Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Unless noted, digital media are not available online. Copies of unrestricted digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access will be provided to use copies of unrestricted digital files rather than carrier media, such as CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks. Some or all electronic files may be unavailable or restricted due to privacy reasons, agreement with the donor, software is not available to interact with files, or because files cannot be retrieved from original media.
Bruce Weir (1943- ) is one of the world’s most well-known researchers on statistical analysis of DNA for forensic, human health, and agricultural applications. Weir earned his PhD from North Carolina State University in 1968 under C. Clark Cockerham and served as a professor of statistics and genetics at NCSU from 1976-2006.
The collection contains Weir's professional correspondence as well as research diagrams and materials related to Weir's tenure at NCSU.
Bruce Weir (1943- ) is one of the world’s most well-known researchers on statistical analysis of DNA. Born in New Zealand, he first came to North Carolina State University as a PhD student under quantitative geneticist C. Clark Cockerham. He graduated in 1968 with degrees in statistics and genetics and returned to NCSU as a faculty member in 1976. During his tenure at NCSU, he received the O. Max Gardner Award, the highest faculty honor presented by the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina to recognize a faculty member having “made the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race.”
In addition to his research in statistical analysis of DNA for human health and agricultural applications, Weir developed statistical tests of the frequency of genetic profiles for evaluating DNA evidence in forensic cases and was instrumental in achieving acceptance of DNA evidence in courtrooms. He is perhaps best known outside academia for his testimony at the O.J. Simpson murder trial in 1995.
Weir left NCSU to become chair of biostatistics at the University of Washington in 2006. He retired from UW in 2023.
(https://statistics.sciences.ncsu.edu/2016/12/08/alumni-spotlight-bruce-weir/, accessed 07/10/2024)
The collection includes correspondence between Weir and journals and publications regarding his research. It also contains correspondence with other statistical geneticists, including C. Clark Cockerham. It also includes research diagrams and materials related to Weir's tenure at NCSU, including his receipt of the O. Max Gardner Award. The collection contains publications on forensics and materials relating to the O.J. Simpson trial.
The Bruce Weir Papers are arranged in four series: 1. General Correspondence; 2. North Carolina State University Correspondence; 3. Publication Correspondence; 4. Unprocessed Materials.
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.
[Identification of item], Bruce Weir Papers, MC 00756, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Gift of Bruce Weir, 2024 July (accession no. 2024.0075).
Finding aid created by Katie Bushman, 2024 July; Preliminary processing by Katie Bushman, 2024 July; Full processing by Lauren Land, 2024 September; Finding aid updated to reflect addition by Ella Mayfield, 2026 July.
The collection is organized into four principal series:
Materials are arranged in the order they were received.
Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Unless noted, digital media are not available online. Copies of unrestricted digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access will be provided to use copies of unrestricted digital files rather than carrier media, such as CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks. Some or all electronic files may be unavailable or restricted due to privacy reasons, agreement with the donor, software is not available to interact with files, or because files cannot be retrieved from original media.
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[Identification of item], Bruce Weir Papers, MC 00756, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.