Organized Collections
The International Biological Program (IBP), 1964-1974
Following the success of the International Geophysical Year of 1957-1958, Sir Rudolph Peters, President of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and Giuseppe Montalenti, President of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), in 1959 began discussing possibilities for an international program of biological studies focusing on the productivity of biological resources, human adaptability to environmental change, and environmental change itself. As a result of these discussions, ICSU at its Ninth General Assembly in 1961 established a Planning Committee on the proposed International Biological Program, with Montalenti as chairman. The committee recommended that the IBP focus on the effect on biological communities of changes in the natural environment, and on the conservation and growth of natural resources for human benefit. Accordingly, during a General Assembly held in Paris on 23-25 July 1964 and attended by some 150 participants from scientific academies worldwide, ICSU established a Special Committee for the IBP (SCIBP), which was charged with directing the program.
The IBP’s research structure was established at the Paris meeting as well. Seven program areas, each represented by a SCIBP subcommittee, were identified as providing the focus of the IBP’s scientific activity. These seven were:
- Conservation of Terrestrial Communities (CT)
- Human Adaptability (HA)
- Productivity of Freshwater Communities (PF)
- Productivity of Marine Communities (PM)
- Production Processes (PM)
- Productivity of Terrestrial Communities (PT)
- Use and Management of Biological Resources (UM)
In the United States, participation in the IBP was facilitated by the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council. In late 1963, the Academy had organized an Ad hoc US National Committee on the IBP (USNC/IBP), which surveyed American biologists in order to determine the level of interest in and support for the idea of an IBP. In spring 1964 the ad hoc USNC recommended participation in planning for the IBP. Acting on this recommendation, the Academy sent a delegation to the July 1964 IBP organizing assembly, and that delegation recommended that a US National Committee for the IBP (USNC/IBP) be set up under the NAS. In September 1964 the NAS-NRC Governing Board approved the recommendation, and the USNC/IBP was established to oversee US IBP activities.
As with SCIBP, the program component of the USNC/IBP was structured in a series of subcommittees. Originally numbering seven in May 1965, the subcommittees eventually grew to nine:
- Conservation of Terrestrial Communities (CT)
- Environmental Physiology (EP)
- Human Adaptability (HA)
- Productivity of Freshwater Communities (PF)
- Productivity of Marine Communities (PM)
- Production Processes (PM)
- Productivity of Terrestrial Communities (PT)
- Systematics & Biogeography (SB)
- Use and Management of Biological Resources (UM)
With the completion of the IBP’s planning phase (1964 through June 1967), the operational phase began. Originally intended to last the five-year period of 1967-1972, it was ultimately extended to June 1974, at which time a synthesis of results from all participants was to be accomplished.
The National Academy of Sciences’ IBP collection consists mainly of correspondence and meeting minutes pertaining to the activities and administration of the USNC/IBP, as well as program-related newsletters and other published items kept in the USNC/IBP library. The collection also includes some materials pertaining to SCIBP and other IBP participants.
Provenance: The papers making up the IBP Records Group were part of an undifferentiated cache of records originating from the Executive Offices of the NRC Division of Biology & Agriculture and Division of Medicine, and the NAS Office of the Foreign Secretary.
Span dates: 1961-1977
Bulk dates: 1963-1974
Volume: 7 linear feet
Beginning of Program: 1962-1963
Funding: Requests: 1963
Letter to Societies Affiliated with Division of B&A re Interest in IBP: Responses: 1964
Letter to Societies Affiliated with Division of B&A re Interest in IBP: Responses: American Society of Parasitologists: 1964
Letter to Societies Affiliated with Division of B&A re Interest in IBP: Responses: Ecological Society of America: 1964
Letter to Societies Affiliated with Division of Medical Sciences re Interest in IBP: Responses: 1964
Liaison with American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS): 1964
Liaison with Government Agencies: 1963-1964
Liaison with International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) (Stebbins G L): 1962-1964
Liaison with NAS-NRC: NAS Office of Foreign Secretary: 1962-1964
Liaison with NAS-NRC: General: 1964
Meetings: 16-17 May 1964
Meetings: 13-14 Mar 1964: Report
Meetings: 13-14 Mar 1964: General
Meetings: 1-2 Feb 1964: Minutes
Meetings: 1-2 Feb 1964: General
Meetings: 3-4 Dec 1963: Report
Meetings: 3-4 Dec 1963: General
Membership: 1963-1964
Membership: Cantlon J E: Survey of Biologists re Interest in IBP: 1964
Membership: Chairman: Cain S A: Survey of Biologists re Interest in IBP: 1964
Membership: Davis G K: Survey of Biologists re Interest in IBP: 1964
Membership: Frey D G: Survey of Biologists re Interest in IBP: 1964
Membership: Ketchum B H: Survey of Biologists re Interest in IBP: 1964
Membership: Kramer P J: Survey of Biologists re Interest in IBP: 1964
Membership: Laughlin W S: Survey of Biologists re Interest in IBP: 1964
Membership: Robinson S: Survey of Biologists re Interest in IBP: 1964
Program Planning: 1963-1964
Projects Proposed to Committee: Mammalian Productivity: Calhoun J B: 1964
Publicity: 1964
Report: Evaluation of Proposed IBP: 1964
Report: Evaluation of Proposed IBP: General: 1964
Task Forces: 1964
Task Forces: Use & Management of Biological Resources: 1963-1964
General: 1962-1964
Ad hoc Editing Committee: Meetings: Minutes: 18 Sep 1973
Annual Reports: 1968-1972
Descriptive Summaries: 1966-1973
Meetings: 26 Jul 1973
Meetings: Minutes: 16-17 Oct 1972
Meetings: Minutes: 29-30 Jun 1972
Meetings: Minutes: 17-21 Jan 1972
Meetings: Jt w International Environmental Programs Committee (IEPC): Minutes: 3 Dec 1971
Meetings: Joint Task Force w International Environmental Programs Committee (IEPC): Minutes: 5 Nov 1971
Meetings: Minutes: 4-5 Nov 1971
Meetings: Background Materials: 25-26 Sept 1969
Meetings: Minutes: 25-26 Sept 1969
Meetings: Minutes: 11 Dec 1968
Meetings: Agenda: 20-21 Jan 1968
Meetings: Minutes: 20-21 Jan 1968
Meetings: Minutes: 28-29 Oct 1967
Meetings: General: 28-29 Oct 1967
Meetings: Minutes: 17-18 Jun 1967
Meetings: Agenda: 25-26 Feb 1967
Meetings: Minutes: 25-26 Feb 1967
Meetings: 28-31 Oct 1966
Meetings: Agenda: 18-19 Jun 1966
Meetings: Proceedings: 18 Jun 1966
Meetings: 19-20 Mar 1966
Meetings: Minutes: 22-23 Jan 1966
Meetings: Minutes: 29-30 May 1965
Meetings: Minutes: 6-7 Mar 1965
Membership: 1966-1968
Membership: 1964-1965
Membership: Nominations: 1964-1965
NRC Governing Board Items: 1964-1969
Proposals for Support of USNC/IBP: 1967-1970
Proposals for Support of USNC/IBP: 1966
Restructuring: 1968
Structure: Proposed: 1964
Task Forces: Global Network for Environmental Monitoring (GNEM): Ad hoc: Meetings: Minutes: 14-15 May 1970
Task Forces: Global Network for Environmental Monitoring (GNEM): Ad hoc: Report: 1970
Task Forces: Global Network for Environmental Monitoring (GNEM): Ad hoc: General: 1970
Task Forces: Post-IBP Apparatus: 1973
General: 1964-1970
Series 3: USNC/IBP Executive Committee
Meetings: Minutes: 29 Mar 1974
Meetings: Agenda: 21-22 Feb 1974
Meetings: Minutes: 21-22 Feb 1974
Meetings: Minutes: 9 Nov 1973
Meetings: Jt w Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Minutes: 26 July 1973
Meetings: Agenda: 28-29 Jun 1973
Meetings: Minutes: 28-29 Jun 1973
Meetings: Agenda: 30 Apr-1 May 1973
Meetings: Minutes: 30 Apr-1 May 1973
Meetings: Agenda: 15-16 Feb 1973
Meetings: Minutes: 15-16 Feb 1973
Meetings: 28-29 Nov 1972
Meetings: Agenda: 20-21 Apr 1972
Meetings: Minutes: 20-21 Apr 1972
Meetings: Minutes: 15-16 Jul 1971
Meetings: 12-13 May 1971
Meetings: Agenda: 4 Mar 1971
Meetings: Minutes: 4 Mar 1971
Meetings: Agenda: 28-29 Jan 1971
Meetings: Agenda: Supplement: 28-29 Jan 1971
Meetings: Minutes: 28-29 Jan 1971
Meetings: Agenda: 9-10 Dec 1970
Meetings: Minutes: 9-10 Dec 1970
Meetings: Minutes: 15-16 Oct 1970
Meetings: Jt w Program Committee: 17-18 Aug 1970
Meetings: Jt w International Environmental Programs Committee (IEPC): Minutes: 2 Jul 1970
Meetings: Agenda: 18-19 Jun 1970
Meetings: Minutes: 18-19 Jun 1970
Meetings: Agenda: 21-22 May 1970
Meetings: Minutes: 21-22 May 1970
Meetings: Agenda: 18-19 Mar 1970
Meetings: Minutes: 18-19 Mar 1970
Meetings: Minutes: 18 Feb 1970
Meetings: Agenda: 11-12 Dec 1969
Meetings: Minutes: 11-12 Dec 1969
Meetings: Agenda: 24-25 Jul 1969
Meetings: Minutes: 24-25 Jul 1969
Meetings: Agenda: 22-23 May 1969
Meetings: Minutes: 22-23 May 1969
Meetings: Minutes: 17 Apr 1969
Meetings: Agenda: 20-21 Feb 1969
Meetings: Minutes: 20-21 Feb 1969
Meetings: Minutes: 25-26 Nov 1968
Meetings: Minutes: 26-27 Sep 1968
Meetings: Minutes: 8-9 Aug 1968
Meetings: Minutes: 11-12 Jul 1968
Meetings: Agenda: 30 Apr-1 May 1968
Meetings: Background Materials: 30 Apr-1 May 1968
Meetings: Minutes: 30 Apr-1 May 1968
Meetings: Agenda: 22-23 Mar 1968
Meetings: Minutes: 22-23 Mar 1968
Meetings: Agenda: 4 Feb 1968
Meetings: Minutes: 4 Feb 1968
Meeting w Agricultural Scientists: 26 Jun 1966
Meetings: Minutes: 6 Nov 1965
Membership: 1969-1970
Membership: 1968
Proposal: International Man & Biosphere Program (MAB): 1969
General: 1965
Series 4: USNC/IBP Program Components
Committee on Migrant & Urban Populations: Ad hoc: 1969
Committee on Phenology: Report: 1972
Conferences: Environment: Quest for Quality: Jt w Public Affairs Council: 1970
Coordinating Offices: Environmental Management: Annual Report: First: 1971
Coordinating Offices: Human Adaptability (HA): Conferences: Man in Ecosystem: Proceedings: Oct 1973
Coordinating Offices: Human Adaptability (HA): Proposal for Support of Integrated & Coordinated Research Programs: 1973
Coordinating Offices: Human Adaptability (HA): Workshops: Energy Flow in Human Communities: Proceedings: 1974
Integrated Research Programs: Aerobiology: 1970-1971
Integrated Research Programs: Grassland Biome: 1969
Integrated Research Programs: Phenology: 1967
Integrated Research Programs: Press Release: 1967
Integrated Research Programs: Tropical Forest Biome: 1970-1971
Panels: Aerobiology: 1967
Panels: Biometeorology: 1966-1967
Program Coordinating Committee: Membership: 1970-1971
Program Directors: Environmental: Meeting: 27 Nov 1972
Program Directors: Human Adaptability: Meeting: 27 Nov 1972
Projects Proposed: Study of Coelacanth: 1967
Standing Committee on Publications: Meeting: Minutes: 2 Nov 1973
Subcommittees: Conservation of Ecosystems: Program Statement: Jan 1967
Subcommittees: Conservation of Ecosystems: General: 1967
Subcommittees: Conservation of Terrestrial Communities (CT): 1966
Subcommittees: Environmental Physiology (EP): Meetings: First: 18 Feb 1966
Subcommittees: Environmental Physiology (EP): Membership: 1966-1967
Subcommittees: Environmental Physiology (EP): Program Statement: Jan 1967
Subcommittees: Human Adaptability (HA): Membership: 1967
Subcommittees: Human Adaptability (HA): Membership: 1966
Subcommittees: Human Adaptability (HA): Program Statement: Jan 1967
Subcommittees: Human Adaptability (HA): General: 1965-1968
Subcommittees: Production Processes (PP): 1966-1968
Subcommittees: Productivity of Freshwater Communities (PF): 1966-1967
Subcommittees: Productivity of Freshwater Communities (PF): Program Statement: Dec 1966
Subcommittees: Productivity of Marine Communities (PM): 1966-1968
Subcommittees: Productivity of Terrestrial Communities (PT): 1966-1967
Subcommittees: Productivity of Terrestrial Communities (PT): Program Statement: Dec 1966
Subcommittees: Systematics & Biogeography (SB): 1966-1968
Subcommittees: Systematics & Biogeography (SB): Program Statement: Jan 1967
Subcommittees: Use & Management of Biological Resources (UM): Program Statement: Jan 1967
Subcommittees: Use & Management of Biological Resources: General: 1966-1967
Task Forces: Biological Control: 1966-1967
Task Forces: Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems: 1966-1967
Series 5: International Biological Program
Beginning of Program: Background Material: 1960-1964
Beginning of Program: International Planning: 1961-1964
B&A (Division of Biology & Agriculture) Chairman’s Letters Discussing: 1962-1964
B&A (Division of Biology & Agriculture) Executive Committee Discussions re: 1960-1966
Canadian Participation: 1964
Circular Letters: 1964-1965
Duration: 1969
Finances: 1966-1970
Finances: 1962-1965
General Assemblies: First: Organizing Assembly: NAS-NRC Delegation: Informal Reports: 1964
General Assemblies: First: Organizing Assembly: NAS-NRC Delegation: Membership: 1964
General Assemblies: First: Organizing Assembly: NAS-NRC Delegation: Report: Interim: 1964
General Assemblies: First: Organizing Assembly: NAS-NRC Delegation: Report: Interim: General: 1964
General Assemblies: First: Organizing Assembly: NAS-NRC Delegation: General: 1964
General Assemblies: First: Organizing Assembly: Numbered Documents: 1964
General Assemblies: First: Organizing Assembly: General: 1964
General Assemblies: Second: 1966
General Assemblies: Third: 1968
General Assemblies: Fourth: 1970
General Assemblies: Fifth: Agenda: 1972
General Assemblies: Fifth: Briefing Notations for NAS-NRC Delegation: 1972
General Assemblies: Fifth: Financing: 1971-1972
General Assemblies: Fifth: Observations: 1972
General Assemblies: Fifth: Working Group on Fifth General Assembly: 1971
National Programs: 1966-1969
National Reports: Australia: 1964
National Reports: Canada: 1964
National Reports: Czechoslovakia: 1964
National Reports: Federal Republic of Germany: 1964
National Reports: Netherlands: 1964
National Reports: Poland: 1964
National Reports: United Kingdom (UK): 1964
National Reports: General: 1964
Planning Committee: 1963
Planning Committee: Report: Nov 1963
Planning Committee: Report: Comments: 1963-1964
Planning Committee: General: 1962
Publicity: 1961-1967
Sections: CT (Conservation of Terrestrial Biological Communities): 1963-1967
Sections: HA (Human Adaptability): 1963-1967
Sections: HA (Human Adaptability): Projects: Circumpolar Peoples: 1966-1968
Sections: HA (Human Adaptability): Symposium: Biology of Populations of Anthropological Importance: 1963-1964
Sections: HA (Human Adaptability): Working Party on Assessment of Heat Tolerance: 1963-1964
Sections: PF (Productivity of Freshwater Communities): 1963-1965
Sections: PM (Productivity of Marine Communities): 1963-1968
Sections: PP (Processes of Production of Terrestrial Communities): 1963-1969
Sections: PT (Productivity of Terrestrial Communities): 1963-1965
Sections: UM (Use & Management of Biological Resources): 1964-1968
United Kingdom (UK) Participation: 1963-1965
General: 1968
General Assemblies: Tenth: 1963
General Assemblies: Ninth: Draft Resolution on IBP: 1961
International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS): USNC: 1960-1963
International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS): 1963
Special Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) 1964
Special Committee on IBP (SCIBP): 1964
Special Committee on IBP (SCIBP): Bureau: 1964-1969
Special Committee on IBP (SCIBP): Constitution: Proposed: 1964-1965
Special Committee on IBP (SCIBP): Finance Committee: 1964
Special Committee on IBP (SCIBP): Meetings: Fourth: 1967
Special Committee on IBP (SCIBP): Meetings: Sixth: 1969
Special Committee on IBP (SCIBP): Membership: 1964-1969
Special Committee on IBP (SCIBP): Termination: 1974
Series 7: Organizations & Individuals
International Congress of Zoology: XVI: 1962-1964
Royal Society of London: 1963-1964
UNESCO: 1964-1966
World Health Organization (WHO): Scientific Group on Research in Population Genetics of Primitive Groups: 1962-1964
General: 1962-1964
Congress: Subcommittee on Health: Hearings: Statement of USNC/IBP Chairman: 9 Feb 1970
Congress: Subcommittee on Science Research & Development: Counsel: Information on IBP Prepared by NAS: 15 Aug 1967
Congress: Subcommittee on Science Research & Development: Hearings: Statement of USNC/IBP Chairman: 18 Feb 1970
Congress: Subcommittee on Science Research & Development: Information on IBP Prepared by NAS-IBP Staff: 30 Aug 1967
Congress: General: 1967
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: Jt w USNC/IBP Executive Committee: 26 Jul 1973
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: 28 Jun 1972
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: 8 Dec 1971
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: 10 Dec 1970
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: 10 Feb 1970
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: 4 Nov 1968
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: 14 May 1968
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: 6 Feb 1967
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: 10 Jan 1967
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): Meetings: 9 May 1966
Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC): General: 1966-1968
National Science Foundation (NSF): 1963-1967
Bibliography of US IBP Research: 1971-1972
Coniferous Forest Biome: Program Report: 1973
Directory of National Participation in IBP: Sep 1969
Evaluation of Three Biome Programs: Mitchell R et al: 1976
Grassland/Tundra International Modelling-Sythesis Workshop Summary of Output Workbook: Natural Resources Ecology Lab: 1972
IBP News: 1-25: 1964-1974
IBP Review: 1969-1970
Newsletters: Coniferous Forest Biome: 1968-1973
Newsletters: Eastern Deciduous Forest Biome: 1969-1974
Newsletters: Integrated Pest Management: 1973-1974
Newsletters: Origin & Structure of Ecosystems: 1971-1974
Newsletters: Phenology: 1968-1972
Newsletters: Tundra Biome: 1969-1973
US IBP Directories: 1970-1974
US IBP Ecosystem Analysis Studies: Abstracts: Vol IV # 4: 1977
US IBP Ecosystem Analysis Studies: Abstracts: Vol IV # 3: 1975