Oral history interview with Charles L. Drake [electronic resource], 1997

Biographical Note

Geophysicist.

Scope and Contents

Born Ridgewood, New Jersey: childhood interest in geology; World War II service, 1942-1946: Army Corps of Engineers; Princeton University: B.S.E. in geological engineering, 1948: post-war changes, courses, field trips; Columbia University, Ph.D. in geophysics, 1958: courses, geophysics as a new discipline; establishment of the Columbia University Lamont Geological Observatory [Lamont], Navy submarine gravity measuring cruises, student projects; Lamont, 1958-1969: project Mohole, acquisition of the Vema, global ocean research cruises, international collaborations; Upper Mantle Project, 1964, application of research to industries, plate tectonics research and controversies; grant issues and funding changes, issues of authorship, committee involvement, international earth science organizations; development of the earth sciences, post-war; research in seismic refraction and gravity measurement, department chair, geology, 1967-1969; comparisons between Lamont and other earth science institutions, expansion of Lamont site plans and programs, University financial and campus issues; conflicts between Lamont and the Columbia administration and geology department, W. Maurice Ewing’s move from Lamont, post-Ewing Lamont leadership, reminiscences of family, teachers, colleagues

Subjects

• Columbia University
• Doel, Ronald, interviewer.
• Drake, Charles L.--Interviews.
• Ewing, W. Maurice (William Maurice), 1906-1974
• Geology, Structural
• Interviews.
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
• Oral histories.
• Vema (Ship)

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 1998