Institute of Ecology records, 1970-1986

Summary

Creator:
Institute of Ecology
Date:
1970-1986
Extent:
70 Linear Feet (70 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Institute of Ecology records, UA97-066, University Archives, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

The administrative subject and correspondence file contains comprehensive records from each of TIE's 4 basic divisions: Founders (1970-1980), has extensive correspondence related to the emergence of the Founders consortium as a distinct entity, its eventual attempts at restructuring, conference files, recruitment records, and a file sequence of member institutions; Board of Trustees (1971-1984) correspondence/subject file includes documents relative to Trustees' elections, annual meetings, and general administration; Assembly (1971-1983) records pertaine to recruitment, featuring file runs of both individual and institutional representative members; Office of the Executive Director (1967-1985) encompassing the most comprehensive administrative subject file in the collection, this subseries features the files of the last Executive Director of TIE, Ms. Josephine K. Doherty (these records are essentially in original provenance). Also included herein are materials on the Fifth Year Review Report, the Nuclear Winter Conference of 1985, financial records of TIE, and documents relating to the growth, development, and demise of TIE form 1967 to 1984.

The research proposal and project files form the bulk of the record for TIE. During its fourteen years of research activity, TIE embraced projects of many sizes, from the small Dynamic Corporation (1982) to the comprehensive work undertaken by the Environmental Impact Assessment Program (1970-1977) or the Experimental Ecological Reserves Project (1972-1981). Many ecosystems were examined, from the Clifty Creek Power Plant to global consequences of nuclear war. Numerous funding agencies, both public and private, opened their resources to TIE, the research consortium best suited to addressing those often multi-disciplinary questions relating to policy making in the ecological sphere. The distilled essence of the research work of TIE can be found in the Publications File.

The financial working papers of TIE has been designated transitory, because final record copy of TIE fiscal transactions exist either in the administrative subject files of the executive director or the individual project files in the research series. This series is largely composes of budget support and printing invoices. Initial discussion with the TIE representatives yielded a suggested retention time of two years from the corporate close of TIE activities; after that point, the records were to be destroyed.

The Ancillary Records to the TIE Archive are comprised of correspondence, working papers, audio tapes, and addenda routed through Archives offices for response after cessation of TIE corporate activities on June 30, 1984. Included in this file are requests for jobs, solicitations, requests for publications, and correspondence between TIE representatives and Dr. John C. Edwards, TIE Archivist. The working papers consist of original monographs of Carol Ebel and E. Gilbert Head, working papers used in the processing and reorganization of the TIE papers, and in the preparation of the final inventory. Two sets of cassette audio tapes make up this subseries; Ecology Handbook Conference Tapes-Morgantown/Tulsa 1976 (12 tapes), and TIE History Interview Tapes 1984-1985 (14 tapes). Addenda will be appended to the TIE Archives as Ancillary Records.

For additional TIE information, you are referred to the R.H. Goodwin Papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming. Materials in this collection include: Minutes of meetings, memoranda, correspondence and reports (1971-1978), Fifth Year Review Report, Trustees Handbook (1976), Financial Statements (1972-1977), fund raising correspondence (1976-1977), and foundation grant requests (1976-1977). Dr. Goodwin was treasurer of TIE from 1975-1977.

Biographical / historical:

Before attempting a brief history of The Institute of Ecology (TIE), it is important to address the question of the various name changes experienced by this organization. Prior to its incorporation, TIE was known as the National Institute of Ecology (NIE). Because TIE was seeking a more international role, just at the time of incorporation, the name Inter-American Institute of Ecology (IAIE) was adopted. Incorporated as IAIE on January 18, 1971, TIE changed its name officially to The Institute of Ecology on June 24, 1971, and would keep the name TIE until corporate dissolution in 1984.

As early as 1965, the idea of a national ecological organization designed as an interface between ecologists and national environmental policy makers was being discussed within the ranks of the Ecological Society of America. By 1967, an ESA Study Committee had prepared a report urging a feasibility study of a "National Institute of Ecology." This 1967 report recommended the establishment of a consortium dedicated to interdisciplinary approaches to ecological problems.

No action was taken upon the recommendations of this report until September, 1969. At that time, the Ecological Society of America, assisted by a grant from the National Science Foundation, selected the private managerial consulting firm of Peat, Marwick, & Mitchell & Co. to assist them in assembling a feasibility study which would objectively assess the need for a new institute. From this study emerged the framework of the new organization: roles, structures, and financing.

A key aspect of the study carried out by the ESA Study Committee and Peat, Marwick & Mitchell in 1969 and 1970 was an examination of what the role of NIE should be. As the result of an extensive survey circulated among members of the scientific and policy-making communities, it was determined that the desired role of NIE would be one less purely academic than the role envisioned in the 1967 report. The survey revealed a desire for NIE to disclose to a select lay community (specifically, government and private-sector policy makers) the findings of contemporary ecological research. To accomplish this new goal, the survey respondents indicated that a specific problem-solving, project-oriented research program would yield not only short-term, specific goals, but would add to the information needed by the ecological scientific community at large as well.

The survey phase of the Study Committee/PMM report was published in April, 1970. In December of that year, the second phase report of the study, dealing with the mechanics and funding sources for NIE, was released. As originally proposed, the structure of NIE was to be generally overseen by a Board of Trustees. This 15-member board was designed to serve as an informational clearinghouse, and was also designed to orchestrate the efforts of the 1) Founders, 2) Assembly, and 3) Director's Office.

Because NIE was seen as a consortium of member institutions, the formal structure of the Founders was established as a forum to represent those institutional interests. At its largest membership in the mid-1970's, the Founders numbered some 100 member institutions, bound together to represent the interests of the ecological/scientific community.

The TIE Assembly was designed to make the organization accessible to the non-academic/research community. Its (up to 250) individual members were to be drawn from both private and public sectors, and the Assembly was to be the "marketplace of ideas" where scientists, concerned citizens, and those responsible for ecological/environmental policymakers could meet and exchange points of view.

The Director's Office was envisioned as a "command post" position, one which was responsible for orchestrating the implementation of policies developed by the Founders, Assembly, and Trustees. This function was in some ways similar to some of the coordinating functions of the Trustees, but it became geared to the more specific concerns of coordinating the numerous research proposals and projects taken on by TIE.

This basic organizational system, with its inherent system of checks and balances, functioned with minor modifications until 1977. A radical change in TIE governance came about because of the work of the Fifth Year Review Committee, a TIE body wisely stipulated in the organization's original charter. Working in 1975 and 1976, this committee's final report cited lack of "core funding," conflicting "internal interests," and operational problems which undermined progress towards the mission of TIE, and the dichotomy of priorities between the ecological community and policy makers, as major obstacles to the continuation and/or effectiveness of TIE.

The Fifth Year Review Committee proposed some major changes. First, the Founders were to be replaced by "Sponsoring Members," who would be assessed dues. The Assembly would be continued, but its members would also be asked to support TIE financially. These fees would provide the "core funding" needed to help defray TIE's rising costs. The Board of Trustees was expanded to 18 members. Perhaps most significantly for TIE, the organization entered into a partnership with Holcomb Research Institute at Butler University in Indiana. This action formally severed the Washington D.C. base of TIE, which had virtually ceased to exist already.

The practical effect of this change was to shift the focus of TIE to the scientific community. Its energies became absorbed in the pursuit of financial solvency, and the completion of numerous funded research projects.

With the dissolution of the agreement between TIE and HRI in 1982, TIE returned to Washington, and opened offices in the American Institute of Biological Sciences complex. Financial problems and the unresolved philosophical disagreements over the proper mission of TIE continued to debilitate the organization. At their March and April meetings in 1984, the Board of Trustees, after weighing several options, voted to cease corporate activity. Provisions were made to retire the organizational activity. Provisions were made to retire the organizational records, and TIE closed its doors for the last time on June 30, 1984.

Persons interested in a more detailed institutional history of TIE are directed to the TIE history written by Josephine K. Doherty. This comprehensive overview can be found as an addendum in the Ancillary Records File in the TIE Archives, and provides a more informed perspective on TIE's brief history.

Access and use restrictions

Preferred citation:

Institute of Ecology records, UA97-066, University Archives, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.