Commission on the Year 2000

Beginning in 1964, the Commission on the Year 2000 was designed to provoke interest in long-range thinking on different facets of the future of society of the United States and abroad, and to explore a number of problem areas that the Commission felt were important. Topics ranged from biomedical sciences, to the phenomenon of the computer, privacy, natural resources, and more. Set about by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Commission was funded as well by the Carnegie Corporation and the Corning Glass Works Foundation.

This exhibit was created by Simmons College intern Timothy Rodriguez in Fall 2015 from materials found in RG XXI: Projects and Programs. Commission on the Year 2000.

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Clipping, Seattle Post Intelligencer – Sunday, 1968 January 14

The American Academy established the Commission on the Year 2000 in 1964 1.) to make logical assumptions about the future and 2.) to identify problem areas and social and intellectual questions likely to be central by the year 2000.

Creator: Seattle Post Intelligencer
Date: 1968 January 14
Format: Newsprint

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Clipping, Houston Chronicle – Sunday, 1967 December 31

The first phase of the Commission saw the collaboration of over thirty formal members from varying professional fields, and over fifty scholars who participated in some capacity. Members included Warren Bennis, Charles Ikle, Herman Kahn, Wassily Leontief, Harvey Perloff, Roger Revlle, and more.

Commission Chair Daniel Bell was interested in “futurology,” the field of future studies and long-range forecasting. Included in the Commission files is a manuscript by Bell which expounds on futurology and differentiates between previous attempts of forecasting, and what the Commission and Bell were able to accomplish with their findings.

Creator: Houston Chronicle
Date: 1967 December 31
Format: Newsprint

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Letter from John Wilkman to John Voss, 1966 March 28; New York, NY

Jon Wilkman, one of the directors for CBS’ “The Twentieth Century,” requested any information the Commission may have had regarding the various areas of research the series was to concentrate on, including transportation, space exploration, oceanography, and medicine. MGM Studios contacted the Commission as well during this time, interested in the knowledge made available through the coming together of so many intellectuals dedicated to the study of the future.

Creator: Wilkman, John
Date: 1966 March 28
Format: MS

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Clipping, The Northwestern – Saturday, 1967 November 25

Articles from around the nation reported on different findings of the Commission such as: rising prices of land; disposable paper clothing; paying bills with your computer in conjunction with your bank; up to 218 days off during the year; and the emergence of a new “gentleman’s class” that would not work (or work very little), and have enough money to spend their time leisurely.

Creator: The Northwestern
Date: 1967 November 25
Format: Newsprint

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Letter from Fumiro Murobuse to John Voss, 1967 June 10; Tokyo, Japan

The Japan Economic Research Center was one of the many international institutions which purchased the Commission volumes published after the completion of the first phase. The Center was themselves sponsoring an international futurology conference, which included Daniel Bell as a specialist, entitled “The World in 2000” in 1967.

Creator: MurobusE, Fumio
Date: 1967 June 10
Format: MS

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