2021-07-09 Guide to the Gerald F. Carlson Oral History, 1966, 2000-2010 SPEC.PA.56.0100 Finding aid prepared by Audrey Wimbiscus Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2021 July This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2021-08-05T14:52-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Gerald F. Carlson Oral History SPEC.PA.56.0100 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.07 Cubic feet 1966, 2000-2010 Gerald F. Carlson taught orphaned Inupiat children in Alaska from 1952-1954. The Gerald F. Carlson Oral History, dated 1966, 2000-2010, contains notes, correspondence, a book by Carlson called Two on the Rocks, and audio recordings and transcripts of the interview between Carlson and Brian Shoemaker conducted on November 16, 2001. Major topics of the interview include Carlson’s experiences teaching native Inupiat children in White Mountain and Little Diomede, Alaska, and general experiences of life in Alaska with his wife. (3) letter file folders; (2) audiocassettes English Carlson, Gerald F., 1925- 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. The first file also contains a typescript of a book by Gerald F. Carlson.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2001.0019: Gerald F. Carlson, 2001 November

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Gerald F. Carlson Oral History, SPEC.PA.56.0100, 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 July

 Biographical Note

Gerald F. Carlson (1925-2011) taught orphaned Inupiat children in Alaska. He dropped out of high school at age 16, and at 18 was drafted into the United States Navy to fight in World War II. Carlson earned his GED, and attended Clark College from 1946-1948. He then transferred to Washington State University and graduated with a bachelors of sociology in 1951. Carlson then went to school to receive a teaching certificate, and applied for a teaching position with the Alaskan Native Services Office in 1952. Carlson was assigned to teach at a boarding school for orphaned Inupiat children in White Mountain, Alaska; his wife, Donna Carlson, worked as the principal’s secretary at the same school. The school closed, and the Carlsons were given the option to end their two-year contract early or transfer to another school. They stayed and were sent to Little Diomede Island to teach in a one-room school. Carlson held several other roles in the village beyond teacher; though he was not trained as a doctor, Carlson provided medical care to villagers such as sewing up wounds and pulling teeth. He also served as the village short-wave radio operator, which was the only way to contact the outside world. The Carlsons left Alaska in 1954, when Donna became pregnant.

 Scope and Contents

The Gerald F. Carlson Oral History, dated 1966, 2000-2010, contains notes, correspondence, a book by Carlson called Two on the Rocks, and audio recordings and transcripts of the interview between Carlson and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society conducted on November 16, 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 interview include Carlson’s experiences teaching native Inupiat children in White Mountain and Little Diomede, Alaska, seal and walrus hunting, and general experiences of life in Alaska with his wife.

 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.

Carlson, Gerald F., 1925- Alaska--Social life and customs--20th century Audiocassettes Books Inupiat--Alaska--Social life and customs--20th century Inupiat--Study and teaching (Elementary)--Alaska--20th century Oral histories (literary works) Teachers--Social life and customs--Alaska--20th century Two on the rocks Notes, correspondence, Two on the Rocks by Gerald Carlson Polar Oral History 4 11 1966, 2000-2010 Interview recording Polar Oral History 6 1 2001 November 16 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Interview recording copy Polar Oral History 9 1 2001 November 16 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Transcript Polar Oral History 4 12 2001 November 16 Final edited transcript Polar Oral History 4 13 2001 November 16 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.