2024-01-09 Guide to the Bernard G. Koether Oral History, 2002-2009 SPEC.PA.56.0124 Finding aid prepared by Tricia McEldowney Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections

1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210

2024 January This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2024-01-09T15:40-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Bernard G. Koether Oral History SPEC.PA.56.0124 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.08 Cubic feet 2002-2009 As of 2023, Bernard G. Koether is the Chairman of the Glacier Society and a former United States Naval Ensign and navigator of the United States Ship (USS) Glacier icebreaker. The Bernard G. Koether Oral History, dated 2002-2009, contains notes, audio recordings, and transcripts of the interview between Koether and Brian Shoemaker conducted on October 20, 2002. Major topics discussed include working on board the Research Vessel (R/V) Vema, navigating the United States Ship (USS) Glacier icebreaker, and attempting to save the Glacier from the scrapyard with plans to restore it as a national monument. (4) audiocassettes; (3) letter file folders English Koether, Bernard G. Arrangement of Materials

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

Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2002.0022: Bernard G. Koether, 2002 October

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Bernard G. Koether Oral History, SPEC.PA.56.0124, 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. 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.

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, 2023 November; Finding aid written by: Tricia McEldowney, 2024 January

Biographical Note

Bernard G. “Ben” Koether (1937-) began sailing as a child growing up near City Island, New York. In the summer of 1953, he worked on board the Research Vessel (R/V) Vema assisting the ship's captain in sailing the ship. The Vema had been chartered out by a team of 26 scientists from the Lamont-Doherty Geophysical Insitute conducting oceanographic research in the Arctic near the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Koether attended Brown University, joined the United States Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and graduated in 1959.

Wanting an adventurous assignment as United States Naval Ensign, Koether volunteered to join the crew of the United States Ship (USS) Glacier icebreaker. He was named the navigator of the ship after only a couple of months on board and was responsible for getting the ship from New York to Antarctica beginning in 1959. In 1960-1961, the Glacier got stuck in the ice and it took a large storm with high winds to release it. Koether resigned his commission from the U.S. Navy in 1961. He attended graduate school and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Business School in 1966. Koether used this degree to start his own business (FAST, Inc.) in 1968.

In 1999, Koether was named President of the Glacier Society and formed a plan the following year to restore the Glacier (decommissioned in 1987) as a national monument. The endeavor ultimately failed and the Glacier was scrapped in 2012; however, as of 2023, Koether remains the Chairman of the Glacier Society which aims to educate the public about the history of the Glacier and Polar exploration in general.

Scope and Contents

The Bernard G. Koether Oral History, dated 2002-2009, contains audio recordings and transcripts of the interview between Koether and Brian Shoemaker conducted on October 20, 2002. There are also notes that were created before, during, and after the interview and are dated 2002-2009.This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by 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 working on board the Research Vessel (R/V) Vema, navigating the United States Ship (USS) Glacier icebreaker, and attempting to save the Glacier from the scrapyard with plans to restore it as a national monument.

Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.

Glacier (Icebreaker) Glacier Society Koether, Bernard G. United States. Navy--Ice breaking operations United States. Navy--Personal narratives Vema (Ship) Audiocassettes Ice breaking operations--Antarctica--20th century Icebreakers (Ships)--Conservation and restoration--United States--21st century Icebreakers (Ships)--United States--20th century Nonprofit organizations--United States--20th century Nonprofit organizations--United States--21st century Oral histories (literary works) Pilots and pilotage--Antarctica--20th century Research vessels--United States--20th century Sailing--Arctic regions--20th century Sailors--Arctic regions--20th century Notes Polar Oral History 5 1 2002-2009 Interview recording Polar Oral History 8 1-2 2002 October 20 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Box Polar Oral History 8, Tape 1 Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Box Polar Oral History 8, Tape 2 Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Interview recording copy Polar Oral History 7 1-2 2002 October 20 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Box Polar Oral History 7, Tape 1 Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Box Polar Oral History 7, Tape 2 Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Transcript Polar Oral History 5 2 2009 Final edited transcript Polar Oral History 5 3 2009 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.