SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

A chronological file of Fisher's outgoing memoranda and correspondence plus two briefing books. The materials concern the management of energy and mineral leases on public lands and the continental shelf, ocean mining, mine safety and health issues, the work of the Geological Survey, mineral and energy stockpiles, the Naval Petroleum Reserve, and the Energy Resources Council.

QUANTITY
2.4 linear feet (ca. 4,800 pages)

DONOR
William L. Fisher (accession number 90-25)

ACCESS
Open.

COPYRIGHT
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. In addition, Mr.Fisher has donated to the United States of America his copyright interest in any other of his writings that might be included in this collection. The copyright interest to materials written by other individuals or organizations is presumed to remain with them.

Prepared by William McNitt, June 1991
[s:\bin\findaid\fisher, william - papers.doc]

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

William L. Fisher

September 16, 1932 - Born, Marion, IL

1954 - B.S. (Geology), Southern Illinois University

1954-56 - U.S. Army

1958 - M.S. (Geology), University of Kansas

1961 - Ph.D. (Geology), University of Kansas

1960-75 and 1977-- Research scientist (1960-68), Associate Director (1968-70), and State Geologist and Director (1970-75 and 1977--) - Bureau of Economic Geology, Texas State Geological Survey

1964-75 and 1977-- Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX (Departmental chairman since 1984)

1975-76 - Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy and Minerals, U.S. Department of the Interior

1976-77 - Assistant Secretary for Energy and Minerals, U.S. Department of the Interior

INTRODUCTION

William Fisher joined the Department of the Interior as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy and Minerals in April 1975. Upon the departure of Assistant Secretary Jack Carlson in February 1976, Fisher moved up to that position.

The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Energy and Minerals had oversight over the following offices:

Alaska Power Administration
Bonneville Power Administration
Bureau of Mines
Defense Electric Power Administration
Geological Survey
Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration
Ocean Mining Administration
Office of Minerals Policy Development
Office of Research and Development
Southeastern Power Administration
Southwestern Power Administration

He had direct responsibility for programs associated with mineral data and analysis; generation, transmission, and marketing of electric power; mine health, safety and training programs; topographic, geologic, and mineral resources matters; energy, metallurgical, and mining research and development; and emergency preparedness and natural disaster energy and mineral functions.

Fisher's papers are by no means a complete record of his work in the Department of the Interior. He left behind the bulk of his files at the Department as official records.

The Fisher personal papers at the Ford Library consist of his chronological file of outgoing memoranda and letters and two briefing books. No incoming documents or related studies and reports are included. Only a few documents date from before his promotion to Assistant Secretary in February 1976.

The major focus of the chronological file is on the administration of government programs involving the leasing of mineral rights for public lands and the continental shelf to private companies. These leases allowed the companies to mine for coal and various minerals and to drill for oil and gas.

Other materials in the chronological file concern such topics as ocean mining, mine safety and health issues, the work of the Geological Survey, mineral stockpiles, the Naval Petroleum Reserve, and the Energy Resources Council.

One briefing book contains issue papers for the Department of the Interior's FY 1976 budget request and the other concerns a proposed activities tracking and reporting system for weekly staff meetings.

Related Materials (As of June 1976)
Materials on the offices supervised by Fisher appear in White House Central Files subject file category FG 19 (Department of the Interior) and its subdivisions. Information on topics handled by Fisher appears in Central Files categories NR 5 (Minerals - Metals), NR 6 (Oil - Gas), and NR 6-1 (Naval Petroleum Reserve). The files of Glenn Schleede, Domestic Council Associate Director for Energy and Science, are another important source of information on many of the same issues.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Chronological File, 1976.  (Boxes 1-6, 2.2 linear feet)
Outgoing memoranda and letters concerning all aspects of Fisher's work as Assistant Secretary for Energy and Minerals. Virtually no incoming memoranda or letters are attached. In addition to information on the operations of the agencies which Fisher supervised, the materials concern such topics as the administration of energy and mineral rights leasing programs for public lands and the continental shelf, mine health and safety, and energy and mineral stockpiles and reserves.

Arranged chronologically.

View container list for this series

Subject File, 1974-75. (Box 6, 0.2 linear feet)
A fragmentary file consisting of two briefing books. One contains issue papers used in conjunction with the development of the Department of the Interior's FY 1976 budget request and concerning various programs throughout the Department. The other book concerns a proposed activities tracking and reporting system for the weekly meeting of the staff of the Assistant Secretary for Energy and Minerals.

Arranged alphabetically by title.

View container list for this series

CONTAINER LIST

Box 1 - Chronological File

• January 12 - April 7, 1976

Box 2 - Chronological File

• April 8 - May 31, 1976

Box 3 - Chronological File

• June 1 - July 27, 1976

Box 4 - Chronological File

• July 28 - September 30, 1976

Box 5 - Chronological File

• October 1 - December 19, 1976

Box 6 - Chronological File

• December 20, 1976 - January 19, 1977

Box 6 (Continued) - Subject File

• Secretarial Issue Papers - Energy and Minerals
• Secretarial Issue Papers - Energy Research and Development
• Secretarial Issue Papers - Fish and Wildlife and Parks
• Secretarial Issue Papers - Indian Affairs
• Secretarial Issue Papers - Land and Water Resources
• Secretarial Issue Papers - Territorial Affairs
• Secretarial Tracking Reports (1)-(2)