Preliminary Inventory of the National Science Foundation Research Vessel Hero Records, 1970-1985 SPEC.PA.56.0252 Finding aid prepared by Audrey Wimbiscus Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2026 January This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-02-16T14:06-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard National Science Foundation Research Vessel Hero Records SPEC.PA.56.0252 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 5.1 Cubic feet 1970-1985 Research Vessel Hero was a National Science Foundation research vessel that operated in Antarctica from 1968 to 1984. The National Science Foundation Research Vessel Hero Records consists of operations manuals, ships logs, reports, receipts, contracts, correspondence, deck logs, and engine logs from the Research Vessel Hero; materials date from 1970 to 1985. (4) oversize flat boxes; (2) cartons; (2) flat boxes English National Science Foundation (U.S.) Arrangement of Materials

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2011.0004: Hero Foundation, 1998; Accession No. PA.2011.0028: Hero Foundation, 1998; Accession No. PA.2017.0005: Goldthwait Polar Library, 2017 February

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], National Science Foundation Research Vessel Hero Records, SPEC.PA.56.0252, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the University Archives reading room only. 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

This collection is unprocessed. Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2026 January

 Historical Note

Research Vessel (RV) Hero was a National Science Foundation (NSF) research vessel that operated in Antarctica from 1968 to 1984. RV Hero was commissioned by the NSF in November 1964 as a vessel that would be able to get closer to shore than other larger vessels. The vessel had several laboratories onboard for research, and was the first vessel dedicated full-time to scientists at Palmer Station, Antarctica, which let them access previously inaccessible parts of Antarctica. The ship was named after the sloop (also named Hero) that Nathaniel Palmer sailed when he first sighted Antarctica in 1820.

RV Hero was used in Operation Deep Freeze during the 1970-1971 and 1971-1972 seasons. It was decommissioned by the NSF after the 1984 research season. A nonprofit organization, the International Oceanographic Hero Foundation, was formed to try and restore RV Hero as a museum ship, but was unsuccessful in raising enough funds. RV Hero was sold several times between 1984 and 2008, but partially sunk at its dock in Bay Center, Washington after a storm in 2017. Final deconstruction took place in 2022, when the remainder of the ship was removed from the water due to concerns of pollution. Portions of the ship were salvaged and given to The Antarctican Society.

 Scope and Contents

The National Science Foundation Research Vessel Hero Records consists of operations manuals, ships logs, reports, receipts, contracts, correspondence, deck logs, and engine logs from the Research Vessel Hero's years in service as a field vessel for the National Science Foundation; materials date from 1970 to 1985.

 Related Materials National Science Foundation Research Vessel Hero Photograph and Polar Duke Information Sheet Hero (Ship : 1968-1984) National Science Foundation (U.S.) Palmer Station (Antarctica) Antarctica--Discovery and exploration--American--20th century Antarctica--Research--20th century Manuals (instructional materials) Reports Research vessels--Antarctica--20th century Sailing--Antarctica--20th century Scientific expeditions--Antarctica--20th century Scientists--Antarctica--20th century Ships' logs Accession No. PA.2011.0004 2.2 Cubic feet 1970-1985 (4) oversize flat boxes Scope and Contents

Accession No. PA.2011.0004 consists of deck logs, engine logs, and an operation manual, all of which are from the Research Vessel Hero; materials date from 1970 to 1985.

 Research Vessel Hero deck log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.001 1970 January 1-June 30 Research Vessel Hero deck log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.001 1970 July 6-December 30 Research Vessel Hero Operation and Management Manual Accession No. PA.2011.0004.001 1970-1984 Research Vessel Hero deck log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.002 1982 January 1-September 30 Research Vessel Hero deck log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.002 1984 February 1-September 27 Research Vessel Hero engine log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.003 1980-1981 Research Vessel Hero engine log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.003 1981 January 1-November 30 Research Vessel Hero engine log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.003 1983 January 1-October 31 Research Vessel Hero engine log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.003 1983 November 1-1985 October 31 Research Vessel Hero deck log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.004 1982 October 1-1983 April 30 Research Vessel Hero deck log Accession No. PA.2011.0004.004 1983 May 1-1984 January 31 Accession No. PA.2011.0028 2.6 Cubic feet 1973-1984 (2) cartons; (1) flat box Scope and Contents

Accession No. PA.2011.0028 contains ship contracts, reports, work orders, crew lists, logs, and other records from the Research Vessel Hero. Materials date from 1973 to 1984.

 Agencia Maritimas del Pacifica Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Background Correspondence concerning overhaul Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated COMAPA - General Correspondence Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated COMAPA - Statements of Account Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Contract 13956 Larson Boat Shop Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Contract NSF C655 General Correspondence Files Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Contract (sub) 13956 (HERO) American Bureau of Shipping Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Crew Lists Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Cruise Reports Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 1975 Cruise Reports Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 1976 Cruise Reports Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 1977 Gamage (Harvey) Hero Shipbuilder Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Garland. N.C. Shiphandlers Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Hero Breakdown, TWX Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Hero Breakdown - General Correspondence Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 undated Receipts Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 1973-1974 Hero Work Package Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 1976 Incoming Hero Daily SITREP Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 1973 November 6 - 1974 July 3 Legal - (Al Larson Boat Shop) Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 1975 Overhaul Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 1975 Overhaul Accession No. PA.2011.0028.001 1976 Shipyard Hero Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 1974 Subcontract agreement with Al Larson Boat Shop and associated correspondence Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 undated Work Order - Hero/Palmer Project Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 undated Work Package R/V Hero - Summer Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 1975 Work Package Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 1977 Work Package Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 1978 Cruise logs Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 undated Hero Cruise reports Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 undated Hero Cruise summaries Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 undated Winter cruises Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 1984 Cruise reports Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 undated Cruise summaries Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 undated Engineering monthly report and maintenance report Accession No. PA.2011.0028.002 undated Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1980 September Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1983 November Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1981 July Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1982 June Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1982 April Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1983 December Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1981 May Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1981 August Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1981 October Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1983 August Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1980 November Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1983 May Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1981 December Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1981 June Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1982 March Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1982 February Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1983 August Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1982 January Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1983 March Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1980 March Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1980 April Engine room log Accession No. PA.2011.0028.003 1983 July Accession No. PA.2017.0005 0.3 Cubic feet 1970-1984 (1) flat box Scope and Contents

Accession No. PA.2017.0005 consists of an Operations and Management Manual and an Operations and Maintenance Manual, both of which come from the Research Vessel Hero; both manuals are estimated to date between 1970 and 1984.

 Operations and Management Manual Accession No. PA.2017.0005.001 1970-1984 Operations and Maintenance Manual Accession No. PA.2017.0005.001 1970-1984