ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Environmental Defense Fund Archive
Record Group 1: Founders Papers
Sub-group II: Arthur P. Cooley

Collection Number
SC 232

OCLC Number
156794725

Creator
Arthur P. Cooley, 1934-

Provenance 
Under review

Extent,Scope, and Content Note 
The collection is comprised of 2.5 linear ft. of papers, correspondence, and materials related to Arthur P. Cooley's work with Environmental Defense Fund, his research, and teaching activities. Materials date from 1966 to 1977. The collection is comprised of research files, correspondence, financial documents, newsletters, clippings and memos. 

Arrangement and Processing Note
Processed by Meredith Bouchard, 2003. 
Finding aid revised and updated in July 2015 and May 2019 by Kristen J. Nyitray.

Series 1:  Environmental Defense Fund Correspondence & Memoranda [1 linear ft.]
Arrangement: Chronological; the files are grouped according to their origin
This series consists of memoranda discussing potential litigation, program development and issues for the Executive Committees and Board of Trustees.

Series 2:  Environmental Defense Fund Documents [1 linear ft.]
Arrangement: Alphabetical by subject.
The series contains a copy of amendment to incorporation, clippings, office bulletins and subject files.

Series 3:  Brookhaven Town Subject Files [5 inches]
Arrangement: Alphabetical subject files of local environmental interest.
This series is of an overview of environmental challenges to Brookhaven Town. Topics include dredging concerns, wildlife, and water pollution.

Language
English               

Restrictions on Access
The collection is open to researchers without restriction.

Rights and Permissions 
Stony Brook University Libraries' consent to access as the physical owner of the collection does not address copyright issues that may affect publication rights. It is the sole responsibility of the user of Special Collections and University Archives materials to investigate the copyright status of any given work and to seek and obtain permission where needed prior to publication.

Citation
[Item], [Box], Environmental Defense Fund Archive: Arthur P. Cooley Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Stony Brook University Libraries.

Historical Note  
Arthur Cooley is a former Bellport High School biology teacher, co-founder of EDF, and an environmentalist. In the mid-1960s, he was Chairman of the Brookhaven Town Natural Resources Committee (BTNRC), an environmental organization dedicated to preserving the resources of the local area. Among the members were members of Brookhaven National Lab and students at Bellport High School. In 1966, Victor Yannacone Jr., a lawyer developing a class action suit, called upon the scientific expertise of the BTNRC. The suit was against the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Commission, and the issue was the application of DDT. The case sparked a series of events leading to a ban on the pesticide. Because of a demand for the legal and scientific approach to environmental problems, EDF was formed in 1967. Arthur Cooley succeeded Dennis Puleston as Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 1972, serving until 1975.  Cooley remained active on the Board of Trustees of Environmental Defense, is an expedition leader and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.   

Subjects
Cooley, Arthur P.
Smolker, Robert E.
Wurster, Charles F.
Puleston, Dennis, -- 1904-2001.
Environmental policy -- United States.
Environmental protection -- United States.
Pollution -- United States.
Environmental protection -- New York (State)
Environmental protection -- United States -- Citizen participation.
Environmental law -- United States.
Long Island (N.Y.) -- Societies, etc.
Stony Brook (N.Y.) -- Politics and government.
East Setauket (N.Y.) -- Politics and government.
New York (N.Y.) -- Politics and government.
Washington (D.C.) -- Politics and government.
Denver (Colo.) -- Politics and government.
Boulder (Colo.) -- Politics and government.
Berkeley (Calif.) -- Politics and government.
Oakland (Calif.) -- Politics and government.
Societies.
Pollution.
Politics and government.
Environmental protection -- Citizen participation.
Environmental protection.
Environmental policy.
Environmental law.
Washington (D.C.)
United States.
New York (State) -- Stony Brook.
New York (State) -- New York.
New York (State) -- Long Island.
New York (State) -- East Setauket.
New York (State)
Colorado -- Denver.
Colorado -- Boulder.
California -- Oakland.
California -- Berkeley.

INVENTORY

SERIES 1:  Environmental Defense Fund Correspondence & Memoranda

Box 1

Correspondence, 1971-1977
Copies of correspondence from EDF staff, 1971-1977

Memoranda:
Incoming, 1974-1976
To the Board of Trustees, 1976-1977
To the Executive Committee, 1972-1977

Box 2

Memoranda--to the Litigation Review Committee:
From the California office, 1971-1977
From the Colorado office, 1976
From the NY office, 1976
From the Washington office, 1976-1977

Memoranda--Programs:
Program proposals, 1972
Energy program, undated
Membership activities, 1976
Toxics program, 1976
Wildlife program, 1976

SERIES 2: Environmental Defense Fund Documents

Box 3

Certificate of amendment to the certificate of incorporation (copy), 1976
Executive Committee agendas, undated

Office Bulletins (incomplete):
New York, 1977
Colorado, 1976
East Setauket, 1975-1977
Washington DC, 1975-1977

Media:
Clippings-Coal leasing, 1975
Clippings-Environment,1975
Press releases--EDF, 1976

Subject Files:
Bonneville Power Administration
California Water Plan
Carcinogens (Food Additives), undated
Case progress reports, undated
Coal mining, 1975
Conservation Foundation Annual Report, 1965-1976
Environmental impact statement guidelines, undated

Box 4

Subject Files continued:
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 1977
Genetic research regulation, 1976
Land Use statement-EDF, 1975
Marine mammals case (Alaska), 1977
Pesticide Management, 1976
Pollution (Colorado), 1977
Refuse Power (Environmental Technology Seminar), 1976
Tuna Porpoise Issue, 1977
Truman Dam and Reservoir, 1971
TRIS, 1976
Whaling, 1976
Your Organization United, 1975

Box 5

Financial documents, 1975-1977

SERIES 3:  Brookhaven Town Subject Files

Box 6

Gelband, Myra. (1969). Brookhaven Town Natural Resources Committee: A Call to Action. Manuscript

Detergents & water pollution [clippings], 1970
Dredging ordinance, 1966-1967
Dredging permit application (Levon Properties), nd
Duck industry & water pollution, 1968-1970
John Boyle Island--Tern Colony protection, 1968-1970
Kingfisher Legislation, 1967-1968
Pesticide ordinance, 1968-1969
Refuse disposal, 1969
Swan Lake Development, 1967-1970