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Dr. Howard E. Sorrows, 1940-1995 Finding Aid
Processing Information | Series Descriptions | Container List
Collection #003
Accession NIST-A-0007
Processed November 2023
Repository: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Research Library & Museum | 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899 | Building 101, Room A47
Creator: Howard E. Sorrows; NBS
Extent: 5 LF / 1.524 meters
Dates: 1940-1995
Scope: Papers, Talks, Speeches, Presentations, Scrapbooks with Photographs
Language: English
Provenance: Howard E. Sorrows
Access Restrictions: None
Processing Information: Tyler Love, 2023
Related Material: Employee Biographical Files Collection #001
Organization:
Series I: Professional Papers
Series II: Personal Papers
Arrangement: Chronological order within each series, original folder titles
Finding Aid: File Unit Level
History
Howard Sorrows made significant contributions to the field of technology forecasting and held several key positions at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS.)
Sorrows was born in Waco, Texas, in 1918. He earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics from Baylor University, his master's degree in physics from George Washington University, and his doctorate in physics from Catholic University.
From 1941 to 1950, Sorrows served as an electronics scientist at the NBS. In 1950, he left NBS to join the Navy's scientific administration corps. In 1959, Sorrows accepted a position as a scientific manager at Texas Instruments. Sorrows returned to NBS in 1965 and not soon afterwards was appointed Assistant Director of NBS for Materials Research where he played a key role in establishing the Materials Research Division.
Sorrows was a pioneer in technology forecasting and actively participated in workshops, seminars, and symposia related to this field. He was a member of numerous scientific societies and was recognized for his ability to identify emerging technologies, assess their potential impact, and develop strategies for their effective utilization. Sorrows also actively engaged in fostering collaborations between government, industry, and academia to promote the advancement of the industrial sector. He also contributed to the establishment of new performance standards at NBS.
Upon his retirement from NBS in 1987, Dr. Sorrows remained actively engaged with the organization. He served as a member and later as President of NBS' Sigma Xi chapter, and he participated on the National Research Council/NIST Board on Assessment. He also held the positions of Chairman and President of the Standards Alumni Association.
Dr. Sorrows passed away in 1995.
Series Descriptions
Series I: Professional Papers
Accession: NIST-A-0007
Dates: 1961-1995
Extent: 3 LF / .914 meters
Scope: Papers, Talks, Speeches, Presentations
Description: Papers related to primary responsibilities at NIST
Organization/Arrangement: Chronological
Series II: Personal Papers
Accession: NIST-A-0007
Dates: 1940-1994
Extent: 2 LF / .609 meters
Scope: Correspondence, memorandum, photographs, and scrapbooks
Description: These papers are pertinent to Dr. Sorrows' professional endeavors, but distinct from his core areas of expertise. They include papers from his time as both a member and President of NBS’ Sigma XI chapter, contributions made to the NIST Board on Assessment and the Standards Alumni Association.
Organization/Arrangement: Chronological
Container List
Series I: Professional Papers
Box | Folder | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 01 | Technical Intelligence (Reference) | 1961-1970 |
1 | 02 | Papers and Talks by Sorrows [Complied 1980] (Folder 1 of 2) | 1962-1980 |
1 | 03 | Papers and Talks by Sorrows [Complied 1980] (Folder 2 of 2) | 1962-1980 |
1 | 04 | Background Material: Technology Policy [Reports by the Panel on Science and Technology for the Development of Industry and Commerce] | 1967 |
1 | 05 | Technical Forecasting (folder 1 of 2) | 1967-1971 |
1 | 06 | Technical Forecasting (folder 2 of 2) | 1967-1971 |
1 | 07 | Articles by Sorrows | 1967-1982 |
2 | 01 | Presentation to Dr. Astin | March 1968 |
2 | 02 | Technology Policy Paper | 1971-1975 |
2 | 03 | Speeches and Talks by Sorrows (folder 1 of 2) | 1971-1982 |
2 | 04 | Speeches and Talks by Sorrows (folder 2 of 2) | 1971-1982 |
2 | 05 | Legislative Crosswalk | November 1973 |
2 | 06 | Technology Policy Paper & Issues | 1976 |
2 | 07 | Technology Policy Paper [by Ancker-Johnson] - Comments and Reviews | 1976 |
2 | 08 | Technology Policy Paper [Comments, Recommendations and Background] (Folder 1 of 3) | 1976-1977 |
3 | 01 | Technology Policy Paper [Comments, Recommendations and Background] (Folder 2 of 3) | 1976-1977 |
3 | 02 | Technology Policy Paper [Comments, Recommendations and Background] (Folder 3 of 3) | 1976-1977 |
3 | 03 | University-Industry-Government/NBS Relations (folder 1 of 2) | 1976-1986 |
3 | 04 | University-Industry-Government/NBS Relations (folder 1 of 2) | 1976-1986 |
3 | 05 | Alternative Futures for the Experimental Technology Incentives Program (ETIP) (Folder 1 of 2) | August 1977 |
4 | 01 | Alternative Futures for the Experimental Technology Incentives Program (ETIP) (Folder 2 of 2) | 1977 |
4 | 02 | Intro Technology | Vol. I (Folder 1 of 2) | 1977 |
4 | 03 | Intro Technology | Vol. I (Folder 2 of 2) | 1977 |
4 | 04 | Cooperative Technology Plans, Policy and Concepts | 1977-1978 |
4 | 05 | Cooperative Technology - Examples | 1977-1978 |
5 | 01 | NBS/Business Interactions | 1977-1981 |
5 | 02 | "What Will the Nature of the Cooperative Technology Program Be? Issues and Answers" | 1978 |
5 | 03 | Cooperative R&D Programs in Selected Foreign Countries - A Working Paper - West Germany, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Canada | July 20, 1978 |
5 | 04 | Economic Seminar [Department of Commerce Meeting re: Federal Role in Industrial Innovation] | August 1978 |
5 | 05 | Cooperative Federal Programs in Selected Federal Agencies - A Working Paper | November 1978 |
5 | 06 | "Cooperative Technology Program" Draft and Opportunities for Cooperative Technology Centers | 1979 |
5 | 07 | "Feasibility of an Industry-Government-Academic Program for Improving R&D Environment" Speech at Eastern Design Engineering Conference, Boston MA Dec 10-12, 1979 | 1979 |
6 | 01 | Federal, State and Local Programs in this Country and Foreign Countries | 1979 |
6 | 02 | "Cooperative R&D Programs to Stimulate Industrial Innovation in Selected Countries - United Kingdom" Appendix 11 | April 1979 |
6 | 03 | "Cooperative R&D Programs to Stimulate Industrial Innovation in Selected Countries - The Netherlands" Appendix 13 | August 1979 |
6 | 04 | "Cooperative R&D Programs to Stimulate Industrial Innovation in Selected Countries - Japan" Appendix 14 | August 1979 |
6 | 05 | "Cooperative R&D Programs to Stimulate Industrial Innovation in Selected Countries - West Germany" Appendix 12 | August, rev. November 1979 |
6 | 06 | [Sorrows' Bibliography] | 1980-1981, UNDATED |
6 | 07 | National Technology Medal [Task Force] | 1982-1986 |
6 | 08 | [Planning for the] NBS Historical Symposium Sept. 17-18, 1987 | 1986-1987 |
6 | 09 | [Committee on] Fundamental Constants [and Basic Standards - Review by Board on Assessments] | 1986, 1992 |
7 | 01 | Contact / Task Group NIST Personnel Demo [NIST Personnel Management Demonstration Project] | 1986-1995 |
7 | 02 | Westat Personnel Project [NIST Personnel Management Demonstration Project] | 1987 |
7 | 03 | NBS - Demo [NIST Personnel Management Demonstration Project] (folder 1 of 3) | 1987 |
7 | 04 | NBS - Demo [NIST Personnel Management Demonstration Project] (folder 2 of 3) | 1987 |
7 | 05 | NBS - Demo [NIST Personnel Management Demonstration Project] (folder 3 of 3) | 1987 |
8 | 01 | Quality Assurance Handbook - Center for Analytical Chemistry | 1987 |
8 | 02 | "Federal Role in Technology Support and Development" | Aug 1987 |
8 | 03 | "NBS Plan for Implementation - New Technology Competitiveness Legislation" | 1988? |
Return to Series I Description.
Series II: Personal Papers
Box | Folder | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
8 | 04 | Biographical Data / Resumes | 1940-1992 |
8 | 05 | [Requests for Release, and Denials, from NBS Electrical Division to Join Naval Reserve] | 1941-1944 |
8 | 06 | Scrapbook (folder 1 of 2) | 1942-1984 |
8 | 07 | Scrapbook (folder 2 of 2) | 1942-1984 |
8 | 08 | General Correspondence | 1962-1968 |
8 | 09 | Personal Correspondence - Texas Instruments [re: NBS] | 1966-1970 |
9 | 01 | Training [Taken by Sorrows] | 1967-1980 |
9 | 02 | Executive Inventory | 1967-1983 |
9 | 03 | Awards | 1967-1985 |
9 | 04 | Proceedings of Sixth Annual Executive Institute - The Management of Change, University of North Carolina, Feb 13 & 14 1973 [with a talk by Sorrows] | 1973 |
9 | 05 | 1973 Executive Directory [NBS Executive Biography Book] | 1973 |
9 | 06 | Letters of Appreciation / References | 1977-1985 |
9 | 07 | Job Descriptions/Performance | 1977-1986 |
9 | 08 | "Industrial Productivity and Innovation: A Cooperative Approach" - Talk given at Texas A&M | Feb 14 1979 |
9 | 09 | [25th Student Conference on National Affairs (SCONA) @ Texas A&M] | 1979-1980 |
9 | 10 | 1980 Design Engineering Conference March 24-27, 1980 Chicago Illinois | 1979-1980 |
10 | 01 | Meeting of Commercial Development Association, Washington DC, May 1982 | 1982 |
10 | 02 | Performance Agreement | 1983-1985 |
10 | 03 | Sigma XI - NIST Chapter | 1985-1990 |
10 | 04 | Sigma XI - "New Agenda" (folder 1 of 2) | 1986 |
10 | 05 | Sigma XI - "New Agenda" (folder 2 of 2) | 1986 |
11 | 01 | Standards Alumni Association [Various] | 1986-1990 |
11 | 02 | Standards Alumni Association Committee - Revision of the Constitution and Bylaws | 1987-1988 |
11 | 03 | Sigma XI - Ghana Standards Board | 1988-1989 |
11 | 04 | [National Research Council/NBS] Board on Assessment of NIST Programs | 1988-1994 |
11 | 05 | [National Research Council/NBS] Board [on Assessment of NIST Programs] Concerns | 1988-1994 |
11 | 06 | [Participation in Standards Alumni Association] | 1989-1993 |
11 | 07 | [National Research Council/NBS Board on Assessment of NIST Programs Correspondence with] Bill Bottoms [Chairman of Board] | 1988-1994 |
12 | 01 | [National Research Council/NBS Board on Assessment of NIST Programs Correspondence with] Norman Metzger [Executive Director] | 1990-1994 |
12 | 02 | Science, Technology and Competitiveness - A Symposium in Celebration of NIST's 90th Anniversary of the Gaithersburg Laboratories" November 14 & 15, 1991 | November 1991 |
12 | 03 | [Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology - NIST Minutes of March 8, 1994 Meeting] | 1994 |
12 | 04 | [National Research Council/NBS Board on Assessment of NIST Programs Correspondence and Material re:] National Academy of Engineering 1994 Annual Meeting | 1994 |
12 | 05 | [National Research Council/NBS Board on Assessment of NIST Programs] Retirement | 1994 |
12 | 06 | [Executive Planning Session for NASA "National Symposium on Quality and Productivity" Photograph of Attendees] | UNDATED |
Return to Series II Description.
