Graduate School of Oceanography Oral History Interviews
University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632
email: archives@etal.uri.edu
Published in 2008
Collection Overview
| Title: | Graduate School of Oceanography Oral History Interviews |
| Date range: | 1999 |
| Creator: | University of Rhode Island. Graduate School of Oceanography |
| Extent: | 1 box(es) (.25 linear feet) |
| Abstract: | This collection consists of seven digital videocassettes that contain interviews with prominent former members and affiliates of the Graduate School of Oceanography. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | University Archives and Special Collections |
| Collection number: | Rec. Gr. 138 |
Scope & content
This collection consists of seven digital videocassettes that contain interviews with prominent former members and affiliates of the Graduate School of Oceanography. The interviews were conducted on July 15th, 16th and 23rd, 1999.The video production was performed by Tim Tierney, Assistant Director of the Audio/Visual Production Service.Arrangement
After processing, the tapes are arranged into a single series as follows:
- 1. GSO Interviews
Biographical or Historical Information
The University of Rhode Island's oceanography program began as the Narragansett Marine Lab, founded by Charles Fish, in 1936. It was renamed the Fish Oceanographic Lab in 1960, and then established as the Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) in 1961. With the legislative aid of Senator Claiborne Pell, the School achieved Sea Grant College status in 1971 under the direction of Dean John A. Knauss. In 1989, the school was renamed the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Center of Excellence. It ranked fifth in its Ph.D. program among oceanographic schools in the U.S.Dr. Margaret Leinen, who was the third Dean of the GSO, initiated this project. She was prompted by the knowledge that the some of the original alumni were, by circumstance, present in the region and she thought it would be a good opportunity to capture an oral historical record of the early years at the GSO. Mrs. Leinen then contacted the Director of Marine Programs, Sarah Hickox, and asked her if she was interested in coordinating the project. Mrs. Hickox agreed and asked Walter Gray, the Director of the New England Marine Resources Information Program and the Marine Advisory Service from 1968-1989, to conduct the interviews.
Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | Any qualified person doing scholarly research is permitted to use material housed in the Special Collections Unit. |
| Use of the materials: | Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication. |
| Preferred citation: | Graduate School of Oceanography Oral History Interviews, Rec. Gr. 138, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections. |
| Contact information: | University Archives and Special Collections 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | The collection was transferred from Elenor Uhlinger, of the Pell Library, in July 2000. |
| Custodial history: | The collection was previously held by Elenor Uhlinger of the Pell Library. |
| Processing information: | The collection was processed by Mark Dionne in 2000. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Mark Dionne. |
| Encoding: | Finding aid encoded by Nicholas Albaugh on 2008 May 21, updated by Hailie D. Posey on 2009 September 22, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 16. |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
| Related material: | See also the records of the Graduate School of Oceanography, Rec. Gr. 80. |
Inventory
Inventory
Series 1. GSO Interviews, 1999
1 box(es)
(.25 linear feet)
The first digital videocassette contains an interview with Nelson Marshall, who was visiting from Oregon, on July 15th, 1999. Dr. Marshall began his career at the Fish Oceanographic Lab in 1959 as it was entering into its transitional phase to becoming the Graduate School of Oceanography under the Directorship of John Knauss in 1960. Dr. Marshall also published a historical book on oceanography entitled, In the Wake of a Great Yankee Oceanographer; Recollections from the Years Following the Foundations, (Portland , Oregon: The Anchorage Publisher, 1999). He retired from URI on June 23rd, 1984.
The next three videocassettes contain interviews Dr. John Knauss on July 15th and 16th 1999. Dr. Knauss was appointed the first Dean of the GSO in 1962. Knauss served as Provost for Marine Programs from 1969 to 1982. Knauss was instrumental in attaining Sea Grant College status for URI and served as the first president of the Sea Grant College Association. He was also the co-founder of the Law of the Sea Institute and Chairman of the U.S. State Department's Public Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere in 1981. Knauss was also a member of the Stratton Commission, which reported to President Nixon its findings on marine affairs. He served as chairman of the Coastal Zone Panel and helped construct the Coastal Zone Management Act .
The next two videocassettes contain interviews with Senator Claiborne Pell who helped start the GSO program and worked with Dean Knauss on the passage of National Sea Grant legislation.
The last videocassette contains an interview with Marilyn and Joe Monroe. Marilyn is the daughter of Charles Fish, who founded the oceanographic program in 1936. She and her husband were students in the program in the early 1950's.
Arrangement:
The tapes are arranged by date of interview.
| Container | Description | Date |
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Nelson Marshall |
1999 Jul 15 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | John Knauss |
1999 Jul 15 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | John Knauss |
1999 Jul 15 |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | John Knauss |
1999 Jul 16 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Claiborne Pell |
1999 Jul 16 |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Claiborne Pell |
1999 Jul 16 |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Mr. and Mrs. Monroe |
1999 Jul 23 |