Finding Aid for Louis A. Spomer papers, 1961-1972 | University of Illinois Archives

Title: Louis A. Spomer papers, 1961-1972

ID: 8/10/21

Primary Creator: Louis A. Spomer (1940-2013)

Extent: 0.3 cubic feet

Arrangement:

Series 1, Subject Files, 1961-1972

This series contains Spomer's correspondence and applications during his job search from 1967 through 1971 before being hired by the University of Illinois. These include applications to colleges and universities, the United States Department of Agriculture, and corporate positions. The series also contains a small amount of personal and research correspondence. Also in the collection are papers from Spomer's time in the military. These include correspondence, forms, travel documentation, active duty orders, transfer orders, veteran resources, applications and correspondence regarding the delay of active duty for educational purposes, military pamphlets on personal property, a map of Fort McClellan in Alabama, and records on the Desert Test Center (DTC). These include transfer and active duty orders, correspondence, a history of the DTC, a write-up on good on good security practices security and a memo reprimanding breaches in security, a certificate for volunteering in a demonstration involving unmasked exposure to "agent CS", a list of contacts, a map of Fort Douglas, and medical leave records. Also included is the archives research on ZnCdS and the Deseret Test Center to provide context to the collection, and printed faculty information from the University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

Subjects: Army, United States, Chemical Warfare, Faculty Papers, Floriculture, Horticulture, Vietnam War

Louis Art Spomer (1940-2013) became assistant professor of plant physiology at the University of Illinois in 1971, associate professor in 1976, professor in 1982, and retired as Professor Emeritus of Horticulture and Plant Sciences in 2005. Spomer's focus was in floriculture and environmental control of plant growth, and he published more than 80 journal papers and book chapters, more than 150 semi-technical publications, and more than 50 abstracts of presentations to professional society. He gave invited presentations to professional and trade societies in both the United States and Canada, and was a member of U of I interdisciplinary Bioenvironmental Research Laboratory and Plant Physiology programs. Spomer received the ACES Funk Senior Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2004 and was elected by his students to the University of Illinois "Incomplete List of Instructors Rated Excellent" sixteen times

Spomer's papers were donated by Professor Robert M. Skirvin, who saved some of Spomer's papers from a departmental storage room; they are mere remnants of the full body of Spomer's work. The papers contain some of Spomer's correspondence and applications during his job search from 1967 through 1971 before being hired by the University of Illinois. These include applications to colleges and universities, the United States Department of Agriculture, and corporate positions. Also included are a small amount of personal and research correspondence and records from Spomer's involvement with the military (1961-1971): correspondence, forms, travel documentation, active duty orders, transfer orders, veteran resources, applications and correspondence regarding the delay of active duty for educational purposes, military pamphlets on personal property, and records on the Deseret Test Center (DTC). DTC records include transfer and active duty orders, correspondence, a history of the DTC, a write-up on good on good security practices and a memo reprimanding breaches in security, a certificate for volunteering in a demonstration involving unmasked exposure to "agent CS", a list of contacts, a map of Fort Douglas, and medical leave records. Also included is the archives research on ZnCdS and the Deseret Test Center to provide context to the collection, and printed faculty information from the University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

Spomer was transferred to the Deseret Test Center in Fort Douglas, Utah in 1969. Established in 1962 for the purpose of "planning and conducting large scale chemical and biological operational tests", the DTC was involved in Project 112 and Project SHAD. These projects were designed to run tests to help the United States protect and defend against chemical and biological warfare, exposing U.S. service members to agents such as Coxiella Burnetii, and sarin. Spomer had a security clearance of "secret" and worked as a captain with the research and experimental branch of the meteorological division developing research programs in atmospheric tracer and meteorological instrument technology. In the 1970s, Spomer informed the army that their use of Zinc Cadmium Sulfide (ZnCdS) was harmful.Because of Spomer's claims, the army convened an inquiry into the use of ZnCdS. Spomer left the army in 1971 to join the University of Illinois, and in 1973, Spomer published an article about the dangers of ZnCdS in the journal Atmospheric Environment. After Spomer published his article, the army made the decision to stop using ZnCdS, claiming they did not realize its dangerous effects.

Organized into 1 series: Subject Files, 1961-1972, arranged alphabetically.

Louis Art Spomer (1940-2013) became assistant professor of plant physiology at the University of Illinois in 1971, associate professor in 1976, professor in 1982, and retired as Professor Emeritus of Horticulture and Plant Sciences in 2005. Spomer's focus was in floriculture and environmental control of plant growth, and he published more than 80 journal papers and book chapters, more than 150 semi-technical publications, and more than 50 abstracts of presentations to professional society. He gave invited presentations to professional and trade societies in both the United States and Canada, and was a member of U of I interdisciplinary Bioenvironmental Research Laboratory and Plant Physiology programs. Spomer received the ACES Funk Senior Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2004 and was elected by his students to the University of Illinois "Incomplete List of Instructors Rated Excellent" sixteen times

Louis Art Spomer was born on April 17, 1940 in Denver, Colorado, to Peter John and Thelma (Pauline) Spomer. He received his bachelor in Horticulture Science (1963) from Colorado State University and his master's degree (1967) and PhD (1968/69) in Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture from Cornell University. He was a member of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the American Society of Plant Physiologists, and the American Society of Horticulture Science. Spomer joined Colorado University's ROTC program and was a member of the Ready Reserve Mobilization Reinforcement Pool. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Spomer served as captain in the United States Army in the Chemical Corps, took courses at the Chemical Corps School in McClellan Alabama, and was stationed at the Deseret Test Center (DTC) in Fort Douglas, Utah, which was associated with Dugway Proving Ground. Established in 1962 for the purpose of "planning and conducting large scale chemical and biological operational tests", the DTC was involved in Project 112 and Project SHAD [Shipboard Hazard and Defense] among others during the Vietnam War. These projects were designed to run tests to help the United States protect and defend against chemical and biological warfare as part of which it exposed service members, local populations, wildlife, and the environment to agents such as Coxiella Burnetii and sarin. At DTC, Spomer had a security clearance of "secret" and worked with the research and experimental branch of the meteorological division developing research programs in atmospheric tracer and meteorological instrument technology. In the 1970s, Spomer informed the army that their use of Zinc Cadmium Sulfide (ZnCdS) as an atmospheric tracer in their testing of germ weapons was harmful. Because of Spomer's assertion, the army convened an inquiry into the use of ZnCdS. Spomer left the army in 1971 to join the University of Illinois, and in 1973, Spomer published an article about the dangers of ZnCdS in the journal Atmospheric Environment. After Spomer published his article, the army made the decision to stop using ZnCdS, claiming they did not realize its dangerous effects. Louis Spomer passed away at the age of 73 on July 23rd, 2013.

Army, United States
Chemical Warfare
Faculty Papers
Floriculture
Horticulture
Vietnam War

Repository: University of Illinois Archives

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/0810021.pdf

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