Harriet Crowe
UCAR/NCAR Oral History Collection
The NCAR/UCAR Oral History Project documents the history of NCAR/UCAR through interviews, recorded discussions, and lectures by staff and others. The project initially had a strong focus on the creation and development of NCAR, including the design and construction of the Mesa Laboratory headquarters by I.M. Pei. Over the years, the project has expanded to include a wider range of topics and experiences within NCAR/UCAR history.
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Harriet B. Crowe, born Harriet Barker in 1938, was raised in Mt. Cisco, New York. She was the first member of her family to attend college, a significant achievement given that neither her parents nor their siblings had the opportunity to pursue higher education. Crowe initially attended Michigan State University in 1956 with the intention of studying nursing, a decision influenced by her high school counselor who discouraged her from pursuing her original ambition of becoming a doctor. After her freshman year, she got married and moved to Boulder, Colorado, where she worked at the University of Colorado while her husband completed his undergraduate studies. Crowe's association with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) began when she was hired by Walt Roberts to work as his secretary, despite her lack of typing experience. Over the years, she self-educated and worked her way up the ranks, eventually becoming the director of the budget and planning office of NCAR. Crowe's career at UCAR culminated in her appointment as the vice president for corporate affairs and her tenure as the first female acting president of the organization. Despite not having a formal college degree, Crowe's dedication and commitment to her work at UCAR and NCAR have been instrumental in her successful career.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Harriet B. Crowe, conducted by Earl Droessler on June 27, 1990, provides an in-depth look into Crowe's life and career at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The interview begins with Crowe recounting her early life, her family background, and her initial college experience at Michigan State University. She then delves into her move to Boulder, Colorado, her work at the University of Colorado, and her eventual association with UCAR and NCAR. Crowe shares her experiences working under Walt Roberts, who hired her as his secretary despite her lack of typing experience. She discusses her career progression at UCAR and NCAR, highlighting her promotion to the director of the budget and planning office of NCAR and her tenure as the first female acting president of the organization. Crowe discusses how UCAR/NCAR fostered interdisciplinary research; how UCAR/NCAR encouraged the study of the atmospheric sciences at universities; the evaluation and restructuring that occurred after Roberts’ departure; the role of the UCAR Board of Trustees in the management of NCAR; how university relations evolved; and the conceptualization of how UCAR could serve a broader role on behalf of the universities than solely the management of NCAR. Crowe explains the origin of the UCAR Foundation and how Members and the various affiliates programs (including the corporate affiliates, international affiliates and academic affiliates) have operated and functioned within the UCAR structure. Having worked with each of the UCAR president’s, Crowe comments on each of their personalities, characters, leadership styles and contributions. Lastly, Crowe speaks about her experience being the first female acting president. Throughout the interview, Crowe reflects on the challenges she faced as a woman in a predominantly male field, her self-education journey, and her determination to succeed despite not having a formal college degree. The interview concludes with Crowe's thoughts on the future of UCAR and NCAR, her role in the development of the corporation and center, and her contributions to the atmospheric sciences. This interview provides valuable insights into Crowe's life and career, as well as the history and development of UCAR and NCAR.
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