Guide to the Frank Stokes Oral History, 2001, 2009 SPEC.PA.56.0095 Finding aid prepared by Audrey Wimbiscus Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2021 June This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2021-06-30T13:50-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Frank Stokes Oral History SPEC.PA.56.0095 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.06 Cubic feet 2001, 2009 Captain Francis "Frank" G. Stokes was assigned to the Little America Antarctic Naval Base from 1957 to 1959, when it was shut down due to the end of the International Geophysical Year. The Frank Stokes Oral History, dated 2001 and 2009, contains audio recordings, notes, correspondence, and transcripts of the interview between Stokes and Brian Shoemaker conducted on May 15, 2001. Major topics of the oral history include Stokes' time at Little America as Communications Officer, and the closure of Little America. (4) audiocassettes; (2) letter file folders English Stokes, Francis G. Arrangement of Materials

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

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2001.0014: Frank Stokes, 2001 May

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Frank Stokes Oral History, SPEC.PA.56.0095, 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/visual materials 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, 2020 December; finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, ADA students, 2021 June

 Biographical Note

Captain Francis "Frank" G. Stokes was assigned to the Little America Antarctic Naval Base from 1957 until it was shut down in 1959. Stokes attended Rutgers Preparatory School, then the Naval Academy where he graduated in 1953. One of Stokes' classmates wrote their thesis about Antarctica, which sparked Stokes' interest in Antarctica. Stokes volunteered for Operation Deep Freeze while he was a Lieutenant on the United States Ship Pocono. In November of 1957, Stokes was assigned to the Little America base as Communications Officer and Assistant Officer in Charge. Little America closed in 1958 due to the International Geophysical Year project coming to an end. Stokes was the final person to leave the base on the 19th of January, 1959, and he resigned from the Navy once he returned home.

 Scope and Contents

The Frank Stokes Oral History, dated 2001 and 2009, contains audio recordings, notes, correspondence, and transcripts of the interview between Stokes and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society conducted on May 15, 2001. 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 of the oral history include Stokes' time at Little America as Communications Officer, and the closure of Little America.

 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.

Little America I (Antarctica: Research station) Operation Deep Freeze Stokes, Francis G. United States. Navy--Military life United States. Navy--Officers Antarctica--Social life and customs--20th century Audiocassettes Communications, Military--Antarctica--20th century International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958--Antarctica Military bases, American--Antarctica--Social conditions--20th century Oral histories (literary works) United States--Armed Forces--Officers--20th century Notes and correspondence Polar Oral History 4 6 2001, 2009 Interview recording Polar Oral History 6 1-2 2001 May 15 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: 63 minutes Audiocassette; approximate run time: 99 minutes Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online:

Cassette 1 Cassette 2

 Interview recording copy Polar Oral History 9 1-2 2001 May 15 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: 63 minutes Audiocassette; approximate run time: 99 minutes Transcript Polar Oral History 4 7 2001 May 15 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.