Abstract
The Kenneth Giles Professional Papers (1964-2001) contain documents and visual material related to Giles's time as an Environmental Radiation Monitor for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Photographic slides, film, and digital images depict the general flora and fauna throughout the area surrounding the NTS. Visual materials also document specific mule deer and steer surveillance and testing at the EPA Farm located within the NTS. The collection also contains environmental reports written or collected by Giles, government documents, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings related to environmental monitoring and Giles's work at NTS. A small portion of the collection documents his brief role providing monitoring support at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979. Note: Some images may be of a graphic or disturbing nature and may not be suitable for some users. Photographs may contain scenes of animal testing or other objectionable imagery.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Kenneth Giles Professional Papers (1964-2001) contain documents and visual material related to Giles's time as an Environmental Radiation Monitor for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Photographic slides, film, and digital images depict the general flora and fauna throughout the area surrounding the NTS (California, Utah, and Nevada). Visual materials also document specific mule deer and steer surveillance and testing at the EPA Farm located within the NTS, including "Big Sam", one of four Hereford cattle who gained fame as a fistulated steer (an animal with a surgical opening in their side to conduct testing). The collection also contains environmental reports written or collected by Giles, government documents, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings related to environmental monitoring and Giles's work at NTS. A small portion of the collection documents his brief role providing monitoring support at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in 1979. Note: Some images may be of a graphic or disturbing nature and may not be suitable for some users. Photographs may contain scenes of animal testing or other objectionable imagery.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Where use copies do not exist, production of use copies is required before access will be granted; this may delay research requests. Advanced notice is required.
Some images may be of a graphic or disturbing nature and may not be suitable for some users. Photographs may contain scenes of animal testing or other objectionable imagery.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
Materials remain in the order in which they were received.
Biographical / Historical Note
Kenneth Richard Giles was born February 26, 1941 in Oregon and later graduated from Arcadia High School in Nebraska. He attended the Naval Hospital Corps School in San Diego, California and the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory in San Francisco, California and served as a United States Navy medic until 1962. In 1964, Giles began a 37-year career with the EPA as an Environmental Radiation Monitor. During his time at the EPA, Giles was assigned to the Field Monitoring Branch, where he coordinated surveillance and testing activities for wildlife in area surrounding the Nevada Test Site. He left the EPA in 2001 and began working as a Field Monitor for the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada until he retired.
Giles married Joanne Elizabeth Meyer on February 19, 1966. Giles was a member of the Elk's Lodge and a charter member of Community Lutheran Church. Kenneth Giles passed away August 26, 2021 in Henderson, Nevada.
Sources:
Kenneth Giles Professional Papers, 1964-2001. MS-01111. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Kenneth R. Giles" DignityMemorial.com. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/henderson-nv/kenneth-r-giles-10327184
Preferred Citation
Kenneth Giles Professional Papers, 1964-2001. MS-01111. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2022 by Robert Giles; accession number 2022-017.
Processing Note
In 2022, Tammi Kim ingested digital files off a flash drive. In 2022, Sarah Jones rehoused the materials, processed the digital files, and created the finding aid in ArchivesSpace.