Spilhaus, Athelstan

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Athelstan Frederick Spilhaus, 1911-1998.

From the description of Oral history interview with Athelstan Frederick Spilhaus, 1989 November 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82744113

From the description of Oral history interview with Athelstan Frederick Sphilhaus, 1976 March 9 and April 6. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78435347

Spilhaus was born in 1911.

From the description of Response to History of Geophysics Survey, 1988. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78696890

Scientist, administrator and educator Athelstan Spilhaus (1911-1998), made contributions to oceanography, meteorology and cartography, served as a dean at the University of Minnesota, and worked to promote science education and science-based management of the earth's resources. In 1936 Spilhaus developed the bathythermograph, a device that made possible the measurement of ocean depths and temperatures from a moving vessel. From 1941 through 1945 he served in the United States Army, teaching meteorology and traveling in Europe and China. In 1949 Spilhaus became dean of science and technology at the University of Minnesota, a position he held until 1967. While at Minnesota he promoted the establishment of a Sea Grant Universities program for oceanographic education and research. In 1955 Spilhaus began writing scripts for "Our New Age," a science-based newspaper comic strip which ran until the early 1970s. In 1961 President John F. Kennedy appointed him United States Commissioner to the Seattle World's Fair (also known as the Century 21 Exposition). During the 1970s he served as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as a fellow of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, as consultant to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, and in other scientific and cultural roles. During the 1980s and 1990s Spilhaus designed new map projections highlighting the earth's oceans, as well as map-themed puzzles. During his last years Spilhaus and his third wife Kathleen became known as authorities on antique mechanical toys.

From the description of Spilhaus, Athelstan, papers, 1912-2003 (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 128174282

Meteorologist, oceanographer.

From the description of Reminiscences of Athelstan Spilhaus : oral history, 1980. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309739015

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Texas A&M University. Oral History Office. Project on the History of Modern Oceanography: oral history interviews, 1975-1978. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Niels Bohr Library. History of physics manuscript biography collection S-Z, 1901-1989, [ca. ca. 1960]-1989 (bulk). Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Spilhaus, Athelstan. Response to History of Geophysics Survey, 1988. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Spilhaus, Athelstan. Oral history interview with Athelstan Frederick Sphilhaus, 1976 March 9 and April 6. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Spilhaus, Athelstan. Harvey Mudd College oral history project on the Atomic Age : Athelstan Spilhaus. The Claremont Colleges, Claremont University Consortium
creatorOf Spilhaus, Athelstan. Oral history interview with Athelstan Frederick Spilhaus, 1989 November 10. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Paul A. Freund papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Extension and Experiment Station Communications Records, 1949-1995 Oregon State University Archives
referencedIn Decker, Fred William, 1917-. Oral history interview with Fred W. Decker, 2000. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics. History of Geophysics Project. Responses to History of Geophysics Survey, 1988. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Spilhaus, Athelstan. Reminiscences of Athelstan Spilhaus : oral history, 1980. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Spilhaus, Athelstan, 1911-1998. Spilhaus, Athelstan, papers, 1912-2003 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Alumni Association (University of Michigan), Individual Photographs, ca. 1880-ca. 1960s Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Raudenbush, David W. (David Webb), 1906-1969. David Webb Raudenbush papers, 1952-1957. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Athelstan Spilhaus Papers 2004-191; 2005-183; 2009-031; 2010-029; 2010-168. 128174282., 1912-2003 (bulk 1930-1990) Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Ohio State University. Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. Athelstan Spilhaus biographical file. Ohio State University Libraries
referencedIn Oregon State University. Extension and Experiment Station Communications. Extension and Experiment Station Communications records, 1949-1995. Oregon State University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics. History of Geophysics Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Calvert, Robert A., person
associatedWith Campbell, J. Arthur (James Arthur), 1916- person
associatedWith Century 21 Exposition, 1962 corporateBody
associatedWith Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.) corporateBody
associatedWith Claremont Graduate School. Oral History Program. corporateBody
associatedWith Decker, Fred William, 1917- person
associatedWith Doel, Ronald Edmund. person
associatedWith Douglass, Enid Hart. person
associatedWith Draper, Charles Stark. person
associatedWith Focke, Alfred B. person
associatedWith Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Jessup, Frederick Peterson, person
associatedWith Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts Institute of Technology. corporateBody
associatedWith National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Sea Grant College Program (U. S.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Sea Grant Program (U. S.). corporateBody
associatedWith New York University corporateBody
associatedWith Niels Bohr Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon State University. Extension and Experiment Station Communications. corporateBody
associatedWith Paul A. Freund person
associatedWith Platt, Joseph B., 1915- person
associatedWith Rae, John Bell, 1911- person
associatedWith Raudenbush, David W. (David Webb), 1906-1969. person
associatedWith Sperry Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Spilhaus, Athelstan person
associatedWith Texas A & M University. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas A&M University. Oral History Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas A & M University. Oral History Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Unesco. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Office of Scientific Research and Development. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Weather Bureau. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Alumni Association. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Minnesota corporateBody
associatedWith University of Minnesota Institute of Technology. corporateBody
associatedWith Von Neumann, John, 1903-1957. person
associatedWith Weart, Spencer R., 1942- person
associatedWith Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Africa
United States
China
United States
China
Subject
Education
Aquaculture
Atomic bomb
Bathythermograph
City planning
Geophysicists
Geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics
Marine resources
Marine sciences
Mechanical toys
Meteorologists
Meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology Research
Meterological instruments
Meterology
Minnesota Experimental City Authority
Nuclear energy
Numerical weather forecasting
Oceanographers
Oceanographic instruments
Oceanography
Oceanography
Ozone layer
Patents
Scientists
Weapons
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1911-11-25

Death 1998-03-30

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SNAC ID: 7888628