Guide to the John E. Sater Oral History, 2001, 2009 SPEC.PA.56.0108 Finding aid prepared by Audrey Wimbiscus Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2021 November This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2022-01-07T13:18-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard John E. Sater Oral History SPEC.PA.56.0108 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.06 Cubic feet 2001, 2009 John E. Sater was photogrammetrist who spent much of his career working in the polar regions, primarily with the Arctic Institute of North America (AINA). The John E. Sater Oral History contains audio recordings, notes, correspondence, and transcripts of the interview between Sater and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society conducted on Occtober 25, 2001; collection materials primarily date from 2001, with correspondence about the interview transcript dating from 2009. Major topics discussed include Sater's career with AINA, and his experiences in polar regions with photogrammetry. (4) audiocassettes; (2) letter file folders English Sater, John E. 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 Number PA.2001.0025: John E. Sater, 2001 October

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], John E. Sater Oral History, SPEC.PA.56.0108, 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, 2021 November

 Biographical Note

John Elbert Sater (circa 1930-2006) received his bachelors degree from the Ohio State University in 1954 through the Institute of Geodesy, Photogrammetry, and Cartography. Following graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army, where he was assigned to teach photogrammetry to Army Engineers. Sater was then transferred to the First Engineering Arctic Task Force and sent to Greenland in 1955-1956, where he was assigned to make a planometric map of a glacier face, as well as studying the construction of snow compacted runways on ice.

During the International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957, Sater did fieldwork on the McCall Glacier in Alaska that was funded by the Arctic Institute of North America (AINA). Following the IGY, he traveled to Antarctica in 1960 as the United States representative on the British Antarctic Survey. Sater then worked as the station leader on ARLISS II in the Arctic from 1962-1963. From 1963-1964, Sater was a supply coordinator for the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory; he then returned to AINA in late 1964, where he continued working for the remainder of his career. From 1970 until its closure in 1980, Sater was the leader of the United States operation of AINA. During this time, AINA funded itself by doing ice forecasts for oil companies.

 Scope and Contents

The John E. Sater Oral History contains audio recordings, note, correspondence, and transcripts of the interview between Sater and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society conducted on October 25, 2001; collection materials primarily date from 2001, with correspondence about the interview transcript dating from 2009. 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 Sater's career with the Arctic Institute of North America, experiences in polar regions with photogrammetry, and his experiences working in the field of Arctic research.

 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.

 Arctic Institute of North America Naval Arctic Research Laboratory Sater, John E. -- Interviews United States. Army--Military life Aerial photogrammetry--Polar regions--20th century Arlis II (Drifting ice station) Audiocassettes Government executives--Arctic regions--20th century Government executives--United States--20th century Ice sheets--Greenland--20th century International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958--Arctic regions Oral histories (literary works) Photographers--Polar regions--20th century Scientific bureaus--Arctic regions--Management--20th century Scientific bureaus--United States--Management--20th century Notes, correspondence Polar Oral History 4 30 2001, 2009 Interview recording Polar Oral History 6 1-2 2001 October 25 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: 131 minutes Audiocassette; approximate run time: 36 minutes Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online: Cassette 1 Cassette 2

 Interview recording copy Polar Oral History 9 1-2 2001 October 25 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: 131 minutes Audiocassette; approximate run time: 36 minutes Transcript Polar Oral History 4 31 2001 October 25 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.