The collection is comprised of alphabetical subject files and reports, and a Chronological File of Gaylord "Nick" Nichols, all pertaining to the Arroyo Center. The collection was divided into two series: Nick Nichols Chron. File, and Alphabetical Subject Files. Nick Nichols Chron. Files (Folders 1-2). The Chron. Files are primarily focused on the efforts and logistics of divestiture and transfer of the Arroyo Center from JPL to RAND. A majority of the correspondence in the series was written by Nichols, although there are instances of correspondence from others. One example is a draft interoffice memorandum from Lew Allen to the Senior Staff concerning JPL's obligations to individuals who accepted employment or assignments with the Arroyo Center, expecting it to continue as part of JPL. Allen wanted to assure those employees remaining at JPL that they would not face employment insecurity or other significant career penalties as a result of their Arroyo Center service. Alphabetical Subject Files (Folders 3-76). A major part of the alphabetical files also deal with the impending transfer of the Arroyo Center. The "Alternate Organizations" folder (folder 5) examines other possible organizations that had experience operating Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), or would be interested at acquiring the Arroyo Center. These included SRI International and the New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory. There also are files for the Aerospace Corporation and RAND Corporation, as well as background materials present elsewhere in the collection. There are several folders devoted to the time when the Arroyo Center was initially called the Army Analysis Program (AAP). Included is the "Pickering Report" (folder 10), the Chairman's final report of the AAP Committee, dated January 15, 1983, written by former Lab Director William H. Pickering. The "Caltech-JPL Relations" folder (folder 22), includes a July 10, 1980 report "Reflections on the Formation of a Separate Defense Organization" written by Nichols, and a November 13, 1984 report "A Proposal for Separating the Jet Propulsion Laboratory from the Campus of the California Institute of Technology" written by Martin Goldsmith. Both short reports deal with potential constraints imposed on JPL by Caltech, especially in areas of classified defense work. The "Faculty Discussions-Media Coverage" (folder 29) is a good documentation of the overall mood of the Caltech faculty, as expressed in the minutes of faculty meetings. There also is a sampling of articles printed in local newspapers dealing with the Arroyo Center. Also included is an interview with Richard Montgomery and Robert Mackin for Universe, printed on March 9, 1984. There are several examples of different kinds of Memoranda of Understanding that involved JPL and NASA, including various MOUs between JPL and NASA, between U.S. Air Force Space Division and JPL, and between the Army and JPL. There is also a file with documentation of MOUs between NASA and other organizations, such as the U.S. Department of Energy. The "Program Planning" folder (folder 61) includes a copy of the Proposed Fiscal Year 1984 Program, presented to the Arroyo Center Policy Committee on November 14, 1983. This can be compared to the issued FY 1984 Program (folder 60), revised in July 1984. There are three different progress reports that are represented in the collection. The Monthly Activity Reports (folder 62), were issued by Richard A. Montgomery to Joann H. Langston of the Army Study Program Management Office (SPMO). These are represented in the collection for September/October 1983 to September/October 1984, although they are not inclusive. The Financial Status Reports (folder 63), were issued by the Senior Contract Administrator of the JPL Contracts Management Office. They were M. Marquess, C. Harrell, and S. M. Cargill. They were also sent to Joann Langston of SPMO. These are represented in the collection for July 1984 through February 1987, although they are not inclusive. Also in the collection is a folder of four status reports (folder 64) sent by Robert Mackin to JPL Director Lew Allen in 1984. These were titled "Weekly Status Reports" but only four are present in the collection. Of the above materials, 21 folders are stamped or marked "JPL Discreet." These have been moved to three boxes at the end of the collection. Their original positions in the collection have been marked with separation sheets. Whole files that are discreet are noted in the file folder list. There are 16 folders of Personnel Files of people working for the Arroyo Center. While these files are not stamped "JPL Discreet" they have been treated as such due to documentation of salary and personal issues.
