2024-01-10 Guide to the John A. Svensson Oral History, 2002-2010 SPEC.PA.56.0125 Finding aid prepared by David Mezick Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2023 December This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2024-01-10T09:36-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard John A. Svensson Oral History SPEC.PA.56.0125 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.08 Cubic feet 2002-2010 John A. Svensson (born 1940) served in Antarctica with the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions, also known as the Seabees, and later worked as an oceanographic researcher for the University of Washington. The John A. Svensson Oral History, dated 2002-2010, contains audio recordings, administrative information, and transcripts of the interview between John A. Svensson and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society conducted on October 15, 2002, and correspondence from 2010 about the transcripts of the interview. Major topics that Svensson discussed include his experiences serving with the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, his experiences and the living conditions on the floating ice island T-3, also known as Fletcher’s Ice Island (named after U.S. Air Force Colonel Joseph O. Fletcher), working aboard different vessels in the Bering Sea, and working as a commercial fisherman in southeast Alaska. (4) audiocassettes; (3) letter file folders English Svensson, John, 1940- 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.2002.0023: John A. Svensson, 2002 October

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], John A. Svensson Oral History, SPEC.PA.56.0125, 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: David Mezick, 2023 December

 Biographical Note

John A. Svensson (born 1940) served in Antarctica with the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions, also known as the Seabees, and later worked as an oceanographic researcher for the University of Washington. He was born in Santa Monica, California. Svensson joined the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions in 1961. He volunteered to go to Antarctica in 1963 as part of Antarctic Support Activities and served at McMurdo Station from 1963 to 1964, spending the winter there. Svensson was assigned to do fire watches and help survey Williams Field, the main airfield in Antarctica.

Svensson left the U.S. Navy in 1964, and in 1965, got a job at the University of Washington in the Arctic Section of the Department of Oceanography. He went several times to the research station on the floating ice island T-3 off the coast of Point Barrow, Alaska, also known as Fletcher’s Ice Island (named after U.S. Air Force Colonel Joseph O. Fletcher). While living and working on T-3, Svensson mainly conducted research in physical oceanography, measuring currents and water chemistry. Starting in the summer of 1968, he conducted oceanographic and geological research aboard several ships in the Bering Sea, including the USCGC (United States Coast Guard Cutter) Staten Island and the University of Washington’s R/V (Research Vessel) Thomas G. Thompson. In the fall of 1969, Svensson broke his leg rock climbing, and this injury limited his ability to do field work. He continued to work at the University of Washington until he finished his Bachelor’s degree in education in 1973.

After leaving the University of Washington, Svensson taught at Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington before moving to southeast Alaska to work as a commercial fisherman. During this time, he also got his Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Alaska and taught at different places, including Shelton Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska.

 Scope and Contents

The John A. Svensson Oral History, dated 2002-2010, contains audio recordings, administrative information, and transcripts of the interview between John A. Svensson and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society conducted on October 15, 2002, and correspondence from 2010 about the transcripts of the interview. 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 that Svensson discussed include his experiences serving with the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions, also known as the Seabees, at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, his experiences and the living conditions on the floating ice island T-3, also known as Fletcher’s Ice Island (named after U.S. Air Force Colonel Joseph O. Fletcher), working aboard the USCGC (United States Coast Guard Cutter) Staten Island and the University of Washington’s R/V (Research Vessel) Thomas G. Thompson in the Bering Sea, the work he did measuring currents and water chemistry on T-3 and during his voyages in the Bering Sea, teaching in Seattle and Alaska, and working as a commercial fisherman in southeast Alaska.

 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.

 McMurdo Station (Antarctica) Svensson, John, 1940- United States. Navy. Seabees Alaska--Social life and customs--20th century Antarctica--Social life and customs--20th century Audiocassettes Drifting ice stations--Arctic Ocean--20th century Fishers--Alaska--20th century Military bases, American--Antarctica--20th century Military bases, American--Fires and fire prevention--Antarctica--20th century Ocean currents--Research--Arctic Ocean--20th century Ocean currents--Research--Bering Sea--20th century Oceanographers--Arctic Ocean--20th century Oceanographers--Bering Sea--20th century Oral histories (literary works) Saltwater fishing--Alaska--20th century Water chemistry--Research--Arctic Ocean--20th century Water chemistry--Research--Bering Sea--20th century Notes and correspondence Polar Oral History 5 1 2002-2010 Interview recording Polar Oral History 8 1-2 2002 October 15 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Interview recording copy Polar Oral History 7 1-2 2002 October 15 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Audiocassette; approximate run time: unknown Transcript Polar Oral History 5 2 2010 Final edited transcript Polar Oral History 5 3 2010 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.