Articles by Y-12's Historian
![[Image: Photo of Y‑12 Historian D. Ray Smith]](/about/history/images/D-Ray-Smith-120x160.jpg)
D. Ray Smith
Y‑12 Historian
Articles by Y‑12’s Historian
In “Y‑12: Local Treasure — National Resource,” a series of articles printed in the Oak Ridge Observer beginning in June 2007 and continuing into early March 2009, and more recently as part of the series “Oak Ridge Treasure, National Resource” published by The Oak Ridger, Y‑12 Historian D. Ray Smith provides richly detailed stories about Y‑12 evolving missions over the past 60 years.
Click a year below to see its associated articles. Then click the date to the left of an article title to open the story in PDF format.
| 2007 | Y‑12: Local Treasure – National Resource Series published in the Oak Ridge Observer |
| Date | Article Title |
|---|---|
| 2007-06-28 | Introduction to Y‑12 history |
| 2007-07-05 | Before Y‑12 |
| 2007-07-12 | Ribbon cutting at Y‑12 |
| 2007-07-19 | Events leading to Manhattan Project |
| 2007-07-26 | Vannevar Bush and Ernest Lawrence — Two key individuals |
| 2007-08-02 | Decisions that led to Y‑12 |
| 2007-08-09 | Colonel Nichols comes on board |
| 2007-08-16 | General Groves takes charge |
| 2007-08-23 | Final decions that led to Y‑12 |
| 2007-08-30 | Y‑12 electromagnetic separation process wins approval |
| 2007-09-06 | Early planning for construction at Y‑12 |
| 2007-09-13 | OSTI and Science.gov — Not your ordinary website — Part 1 |
| 2007-09-20 | OSTI and Science.gov — Not your ordinary website — Part 2 |
| 2007-09-27 | Design of the Y‑12 calutrons |
| 2007-10-04 | Building go up at Y‑12 |
| 2007-10-11 | 14700 tons of silver at Y‑12 |
| 2007-10-18 | 9731: First building completed at Y‑12 |
| 2007-10-25 | 9731: Chauncey Starr — First operations manager |
| 2007-11-01 | General Groves and Ernest O. Lawrence visit 9731 |
| 2007-11-08 | 9731: It all started here |
| 2007-11-15 | A calutron stool appears and more |
| 2007-11-22 | Construction of Building 920101 (Alpha 1) — Part 1 |
| 2007-11-29 | Construction of Building 920101 — Part 2 |
| 2007-12-06 | Operations start and shipments begin |
| 2007-12-13 | More production buildings and expanded operations |
| 2007-12-20 | Both construction and operations continue to increase |
| 2008 | Y‑12: Local Treasure – National Resource Series published in the Oak Ridge Observer |
| 2008-01-03 | Operating Oak Ridge’s “calutrons” |
| 2008-01-10 | Some of the buildings constructed at Y‑12 |
| 2008-01-17 | Heritage Tourism and Y‑12, K-25 and X-10 history |
| 2008-01-24 | More on buildings at Y‑12 |
| 2008-01-31 | Smithsonian interview video history interview — Part 1 |
| 2008-02-07 | Smithsonian video history interview — Part 2 |
| 2008-02-14 | Jack Case — The man who helped bring uranium machining to Y‑12 |
| 2008-02-21 | Jack Case — Tool and die make to plant manager |
| 2008-02-28 | Ivory (soap) flakes and historic artifacts |
| 2008-03-06 | Bob Ellingson remembers — Part 1 |
| 2008-03-13 | Bob Ellingson remembers — Part 2 |
| 2008-03-20 | Post World War II missions emerge for Y‑12 |
| 2008-03-27 | Y‑12 makes first radical changes |
| 2008-04-03 | More radical changes at Y‑12 |
| 2008-04-10 | Still more radical changes at Y‑12 |
| 2008-04-17 | Special Engineer Detachment |
| 2008-04-24 | Nuclear testing continues |
| 2008-05-01 | Production work up for grabs |
| 2008-05-08 | Y‑12 transition and birth of the national laboratories |
| 2008-05-15 | The Clinton Laboratory begins to expand to Y‑12 Buildings |
| 2008-05-22 | Clinton Lab occupies many Y‑12 buildings and becomes ORNL |
| 2008-05-29 | Preliminary steps to the Atomic energy Commission |
| 2008-06-05 | Moving closer to the Atomic Energy Commission |
| 2008-06-12 | United Nations Atomic Energy Commission stalls out |
| 2008-06-19 | United States Atomic Energy Commission formed — Part 1 |
| 2008-06-26 | United States Atomic Energy Commission formed — Part 2 |
| 2008-07-03 | USAEC, David Lilienthal and Oak Ridge — Part 1 |
| 2008-07-10 | USAEC, David Lilienthal and Oak Ridge — Part 2 |
| 2008-07-17 | AEC and control of nuclear weapons |
| 2008-07-24 | AEC and Oppenheimer |
| 2008-07-31 | Major General Kenneth David Nichols |
| 2008-08-07 | AEC and Oak Ridge Operations |
| 2008-08-14 | AEC and Oak Ridge High School |
| 2008-08-21 | AEC and changes at Y‑12, K-25 and X-10 |
| 2008-08-28 | DOE Oak Ridge Operations managers |
| 2008-09-04 | Y‑12’s second era begins |
| 2008-09-11 | Y‑12’s second era grows |
| 2008-09-18 | AEC and Oak Ridge transitions |
| 2008-09-25 | UT gets involved at Oak Ridge |
| 2008-10-02 | AEC and Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies |
| 2008-10-09 | Y‑12 replaces “Fort Knox” as standard for security |
| 2008-10-23 | Even more Oak Ridge Transitions |
| 2008-10-30 | Oak Ridge picking up momentum |
| 2008-11-06 | Zirconium and hafnium separation at Y‑12 |
| 2008-11-13 | Zirconium-related accident at Y‑12 |
| 2008-11-20 | Y‑12 uranium storage facility — A dream come true — Part 1 |
| 2008-11-27 | Y‑12 uranium storage facility — A dream come true — Part 2 |
| 2008-12-04 | Tennessee Eastman letter on Y‑12 reduction in force |
| 2008-12-11 | Lilienthal and Groves comments on CEW transfer to AEC |
| 2008-12-18 | NEPA — A grand new idea |
| 2008-12-25 | The Cold War approaches and Y‑12’s workload grows |
| 2009 | Y‑12: Local Treasure – National Resource Series published in the Oak Ridge Observer |
| 2009-01-01 | Lion Television films at Oak Ridge |
| 2009-01-15 | The Cold War comes to Y‑12 |
| 2009-01-22 | Beta 3 at Y‑12 |
| 2009-01-29 | Oak Ridge and Y‑12 grow stronger in the 1950s |
| 2009-02-05 | Early steps in the Cold War |
| 2009-02-12 | Y‑12 again called on by the nation |
| 2009-02-19 | Y‑12 and the Hydrogen Bomb |
| 2009-02-26 | Y‑12 begins to separate lithium isotopes |
| 2009-03-05 | Y‑12 introduces the COLEX process |
| 2009 (cont'd) |
Y‑12: Oak Ridge Treasure – National Resource Series published in The Oak Ridger |
| 2009-03-13 | Y‑12 Plant prepares to separate lithium isotopes |
| 2009-03-20 | Beta calutrons and Y‑12 experiments |
| 2009-03-27 | Just 'another day' at Y‑12 plant, the National Lab |
| 2009-04-03 | Y‑12 reopens Buildings 9201-4 and 9201-5 |
| 2009-04-10 | Why “25”? and Y‑12 mercury losses |
| 2009-04-17 | Y‑12 lithium-6 production |
| 2009-04-24 | The Scientist of Y‑12 — Dr. Googin |
| 2009-05-01 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 1 |
| 2009-05-08 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 2 |
| 2009-05-15 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 3 |
| 2009-05-22 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 4 |
| 2009-06-01 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 5 |
| 2009-06-05 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 6 |
| 2009-06-12 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 7 |
| 2009-06-19 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 8 |
| 2009-06-26 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 9 |
| 2009-07-03 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 10 |
| 2009-07-10 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 11 |
| 2009-07-17 | Apollo “Moon Boxes” made at Y‑12 |
| 2009-07-24 | Apollo “Moon Boxes” made at Y‑12, part 2 |
| 2009-07-31 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, part 12 |
| 2009-08-10 | Dr. Googin and his early days at Y‑12, conclusion and community involvement |
| 2009-08-14 | Dr. Googin and the Y‑12 COLEX Process |
| 2009-08-21 | Y‑12 weapons work expands in 1950s |
| 2009-08-28 | Harold Cofer and the COLEX process, part 1 |
| 2009-09-04 | Harold Cofer and the COLEX process, part 2 |
| 2009-09-14 | Harold Cofer and the COLEX process, part 3 |
| 2009-09-18 | Harold Cofer and the COLEX process, part 4 |
| 2009-09-25 | Harold Cofer and the COLEX process, part 5 |
| 2009-10-02 | Harold Cofer and the COLEX process, part 6 |
| 2009-10-09 | Y‑12 grows and expands in the 1950’s |
| 2009-10-16 | America Recovery and Reinvestment Act at Y‑12 |
| 2009-10-23 | Y‑12’s 1958 nuclear criticality accident and increased safety |
| 2009-10-30 | A brief history of the Y‑12 Development Division, part 1 |
| 2009-11-06 | A brief history of the Y‑12 Development Division, part 2 |
| 2009-11-13 | Y‑12 sets the pace in precision machining |
| 2009-11-20 | Y‑12 builds capacity to meet nuclear testing schedule |
| 2009-11-27 | Y‑12 leads the way in specialized machining |
| 2009-12-04 | Y‑12 continues to push the state-of-the-art in machining |
| 2009-12-11 | Y‑12, the Cold War, and nuclear weapons dismantlement |
| 2009-12-18 | Muddy Boots, Y‑12 and looking to the future |
| 2009-12-25 | Y‑12;, ORNL and the origin of “work for others” |
| 2010 | Y‑12: Oak Ridge Treasure – National Resource Series published in The Oak Ridger |
| 2010-01-02 | A brief history of the Biology Complex, part 1 |
| 2010-01-08 | A brief history of the Biology Complex, part 2 |
| 2010-01-15 | Roy Williams and others — Keys to Y‑12’s success |
| 2010-01-22 | Roy Williams as recalled by Bill Wilcox and others |
| 2010-01-29 | Roy Williams as recalled by his son and family |
| 2010-02-05 | Y‑12 and the National Park Service study, part 1 |
| 2010-02-12 | Y‑12 and the National Park Service study, part 2 |
| 2010-02-19 | Roy Williams as recalled by Margaret Morrow |
| 2010-03-05 | Quality at Y‑12, part 1 |
| 2010-03-12 | Quality at Y‑12, part 2 |
| 2010-03-19 | Quality at Y‑12, part 3 |
| 2010-03-26 | Secretary Chu, HEUMF and Dr. Chris Keim |
| 2010-04-02 | Union Carbide's 20 years in nuclear energy, part 1 |
| 2010-04-09 | Union Carbide's 20 years in nuclear energy, part 2 |
| 2010-04-16 | Y‑12’s first open hour—September 2–3, 1967, part 1 |
| 2010-04-23 | Y‑12’s first open hour—September 2–3, 1967, part 2 |
| 2010-04-30 | Y‑12 Moon Rocks and Jim Williams |
| 2010-05-07 | Y‑12 through the decades |
| 2010-05-14 | Y‑12 and the Nuclear Posture Review |
| 2010-05-21 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — An exemplary success |
| 2010-05-28 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology instructor's story — Terry Barnes |
| 2010-06-04 | Building 9731—Secret City Festival’s Y‑12 public tour |
| 2010-06-11 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology instructor's story — Evelyn Watson |
| 2010-06-18 | Special announcement: Building 9731 shines again |
| 2010-06-25 | Building 9731 tour was a huge hit |
| 2010-07-02 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — Mayme Crowell |
| 2010-07-09 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — "A Design for Success" |
| 2010-07-16 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — Bob Gouldy's dad and TAT |
| 2010-07-23 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — TAT and John Ray |
| 2010-07-30 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — Case Histories |
| 2010-08-06 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — TAT and Tony O'Dell |
| 2010-08-13 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — John Royster's TAT success story |
| 2010-08-20 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — TAT and Dave Miller |
| 2010-08-27 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — Richard Rookard — TAT instructor |
| 2010-09-03 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — TAT and Don McMurray |
| 2010-09-10 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — TAT and Ricky Seals |
| 2010-10-08 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — Janice Smith's story |
| 2010-10-15 | Y‑12’s Training and Technology — How it ended |
| 2010-10-22 | Nautilus reunion visit to Y‑12 and ORNL |
| 2010-10-29 | Y‑12 apprentice programs are a lot like TAT |
| 2010-11-05 | Y‑12 apprentice programs through the years |
| 2010-11-11 | 48 Star American Flag from Y-12 Plant in 1943 |
| 2010-11-12 | New Hope Center making history at Y-12 |
| 2010-11-19 | Y‑12 apprentices and instructors speak up |
| 2010-11-26 | Building 9213 — A long and varied history |
| 2010-12-03 | Oak Ridge Critical Experiment Facility (Building 9213) |
| 2010-12-17 | Building 9213’s earliest history — Bill Sergeant |
| 2010-12-24 | Critical Experiments Facility and Harold Cofer’s perspective |
| 2011 | Y‑12: Oak Ridge Treasure – National Resource Series published in The Oak Ridger |
| 2011-01-07 | Ed Westcott’s photography goes on the road |
| 2011-01-14 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology, part 1 |
| 2011-01-20 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology, part 2 |
| 2011-01-28 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology — testimonials |
| 2011-02-04 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology — Dave Beck tells how it all started |
| 2011-02-11 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology — Insights from Jack Cook |
| 2011-02-18 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology — Partnership and Impact on the Semiconductor Industry |
| 2011-03-11 | Bill Sergeant — An icon of Oak Ridge Security |
| 2011-03-18 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology — Partnership and Impact on the Semiconductor Industry, part 2 |
| 2011-03-21 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology — The Manufacturing Skills Campus |
| 2011-03-25 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology — What if we got rid of the wires? |
| 2011-04-01 | Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology — The Manufacturing Skills Campus |
| 2011-04-08 | Manufacturing Means Jobs — Mike Arms |
| 2011-04-15 | The Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technologies — Skills Campus |
| 2011-04-22 | Technologies Enabling Agile Manufacturing (TEAM) — An ORCMT success story |
| 2011-05-13 | Lawrence Pack, train conductor, and Y-12’s uranium? |
| 2011-05-27 | The Future is bright for Y-12 — and diverse |
| 2011-06-03 | Y-12 and the National Nuclear Security Administration make continuing progress |
| 2011-06-10 | Y-12 expands metal working and pushes state-of-the-art in machining |
| 2011-06-17 | Y-12 adds more specialized machines in Cold War efforts |
| 2011-06-24 | Y-12’s missions grow more diverse |
| 2011-07-01 | Y-12 advances machine tool accuracy |
| 2011-07-15 | Y-12’s reputation brings even more diverse missions |
| 2011-07-22 | Electromagnetic separation of isotopes at Oak Ridge — L.O. Love (part 1) |
| 2011-07-29 | Electromagnetic separation of isotopes at Oak Ridge — L.O. Love (part 2) |
| 2011-08-05 | Manhattan Project National Historical Park |
| 2011-08-12 | Y-12 takes on the Cold War |
| 2011-08-19 | Ernest O. Lawrence and Y-12 Calutrons |
| 2011-09-02 | Y-12 and the emerging environmental concerns |
| 2011-09-09 | Y-12 and emerging environmental regulations in 1985 |
| 2011-09-23 | Y-12 and environmental regulations — a way of life |
| 2011-09-30 | A Christmas letter from Leon Love |
| 2011-10-07 | Y-12 continues missions while focusing on environment |
| 2011-10-14 | Y-12’s Biomonitoring and Water Quality |
| 2011-10-21 | Y-12’s and ongoing environmental biomonitoring |
| 2011-10-28 | Y-12 History Center and some special artifacts |
| 2011-11-04 | The Power of Choice — Cold War Patriots’ Day of Remembrance |
| 2011-11-11 | The Power of Choice — Cold War Patriots’ Day of Remembrance, part 2 |
| 2011-11-18 | Y-12 continues to make changes in the 1970s |
| 2011-11-25 | Y-12 enters the 1980s |
| 2011-12-02 | Y-12’s history in brief and the early 1980s |
| 2011-12-09 | Y-12 finishes the 1980s in award winning fashion |
| 2011-12-16 | Poem gives glimpse into Christmas past for one Y-12 worker |
| 2011-12-23 | Y-12 and dramatic changes of early 1980s |
| 2012 | Y‑12: Oak Ridge Treasure – National Resource Series published in The Oak Ridger |
| 2012-01-06 | Y‑12 and some leaders in 1980s, part 1 |
| 2012-01-13 | Y‑12 and some leaders in 1980s, part 2 |
| 2012-01-20 | Y‑12 and some leaders in 1980s, part 3 |
