AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Erik Ellis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the History of Science presented on November 21. 2005. Title: Dixy Lee Ray. Marine Biology, and the Public Understanding of Science in the United States (1930-1970) Abstract approved: Redacted for Privacy This dissertation focuses on the life of Dixy Lee Ray as it examines important developments in marine biology and biological oceanography during the mid twentieth century. In addition, Ray's key involvement in the public understanding of science movement of the l950s and 1960s provides a larger social and cultural context for studying and analyzing scientists' motivations during the period of the early Cold War in the United States. The dissertation is informed throughout by the notion that science is a deeply embedded aspect of Western culture. To understand American science and society in the mid twentieth century it is instructive, then, to analyze individuals who were seen as influential and who reflected widely held cultural values at that time. Dixy Lee Ray was one of those individuals. Yet, instead of remaining a prominent and enduring figure in American history, she has disappeared rapidly from historical memory, and especially from the history of science. It is this very characteristic of reflecting her time, rather than possessing a timeless appeal, that makes Ray an effective historical guide into the recent past. Her career brings into focus some of the significant ways in which American science and society shifted over the course of the Cold War. Beginning with Ray's early life in West Coast society of the1920sandl930s, this study traces Ray's formal education, her entry into the professional ranks of marine biology and the crucial role she played in broadening the scope of biological oceanography in the early1960s.The dissertation then analyzes Ray's efforts in public science education, through educational television, at the science and technology themed Seattle World's Fair, and finally in her leadership of the Pacific Science Center. I argue that Ray was ideally suited to promote a dominant conception of a socially useful and instrumental form of science that lay at the core of the public understanding of science through the1960s.These efforts in the public understanding of science reflected a broad endeavor among scientists to spread knowledge about and values of modern science from elite American society to a broader public. The dissertation concludes with a short examination of Ray's neutral gendered identity which, considered within the largely masculine context of science, played a significantly role in the successes of her professional career. © Copyright by Erik Ellis November 21, 2005 All Rights Reserved Dixy Lee Ray, Marine Biology, and the Public Understanding of Science in the United States (1930-1970) by Erik Ellis A DISSERTATION submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Presented November 21, 2005 Commencement June 2006 Doctor of Philosophy dissertation of Erik Ellis presented on November 21. 2005 APPROVED: Redacted for Privacy Major Professor, repsentig History of Science Redacted for Privacy Chair of the Department of History Redacted for Privacy Dean of the GaKtIite School I understand that my dissertation will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my dissertation to any reader upon request. Redacted for privacy Erik Ellis, Author ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The process of research and writing has been a great pleasure, thanks to the many people who have freely given of their time, thoughts, advice, and support. Professor MaryJ0 Nye has been a constant source of encouragement and constructive criticism, providing the needed prodding to complete the project. She went far beyond the obligations of an advisor with her tireless attempts to improve mangled grammar and to correct my consistently inconsistent use of the apostrophe! Most importantly, she has been an exemplary model of the academic life throughout my graduate experience. My thanks go first and foremost to her. I also thank the other members of my committeeRon Doel, Paul Farber, and Robert Nyc who willingly read various drafts, offered sound advice, and contributed to my overall graduate education in so many ways. Many other members of the History department have shown interest in my project, but I would like to give special thanks to Professor William Robbins who, beyond guiding my Master's thesis, has continued to act as a valued mentor and friend. This project, as so much historical work nowadays, is built on archival sources. Thus my gratitude to the many archivists at the following institutions: the Hoover Institution at Stanford University; the University of Washington Special Collections; the United States National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland; the National Academy of Sciences, in Washington, DC; the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego; the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole; the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University; the Ford Foundation; the Rockefeller Archives; and the archives of the Seattle School District. Conversations with people who knew Dixy Lee Ray provided some of the most colorful, interesting, and insightful information. I thank the following for generously spending time and/or corresponding with me: J. J. Gonor; Kenneth Boss, Paul Dayton, Art Whiteley, Bruce Menge, Jane Lubchenco, Robert Paine, Deborah Steele, Alvista Steele, John T. Bonner, John Mohr, and Gerald Bakus. A National Science Foundation dissertation improvement grant (SES-0350157) made the bulk of my archival research possible; and a grant from the Rockefeller Archive Center made possible a very useful visit to New York. At the NSF, my sincere thanks to John Perhonis, Keith Benson, and the anonymous referees who provided valuable advice in the early stages of my project. The Delson Bridge to the Future grant from Oregon State University provided timely assistance at the end of my project. Finally, thanks to the graduate students at Oregon State University (and at Arizona State University during the latter stages) for good friendship and moral support! Kristin Johnson has put up with this project since the beginning. For her patience, constant support, and faith in me I express my deepest thanks. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page IntroductionDixy Lee Ray, Biography, and Science as Culture........................ 1 Biography............................................................................... 6 Science as Culture..................................................................... 11 Chapter 1Science, Institutions, and Women: Creating a Culture of Science on the WestCoast............................................................................. 18 'Discovering' a Place & Building Culture......................................... 21 New Institutions: Science & Education for All.................................... 26 Dixy Lee Ray's Early Life: What Makes aScientist7........................... 42 Chapter 2Constructing a Marine Biologist: Mills College to Stanford University 57 To Mills College: Developing Leadership & Discovering Science............ 59 Of Gribbles & 'Correct Working Methods'....................................... 68 A PhD in Zoology & A Science of Living......................................... 81 Chapter 3Marine Biologist to Biological Oceanographer: Defining a Discipline...97 Research, Teaching & Program Building.......................................... 102 What is MarineBiology7............................................................. 127 (Re)Defining Marine Biology........................................................ 134 Chapter 4 Representing Science: Bringing Science to the People..................... 156 Science on Screen..................................................................... 160 LivingScience......................................................................... 178 Chapter 5 Performing Science, Performing Gender: Image and Identity in the Scientist's Life..........................................................................212 Gender, Mind, & Body................................................................216 Authority& Image.....................................................................220 Reaction to Feminism..................................................................233 EpilogueHistorical Legacies and Cultural Revolutions................................... 241 Bibliography.....................................................................................247 ARCHIVE KEY (The first footnote entry for an archival source will cite the full location. For archives cited repeatedly, the citations will use a bold-faced term or acronym according to the following key.) Menzel: Donald H. Menzel papers (1-lUG 4567.18), Century 21 Exposition (Seattle) Correspondence. Harvard University Archive, Cambridge MA. DLR: Dixy Lee Ray Collection (Accession No. 82106). Hoover Institution Archive, Stanford University, Palo Alto CA. Edmondson: W. T. Edmondson Papers (Accession 2024-003). University of Washington Archives and Special Collections, Seattle WA. Guggenheim: Dixy Lee Ray file, 1952 awardee. John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, New York NY. Magnuson: Warren G. Magnuson Papers (Accession 3181-4). University of Washington Archives and Special Collections, Seattle