World Federation of Scientific Workers

Scope and Content

Various series of minutes, 1946-95; Treasurer's records, 1946-78; correspondence, subject files and circulars, 1947-79; Scientific World, 1957-92; bibliography, 1989; photographs, 1940s-70s.

Administrative / Biographical History

The World Federation of Scientific Workers was founded in July 1946, and has enjoyed the active participation of a number of eminent scientists. It aims to deal with all issues involving the social responsibility of scientific workers (laboratory researchers, academics in both the natural and human sciences, as well as engineers). Priority issues include: science and society, science policy, disarmament, science and ethics, and scientific law.

For a substantial period of its existence it has been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a non-governmental organisation (NGO). It was listed as a proscribed organisation by the British Labour Party in 1953 for its alleged pro-Communist views.

[Reference: UNESCO directory of NGOs (http://erc.unesco.org/ong/en/directory/ONG_Desc_portal.asp?mode=gn&code=741), accessed Aug 2010]

Access Information

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Other Finding Aids

Custodial History

The first deposit of records was made in October 1985.

Accruals

30th October 1985 : 6 cartons of papers of Dr W. Wooster, one time officer, by parcel carrier [gift]; 22nd November 1985 : main archive from offices of WFSW, approx. 20 cartons [indefinite loan]; 23rd December 1985 : 1 box of AScW journal and correspondence files of Dr W. Wooster, road delivery [gift]; 24th January 1986 : 7 boxes, circulars, 1966-74, unaccompanied van collection [indefinite loan]; 16th July 1992 : 4 archive boxes, files, minutes, publications, by mail from PPU archivist [indefinite loan]; 30th July 1992 : 1 microfilm (Moscow 1962), by mail from PPU archivist [indefinite loan]; 18th September 1992 : publications and circulars, by mail from PPU archivist [indefinite loan]; 23rd November 1992 : 1 volume, by mail from PPU archivist [indefinite loan]; 20th December 1995 : 1 box of minutes and publications, by mail from Dr C. Russell [indefinite loan].