The Stephen O. Wilson Papers are arranged in 2 series: Series 1: Operation Deep Freeze Series 2: Oral History
Accession No. PA.2001.0028: Stephen O. Wilson, 2001 August; Accession No. PA.2007.0010: Stephen O. Wilson, 2007 April
[identification of item], Stephen O. Wilson Papers, SPEC.PA.56.0103, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University
Contains audiocassettes.
Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the University Archives reading room only. Audiovisual 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.
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Processed by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2026 May; Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2026 May
Stephen O. Wilson (1933-) was a member of the United States Naval Reserve who was interested in the polar regions from a young age. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1955 with a thesis entitled "Antarctica: A Problem of Sovereignty." Following graduation and his time in the United States Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, Wilson requested duty on a ship assigned to the polar regions. After an initial assignment on the Research Vessel
Following Operation Deep Freeze, Wilson worked on a joint project in Greenland with the United States Army Corps of Engineers doing land surveys. He went back to graduate school at Clark University and earned a degree in Geography, and worked aboard the Research Vessel
The Stephen O. Wilson Papers contain log books and journals kept by Wilson while serving in the United States Navy during Operation Deep Freeze I, II, and III, as well as some naval dispatches and reports from that time period; these materials date from 1955 to 1958. The papers also contain an audio recording and transcript of an oral history interview of Wilson 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 August 13, 2001, Wilson discusses his experiences during Operation Deep Freeze I, II, and III, working on icebreaker ships, and his career following his service in the United Statees Navy. The interview and transcript date from 2001-2003.
The Operation Deep Freeze series consists of two log and journal notebooks kept by Stephen O. Wilson during Operation Deep Freezes I, II, and III, as well as United States Naval dispatches and reports from the same time period. Materials date from 1955 to 1958.
The Operation Deep Freeze series is arranged in chronological order.
The Oral History series, dated 2001-2003, contains audio recordings and a transcript of the interview between Stephen O. Wilson and Brian Shoemaker conducted on August 13, 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 discussed include Wilson's experience while in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps and subsequent assignments to ships that were a part of Operation Deep Freeze I, II, and III. The interview also discusses icebreaker ships in general, Wilson's impressions of Antarctica, and his career after his Navy service was complete.
Materials are arranged in the order created during the interview process.
Contains audiocassettes.
Materials in this series are available for use, but may be used in the University Archives reading room only. Audiovisual 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.
Also available online: