Accession No.: 95-24
PROCESSING RECORD
SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY ARCHIVES
Peterson, Melvin Norman Adolph 1929-1995
Melvin Norman Adolph Peterson Papers, 1959-1995
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 17 record center cartons; slides
ARRANGEMENT: Collection is organized into two series: Melvin N.A. Peterson Series, and
Deep Sea Drilling Project Series.
DESCRIPTION: The Melvin N.A. Peterson Papers consist of two series: the Peterson series
which includes material dated before and after Peterson's work on the Deep Sea Drilling Project
and the Deep Sea Drilling Project Series which consists of papers generated during his years
with the project.
The Peterson series includes biographical information, correspondence dated 1959-1991, notes
and manuscripts for Peterson's published scientific papers; research notes and laboratory
notebooks, files documenting Peterson's work as President of the Pacific Research Foundation,
subject files including extensive material on Arctic drilling projects and a few files documenting
Peterson's position as chief scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Deep Sea Drilling Project Series includes copies of evaluations of DSDP conducted by NSF
contractors and reports by DSDP subcontractors. It includes copies of some DSDP contracts,
DSDP program plans dated 1967-1987, information on DSDP personnel, including cruise
rosters, DSDP Annual Program Reviews dated 1971-1977, monthly reports dated 1968-1987,
DSDP Press Releases and reprints, slides and GLOMAR CHALLENGER demobilization plans.
Some of these records duplicate archival records of the Deep Sea Drilling Project as Peterson
was undertaking research on a history of the Project at the time of his death. The DSDP series
includes films. Several copies of "That Very Special Ship" and film footage of DSDP work at
sea are included in the series.
Deep Sea Drilling Project; Geology--Arctic Ocean; Glomar Challenger (Ship); Glomar Explorer (Ship); Oceanography--Arctic Ocean;
Oceanography—History; Joint Oceanographic Institutions Incorporated; Pacific Research Foundation; United States National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration