Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Craddock, their seven children, and their maid, Mrs. Mary Thomas are among 750 people who will spend July 16-18 in a fallout shelter as part of a University of Georgia civil defense project. The Craddocks are members of Christ The King Parish.

“I think it will be kind of an adventure,” said Daniel Craddock, 14. “Our whole family got in the car one day and drove to Smyrna. We couldn’t stand it in the car. So I wonder how we are going to stand it in a fallout shelter together for a whole weekend.”

“We are interested in the shelterees’ problems and performance under fallout shelter conditions,” said James Foughner, research associate for the program. Researchers have selected “a representative group based on 1967 U.S. census statistics: occupation, education, race and sex,” Foughner said. The majority of shelterees will be family units, he said.

“Participants involve people within a 75 mile range of Athens. The oldest participant is 80; the youngest is six months,” said Foughner.

Amy Craddock is seven months old. “She crawls around a lot,” said Daniel. “I have never been in a fallout shelter before,” said his sister, Christine, age 9. “I think it will be lots of fun, and I am going to take along paper and pencils and write letters to all my friends.”

“The shelterees are not allowed to divulge details of their experiences in the shelter. They signed a contract to this effect,” said Foughner., “And cannot give out details to reporters when they leave the shelter.”

All research data will be sent to the civil defense office in Washington, D.C., he said. For research purposes, not even Foughner could give many details.

Where is the shelter? How large is it? Foughner answered: “You don’t have to be restricted to an underground shelter. The majority of civil defense shelters are in bank buildings, schools, or churches. This shelter will be somewhere in Athens.”

Water, survival rations, sanitation and radiological kits will be provided for the shelterees, Foughner said. “And participants have been instructed as to additional items—items that can be contained in a certain size bag.”

Christopher Craddock, 6, is going to take his bike. “Susanna will take dolls and toys,” said Daniel,” and Melissa will have her bottle.”

“We really don’t know what to expect, but we are happy to be invited to participate,” said Mr. and Mrs. Craddock.

The University of Georgia is the only university in the country involved in this research program for the Office of Civil Defense. “This is the eleventh and largest study in a five-year series of fallout shelter occupancy tests,” Foughner said. Program director is Dr. John A. Hammes, University of Georgia research psychologist. Both men are members of St. Joseph’s parish in Athens.