Guide to the Morton Rubin Papers, 2000, 2004 SPEC.PA.56.0063 Finding aid prepared by Audrey Wimbiscus Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2025 December This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2025-12-18T16:04-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Morton Rubin Papers SPEC.PA.56.0063 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.67 Cubic feet 2000, 2004 Morton J. Rubin (1917-2004) was a United States meteorologist who wintered over in Antarctica with Russian scientists during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) from 1957-1958. The Morton Rubin Papers contain a biography of Morton Rubin written in 2004, as well as a photocopy of Morton's diary from during the IGY, a copy of the diary on compact disc, and an audio recording and transcript of an oral history interview of Morton from a series of polar oral histories sponsored by the American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program. (4) audiocassettes; (1) letter file folder; (1) 2.5" legal document box English Rubin, Morton Joseph, 1917-2004 Arrangement of Materials

The Morton Rubin Papers are arranged in 2 series:

Series 1: "A Weather Man for All Seasons" Series 2: Polar Oral History

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2000.0047: Morton Rubin, 2000 July; Accession No. PA.2004.0006: Harry Rubin, 2004 October; Accession No. PA.2006.0018: Martin Sponholz, 2006 September

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Morton Rubin Papers, SPEC.PA.56.0063, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains audiocassettes and compact discs.

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the University Archives reading room only. Audiovisual materials and computer media may need a use copy 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: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2025 December; Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2025 December

 Biographical Note

Morton Joseph Rubin (1917-2004) was an American meteorologist who traveled to Antarctica as part of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) from 1957-1958. He became interested in the polar regions after being asked to deliver a mecurial barometer to Admiral Byrd's ship the City of New York while it was at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1938. Morton studied meteorology, and got his college degree from Penn State in 1942, then accepted a position with Pan American Grace Airways where he set up weather stations in several countries in South America. Morton's weather specialty was Southern Hemisphere weather conditions. He heard about the IGY, and ultimately joined the expedition after being put in charge of organizing Weather Central in Antarctica; over the course of that time, Morton was the only American who wintered over in Antarctica with the Russians at their Antarctic base, Mirny Station. Following his time in Antarctica, Morton spent his later career in the United States Weather Bureau (known as the National Weather Service after 1970) where he worked on research projects on meteorological, oceanographical, and glaciological problems of the Antarctic.

 Scope and Contents

The Morton Rubin Papers contain a biography of Morton Rubin written by his brother Harry Rubin in 2004, as well as an appendix to that biography of a photocopy of Morton's diary from during the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958), and a copy of that appendix on compact disc. They also contain an audio recording and transcript of an oral history interview of Morton from a series of polar oral histories sponsored by the American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program. In this oral history interview from July 21, 2000, Morton discusses his time in Antarctica as a meteorologist during the International Geophysical year, as well as his relations with Russian scientists also in Antarctica at the time.

 Rubin, Morton Joseph, 1917-2004 United States. Weather Bureau Antarctica--Social life and customs--20th century Audiocassettes Compact discs International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958--Antarctica International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958--Personal narratives International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958--Planning Meteorologists--Antarctica--20th century Meteorology--International cooperation--20th century Meteorology--Observations--Antarctica--20th century Military bases--Antarctica--20th century Mirny Station (Antarctica) Oral histories (literary works) "A Weather Man for All Seasons" Series 1 2004 Scope and Contents

The "A Weather Man for All Seasons: the Life of Morton J. Rubin" series contains a biography of Morton Rubin of the same name written by his brother Harry Rubin, with much input from Morton prior to his death. It includes the biography, illustrated with color photographs, and a separate "Appendix H: The Mirny Diary" of the biography. "Appendix H" consists of a photocopy of a diary kept by Morton during his time in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958) and his following time in Mirny, USSR. The diary was originally written in 1958 and 1959; the photocopy enclosed here and Harry's biography of his brother both date from 2004.

 Arrangement of Materials

The "A Weather Man for All Seasons" series is arranged in the order of publication, with the typed manuscript coming before Appendix H.

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains compact discs.

 "A Weather Man for All Seasons: The Life of Morton J. Rubin" by Harry Rubin 1 1-2 2004 "Appendix H: The Mirny Diary, 1958 February 12 to 1959 February 7" 1 3 1 1-2 2004 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

(2 identical) compact discs.

 Polar Oral History Series 2 2000 July 21 Scope and Contents

The Polar Oral History series, dated July 21, 2000, contains audio recordings and a transcript of the interview between Morton Rubin and Dian Belanger conducted on July 21, 2000. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by the American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics discussed include Rubin's time organizing Weather Central in Antarctica for the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958) (IGY), experiences working with the Russians during the IGY, winter in Antarctica, and his later career in the United States Weather Bureau (known as the National Weather Service after 1970).

 Arrangement of Materials

Materials are arranged in the order created during the interview process.

 Access to Materials

Audiovisual materials and computer media may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. The remainder of this collection is available for patron research, but may be used only in the University Archives reading room.

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains audiocassettes.

 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.

 Interview recording Polar Oral History 6 1-2 2000 July 21 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: 2 hours Audiocassette; approximate run time: 1 hour 45 minutes Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online: Tape 1 Tape 2

 Interview recording copy Polar Oral History 9 1-2 2000 July 21 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: 2 hours Audiocassette; approximate run time: 1 hour 45 minutes Transcript Polar Oral History 2 1 2000 July 21 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.