Corporate Archives and History have developed a new exhibit on the Readiness Program-one of four safeguards tied to the U.S. ratification of the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT). The safeguards were set forth by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to ensure the readiness of the U.S. nuclear weapon research and development program. The third safeguard-the Readiness Program-provided for: "The maintenance of the facilities and resources necessary to institute promptly nuclear tests in the atmosphere should they be deemed essential to our national security or should the treaty or any of its terms be abrogated by the Soviet Union."

Sandia provided leadership, technical expertise, and manpower for the Readiness Program from 1963 until its conclusion in 1975.

The exhibit covers the moratorium on nuclear testing that preceded the LTBT; Joint Task Force 8 formed in 1962 to direct the post-moratorium high-altitude Operation Dominic and Fishbowl tests in the Pacific; NC-135 Readiness Aircraft; full-scale readiness exercises that assessed nonexplosive test vehicles that were dropped during Pacific exercises; scientific expeditions conducted around the world to study solar phenomena; and Joint Task Force 2 assigned to evaluate low level flight tests at the Tonopah Test Range.

Retirees and employees provided photographs and information for the exhibit. Media Relations & Communications and the Recorded Information Management Department are sponsors for the exhibit that is being designed by Michael Vittitow of Creative Arts. Stay tuned-the Daily News and the Lab News will announce later this fall when the Readiness Program exhibit is available for viewing in the Lobby of Building 800 and at the Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union. For more information, contact Archivist Myra O'Canna at 844-6315,

Beginning with Hardtack I in 1958, missiles carrying nuclear devices were launched from Johnston Island in the North Pacific. This photograph was taken in 1962 when the Island served as the base for Operation Dominic. Joint Task Force 8 retained operational control of Johnston Island as a readiness-to-test site until 1970.

The Still Photo Collection continues to serve as a valuable resource for many Sandia researchers on a variety of topics. The collection includes classified and unclassified negatives of Sandia's work from 1949 until recent years. We are refining search strategies to help us locate negatives. It is interesting to learn how subjects have been identified through the years and determine the best way to search for them in the catalog. We located a 1951 plot plan of Tech Area II that was a useful illustration for Tech Area II: A History (SAND98-1617) written by Research Historian Rebecca Ullrich as part of her continuing work for Cultural Resources Management.

Remember that the Corporate Archives Still Photo Collection may be a resource for your projects. Currently, 101,725 negatives are cataloged and being loaded on the Technical Library's classified database. Some unclassified negatives from the collection are scanned and cataloged on C-Quest. You can call Archives Assistant Shirley Morris at 844-7404 for historical or current photographs or access the C-Quest Database.

1951 Plot plan of Area II. Buildings 904 and 907 (the two large buildings on the north-south axis of the area) are approximately 1,100 feet apart.

Recorded Information Management Department 09612
Mail Stop 0612
Fax: 844-2621 and 284-2782
Manager: Anna Nusbaum, 845-9440, awnusba@sandia.gov
Corporate Historian: Carl J. Mora, 844-8011, cjmora@sandia.gov
Corporate Archivist: Myra O'Canna, 844-6315, mlocann@sandia.gov
Research Historian: Rebecca Ullrich, 844-1483, raullri@sandia.gov
Archives & Still Photo Clerk: Shirley Morris, 844-7404, samorri@sandia.gov