crown CU Home > Libraries Home
Columbia Center for Oral History Portal >

Oral history interview with Jack E. Oliver [electronic resource], 1997

Creator: Oliver, J. E. 1923-2011
Project: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory oral history collection.
(see all project interviews)
Phys. Desc. :sound file : digital preservation master, WAV files (96 kHz, 24 bit)
Location: Columbia Center for Oral History
Full CLIO record >>

Biographical Note

Seismologist, geophysicist.

Scope and Contents

Childhood, Massillon, Ohio: influence of football coach, Eagle Scout, early interest in physical sciences; United States Naval Reserve 1943-46; Columbia College: Physics B.S. 1947, summer work at Naval Research Laboratory 1947, M.A. 1950, Ph.D. 1953; work with Maurice Ewing on atmospheric acoustics and geophysics, thesis on seismology; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory [LDEO]: social life, sports, continental drift debate, work on Arctic sea ice, innovation in two dimensional model seismology, influence of Russian work, mid-1950s surface wave research, influence of Ewing’s empiricism; International Geophysical Year: installation of worldwide network of long-period seismographs; involvement with nuclear test ban treaty; seismology and plate tectonics; growth of seismology department at LDEO: design of seismology building; uppermantle project at National Science Foundation; Seismological Society of America President 1964-65; development of LDEO seminars; women in seismology; chairman of LDEO geology department 1969-71; move to Cornell University 1971; lunar seismograph program.

Subjects

Using this collection

Columbia Center for Oral History

Address:
Columbia University
535 West 114th Street
801 Butler Library, Box 20
MC1129
New York, NY 10027
Telephone:
(212) 854-7083

Email:
oralhist
@libraries.cul.columbia.edu

Website:
Columbia Center for Oral History