Reminiscences of Los Alamos 1943–1945

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

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2. Ranch School to Secret City

   • John H. Dudley

   Pages 1-11

3. Early Days at Los Alamos

   • Edwin M. McMillan

   Pages 13-19

4. A New Laboratory is Born

   • John H. Manley

   Pages 21-40

5. Outside the Inner Fence

   • Elsie McMillan

   Pages 41-47

6. Reminiscences of Wartime Los Alamos

   • George B. Kistiakowsky

   Pages 49-65

7. The Scientific and Technological Miracle at Los Alamos

   • Joseph O. Hirschfelder

   Pages 67-88

8. The Fermis’ Path to Los Alamos

   • Laura Fermi

   Pages 89-103

9. Los Alamos From Below

   • Richard P. Feynman

   Pages 105-132

10. Tales of Los Alamos

    • Bernice Brode

    Pages 133-159

11. Los Alamos — The First 25 Years

    • Norris Bradbury

    Pages 161-175

12. Back Matter

    Pages 177-n1

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Although the World War II efforts to develop nuclear weapons have inspired a very large literature, it struck us as noteworthy that virtually nothing existed in the form of firsthand accounts. Now It Can Be Told, by General Leslie Groves, the Manhattan Project's military commander, is probably the most prominent exception, but the scientists themselves seem to have shown little interest in publishing their reminiscences. Believing that it would be not only worthwhile for posterity, but ex­ tremely interesting for the present generation to hear about the aspirations, fears, and activities of those who participated in this watershed of science and government collaboration, we arranged the public lecture series repre­ sented by this book.! We chose to focus upon Los Alamos since the project's efforts culminated there. The isolated laboratory in New Mexico was created to design and construct the first atomic bombs. More scientific brainpower was accumulated there than at any time since Isaac Newton dined alone, and the interactions with this community are of sociological interest, as the results of their work are of political import.

• Grove
• Isaac Newton
• atomic bomb
• research
• science

• Dept. of History, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

  Lawrence Badash

• Dept. of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, USA

  Joseph O. Hirschfelder

• Dept. of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

  Herbert P. Broida

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