Carrie Barefoot Dickerson Papers

Collection

Identifier: 2005-068

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains depositions, testimony, court records, clippings and publications related to the Black Fox Nuclear Station Power Plant. Ms Dickerson's papers from her book are included.

The Carrie Dickerson Papers document the activities of Mrs. Carrie Dickerson from 1967 to 2002. OSU Special Collections and University Archives received the collection in 2005 as a direct gift from Carrie Dickerson. This diverse 64-box collection is of both informational and intrinsic value. Mrs. Dickerson’s papers are of interest to any individual researching the history of nuclear power and energy in the United States and the environmental history of Oklahoma. There is significant information on wind energy. The years 1972-1983 provide the bulk of materials contained in the collection. The Dickerson collection contains personal correspondence, member lists and organizational information for CASE and the Oklahoma Sierra Club, along with a wealth of newspaper article clippings dealing with Mrs. Dickerson, nuclear power, the energy crisis and local environmental issues. The Tulsa World and the Claremore (OK) Daily Progress are the most commonly observed newspapers in the collection. Several newspaper articles and photographs in the collection depict the accidents at Three Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1984-86), along with litigation concerning the death of former Kerr-McGee employee Karen Silkwood. Nuclear power and energy are the primary foci of newspaper articles and clippings contained in the collection. Many boxes contain environmental advocacy pamphlets, newsletters, and magazines. Two of the collection’s boxes contain artifacts including bumper stickers, buttons, posters, and designs for clothing of the environmental movement of the 1970s and 80s. There are sixteen books dealing with nuclear power in the collection, including a draft manuscript of Mrs. Dickerson’s autobiography. A significant portion of the collection contains legal copy, testimony, legal correspondence, and litigation notes as well as government and regulatory commission reports. The original arrangement of the record series was maintained during processing.

Dates

1967 - 2002
Majority of material found within 1972 - 1983

Creator

Dickerson, Carrie Barefoot, 1917-2006. (Creator, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the Oklahoma Open Records Act (http://www.odl.state.ok.us/lawinfo/docs/2006-LibraryLaws-PartE.pdf), and other relevant regulations. Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which Oklahoma State University Libraries assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, Oklahoma State University Archives will provide information about copyright owners and related information. Securing permission to publish or use material is the responsibility of the researcher. Note that unless specifically transferred to Oklahoma State University Libraries, any applicable copyrights may be held by another individual or entity. Copyright for material published by Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College/Oklahoma State University is held by the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges. All rights reserved.

Further information about copyright policy can be obtained by contacting Oklahoma State University Archives by email at libscua@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-6311.

Biographical Sketch

Carrie Barefoot Dickerson was born on May 13, 1922 in a log cabin thirteen miles west of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. After marrying Robert Dickerson and graduating from Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (now OSU) with a B.S. in 1945 and M.S. in 1950. Both degrees were from the Department of Human & Environmental Science. Dickerson taught in a two-room schoolhouse in Pleasant View, Oklahoma to supplement her family’s income. Mrs. Dickerson also taught home economics at Inola High School in Inola, Oklahoma. In 1963, Mrs. Dickerson became a registered nurse after completing the University of Tulsa’s nursing program. Carrie and her husband Robert opened Aunt Carrie’s Nursing Home on their family farm outside of Claremore a year later. Robert was responsible for the administration of the nursing home, while daughter Mary performed general cleaning and cooking duties. On May 8, 1973, plans were announced for the construction of Oklahoma’s first and only nuclear power plant twelve miles south of the Dickerson farm near Inola. Although she admittedly knew nothing about nuclear power, Mrs. Dickerson contacted the Atomic Energy Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for information and research materials. After three months of analysis and research, Dickerson concluded that nuclear power plants were dangerous and there was no safe way to store radioactive waste produced in nuclear facilities. In 1978, Mrs. Dickerson founded Citizens’ Action for Safe Energy (CASE), an advocacy group whose supporters included Ralph Nader, Dr. Benjamin Spock and Dr. Helen Caldicott. After four years of costly litigation and legal contention, CASE and Mrs. Dickerson prevailed; in 1982 the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) canceled its application for construction of Black Fox Station. Legal battles waged against PSO left Mrs. Dickerson and her family more than $200,000 in debt. Through the gracious donations of friends and CASE members, Dickerson was able to repay her debts in full by the early 1990s. Mrs. Dickerson and her daughter Mary operated a health care retail business out of their home in Claremore. Carrie Dickerson died in her sleep, November 17, 2006.

Extent

64 Linear feet (2 flat boxes, 4 document boxes, 19 books, 57 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arranged into five series.

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog or contact the Oklahoma State University Archives Reference staff.