John Ellis van Cortland Moon Papers 

These are remarks given at the time of the presentation of the Moon Papers to Fitchburg State College.

It’s my pleasure this afternoon to introduce John Ellis Van Courtland Moon.  John has been a member of the Fitchburg State College faculty since the fall of 1982.  His arrival on our campus was the result of a series of political actions which led to the demise of our sister college Boston State where John had taught for twenty-four years.

            John represents an interesting blend of scholar and political activist.  He was the president of Boston State’s faculty union in the final moments of its existence.  He has also presented papers and written articles which chronicle the political events of Boston State’s death.  His publications on this subject have appeared in the journals, the New England Sociologist and Reach.  The American Federation of Teachers also put out a special report written by Dr. Moon entitles Boston State College:  A Memory and a Meaning.

            In the area of education, John has continued to be politically active in the American Association of University Professors.  Twice he has served as the President of the Massachusetts conference of this organization and in Spring of 1988, they honored him with their Tom Yost award for service in the defense of academic feedom and governance.

            John’s work on warfare is also a combination of scholarly interest and political activity.  His scholarly interest can be clearly seen from a number of journal publications and presentations to scholarly associations.  The largest and undoubtedly the most significant of these publications is his two volume book, Confines of Concept:  American Strategy in World War II, which is currently at the publisher and is expected out shortly.  (Just in time for the Christmas book list).  For those of you who wonder what life is like after you put out a two volume work, John currently has two draft chapters of anew book, Chemical Warfare Policy:  1915-1945. 

            John is also a member of the Chemical-Biological Warfare Working Group at the Kennedy School of Government and he is a member of the Chemical Warfare Group organized under the American Federation of Scientists.  Both of these groups seek to improve the public understanding of chemical and biological warfare and also use their expertise to attempt to influence political leaders and public policy decisions on these issues.   The Chemical Warfare Group is actively promoting the negotiation of a future treaty to ban the possession or use of chemical weapons.

            John’s reputation as an expert on chemical warfare was nationally recognized when he was asked to testify at the Chemical Warfare Review Commission in 1985.  John was also a member of the United States Committee for the Battle of Normandy Museum and was present at the opening of the museum in June of 1988.