outline of IGY July 26-1955-Page 3
National Science Foundation report on the International Geophysical Year:
National Science Foundation for IGY-June 2, 1954-Page 1
National Science Foundation for IGY-June 2, 1954-Page 2
National Science Foundation for IGY-June 2, 1954-Page 3
National Science Foundation for IGY-June 2, 1954-Page 4
Press release by the Senate Committee on Appropriations concerning report on IGY:
Pres Release by Senate Committee on Appropriations May 28 -1956 - Page 1
Pres Release by Senate Committee on Appropriations May 28 -1956 - Page 2
"International Geophysical Year: A Special Report on the United States Program Submitted by National Science Foundation for the Committee on Appropriations of the United States Senate":
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 1
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 2
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 3
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 4
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 5
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 6
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 7
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 8
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 9
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 10
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 11
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 12
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 13
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 14
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 15
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 16
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 17
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 18
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 19
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 20
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 21
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 22
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 23
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 24
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 25
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 26
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 27
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 28
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 29
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 30
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 31
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 32
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 33
Natl Science Fnd Report to Senate on IGY 3-28-56-Page 34
Article, "News Report of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council, Volume IV, March-April 1954, Number 2 - The United States Program for the International Geophysical Year" by Joseph Kaplan, Chairman, United States National Committee, International Geophysical Year:
News Report US Program for IGY -March-April 1954-Page 1
News Report US Program for IGY -March-April 1954-Page 2
News Report US Program for IGY -March-April 1954-Page 3
News Report US Program for IGY -March-April 1954-Page 4
Press Release, "Remarks by the President in connection with the opening of the International Geophysical Year":
Press Release 6-30-1957
Press Release by the National Science Foundation and the National Academy of Science, "Plans for Construction of Earth Satellite Vehicle Announced":
Press Release by National Science Foundation July 29-1955-Page 1
Press Release by National Science Foundation July 29-1955-Page 2
Press Release, statement by White House Press Secretary, James C. Hagerty on IGY:
Statement by Hagerty July 29-1955
Secondary resources for this topic include:
IGY: Year of Discovery, The Story of the International Geophysical Year by Sydney Chapman, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1959.
The Making of a Moon: The Story of the Earth Satellite Program by Arthur C. Clarke, Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, 1958.
