2018-09-21 Guide to the William Anderson Oral History, 2000-2001 SPEC.PA.56.0033 Finding aid prepared by Devon Boerman Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2018 August This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2020-08-03T16:17-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard William Anderson Oral History SPEC.PA.56.0033 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.05 Cubic feet 2000-2001 William R. Anderson was the captain of the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS (United States Ship) Nautilus, from 1957-1959. Using the vessel as a scientific support platform to study the Arctic Ocean, Anderson and the Nautilus traveled across the Arctic Ocean under the North Pole from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean on August 3, 1958. The William Anderson Oral History, dated 2000-2001, contains recordings, administrative information, and a transcript of the interview between Anderson and former Ohio State University polar archivist Raimund Goerler that took place on March 15, 2000, regarding Anderson's experiences as the captain of the United States Ship Nautilus. (2) audiocassettes; (2) letter folders English Anderson, William R., 1921-2007 Arrangement of Materials

Materials are arranged in the order created during the interview process, with the first file containing administrative materials created before, during and after the interview.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2000.0012: William Anderson, 2000 March

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], William Anderson Oral History, SPEC.PA.56.0033, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains audiocassettes.

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the University Archives reading room only. Audio recordings contained in this collection are available online. Audiocassette recordings are available for use but a use copy will need to be produced before access is allowed. Contact the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program at polararchives@osu.edu for more information.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Devon Boerman, 2018 August; Finding aid written by: Devon Boerman, 2018 August.

 Biographical Note

William R. Anderson was the captain of the United States Ship (USS) Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, from 1957-1959. In the summer of 1957, Anderson made an unsuccessful attempt of using the Nautilus to travel under Arctic ice to reach Europe on the other side. A blown circuit breaker had shut down the navigation equipment, which forced him to turn around. However, the crew was able to map new underwater areas with their technology. On August 3, 1958, Anderson and the Nautilus traveled across the Arctic Ocean under the North Pole from the Pacific Ocean to Atlantic Ocean, using the vessel as a scientific support platform to study the Arctic Ocean.

 Scope and Contents

The William Anderson Oral History, dated 2000-2001, contains recordings, administrative information, and a transcript of the interview between Anderson and former Ohio State University Polar Archivist Raimund Goerler that took place on March 15, 2000, regarding his experiences as the captain of the United States Ship Nautilus. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by American Polar Society and The Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics of the interview include planning for expeditions, unsuccessful efforts, Anderson's fears that the Navy would cancel the expedition after the first failure, and the importance of Dr. Waldo Lyon, chief scientist on the Nautilus in developing the special instruments that enabled the submarine to measure ice thickness and plot the Barrow Sea Canyon.

 Related Materials Interview of William R. Anderson by Raimund Goerler Anderson, William R., 1921-2007 -- Interviews Nautilus (Submarine: SSN-571). United States. Navy--Officers. Arctic regions--Discovery and exploration--American--20th century Audiocassettes Nuclear submarines--North Pole--20th century Oral histories (literary works) Underwater exploration--North Pole--20th century Notes and correspondence Polar Oral History 1 1 2000-2001 Interview recording Polar Oral History 6 1 2000 March 15 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Audiocassette; Approximate run time: 36 minutes

 Related Materials

Also available online.

 Interview recording copy Polar Oral History 9 2 2000 March 15 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Audiocassette; Approximate run time: 36 minutes

 Transcript Polar Oral History 1 2 circa 2001 Related Materials

Also available online.