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Ursula Martius Franklin fonds
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Voice of Women: General

Subseries consists of records relating to Dr. Franklin’s work with Voice of Women, founded in 1960 by a group of women concerned about the threat of nuclear war. Their first mass meeting was in July 1960 at Toronto’s Massey Hall. The group organized an International Peace Conference in 1962 – the first of its kind. Working alongside Muriel Duckworth, Kay Macpherson, and other leading women in the Canadian peace movement, Franklin brought her scientific experience and knowledge to bear on the work done by VOW.

Records primarily document the activities of VOW in Toronto and Ottawa, but also include coverage of Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Regina, and Victoria.

General background records on VOW include the 1968 VOW constitution, reports, papers, newsletters, public education literature, news coverage, research, correspondence and general publications on the Canadian peace movement.

VOW submitted numerous briefs to the House of Commons and various federal commissions and committees on a wide range of issues, including military trade agreements, chemical and biological weapons, Star Wars, Canadian-American military cooperation, arms exports, disarmament, energy policy, and bilingualism and biculturalism. Records relating to these briefs, including background material, correspondence, drafts, and the final briefs, can be found in this subseries.

Other activities documented include election advocacy, public education events, peace conferences, meetings, exhibits, and organizational matters. There are also several files document VOW’s work with the Cluff Lake community, in their opposition to a proposed uranium mining development in Northern Saskatchewan in the late 1970s. Records include correspondence, testimonies, background information and news clippings.

There is also significant documentation of tension in the organization in 1962-1963 around the purpose and priorities of VOW. Records here include results from a controversial opinion poll questionnaire sent to members to gather their opinions, and significant correspondence.

Chemical and biological warfare

Subseries consists of records documenting Dr. Franklin’s concerns around chemical and biological warfare/weapons (CBW), as a scientist, a Quaker, and a member of VOW. Subseries includes background material on issues relating to the making, testing and use of chemical poisoning.

According to Dr. Franklin, both Voice of Women and some members of the scientific community were interested in clarifying Canada’s role in this area of research and development, including the role of universities. These groups were also active in public education to achieve a complete banning of research, production, testing and use of such weapons. There are several recurring issues: one is Canada’s official role in the research and testing of chemical weapons, particularly the use, on behalf of her allies, of the test station in Suffield, Alberta. Voice of Women in particular made many attempts to question the use of this large tract of land for testing highly poisonous agents. The Canadian government always responded that their work has been entirely defensive, i.e. the testing of protective clothing for soldiers who might be subjected to chemical attacks. The Canadian government has never attempted to suggest that it could protect civilians or that in fact protection was possible. The storage of small amounts of toxic gases on the grounds of Suffield was never denied, however subsequent inquiries showed that the military found it impossible to actually track down the existing location of their supplies.

Records in this subseries include background material from public sources, as well as unclassified Suffield documents. One of the strong forces in the Canadian scientific community who tried to expose research activities in Canadian universities has been Dr. Arthur Forrer of York University’s Department of Biology. He did much to assess the published papers of staff members from Suffield to ascertain their professional expertise so as to deduce the area of their classified activities.

See also: Relevant tapes can be found in Series 18 (Sound recordings), including the visit of VOW members to Suffield; an interview of Ester McCantiless by Dr. Franklin regarding work at the Suffield military base and recruitment of her students; an interview with chief of the Defence Research Board and Muriel Duckworth and Ursula Franklin; and Dr. Franklin’s recorded thoughts to Ann Gertler re the failure of the Chemical, Biological Warfare Control Workshop.

Chinese black mirrors

Subseries consists of records relating to Dr. Franklin’s research on Chinese black mirrors. Records include data, research, micrographs, reports, papers, manuscript drafts, and correspondence.

Day planners

Series consists of day planners and organizers kept by Dr. Franklin throughout much of her career. The planners typically contain a list of appointments and activities for each day. Some planners also include notes and recollections. Dr. Franklin often kept extra material tucked into in the planners, which reflect her activities during that given month. This material includes news clippings, letters, event programs, invitations, newsletters, address books, drawings by her children, business cards, and photographs.

Voice of Women: Baby Teeth Study

Subseries consists of records documenting the work done by Dr. Franklin and VOW to test baby teeth for levels of Strontium-90, a radioactive isotope in fallout from nuclear weapons testing. From 1962-1964, women across the country collected milk teeth from their children which were submitted to the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, together with information on the family’s residence, diet, etc. in order to be collected and analyzed for ‘natural’ radioactivity. According to Dr. Franklin, with the increased radioactive pollution caused by atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, the composition of children’s bones and teeth would be drastically altered because of the presence of the new radioactive pollutants. The milk teeth of children born before the massive atomic testing would provide the last evidence of bone and teeth laid down under pre-radioactive pollution conditions. Unfortunately these teeth were never analyzed as promised. They were shipped to Chalk River, however, those in power decided not to proceed and in spite of many attempts, the teeth were either not analyzed or the results were not made public. Dr. Franklin believes the analyses were never carried out. This was a severe disappointment to Dr. Franklin and members of the Voice of Women who participated in the program. Nevertheless, the work of VOW was a major contribution to the cessation of atmospheric weapons testing.

Records in this subseries include background material on fallout and Strontium-90; the VOW fallout brief background, draft, and final brief; research data, notes, and graphs; public education material; news clippings; and correspondence.

University of Toronto

Series consists of records relating to Dr. Franklin’s various activities and functions within the University of Toronto, especially as Director of Museum Studies (1987-1989) and Senior Fellow at Massey College (1989-). Records tend to reflect administrative activities, but also include some advocacy done within the university. See subseries descriptions for more information.

Massey College

Subseries consists of records relating to Massey College, especially those during Dr. Franklin’s time as one of the College’s Senior Fellows (1989-). Records include the College’s Incorporating Statute (1961), various correspondence (1990-2002), a list of Officers (1995), and various event files.

Records also discuss Senior Fellow nominations (1999), the Senior Residents Policy (2005), and the Clarkson Laureateship (2007-2012).

Other peace work and resources

Subseries consists of general records and resources related to peace, including papers, background materials, and news articles. Subseries also includes a file on the 1962 Ann Arbor Conference on Arms Control, the first of a series of conferences related to arms control and disarmament sponsored by the Centre for Conflict Resolution at the University of Michigan, held under the guidance of Kenneth Boulding. This conference, which brought together pacifist scholars and military and defence analysts, was very influential in shaping the various approaches of peace research and disarmament activities. The file includes conference summaries, lists of participants and Dr. Franklin’s notes.

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