WAUUA37_02_4110FlemingRichardH.xml Guide to the Richard H. Fleming Papers 1924-1989 Fleming (Richard H.) Papers Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2007 (Last modified: 4/19/2018)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections 4110 (Accession No. 4110-002) Fleming, Richard H. (Richard Howell), 1909-1989 Richard H. Fleming papers 1924-1989 1941-1968 17.59 cubic feet (18 boxes) Collection materials are in English. 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.

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.

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

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.

The papers are open to all users.

Request at UW

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

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

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.

 Fleming, Richard H. (Richard Howell), 1909-1989--Archives Project Chariot 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.) Southern Regional Education Board United States. Hydrographic Office United States. Office of Naval Research University of Washington--Faculty--Archives University of Washington. Graduate School University of Washington. Dept. of Oceanography Project Norpac University of Washington. University Archives Oceanographers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Departmental chairmen (Universities)--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Oceanography--Study and teaching (Higher)--Washington (State)--Seattle Oceanography--Charts, diagrams, etc Oceanography--Research--North Pacific Ocean Oceanography--North Pacific Ocean--Observations Oceanography--Research--United States Oceanography--Research--Chukchi Sea Military oceanography--United States Nuclear energy--Industrial applications--Alaska Radioactive waste disposal in the ocean Oceanography--Societies, etc correspondence writings reports research (document genres) project files curricula marine charts bibliographies minutes notes ephemera budgets technical reports logs (records) conferences proposals Photographs Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) Newsletters University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington) Colleges and Universities Military Science Technology Water and Water Rights Seattle Alaska Photographs Ships and Shipping

 

Personal and Professional Papers 1924-1989 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 4 Bering Sea Trawler Project 1959-1961 Norpac (Northern Pacific Survey, 1955-1956) 1955-1960 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 5 Brown Bear (research vessel) 1955-1956 5 Oshoru Maru 1955 5 POFI (Pacific Oceanic Fishery Investigations) 1955 5 Ephemera 1960 Project Chariot 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 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 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 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 18 Charts 1960 9 Miscellany 1960-1961 9 Notebooks 1948-1958 10 Notes 1953-1963 10 Charts undated 18 Charts undated 18 Cruise Data 1959, undated 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 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 1930-1968 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) 12 General Correspondence 1958-1964 12 Minutes 1958-1968 12 Reports 1959-1967 International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics 12 General Correspondence 1955-1962 12 Conference-Seventh General Assembly, Washington, D.C. 1939 Conference-Tenth General Assembly, Rome, 1954 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 12 General Correspondence 1956-1967 National Research Council, American Geophysical Union 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 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 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 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 12-13 General Correspondence 1956-1962 12-13 Minutes 1956 12-13 Budget 1956 12-13 Reports 1956-1960 National Research Council, Oceanography Committee 12-13 General Correspondence 1959-1963 13 Minutes 1960 13 Newsletters 1963 13 Reports 1930,1959-1962 13 Membership List 1964 13 National Research Council, Undersea Warfare Committee 1956-1960 National Science Foundation 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 14 National Science Foundation, Undergraduate Instructional Scientific Equipment Panel 1962 National Science Foundation, United States Japan Committee on Scientific Cooperation 14 General Correspondence 1963 14 Minutes 1963 14 Reports 1963-1964 14 Proposals 1963 Southern Regional Education Board 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 14 General Correspondence 1949-1955 14 Minutes 1951-1953 14 Reports 1949-1955 14 Lists 1949-1955 14 United States Hydrographic Office 1946-1951 United States Office of Naval Research 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 1932-1980 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 15 Interdepartmental Correspondence 1953-1964 15 Minutes 1953-1962 15 Annual Reports 1962-1964 15 Proposals 1964 University of Washington, Oceanography Department 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 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 17 Ephemera 1952-1962 17 Miscellany 1953-1974 17 University of Washington, Oceanography School, Faculty Council 1985