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Neil Thomas Proto papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS2275-UA

Scope and Contents

The Neil Thomas Proto papers consist of materials that document Proto's work as a director for two residence halls on the George Washington University campus between 1970 and 1972, as well as the political unrest among students at GW and throughout the country during this time period. The collection dates from 1968 to 2006, with the bulk of the material dating between 1968 and 1972. It includes correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports, notes, photographs, newspapers, memorabilia, posters, articles, and the original metal sign from Welling Hall.

Dates

  • 1968-2006
  • Majority of material found within 1968 - 1973

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Neil Thomas Proto is an attorney, writer, and professor based in Washington, D.C. He earned his MA in International Affairs in 1969, and his JD in 1972, at the George Washington University. As a law student at the George Washington University, Proto served as a resident director for two residence halls on campus: Welling Hall and Crawford Hall. The basement game room in Crawford Hall was named in Proto’s honor in 1973. Also during this time, Proto was chair of the organization Students Challenging Regulatory Agency Procedures (SCRAP), which fought for compliance by the nation’s railroads and the Interstate Commerce Commission with the National Environmental Policy Act. The efforts of SCRAP resulted in the first test in the United States Supreme Court of the National Environmental Policy Act.

Mr. Proto has practiced law for thirty years as an appellate attorney with the United States Department of Justice (Environment and Natural Resources Division, 1972 to 1979), and in private practice. He is currently counsel in the Washington, D.C. firm of Schnader Harrison Segal and Lewis.

In 1988, Mr. Proto was a Visiting Lecturer at Yale University where he taught the history and law of commercial nuclear power. Since 1990, Mr. Proto has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute, focusing on environmental values, energy choices, and urban policy. He is the author of numerous articles, and lectures frequently. In 2006, his book about his experiences as a member of SCRAP – To A High Court: The Tumult and Choices that Led to United States of America v. SCRAP – was published by Hamilton Books.

Extent

3.75 Linear Feet (1 slim document box, 2 flat boxes, 1 map folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Neil Thomas Proto is an attorney, writer, and professor based in Washington, D.C. He earned his MA in International Affairs in 1969, and his JD in 1972, at the George Washington University. As a law student at the George Washington University, Proto served as a resident director for two residence halls on campus: Welling Hall and Crawford Hall. Mr. Proto has practiced law for thirty years, and he is currently counsel in the Washington, D.C. firm of Schnader Harrison Segal and Lewis. Since 1990, Mr. Proto has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute, and he is the author of the book To A High Court: The Tumult and Choices that Led to United States of America v. SCRAP. The Neil Thomas Proto papers consist of materials that document Proto's time as a residence hall director at GW. The collection dates from 1968 to 2006, with the bulk of the material dating between 1968 and 1972. It includes correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports, notes, photographs, newspapers, memorabilia, posters, articles, and the original metal sign from Welling Hall. Most of the material pertains to the political unrest among students at GW, and throughout the country, during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Arrangement

Organized into four series: Welling Hall and Crawford Hall, Newspapers, Memorabilia and Posters, and To A Hight Court.

Physical Location

Materials may be stored off-site, and may require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Neil Thomas Proto, 08/05/2009 (2009.044)

Physical Description

Material is in good condition. Newspapers ae brittle, and the photographs are in acidic matting.

Source

Title
Guide to the Neil Thomas Proto papers, 1968-2006
Status
Completed
Author
Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
Date
2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository

Contact:
2130 H Street NW
Washington 20052 United States of America