I blew it. I was supposed to post an invitation to attend a launch event at the University of Utah library that took place earlier this week. The announcement came in far enough in advance that I held it until closer to the event, then missed the date.
But despite missing the launch (a film screening and panel discussion), I can still promote the archive sponsored by the Marriott Library at the University of Utah:
UPDATE: Amy T. sent these links to recordings of the recent Downwinders Archive event:
Launch Event
Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Some of you will remember a 2012 Keepa post on the service of Norlan G. and Sheron R. Walker, service missionaries who for years and years and years volunteered at the Church History Library to document a presence in fallout zones for those (or their survivors) who needed that documentation to make claims for injuries suffered as downwinders: Service in the Nuclear Age. Elder Walker, still performing that work at age 81, passed away on Christmas Day, 2013. Like the Walkers, the University of Utah seeks to serve those whose lives were so severely affected by those nuclear tests and the deception surrounding them.
Huh! This is really neat. Is there a list of affected people somewhere? I’m pretty sure some of my ancestors were in that population.
MH, a Downwinder has to qualify; there is no ready-made list of victims. Read the linked article from 2012 (https://keepapitchinin.org/2012/05/01/norlan-g-and-sheron-r-walker-service-in-the-nuclear-age/) for general information. The note at the bottom of that post tells you how to find an application.
You should very definitely read the linked article about the Walkers, or reread it if you’ve read it before, but here is technical information about Downwinders and other related compensations. It has lists of types of cancer that are covered, and the eligible counties. I do not know if the linked document is entirely up to date.
Legislation and Compensation
The document says that $853,081,387 was awarded to downwinder claims as of 2004.
Thank you for the links so we can participate belatedly. I remember your writing about using the Sunday School records to document people who had been in the affected areas for their compensation claims. What a nugget of history!