Edward Sheldon Barr Papers, 1943-1975 (SMC 96)

OFF-SITE STORAGE: COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
Restrictions: Original sound recordings are restricted. Listening copies may be available for researchers.

Extent: 1.6 Linear feet (3 archives boxes and 1 shoebox)

View OnlineA selection of images from the collection have been digitized.

A small collection of papers, photographs and sound recordings documenting the experiences of Edward Sheldon Barr, a crew member who participated in the MidPac Expedition of 1950 and the Capricorn Expedition of 1952.

Edward Sheldon Barr (b. 1933) voyaged with the 1950 MidPac Expedition as a seventeen year-old high school junior from Point Loma High School. In the spring of 1950, he inquired at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and met with Roger Revelle regarding potential summer employment, and was able to secure a position as a laboratory helper for the upcoming SIO expedition. Two years later, Barr accompanied the 1952 Capricorn Expedition while he was enrolled as an undergraduate at Stanford University. Over the course of each expedition, Barr maintained detailed personal diaries and took many photographs.

Barr received a B.S. in Physical Science from Stanford University in 1956. Between 1968 and 1972 he worked as vice president of New York Stock Exchange Roberts, Scott & Company, and has worked as a ship captain for the United States Coast Guard since 1978.

A small collection of papers, photographs and sound recordings documenting the experiences of Edward Sheldon Barr, a crew member who participated in the MidPac Expedition of 1950 and the Capricorn Expedition (including Operation Ivy) of 1952.

Arranged in two series: 1) MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS, and 2) EXPEDITIONS.

Container List

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS

Box 1 Folder 1
Identification cards, 1952
Box 1 Folder 2
WWII postcard, 1943

Sent to Barr from his father, who was stationed in Hawaii.

Box 1 Folder 3
King of Men award, 1950

Mock award from the "Society for the Appreciation of E. S. Barr."

Box 1 Folder 4
Of Restless Nights - Manuscript draft of novel, ca. 1952

EXPEDITIONS

MidPac Expedition

Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence and memoranda, 1950 July-September
Box 1 Folder 6-7
Personal correspondence, 1950 June- September
Box 1 Folder 8
25th anniversary celebration, 1975
Box 1 Folder 9
Original expedition diary, 1950
Box 1 Folder 10
MidPac: The First Big Step - Typewritten diary, 1975

Typed version of Barr's 1950 diary detailing his experiences participating in the MidPac Expedition. Dedication reads: "To Roger Revelle, Who took the time and interest to give a young man a lift, and a fulfilled dream." Created for the MidPac Expedition 25th anniversary celebration.

Box 1 Folder 11
My Fascinating Experiences on the Island of Bikini - Paper written for college course, 1952
Box 1 Folder 12
Cartoon newsletters, 1950
Box 1 Folder 13
Cruise map and itinerary, 1950
Box 1 Folder 14
M/V Horizon crew lists, 1950
Box 1 Folder 15
Letter from bottle found on Bikini Atoll, 1949-1950

Letter discovered by Barr on September 27, 1949 during MidPac Expedition on Bikini Atoll. Folder includes thank-you letter written by Ruth E. Hendricks, who had thrown the bottle overboard near Panama on June 19, 1949 as well as news article entitled "Bikini Bottle Brings Boy No Bonuses."

Box 1 Folder 16-19
Miscellaneous photographs, 1950
Box 1 Folder 20
Assorted contact prints, 1950

Includes photos of Bikini Atoll encampments, work at sea, Honolulu scenery and group photos of expedition personnel.

Box 1 Folder 21-22
Photo album, 1950

Assorted b/w photos mounted on stock paper.

Box 2 Folder 1
Hawaiian postcards, 1950
Box 4
Assorted negatives, 1950

73 2x2" sleeved negatives from the expedition.

Capricorn Expedition

Box 2 Folder 2
General information and correspondence, 1952
Box 2 Folder 3
Shipboard report, 1952-1953
Box 2 Folder 4
Original expedition diary, 1952
Box 2 Folder 5
Scripps and the Bomb - Typewritten diary, 1990

Typed version of Barr's 1952 diary detailing his experiences participating in Operation Ivy and Capricorn Expedition. Dedication reads: "To Helen Raitt, who pioneered the possibility that all can participate in the oceanographic expedition experience."

Box 2 Folder 6
Goggles used to view nuclear blasts, 1952
Box 2 Folder 7
Miscellaneous photographs, 1952

Assorted color photographs, including portraits of Barr on beach.

Box 2 Folder 8-9
Miscellaneous photographs, 1952

Assorted b/w photographs, including photos of Bikini Atoll, expedition personnel and work at sea.

Box 2 Folder 10-11
Assorted contact prints, 1952

Includes photos of Fiji, Bikini Atoll, Namdrik Atoll and work at sea.

Box 2 Folder 12
Hawaiian postcards, 1952
Box 4
Assorted negatives, 1952

143 2x2" sleeved negatives from the expedition.

Slides

Box 3 Folder 1-2
MidPac and Capricorn expedition slides, 1950-1952

Miscellaneous slides from both expeditions, some unidentified. Original slide order maintained.

Sound Recordings

Box 3 Folder 3
Capricorn Expedition oral memoir, 1975

Three reel-to-reel sound recordings of Barr recounting his experiences on the 1952 Capricorn Expedition. Total time 01:50.

Box 3 Folder 4
SIO 25th anniversary of the MidPac and Capricorn expeditions - Roger Revelle's remarks, 1975 August 17

Audiocassette. Time 00:34:00.