Richard H. Fleming papers, 1924-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Fleming, Richard H. (Richard Howell), 1909-1989
Title
Richard H. Fleming papers
Dates
1924-1989 (inclusive)
1941-1968 (bulk)
Quantity
17.59 cubic feet (18 boxes)
Collection Number
4110 (Accession No. 4110-002)
Summary
Papers of an oceanographer who taught at the University of Washington and engaged in major research projects, such as the first comprehensive synoptic survey of the Northern Pacific Ocean.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

The papers are open to all users.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Richard H. Fleming (1909-1989) was an oceanographer and chaired the University of Washington Oceanography Department from 1951 to 1967. He was born in Victoria, British Columbia, and attended the University of British Columbia, where he received his B.A. and an M.A. in chemistry. Afterward he pursued studies at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California, receiving his Ph.D. in oceanography in 1935. Fleming taught at the Scripps Institution for several years and also worked for the Division of War Research of the University of California from 1941 to 1946, applying the study of oceanography to problems of undersea warfare. He continued his work in the military applications of oceanography as the chief oceanographer for the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office in Washington, D.C. from 1946 to 1951. Dr. Fleming joined the faculty of the University of Washington in 1951 as the chairman of the Oceanography Department. He directed the expansion of the department’s programs, including the development of undergraduate studies in oceanography.

Dr. Fleming also engaged in research during his time as chairman and participated in major projects at sea. The NORPAC (Northern Pacific Survey) project (1955-1956) was the first comprehensive synoptic survey of the Northern Pacific Ocean, charting currents, tides, winds, depths, and temperatures and observing plant and animal life over a two year period. Project Chariot (1959-1962), conducted for the Atomic Energy Commission as part of Operation Plowshare, investigated the possibility of creating a harbor in Alaska by exploding nuclear devices. Dr. Fleming’s career coincided with the beginning of the nuclear age, and his work included two studies on the disposal of atomic wastes in the ocean, the first for the National Bureau of Standards and the second for the National Research Council.

Fleming belonged to numerous scientific organizations and worked on many committees. These included an organizing committee of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics and several committees of the National Research Council. He engaged in and supervised research on grant projects sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, the Atomic Energy Commission, and the National Science Foundation.

Fleming served as chairman of the Department of Oceanography until 1967 and continued as a professor of oceanography until 1980, when he retired as professor emeritus. He was particularly interested in the development of education in oceanography and worked with committees to promote the training of secondary school teachers and the publication of textbooks in the field. He was the author, with Harold Sverdrup, of The Oceans, one of the standard works on oceanography. Fleming was also a Fulbright lecturer at the University of Istanbul in Turkey from 1964 to 1965.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Primarily relateing to his career as an oceanographer and professor, the Richard H. Fleming papers include correspondence, speeches and writings, reports, cruise data and reports, research project files, curriculum materials, bibliographies, bibliographic cards, notebooks, notes, oceanographic charts, ephemera, legislation, photographs, minutes, and budgets, 1924-1989 (bulk 1941-1968).

Project files include his work for NORPAC and Project Chariot. The papers from Project Chariot include reports distributed to all the participants in the project. These provide details on many aspects of the project in addition to the oceanographic work of Fleming and others. Fleming’s research work in Project Chariot is arranged in subseries of Cruise Reports and Cruise Data following the general series of Project Chariot reports.

Fleming’s work as chairman of the University of Washington Oceanography Department is represented in both his general correspondence and in the series for the department. While the papers include those from throughout his career, the bulk correspond to his tenure as department chairman from 1951 to 1967. The papers from Dr. Fleming’s work on scientific and other committees are arranged under the respective series.

Many of Fleming’s writings are included in the papers in draft form. Handwritten drafts in both the Writings subseries and the Project Chariot Cruise Reports include some prepared by Fleming’s co-author, Diane Heggerty, in particular the “Drift Bottle Report” and the report on the oceanography of the southeastern Chukchi Sea. Some of the papers that were organized in notebooks or binders have been retained in this format. In addition there are some bound volumes of project reports and conference proceedings.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged into 3 series:

  • Personal and professional papers, 1924-1989
  • Scientific and educational organizations, 1930-1968
  • University of Washington committees and departmental records, 1932-1980

Acquisition Information

Source: Alice S. Fleming (wife of Richard H. Fleming), 1989, 1990.

Processing Note

The Richard H. Fleming papers include the papers from two accessions which have been merged. The papers from Accession No. 4110-89-45 had been stored on an oceanography barge. The papers constituting Accession No. 4114-90-15 were kept in the Fleming home.

Publications and duplicates included with the papers were removed during processing in 1996.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Personal and Professional Papers, 1924-1989Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Biographical Information
1933-1967
1
Outgoing Letters
1960-1966
1
General Correspondence
1941-1986
1
General Correspondence Regarding Publications
1952-1963
1
General Correspondence Regarding Meetings
1962
1
Minutes and Agendas
1955-1968
1
Newsletters
1959-1963
1-2
Writings
1953-1965
2-3
Writings of Others
1939-1966
3
Speeches and Lectures
1949-1980
3
Lists
1947-1966
3
Bibliographies
1950-1962
3
Reports
1955-1984
4
Conferences
1924-1963
4
Curriculum Files
1963-1965
4
Legislation
1960-1967
Project Files
Box
4
Bering Sea Trawler Project
1959-1961
Norpac (Northern Pacific Survey, 1955-1956)
1955-1960
Box
4
General Correspondence
1955-1959
4-5
Reports
1955-1957
4-5
Conference-Meeting on Oceanography of the North Pacific
1956
4-5
Cruise Plans
1956
4-5
Cruise Reports
1955-1956
5
Cruise Log
1956
5
Notes
1956
5
Charts
1955-1956
5
Cruise Data
1955-1956
5
Clippings
1956
Subject Files
Box
5
Brown Bear (research vessel)
1955-1956
5
Oshoru Maru
1955
5
POFI (Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations)
1955
Box
5
Ephemera
1960
Project Chariot
Box
5
General Correspondence
1959-1962
5
News Releases
1959-1962
5
Agendas
1961-1962
5
Personnel Rosters
1959
5
Proposals
1959-1960
5
Plans
1959-1961
5
Maps
1959-1961
Subject Files
Box
6
Budget
1959
6
Coordination Meeting
1959
6
Equipment
1959
6
Field Works
1959
6
Kivalina T. G.
1959
6
Marine Ecology Studies
1959
6
Personnel and Regulations
1959
6
Travel
1959
Reports
Box
6
Phase II (1959)
1958-1960
6-7
Phase III (1960-1961)
1960-1962
6-7
Related to Project Chariot
1950-1961
7-8
Fleming's
7-8
Related Material
Box
8-9
Cruise Reports and Cruise Data
1959-1962
8-9
Field Journals
1959
8-9
Field Notebooks
1959, undated
8-9
Writings of Others
1960
8-9
Bibliographies
box:oversize
18
Charts
1960
Box
9
Miscellany
1960-1961
Box
9
Notebooks
1948-1958
10
Notes
1953-1963
10
Charts
undated
box:oversize
18
Charts
undated
18
Cruise Data
1959, undated
Box
10
Cruise Data
1959-1962
10
Cruise Reports of Others
1963-1964
10
Clippings
1963-1981
10
Publications - U.S. Government
1960-1963
10
Miscellany
1960-1975
10
Photographs
undated
10
Ephemera
1945-1989
11
Ephemera and Bibliographical Cards
undated
Subject Files
Box
11
George Clarke
1947
11
EPOC 20th Anniversary
1983
11
Oceanographic Research at Scripps 1946-1947
1947
11
Scholarships
1931
11
Sverdrup Award
1945-1948
11
Turkey
1963-1966

Scientific and Educational Organizations, 1930-1968Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
11
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
1952-1961
11
Council on Wave Research
1951-1959
11
Earth Science Curriculum Project
1963-1964
Eastern Pacific Ocean Conference (EPOC)
Box
12
General Correspondence
1958-1964
12
Minutes
1958-1968
12
Reports
1959-1967
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
Box
12
General Correspondence
1955-1962
12
Conference-Seventh General Assembly, Washington, D.C.
1939
Conference-Tenth General Assembly, Rome, 1954
Box
12
General Correspondence
1951-1954
12
Agenda
1954
12
Minutes - Executive Council
1954
12
Newsletters
1953-1954
12
Reports
1954
12
Budget Files
1953-1955
12
Lists
1954
12
Certificate
1954
12
Miscellany
1948-1954
National Research Council
Box
12
General Correspondence
1956-1967
National Research Council, American Geophysical Union
Box
12
General Correspondence
1951-1963
12
Minutes
1937
12
Programs
1955-1956
12
Reports
1934-1956
12
Membership List
1957
National Research Council, Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation Committee
Box
12
General Correspondence
1956-1957
12-13
Reports
1957-1960
National Research Council, Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation Committee, Effects of Radiation on Oceanography and Fisheries Committee
Box
12-13
General Correspondence
1956-1959
12-13
Proceedings
1956-1960
12-13
Conferences
1956
12-13
Reports
1955-1959
12-13
Membership List
1956
Box
12-13
National Research Council, Geology and Geography Division
1947-1953
12-13
National Research Council, Geophysics Research Board
1962-1964
National Research Council, United States National Committee for the International Geophysical Year
1957-1958
Box
12-13
General Correspondence
1956-1962
12-13
Minutes
1956
12-13
Budget
1956
12-13
Reports
1956-1960
National Research Council, Oceanography Committee
Box
12-13
General Correspondence
1959-1963
13
Minutes
1960
13
Newsletters
1963
13
Reports
1930,1959-1962
13
Membership List
1964
Box
13
National Research Council, Undersea Warfare Committee
1956-1960
National Science Foundation
Box
13
General Correspondence
1955-1967
13
Minutes
1961
13
Conference on Research and Education in the Marine Sciences, October 1960
1960
13
Conference on Marine Laboratories, February 1962
1962
13
Reports
1960, 1962
14
Proposals
1959-1964
14
Ephemera
1957-1963
Box
14
National Science Foundation, Undergraduate Instructional Scientific Equipment Panel
1962
National Science Foundation, United States Japan Committee on Scientific Cooperation
Box
14
General Correspondence
1963
14
Minutes
1963
14
Reports
1963-1964
14
Proposals
1963
Southern Regional Education Board
Box
14
General Correspondence
1953-1954
14
Minutes
1953-1954
14
Newsletters
1954-1958
14
Reports
1952-1954
14
Miscellany
1952-1957
U. S. National Bureau of Standards, Radiation National Committee, Waste Disposal and Decontamination Subcommittee
Box
14
General Correspondence
1949-1955
14
Minutes
1951-1953
14
Reports
1949-1955
14
Lists
1949-1955
Box
14
United States Hydrographic Office
1946-1951
United States Office of Naval Research
Box
14
General Correspondence
1952-1964
14
Reports
1949-1958
14
Catalog - Oceanographic Vessels in the U.S.
1953

University of Washington Committees and Departmental Papers, 1932-1980Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
14
University of Washington, Biology Committee
1960-1962
14
University of Washington, Contract Research Committee
1963-1964
14
University of Washington, Educational Policy Ad Hoc Committee
1961
University of Washington, Graduate School
Box
15
Interdepartmental Correspondence
1953-1964
15
Minutes
1953-1962
15
Annual Reports
1962-1964
15
Proposals
1964
University of Washington, Oceanography Department
Box
15
Organizational Information
1962-1963
15
Interdepartmental Correspondence - University of Washington Arts and Sciences College
1953-1967
15
Interdepartmental Correspondence
1951-1980
15
Intradepartmental Correspondence
1953-1968
15
Minutes
1965-1966
15
Newsletters
1967-1968
15
Reports
1956-1967
15
Proposals
1957-1984
15
Personnel Rosters
1959-1980
15
Position Descriptions
1964
15
Seminars
1951-1952
15
Budget Files
1953-1964
15
List - Students
1961-1963
15
Curriculum Files
1953-1979
15
Class Surveys
1961
15
Cruise Plans
1956-1963
15
Cruise Report
1956
15-16
Cruise Summaries
1961-1966
15-16
Oceanographic Data
1932-1942
Subject Files
Box
17
Richard H. Fleming's Activities
1963-1964
17
Century 21
1958-1962
17
Civil Service
1954
17
Employment Brochures
1953-1957
17
Enrollment and Grade Statistics
1967-1968
17
Jobs
1961
17
Oceanographic Laboratories
1946-1958
17
Plans
1960-1967
17
R.V. Hoh Replacement
1961-1966
17
R.V.T.G. Thompson, Operations
1966-1967
17
Sea Water System
1953-1954
17
T. G. T. Fund
1961-1962
17
Vessels
1956-1964
Box
17
Ephemera
1952-1962
17
Miscellany
1953-1974
Box
17
University of Washington, Oceanography School, Faculty Council
1985

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Departmental chairmen (Universities)--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Military oceanography--United States
  • Nuclear energy--Industrial applications--Alaska
  • Oceanographers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Oceanography--Charts, diagrams, etc
  • Oceanography--North Pacific Ocean--Observations
  • Oceanography--Research--Chukchi Sea
  • Oceanography--Research--North Pacific Ocean
  • Oceanography--Research--United States
  • Oceanography--Societies, etc
  • Oceanography--Study and teaching (Higher)--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Radioactive waste disposal in the ocean

Personal Names

  • Fleming, Richard H. (Richard Howell), 1909-1989--Archives

Corporate Names

  • American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
  • Council on Wave Research
  • International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
  • National Research Council (U.S.)
  • National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Oceanography
  • National Science Foundation (U.S.)
  • Project Chariot
  • Project Norpac
  • Southern Regional Education Board
  • United States. Hydrographic Office
  • United States. Office of Naval Research
  • University of Washington--Faculty--Archives
  • University of Washington. Dept. of Oceanography
  • University of Washington. Graduate School

Form or Genre Terms

  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Newsletters
  • Photographs
  • bibliographies
  • budgets
  • conferences
  • correspondence
  • curricula
  • ephemera
  • logs (records)
  • marine charts
  • minutes
  • notes
  • project files
  • proposals
  • reports
  • research (document genres)
  • technical reports
  • writings

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • University of Washington. University Archives

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)