THE PAPERS OF COLUMBUS O’DONNELL ISELIN
1904-1971

Manuscript Collection 16

(13.75 linear feet)
 
 
 
 
 
 

Processed By
Brenda Rocklage
 

Processing of this collection was partly supported by a grant from the Friends of the Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics.
 
  Access: Unrestricted.

Copyright:

Permission to publish material from the collection
must be authorized by the Institution Archivist.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Data Library and Archives
MS#8, Woods Hole, MA 02543

April 2001
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Table of Contents

Biographical Note
 

Provenance
 

Scope and Content Note
 

Series Description
 

Processing Note
 

Related Collections
 

Container List


Biographical Note

Columbus O’Donnell Iselin was born in New Rochelle, New York on September 25, 1904 to an affluent family of bankers and philanthropists. He had a nautical heritage, became an adept sailor at an early age, and was said to have built his first boat at age eleven. After a preparatory school education at St. Marks in Southboro, Massachusetts, he entered Harvard in 1922 as a mathematics major, but his eagerness to read in the marine sciences led him to Dr. Henry Bigelow, Harvard’s great marine biologist. Bigelow became his lifelong mentor and under his guidance, Iselin took his schooner Chance and a student crew on a cruise from Labrador to Bermuda in 1926, collecting specimens and data about the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream. The four scientific papers published as a result of this cruise gained Iselin his first wide attention. The Chance data confirmed Norwegian theories concerning the movement of icebergs and was incorporated by the International Ice Patrol.

When Bigelow’s new project of an oceanographic institution in Woods Hole became a reality in 1930, Iselin was hired as General Assistant and the first year round employee at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, as well as Master of the new high-seas research vessel Atlantis, whose design and construction he supervised. During the years 1931-40, as Physical Oceanographer at Woods Hole he supervised the Atlantis in her exploration of the Gulf Stream. In 1940 he was appointed Director of WHOI upon Dr. Bigelow’s retirement, a position he retained for ten years, resuming it briefly from 1956-58.

For a period of twenty years, beginning in the nineteen-thirties, the description of the Gulf Stream and the physical characteristics of the Western North Atlantic resulting from the studies of Iselin and the scientists he guided was his most direct contribution to physical oceanography. He published four classic papers between 1936 and 1948.

During World War II, Iselin worked with Maurice Ewing on underwater sound transmission in submarine detection, and introduced the bathythermograph’s use by the Navy in that endeavor. He received the Medal of Merit in 1948 for service to his country.

During the postwar years, Iselin was on the board of the National Academy of Science’s Committee for Undersea Warfare, and was also a founding member of the N.A.T.O. Subcommittee on Oceanographic Research (SCOR), where he played an important part in initiating the International Indian Ocean Expedition. He founded the Ocean Resource Institute with Francis Minot to support the causes of New England marine resources. Iselin was involved, through writing and speaking on a national and international level, in helping to resolve the economic and social problems arising from exploitation of the sea. He remained active in many organizations until his death in 1971.
 
 


Provenance

There is no record of the original accession of the bulk of Iselin’s material to its current location in the WHOI Data Library and Archives, but it is believed that it was transferred from his institution office after his death. There were three subsequent additions to the collection.The accession of a suitcase containing personal files, log books, school books, papers and lectures given at Harvard and M.I.T. was transferred from Iselin’s home and given to Allyn Vine, who sorted through the material, and gave it to the archives on Sept. 26, 1984. Account books, ledgers, receipts and letters pertaining to the Eastern Shipbuilding Corp., a Nova Scotia shipbuilding business in which Iselin was invested between 1930-35, were found in the Bigelow building attic and brought to the archives in September, 1986. Iselin'’s daughter, Susanne S. Doyle, contributed some Iselin family papers, photographs, and glass slides in 1995.


Scope and Content Note

The Papers of Columbus O. Iselin consist of 33 boxes of documents from 1904-1971(13.75 linear feet). The files contain manuscripts, letters, schoolbooks, logbooks, memorandae, lectures, speeches, reprinted articles, magazine clippings, photographs, charts, reports, and data. The papers primarily reflect his scientific interests and multifaceted involvement in the international oceanographic community through writing, lecturing and in an advisory capacity as Physical Oceanographer for the Institution. The bulk of papers span the years from 1932-65 and are arranged in four series: Manuscripts, Correspondence, Subjects, and Personal.


Series Description

Manuscripts

This series contains drafts, lectures given at Harvard and M.I.T., reprints or copies of articles written by Iselin and about him, speeches, a radio talk, a report to the Institution Trustees, memos to staff and general notes, ranging from 1926 to 1969. The recurring subjects are the physical oceanography of the Gulf Stream, circulation, current systems of Florida or the North Atlantic, the role of oceanography in the military, and resources of the sea. Iselin often reworked a text with the same title and updated it for a different audience or as his views changed over the years. See the Personal series for drafts of WHOI During the War Years, The Backus Factor, a humorous piece about chief engineer of the first Atlantis, and a draft of Iselin’s personal history [use RESTRICTED at discretion of Archivist].
 

Correspondence

This series contains correspondence with other scientists and friends in oceanographic fields, WHOI scientists at sea or in the field, U.S. Navy and government personnel, officials at the organizations and corporations for whom he served as advisor, board member or trustee, and people in the academic world. In some cases papers, articles, critiques of papers of theories, or notes for manuscripts, are included in the correspondence, [ seeScientific: general correspondence 1940, 2 ffs, Box 3 and 4 for letters between Iselin, Johann Hjort, and A.G. Huntsman including a paper on fisheries and marine biology ] .

Between the years 1930-39 Iselin maintained separate files for individuals with whom he corresponded frequently. These often contain additional material such as scientifc papers and cruise orders [see Individuals: correspondence: McMurray, F.S.-1932-37, Box 1-2 ]. After 1940, correspondence was kept in general alphabetic order by personal last name, or corporate name, with some exceptions. Subject and Correspondence files have some of the same types of materials.

Iselin maintained an interesting scientific relationship with Alfred Woodcock, documenting some of the early ideas leading to Woodcock’s publications and those that Iselin and Woodcock co-authored [General correspondence, 1939 Box 3 and Scientific: general correspondence, 1940 Box 3-4] Correspondence with Drs. Joanne and Willem Malkus, associated with WHOI, [Correspondence M, 1951-59 – Box 6].

Other correspondents include: Schroeder, W. (Box 2), Sverdrup, H., Stetson, H., Smith, Edward (Box 2), Couper, B.K. (Bureau of Ships), (Box 5), Hersey, Brackett (Box 6),von Arx. W. (Box 5), Smith, F.G. (University of Miami)(Box 5), Walford, L.A. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife) (Box 7), Todd, F.H.(Navy) (Box 7), Huntsman, A.G. (Box 8), “Chance” (Box 8), and Hezen, Bruce (Box 8).
 

Subjects

This series contains a great deal of administrative correspondence related to the associations, organizations, panels, committees, council, and corporate advisory boards in which Iselin participated actively from 1939-68. Bermuda Biological Station folders show Iselin’s role in establishing this WHOI partnership in hydrological and biological research, and as its director and a trustee. In addition there are meeting reports, summaries, reviews, proposals, contract and proposal material, material on the Senate Marine Science Bill and hearings at which Iselin testified (Box 9). Correspondence in the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography folder discusses disposal of radioactive waste at sea, and communication with Richard Vetter on the Navy’s mission to control research ships. (Box 7). Iselin was very involved with ship design and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (Box 6) contains detailed material about Project H-7, Seakeeping Characteristics. WHOI was in the business of providing institutions with “standard sea water” (Box 4). An early Atlantiscruise to Cuban waters is also discussed (Box1).

Personal

This series primarily contains correspondence Iselin conducted with friends, potential crew and scientists prior to and including the early years he spent at WHOI, particularly in regard to the construction and staffing of the Atlantis. Among those represented in the correspondence are Henry Bigelow, A.E. Parr, and A.G. Huntsman (Box 31). Iselin’'s writing is well represented in this series, as seen in a draft of his narrative about WHOI during World War II (Box 31) and two personal logs of the earliest Atlantis voyages, a satirical piece about Harold Backus, an early Atlantis engineer, and an unfinished draft of Iselin’s personal history, [restricted use] (Box 32).
 


Processing Note

During processing basic preservation measures were taken, staples and metal clips were removed, acidic and fragile papers were photocopied, and papers were put in acid free folders. Family photographs and glass slides were separated from the collection and placed in appropriate storage in the Archives vault. Books and reports were added to the library collection as appropriate. Logbooks and data pertaining to specific cruises were removed to the cruise files in the Archives vault. Since the original order of the materials could not be determined, the collection was organized into four (4) series for clarity, retaining the titles of folder when known and the overall chronological order in which they had been placed.

Processing of this collection was partly supported by a grant from the Friends of the Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics.
 


Related Materials

Additional biographical material relating to Columbus O’Donnell Iselin can be found in his biographical file in the Archives vault. Refer also to the collection of Iselin as Director of WHOI, as well as the director’s files of Henry Bigelow, Edward Smith and Paul Fye.
 

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ContainerList


Box Folder Title

Manuscripts

1 Labrador Current paper, Chance report, 1926
Miscellaneous articles:1927-37

-Hints on the use of small sailing vessels, ca 1929

-Science goes to sea. Harvard Alumni Bulletin, February 10, 1933

-The Volume transport of the Florida Current, abstract from Assoc.Oceanog. Phys. Proces-verbaux. No. 2

-Voyages of the “Atlantis” and its oceanographic work.The Collecting Net, June 25, 1932

–-A study of the northern part of the Labrador Current, American Geophysical Union, Abstracts of reports and papers, April, 1927

-Progress of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and cruises of the “Atlantis”, American Geophysical Union, Transactions, April 28-29, 1932

-Recent work on the dynamic oceanography of the North Atlantic, American Geophysical Union, Transactions, April 25-26, 1929 and May 1-2, 1930.

Manuscripts (2ffs.), 1932-40

-The biological significance of some recent developments in physical oceanography. Dec. 9, 1940 N.Y Academy of Science

-The technique of recurring serial subsurface temperature observations at sea.n.d.

-Cruises of the “Atlantis” during the past winter. June 24, 1940

-The necessity of a new approach to the study of the circulation on the continental shelf. April 26, 1940

-Gulf Stream fluctuations. April 15, 1940

–-How oceanographic research aids commerce and navigation andits importance to submarine geology. Feb. 1940

-The current system of the western North Atlantic.New England Geological Society and Marine Biological Laboratory. 1935-36

-Preliminary report on long-period variations in the transport of the Gulf Stream system. (draft) July, 1940

-Paper for Scientific Monthly on nature of Gulf Stream system,1933

-Conception of Gulf Stream, plus 2 talks on the Gulf Stream, 1933-36

- Staff mtg. paper: Temperature salinity correlation within the Florida Current, 1934

Miscellaneous manuscripts and speeches, 1936-37

-Surface movements, Lecture #16. March 2, 1936

-Bingham Oceanographic Laboratory. ca 1936

-Science of meteorology. n.d.

-Staff meeting. 1937

-Lecture #10, North Atlantic current system. n.d.

-M.I.T seminar, March 25, 1937

-Two new plans for the cooperative investigation of the NorthAtlantic'’s circulation. 1937

-Re: “Meteor” data (no title) n.d.

-Temperature and sa–linity in the Atlantic (no title). n.d.

-Major investigations of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1934-36

-Progress in hydrological studies. 1934-36

-Summary of Atlantis hydrological investigations, 1934-36

-Review of paper by Albert Defant, subject: circulation in the Atlantic, 1936

-How deep do ocean currents flow? n.d.

-Speech on ocean currents to school ship Nantucket. n.d.

-A study of the circulation of the western North Atlantic”, 1936

-The influence of Mediterranean outflow at mid-depths in the Sargasso Sea”, 1936

-Some suggestions toward the development of a satisfactory theory of ocean currents, based on a study of the circulation of the North Atlantic ocean”. (2ffs), 1937

-National Academy of Science paper, ”How deep do ocean currents flow?”1937

-Weather Bureau, Outline of a proposed report on the failure of the U.S. Weather Bureau to keep pace with meteorology,1937

2 Personal: Manuscripts,1938-1939

-A promising theory concerning the causes and results of long-period variations in the strength of the Gulf Stream system, n.d.

-Preliminary report on the cooperative investigation of Gulf Streamfluctuations, June 1937-Nov. 1938. (with E.F. Thompson)

-Survey of eddy along the northern edge of the Gulf Stream, (no title), July, 1938

-The Eastern slope water area, n.d.

-The present status of the circulation problem in the deep ocean (no title). March 27, 1939

-Oceanography, n.d.

-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, n.d.

-The influence of fluctuations in the major ocean currents on the climate and the fisheries, Aug. 1938

-Report on the work of the “Atlantis”, n.d.

-Some practical applications of modern physical oceanography, n.d.

-Review of book by Gerhard Schott on the geography of the Indian Ocean, n.d.

-A new cooperative program in physical oceanography, n.d.

-Problems in the oceanography of the North Atlantic, Reprint, Nature Vol. 141 April 1938

Manuscripts: 1939 (2ffs)

–-Untitled Gulf Stream draft 

-Transport fluctuations of the Gulf Stream

-Oceanography

-Recent deep trawling in Cuban waters

–-Untitled fisheries investigation report

-Letter to Johann Hjort , University of Oslo

-Review of Albert Defant paper

-Staff meeting report, July

-Cooperative investigation

-The influence of vertical and lateral turbulence on the characteristics of the water at mid-depths. Contrib. 220

–-Biological implications of new theories

-Understanding the circulation problem

–-Some physical factors influencing the fisheries of New England

-Investigating temperature fluctuations in the northeastern North Atlantic

-Physical oceanography

-A study in the variations in the strength of the Gulf Stream

-Untitled paper on circulation, May 2

-Engineer’s lunch speech, May 17

-Some physical factors which may influence the productivity of New England’s coastal waters. Editor’s galley

-Memo concerning the “Anton Dohrn”, May

-The influence of fluctuations in the Gulf Stream on the fisheries, April

-Two reviews: 1937 articles published in Germany by Gunter Dietrich and G. Wust

-Grange meeting speech, March

-Dukes County Historical Society talk on scientific investigation of the ocean, February

-Untitled report on the circulation problem, March

–-Partial paper on “Atlantis” surveys of the eastern slope area, March

Manuscripts, 1941-48 (2 ffs)

-Interaction between the hydrosphere and the atmosphere, 1941

-Oceanography of the surface layer, n.d.

-Untitled, Chapter 1 on sound transmission, ca 1942

-Oceanography and physics of submarine detection, n.d

-Work of “Atlantis” and “Anton Dohrn”, July 1942

-Physical oceanography, 1945

-Untitled “Introduction” on the work of physical oceanographers during the last 10 or 15 years, ca. 1942

-Lecture on oceanography given to Mr. Sewell’s class,1946

-Untitled paper, Dec. 2, 1941

–-Factors controlling the vertical temperature gradients in the vicinity of Key West, Florida and a program for their future study. n.d.

-Some developments in oceanography. To Harvard Club, Oct. 1942

-Circulation lecture for MBL, July, 1946

-Lecture on Sverdrup’s text Oceanography for Meteorologists, n.d.

Lectures and manuscripts 1946-50 (2 ffs)

-Lecture on fundamentals of physical oceanography and marine meteorology, n.d.

-Ocean waters, manuscript for Grolier Society 1947

-Oceanography, a radio talk. December, 1946

-Down to the sea. Physics Today, August, 1948

-North Atlantic oceanography. Research reviews, August 1949

-Some common characteristics of the Gulf Stream and the atmospheric jet stream. Transactions, N.Y. Academy of Sciences, Dec. 1950 

-We hope to witness the start of a hurricane, n.d.

3 Manuscripts, 1947-48

-Use of the sea for food production, (undated draft missing p.3)

-The future of oceanography at non-government private laboratories, n.d.

-Recent developments in the study of the Gulf Stream, n.d.

-AAAS Symposium on problems of the ocean, Sept 16, 1948

-Climatic changes, ancient and recent, Dec. 1948

-Oceanography and some applications to geophysical prospecting, Dec. 1, 1948

-The scientific aspects of undersea warfare in the Arctic, n.d.

-Physics begins to go to sea, n.d.

-Submarine operation, n.d.

-Lecture, Clark University, March 8, 1948

-Memo to Dr. A.N. Richards and Dr. Detlev Bronk,n.d.

Manuscripts, 1949 (2 ffs)

-Iselin'’s last annual report to the Trustees of WHOI,1950

-Untitled partial draft re: undersea topography n.d.

-The growth and development of oceanographic institutions, n.d. 

-Notes of talk given to foreign government fisheries people on February 9, 1949

-New techniques in oceanographic research. n.d.

-Office of Naval Research speech, Boston 1949

-Oceanographic problems in relation to sea combat and supply operations, Oct. 1949

-Oceanography, For Think, 1949

-Introduction to Oceanography section of the Home University Library, Oxford University Press, n.d.

-Speech to Harvard Engineering Society, n.d.

-North Atlantic oceanography, June 21, 1949

-Physical Oceanography” and Memo to the Director, July-Dec. 1951

-American Geophysical Union Symposium on Gulf Stream system, May, 1952

-American Philosophical Society & paper, “The Gulf Stream System”, 1952-57

-Manuscripts:– Circulation in lakes and oceans, March 4, 1952

-Practical applications of oceanography, 1952

Manuscripts and papers:1954

-Oceanography and naval architecture, June

-Oceanographic factors in coastal waters influencing acoustical phenomena

-Recent advances in our understanding of the circulation problem and their implications for the future

–-Review of Shuleykin'’s 1949 book, “Essays on the physics of the sea

Manuscripts:1957-59

-Brief history of meteorology at the Woods Hole Oceanographic nstitution, 1957

-Synoptic studies in oceanography, 1957

-Matthew Fontaine Maury, pathfinder of the seas, Newcomen society, 1957

-On the past, present, and future of oceanography, 1958

-Oceanography in the government

–-Oceanography and the Navy, 1958

-Oceanography and the Bureau of Ships, 1958

–-New research vessels. ca. 1958

-Environmental factors influencing the performance of Naval weapons systems, Pt. I 1959

-A new discovery in physical oceanography. April, 1959 for Oceanus

Manuscripts/National Academy of Sciences drafts: 1958-62

-Forecasting oceanographic parameters, 1958

-Comments on six Russian oceanographic articles, 1960

-"The Sea--Ideas and Observations,"” Interscience Publishers, 1960-62

Lectures and articles: 1960-65 (3 ffs)

-Three-dimensional thermal structure of the ocean, 1962

-Future of international cooperation in oceanography, 1961

-Oceanographic forecasting, 1965

–-Interpretation and prediction of near surface oceanographic conditions in the North Atlantic (abstract) co-authored with R. Alexander

-Draft-re providing useful data to the Navy, 1965

-M.I.T lecture on circulation, June 23, 1965

-Resources of the sea lecture, n.d.

-Future of physical oceanography, 1965

-no title – Capt. Lawton – re potential resources of the ocean

-M.I.T. club lecture, 1965

-Atlantis II”, Capetown to Woods Hole , Nov.-Dec. 1963

-Folio 2 of the Serial Atlas of the Marine Environment

-History and development of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

-Short history of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

-Fuglister atlas program description-no clear authorship

-On the status of marine science in the coastal waters of Massachusetts

 
4 –-Pastures of the sea. The Nation April 27, 1964

-Physical oceanography of the North Atlantic basin

-Research in oceanography, February 3, 1963

-Some suggestions regarding the Indian Ocean surveys

-Environmental factors that might have contributed to the loss of the Thresher

-Contributions of basic oceanography to the existing Polaris weapon system, January, 1963

-Organizing an environmental forecasting service for the needs of undersea warfare, no title

-Speech on 30 years in oceanography, probably given at a symposium, no title, n.d.

-Partial handwritten lecture, ca 1963

-Oceanography and navigation, 1962

-Underwater Sound Laboratory lectures, New London CT, 1963

-Oceanography,1961

-Defense applications, Chapt. 4, April, 1960

-The oceans are the key thing that makes the earth unique. Introduction, n.d

-Physical oceanography-1930-60, 1960

–-The World Ocean, March 1960

-Oceanography, 1962 Navigation

-Oceanographic problems of the Arctic Ocean, n.d.

-An interpretation of the deep current measurements, n.d.

-Inshore fisheries management, Conference on marine resources, 1962

-What sank “Thresher”, the A-sub? SR/October 5, 1963

-Oceanography – Marine Science, the 1964 Jennings scholar lectures

-Human food from ocean and land, (w. Emory, K.O.) - draft

-Oceanographic forecasts, American Geographical Society, 1963

-The ocean depths: solution to many of man’s problems. Alcan, n.d.

-The loss of the Thresher, no source cited

-Arrivals & departures, Boston, Nov. 1966

-Manuscript: A brief history of oceanography and a glimpse into its future, June 1963

-Manuscript:The general circulation of the oceans, 1963

-Manuscript:Improving world fisheries: the oceanographer’s viewpoint, Sept. 1963

-A brief history of marine science”, Dec. 21, 1964

-SCOR General Meeting, Hamburg, Germany, “On the needs for oceanographic forecasts”, Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 1964

-The evolution of approaches to the problems of the Gulf Stream and some other aspects of marine science”, Draft, 1966

-Farmlands Under the Sea”, Alcan paper and drafts, 1966-67

-On the problems involved in exploring potential marine resources”, draft for The Nation, 1967

-Speech: “Air sea Interactions”, Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory, June 7, 1967

-The ocean environment”, Lecture, education program in oceanography, Institute of Environmental Science, 1967

-Oceanography and the Navy: 1937-1967” and “The evolution of approaches to the problems of the Gulf Stream system and some other aspects of marine science of interest to naval officers”,1967

-Human food from the ocean and land”, with Emory, K.O. Science, Sept. 1967

-Bigelow, H.B.- biography for National Academy of Sciences, 1967-68

-The ocean: eventual solution to many problems”, Encyclopedia of Marine Resources, January 26, 1968

-American Microchemical Society talk on Alfred Woodcock’s work, May 16, 1968

-The circulation of the oceans”, n.d.

-Notes on water pockets or downward currents occasionally encountered by submarines”, n.d.

 
5 Lectures, rough drafts, 1945-63 (2 ffs)

-Physical oceanography, Nov, 1945

-Chapter III-The vertical structure of the oceans. n.d.

-Various untitled lectures delivered by Iselin at Harvard and M.I.T.

-Harvard - Lectures, Talks, 1952-63 (2 ffs)

 
6 Memos and speeches, ca. 1953

-Measurements of the motions of the boat “Risk” at the Jamestown bridge on July 1-2, 1953

-Untitled talk to engineers on the fishing industry, February, 1953

-Untitled talk at WHOI dinner on resources of the sea. May 20, 1953

-Manuscripts, papers: 1955

-Recent developments in oceanography, June, 1955

-Physical oceanography in relation to underwater acoustics

-The present status of Arctic oceanography

-Coastal currents and the fisheries, July, 1955

Lectures and Papers, 1956-59

-Resources of the sea, 1959

-The Navy’'s future in oceanography, 1959

-A brief preliminary assessment of the problems facing the Conference on Oceanic Environmental Predictions

-Untitled draft on circulation, n.d.

-Along what path is physical oceanography most likely to proceed?

-Memo to senior scientists on the deep circulation of the oceans, 1955

-Philosophy of oceanographic instrumentation, (no clear authorship)

-Problem of the Gulf Stream

-Notes made on an article by Dr. Herbert Riehl, 1956

Lectures at Harvard, 1965

-National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, Ocean-wide survey panel, “The evolution of approaches to the problems of the Gulf Stream system”, 1966

-Recent developments in marine sciences”, National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings, January 30, 1968

-Notes on descriptive physical oceanography”, 1969

Correspondence
7 Correspondence, 1930-31
Copenhagen letters, 1931
U.S. Navy correspondence and data (including USS Semmes), Oct. 1936-Dec. 1937
A-Z, 1936
A-G, 1937
H-R, 1937
S-Z, 1937
Individuals: Bigelow, Henry, 1932-37 (2ffs)
Individuals: Ewing, W. Maurice, 1937
Individuals: Fleming, John, 1932-36
Individuals: Emmons, Gardner, 1931
Individuals: McMurray, F.S. (Capt.), “Atlantis” reports, inventory, cruise letters, 1932 –-37 (2 ffs)
Individuals: Morrison, S.E., cruise of the “Ptarmigan”, 1937
Individuals: Parr. A.E., 1937
Individuals: Piggott, C.S., 1936-37
Individuals: Bigelow, Henry B., 1938
Individuals: Emmons, Gardner, 1938
Individuals: Ewing, Maurice, 1938
8 Individuals: McMurray, Capt. F.S., 1938
Individuals: Parr, A.E., 1938
Individuals: A-B, 1938
Individuals: C-D, 1938
Individuals: E-G, 1938
Individuals: H-K, 1938
Individuals: L-N, 1938
Individuals: O-R, 1938
Individuals: S-U, 1938
Individuals: V-Z, 1938
General:1938
Individuals: Bigelow, Henry, 1939
Individuals: Ewing, Maurice, 1939
Individuals: McMurray, Capt. F.S., 1939
Individuals: Parr, A.E., 1939
 
9 Individuals: A-B, 1939-42
Individuals: C-D, 1939
Individuals: E-G, 1939
Individuals: H-K, 1939
Individuals: L-N, 1939
Individuals: O-R, 1939
Individuals: V-Z, 1939
General, 1939
General, 1940
Scientific, 1940, (1 of 2)
 
10 Scientific, 1940, (2 of 2)
Scientific: Parr, A.E., 1940-42
Scientific: Wheeler, Dr. John, 1940
Scientific, 1941-44
General A-Z, 1945-46 (2 ffs)
General A-Z, 1946-50, (2 ffs)
A-L, 1948-50
M-Z, 1948-50 (1 of 2)
11 M-Z, 1948-50 (2 of 2)
A-Z, 1951-53
Lectures/Correspondence, 1951-59
Lamont / Ewing correspondence / notes on “Vema” accident, 1951-55
A , 1955-58
B, 1951-56
C, 1951-58
D-E, 1951- 1959
F, 1951-59
12 G, 1951-59
H, 1951-59
I-J-K, 1951-59
L, 1952-59
M, 1951-59
Mc, 1951-59
N, 1951-58
O, 1953-59
P, 1950-59
R, 1951-56
Roy Rather, Jr. (Cricket Experiment), 1951-59
 
13 S, 1951-54
S, 1955-59
T, 1951-59
U –V, 1950-59
W, 1951-59
X-Y-Z, 1956-59
A – Z, 1954
Stevens, Raymond (Arthur D. Little), 1955
A-Z, 1955-59
"The Sea"” – Interscience Publishers correspondence, 1957-60
Time magazine cover, correspondence, 1959-60
 
14 General, 1959-60
A-B, 1959-69
C-D, 1959-69
E-F, 1960-69
G, 1960-68
H, 1959-68
I-J, 1960-67
K-L, 1961-68
M, 1960-68
N, 1960-68
 
15 O-P-R, 1960-68
S, 1960-69
T-U-V, 1962-68
W-X-Y-Z, 1960-69
Cresswell, G.M.Tiburon Oceanographic Institute, 1960-69 (2 ffs)
"The Sea--Ideas and Observations,"” Interscience Publishers, 1960-62
Burstyn, Harold, 1961-68
McLean, Noel B., 1963-64
Correspondence and Notes, 1965-66
Franklin Institute lecture:“Potential marine resources”, correspondence, April 19, 1967
 
Subjects
16 Burmeister & Wain, Ltd., 1931
Ideas and suggestions, ship plans from American Maiershipform Co. NY, 1931-35
Cableship “Kelvin” current observations, North Atlantic, 1933
“Atlantis” repairs, 1933-36
Bermuda Biological Station report, 1934-35
North American Council, 1934-35
WHOI budget, 1935
Committee on newbathymetric chart of North America, 1935
Edinburgh Assembly (International Union of Geodesy & Geophysics), 1936
Bermuda Advisory Council minutes, 1936-37
Bermuda Biological Station/ J.F.G. Wheeler, 1936-37
Bermuda Biological Station/ Conklin, Harrison, Rand, 1936-37
Bermuda Biological Station/ Minutes, 1936-37
North American Council on Fisheries Investigation (2ffs), 1936-37
Bermuda Biological Station/ general mail, 1936-37
Bermuda Biological Station/votes of Trustees in March, 1937
Bermuda Biological Station/Stanley Kemp, 1937
Cuba trip AT 74Dec. – April, 1937-38
Nautical notes, 1937
WHOI Trustee’s mtg., 1937
Personal: American Geophysical Union, 1938
 
17 Personal:Bermuda project, 1938
Personal:Bermuda seismograph, 1938
Personal:International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, 1938-1939
Personal:North American Council on Fishery Investigation, 1938-1939
General: Estate of C. O. Iselin, 1938
General: Harvard University, 1938-39
General: Insurance, 1938
General: O’Donnell Iselin, 1938
General: St. Marks school, 1938
Banking and financial, 1939-44
General: Graphs (temperature & salinity), 1939
General: Eastern Shipbuilding Corp., 1939-42
General: Harvard University, 1939
General: O’Donnell Iselin, 1939-44
General: St. Marks school, 1939
General: Harvard University, 1940-45
 
18 Scientific: American Geophysical Union, 1939
Scientific: Bermuda Station, 1936-39 (3 ffs)
Scientific: International Union of Geodosy and Geophysics, 1939
Scientific: National Research Council, 1939-40
Scientific: Seismograph/Bermuda, 1939
Scientific: American Geophysical Union, 1940
Scientific: Biological Abstracts, 1940
Scientific: Contract list, 1940-51
Scientific: National Research Council, 1940-41
Scientific: American Geophysical Union, 1941-45
War work, biweekly reports, 1942
War work, biweekly reports, 1943
 
19 War work, biweekly reports, 1944
War work, biweekly reports, 1945
Standard sea water, 1945-52 (2 ffs)
Welsh: Bermuda Biological Station, 1946
Brown, Dugald:Bermuda Biological Station, 1947-49
Civil service, 1946-47
England, 1946-50
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 1946-50
Harvard University, 1947-50
American Geophysical Union, 1947-50
National Academy of Science Conference on Oceanography, May 20-21, 1949
Undersea Warfare Committee, 1950
American Geophysical Union, 1951-59
 
20 American Museum of Natural History, 1951-59
Marine Fisheries Engineering Research Institute, 1951-52 (2 ffs)
National Academy of Sciences, 1951-56
Mine Advisory Committee, National Academy of Sciences, 1951-58
Office of Naval Research, 1951-59
Committee on Electronics, Panel on Acoustics, Research and Development Board, 1951-59
Committee on Undersea Warfare, 1951-59 (2 ffs)
 
21 Marine and Fisheries Engineering Research Institute, 1952-56
Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, 1953-57 (4 ffs)
National Academy of Sciences, 1954
Ocean Resources Institute, 1956
Office of Naval Research, 1954-56
Project proposals, U.S. Depts. of Commerce and Navy,1954-56
Trustees, 1954-55
 
22 Texas Towers, 1954-56
National Science Foundation, 1956-60
Project Nobska- Committee on Undersea Warfare, 1956
Project Nobska /A-C, 1956
Project Nobska /D-F, 1956-57
Project Nobska / G-J, 1956
Project Nobska / K-N, 1956
Project Nobska / O-S, 1956
Project Nobska / T-Z, 1956
Nobska II, 1957
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, 1957-60 (2 ffs)
 
23 Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, 1958-59 (2 ffs)
N.A.T.O. Subcommittee on Oceanographic Research, 1959-61 (4ffs)
N.A.T.O./SCOR Meeting-Paris, 1961
National Academy of Sciences/Committee on Oceanography, 1959 (3 ffs)
Subcommittee on Oceanography/Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, April 21, 1959
 
24 Senate bill S2692 (Marine Science), 1960
National Academy of Sciences- Committee on Oceanography, 1960 (2 ffs)
National Academy of Sciences-Committee on Oceanography/Panel on Indian Ocean, 1960-63(2 ffs)
International Indian Ocean expedition, 1960-63
National Academy of Sciences-Committee on Undersea Warfare, 1960-63
Bermuda Biological Station, 1960-67
Operations Evaluation Group, Dept. of Navy, 1960-62
American Geographical Society Serial Atlas of the Marine Environment,1961-68
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, 1961-65
Kraus, Eric B. Aruba expedition, 1961-65
 
25 National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, 1961
National Academy of Sciences, Ocean-Wide Survey Panel, 1961-62 (2 ffs)
Traveler’s Research Center, 1961-64
National Academy of Sciences, Ocean-wide Survey Panel –Oct. 4 Washington, D.C., 1962
N.A.T.O.Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR)1962(2 ffs)
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26 S.C.O.R. (Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research) Working Party on Fishery Oceanography, 1962-63 (2 ffs)
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, Jan.-June, 1962 (2 ffs)
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, July – Dec. 1962 (2 ffs)
NASCO/ICO Joint Executive Meeting Seattle, Washington, June 29-30, 1962
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography (NASCO) Meeting, Lubec, Maine, Aug. 25-261962
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography (NASCO) Meeting, Kingston, R.I. Nov. 3-4, 1962
Welander, Dr. Pierre/ Differential pressure tube, 1961-65
American Geographical Society, 1963-67
 
27 National Academy of Sciences Ocean-wide Survey Panel, 1963
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography (NASCO) Meeting, Washington, D.C.,March 10-11, 1963
National Academy of Sciences Ocean-wide Survey Panel/ICO Surveys Panel, Sept. 27, 1963, Washington, D.C.1963
N.A.T.O.Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) Bergen, Sweden, 1963
Trustees/ Nominating Committee, 1963-65
Traveler’s Research Center, Scientific Advisory Committee Hartford, CTSept. 12, 1963
Three courses in oceanography, National Science Foundation grant, Nov. 27, 1963
GEO 100/ Summer Course, 1963-64
Visiting committee Meeting, Sept. 16-20, 1963
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography (NASCO) Meeting,Lamont Geological Observatory, Jan.12-13, 1963
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, 1963 (1 of 2)
 
28 National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, 1963 (2 of 2)
NASCO Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota June 5-6, 1963
NASCO Meeting, Lubec, Maine, July 21-23, 1963
NASCO Meeting and NASCO/ICO Meeting, Washington. D.C., Sept. 22-30, 1963
Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) Meeting, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Halifax N.S., Apr. 4-8, 1963
SCOR (Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research of the International Council of Scientific Unions), 1964-68
National Academy of Sciences, 1964-68
N.A.T.O. Sub-Committee on Oceanographic Research, 1964 (2ffs)
N.A.T.O. Sub-Committee on Oceanographic Research, Paris, France, Nov. 9-11 1964
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Undersea Warfare, 1964
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, Ocean-wide Survey Panel, 1964
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, 1964 (2 of 3 ffs)
 
29 National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, 1964 (3 of 3 ffs)
Board of Control of Florida, Tallahassee, July 20-24, 1964
U.S. Senate, Claiborne Pell, 1965-68
N.A.T.O. Sub-Committee on Oceanographic Research, 1965
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, 1965
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Undersea Warfare, 1965
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, Ocean-wide survey panel, Washington D.C., 1965
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Fall lecture series, Dec. 2, 1965
American Geographical Society, 1966-69
Bigelow Medal presentation, 1966
McGraw –Hill Modern Men of Science-Iselin autobiography, 1966
N.A.T.O. Sub-Committee on Oceanographic Research, 1966
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Oceanography, 1966
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Undersea Warfare, 1966 
Travelers Research Center, 1966
Appointment calendar, 1967
American Institute of Biological Sciences, Seattle, Washington, July 18-20, 1967
American Geophysical Union-Gulf Stream Symposium, April 17-20, 1967
Life Science Award at College of New Rochelle, Oct. 15, 1967
N.A.T.O. Sub-Committee on Oceanographic Research, 1967
 
30 National Academy of Sciences Committee on Undersea Warfare, 1967-68
Travelers Research Center, 1967
National Oceanography Association, 1967-68
N.A.T.O. grant No. 307 Atlas of the Mediterranean Sea, A. Miller,1967-69
Marine Sciences Research Laboratory, Science Advisory Group, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1968
N.A.T.O. Sub-Committee on Oceanographic Research Brussells, February, 1968 (2 ffs)
N.A.T.O. Sub-Committee on Oceanographic Research, Brussells, February, 1968 (2 ffs)
Travelers Research Center/ Scientific Advisory Committee, 1968-70
Iselin memorials, including Oceanus issue Vol.XVI, No. 2, 1971-74
Personal
31 Birth certificate and will information, 1904-34
Class notebook, 1926-29
Correspondence, personal: 1926-32
A-C
D-J
K-N
R-Z
Experimental Twin-hull Gansett, ca 1930
Atlantis” / “Chance ”supplies,1931-32
Harvard/Sigma Xi, 1935
Draft (folder A)” WHOI history during the war years, 1941-50”, n.d.
Draft (folder B)” WHOI history during the war years, 1941-50”, n.d.
Correspondence, personal, 1965
 
32 Schooner “Chance”, 1st cruise,July 9, 1925-Sept. 11, 1925
Knowlton'’s “Labrador Diary” – “Chance” 2nd cruise, 1926
Atlantis” personal logbook, 1928
Atlantis” Copenhagen receipts, 1931-32 (4 ffs)
The Backus Factor” (draft), 1967
Henry Bigelow letter (comments on Iselin’'s memoirs), July 17,
July 17, ca 1965
The Iselin Banks, 1937
Atlantis” historical info., first crew list, captains,1930-1946
Personal history (draft) – RESTRICTED by Dr. Fye, ca. 1965
 
33 Eastern Shipbuilding Corp. Financial records. 1930-35

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