Collection Summary
Heezen-Tharp collection.
1876-1995
1876-1995
G3201.C2 coll .H41 HT
Tharp, Marie
255 boxes (estimated 370 linear
ft.)
English
Collection material in English
Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp worked for
the Lamont-Doherty Earth Science Observatory of Columbia University and mapped the ocean
floor from 1957 to 1977. Heezen was geologist and Tharp was a cartographer. The
collection consists of the textual materials, photographs, and scientific data. Related
maps and globes are held by the Geography and Map Division and cataloged
separately.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Heezen, Bruce C.
Tharp, Marie, cartographer.
Subjects
Ocean bottom--Maps.
Oceanography--Maps.
Submarine topography--Maps.
Form/Genre
Bathymetric maps.
Manuscript maps.
Nautical charts.
Provenance
The material was purchased by the Geography and Map Division during the 1990s.
Processing History
The collection was arranged and described by Gary North, Bob Rhodes, Hannah Stahl, and Ryan Moore from approximately 2000 to 2015.
Additional Guides
Researchers should note that most maps and scientific data, such as soundings, have
been separated into six sub-collection records.
1. Heezen-Tharp collection : Antarctica [https://lccn.loc.gov/2010593123]
2. Heezen-Tharp collection : Arctic [https://lccn.loc.gov/2010593121]
3. Heezen-Tharp collection : Atlantic Ocean [https://lccn.loc.gov/2010593120]
4. Heezen-Tharp collection : Indian Ocean [https://lccn.loc.gov/2010593119]
5. Heezen-Tharp collection : Pacific Ocean [https://lccn.loc.gov/2010593118]
6. Heezen-Tharp collection : World and Miscellaneous [https://lccn.loc.gov/2010593116]
Copyright Status
The status of copyright of the Heezen-Tharp collection is governed by
the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The Heezen-Tharp collection is open to research. Researchers are advised
to contact the Geography and Map Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are
stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research
use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, Heezen-Tharp collection, Geography and Map Division,
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Bruce Charles Heezen (April 11, 1924 – June 21, 1977) was an American geologist and
worked at Columbia University. Heezen was born in Vinton, Iowa. An only child, he moved
at age six with his parents to Muscatine, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in
1942. He received his B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1947. He received his M.A. in
1952 and a Ph.D in 1957 from Columbia University. Heezen collaborated extensively with
cartographer Marie Tharp. He interpreted their joint work on the Mid-Atlantic ridge as
supporting S. Warren Carey's Expanding Earth Theory, developed in the 1950s, but under
Tharp's influence eventually gave up the idea of an expanding earth for a form of
continental drift in the mid-1960s. Heezen died of a heart attack in 1977 while on a
research cruise to study the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near Iceland aboard the NR-1 submarine.
The Oceanographic Survey Ship USNS Bruce C. Heezen was christened in honor of him in
1999.
Marie Tharp (July 30, 1920 - August 23, 2006) was an American geologist and
oceanographic cartographer. Tharp's work revealed the presence of the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge, causing a paradigm shift in earth science that led to acceptance of the theories
of plate tectonics and continental drift.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of the textual materials, photographs, and scientific data.
Related unpublished and published maps and globes are held by the Geography and Map
Division and cataloged separately.
Arrangement of the Collection
The collection is organized in three series:
-
[Series I:](ser1) Heezen and Tharp
correspondence and papers
-
[Series II:](ser2) Data and
reports
-
[Series III:](ser3) Unprocessed
materials
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/2017594025]
Container List
Container
Contents
1 to 131
Series I: Heezen and Tharp correspondence and
papers
Correspondence, papers, organizations, legal documents, and writings by Heezen and
Tharp.
100
Instruments and Drafting Equipment
101A
Globes
101B - Box 1
General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO)
101B - Box 2
General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO)
102A
Organizations, Society of Woman Geographers
(SWG)
102B
Organizations, The Reader's Digest, McGraw-Hill
102C
Organizations, United States Coast Guard (USCG)
102D
Organizations, Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution (WHOI)
102E - Box 1
Organizations, Columbia
University/Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory
102E - Box 2
Organizations, Columbia
University/Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory
102F - Box 1
Organizations, New York Academy of Sciences
102F - Box 2
Organizations, New York Academy of Sciences
102G - Box 1
Organizations, National Geographic Society
(NGS)
102G - Box 2
Organizations, National Geographic Society
(NGS)
102G - Box 3
Organizations, National Geographic Society
(NGS)
102G - Box 4
Organizations, National Geographic Society
(NGS)
102H
Organizations, U.S. Geological Society (USGS)
102I
Organizations, U.S. Navy (USN)
102J
Organizations, Marie Tharp Colleges
102K
Organizations, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
103
Heinrich C. Berann
104
David Flannigan
105A
Bruce Charles Heezen Fellowship Fund
105B
Diaries and Notebooks
105C
Bruce Heezen Parents
105D
Bruce Heezen Bibliography
105E
Bruce Heezen Biography
105F
Bruce Heezen Genealogy
105G - Box 1
Bruce Heezen Personal Papers
105G - Box 2
Bruce Heezen Personal Papers
105G - Box 3
Bruce Heezen Personal Papers
105H
Bruce Heezen Memorial
105I - Box 1
Bruce Heezen Technical Papers/Publications
105I - Box 2
Bruce Heezen Technical Papers/Publications
105I - Box 3
Bruce Heezen Technical Papers/Publications
105I - Box 4
Bruce Heezen Technical Papers/Publications
105I - Box 5
Bruce Heezen Technical Papers/Publications
105I - Box 6
Bruce Heezen Technical Papers/Publications
105J - Box 1
Bruce Heezen Correspondence, 1930s - 1960s
1930s - 1960s
105J - Box 2
Bruce Heezen Correspondence, (1970s - 1980s)
(1970s - 1980s)
105K - Box 1
Bruce Heezen Dive Data
105K - Box 2
Bruce Heezen Dive Data
105L
Bruce Heezen Travel Documents
105M
Bruce Heezen Property Documents
105N - Box 1
Bruce Heezen Mother's Letters, 1946 to 1955
1946 to 1955
105N - Box 2
Bruce Heezen Mother's Letters, 1955 to 1958
1955 to 1958
105N - Box 3
Bruce Heezen Mother's Letters, 1959 to 1961
1959 to 1961
105N - Box 4
Bruce Heezen Mother's Letters, 1961 to 1966
1961 to 1966
105N - Box 5
Bruce Heezen Mother's Letters, 1966 to 1969
1966 to 1969
105N - Box 6
Unprocessed
105N - Box 7
Bruce Heezen Mother's Letters, 1980 to n.d.
1980
to n.d.
106A
Marie Tharp Book about Bruce Heezen
106B
Marie Tharp Washington Avenue Home and Rental
Property
106C - Box 1
Marie Tharp Personal Papers
106C - Box 2
Marie Tharp Personal Papers
106C - Box 3
Empty Box
106D
Marie Tharp Step Brother - Orlo E. 'Jim' Tharp
106E
Marie Tharp Correspondence - Library of
Congress
106F
Marie Tharp Technical Papers/Publications
106G - Box 1
Marie Tharp Writings
106G - Box 2
Marie Tharp Writings
106H
Marie Tharp Bibliography
106I
Marie Tharp Biography/Bibliography
106J
Marie Tharp Genealogy
106K
Marie Tharp Father, William Edgar 'Papa' Tharp
106L
Marie Tharp Father, William Edgar 'Papa' Tharp,
Writings and Poems
106M - Box 1
Marie Tharp - Articles of Interest and
Newspaper Clippings, 1955 to 1981
1955 to 1981
106M - Box 2
Marie Tharp - Articles of Interest, 1950s
1950s
106N - Box 1
Marie Tharp - Correspondence, 1940s to 1980s
1940s to 1980s
106N - Box 2
Marie Tharp - Correspondence, 1990s to n.d.
1990s to n.d.
106N - Box 3
Marie Tharp - Letters, 1961 to 1965 and 1980 to 1987
1961 to 1965 and 1980 to 1987
106N - Box 4
Marie Tharp - Correspondence with Step Brother
Orlo 'Jim' Tharp, 1981 to 1982
1981 to 1982
106N - Box 5
Marie Tharp - Letters from William E. 'Papa'
Tharp and others
106N - Box 6
Bruce Heezen Mother's Letters, 1970 to 1978
1970 to 1978
106N - Box 6A
David Flanagan's Correspondence with Marie
Tharp
106N - Box 6B
David Flanagan's Correspondence with Marie
Tharp
106O
Marie Tharp Travel Records
107/107A
Expanding Earth Evidence and Documentation
107B
Plate Tectonics/Continental Drift Evidence and
Documentation
107C
Science Topics: Cores
107D
Contours
107E
Geologic Atlas of the World
107F
Submarine Deep-Sea Cable Data
107G
Scientific Data: Echo Soundings
107H - Box 1
Scientific Data: Miscellaneous
107H - Box 2
Scientific Data: Miscellaneous
107H - Box 3
Scientific Data: Miscellaneous
107I
Scientific Data: Physiographic Diagrams and
Precision Depth Recordings (PDRs)
107J
Scientific Data: Profiles, Precision Depth
Recordings, Tectonophysics, Ocean Currents
107K
Scientific Data: Earth's Magnetic Field
107L
Scientific Data: Antarctic, Arctic, Atlantic,
Indian, Pacific
108 - Box 1
Contractual Agreements, 1961 to 1967
1961 to 1967
108 - Box 2
Contractual Agreements, 1968 to 1993
1968 to 1993
108 - Box 3
Contractual Agreements (U.S. Navy, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
109
Administration: Graduate Student Theses
110A
Vessels/Ships: General Eastward
110B - Box 1
Vessels/Ships: Research Vessel (R/V) Vema
110B - Box 2
Vessels/Ships: Research Vessel (R/V) Vema
110B - Box 3
Vessels/Ships: Research Vessel (R/V) Vema
110C
Vessels/Ships: Research Vessel (R/V) Trident
110D
Vessels/Ships: Research Vessel (R/V) Thomas
WASHINGTON
110E
Vessels/Ships: United States Naval Ship (USNS)
Eltanin
110F
Vessels/Ships: Glomar Challenger
110G
Vessels/Ships: Atlantis
110H
Vessels/Ships: United States Naval Ship Elisha
Kane
110I
Vessels/Ships: Meteor
110J
Vessels/Ships: United States Naval Ship Robert
D. Conrad
110K
Vessels/Ships: Submarine and Submersible Data
110L
Vessels/Ships: Miscellaneous
111
Administration: Addresses and Contacts
112
Articles by Lia Hörmann in Austrian Periodical,
'die Tirolerin'
113A
Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp: Awards
113B
Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp: Visual Media
113C - Box 1
Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp: Miscellaneous
113C - Box 2
Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp Technical
Publications
114
Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) and Global
Geological and Geophysical Ocean Floor Analysis and Research (GOFAR)
115 Box 1
William Maurice Ewing, Miscellaneous
Correspondence and Official Papers
115 Box 2
William Maurice Ewing: Inventory Worksheet,
Maurice Ewing Collection
116
People: Correspondence Between Marie Tharp and
Bennie Amirante, Mariner
117A
Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp: Contract
Proposals
117B
Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp: Contract
Proposals
117C
Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp: Contract
Proposals
118
People: Correspondence with Author John Lear,
Diversified Earth Sciences, Inc.
119 - Box 1
People: Correspondence with Joseph Lamar
Worzel, Geophysicist
119 - Box 2
People: Joseph Lamar Worzel, Writings and
Technical Publications
120A-D
Technical Publications Authored by Colleagues
120E
Technical Publications Authored by Colleagues
120F-H
Technical Publications Authored by Colleagues
120I-L
Technical Publications Authored by Colleagues
120M-N
Technical Publications Authored by Colleagues
120O-P
Technical Publications Authored by Colleagues
120Q-V
Technical Publications Authored by Colleagues
120W-Z
Technical Publications Authored by Colleagues
including Miscellaneous Publications
121 - Box 1
Harassment Records: Lamont-Doherty Geological
Observatory and Columbia University
121 - Box 2
Harassment Records: Lamont-Doherty Geological
Observatory and Columbia University, 1966 to 1969
1966 to 1969
121 - Box 3
Harassment Records: Lamont-Doherty Geological
Observatory and Columbia University, 1969 to 1970
1969 to 1970
121 - Box 4
Harassment Records: Lamont-Doherty Geological
Observatory and Columbia University, 1970s
1970s
121 - Box 5
Harassment Records: Lamont-Doherty Geological
Observatory and Columbia University, Correspondence and Notes
121 - Box 6
Harassment Records: Lamont-Doherty Geological
Observatory and Columbia University, Tape Recordings, Marie Tharp and U.S. Navy
Issues
122 - Box 1
Photographs: Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp
122 - Box 2A
Photographs: Bruce Heezen and Family
122 - Box 2B
Photographs: Bruce Heezen
122 - Box 3
Photographs: Marie Tharp and Family
122 - Box 4A
Photographs: Unknown
122 - Box 4B
Photographs: Miscellaneous
122 - Box 5
Photographs: Ocean floor
122 - Box 6
Photographs: Ocean Floor, Blake Plateau off the
South East Coast of U.S. including organisms
122 - Box 7A
Photographs: Miscellaneous scientific data
122 - Box 7B
Photographs: Miscellaneous scientific data
122 - Box 8
Photographs: Dive photographs
123
Postcards
124
Interviews of Marie Tharp by Dr. Ronald Dole
and Tanya Levin for Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory's Oral History
Project
125
People: Cruises by Annette Trefzer on R/V
ROBERT D. CONRAD, R/V VEMA, and R/V SEAMARK
126
Drafting Information
127
Student Papers and Academic Reviews
128
Bruce Heezen School Notes
129A
Transcripts: Interview with Bruce Heezen,
edited by Marie Tharp
129B
Transcripts: Interview with Bruce Heezen,
edited by Marie Tharp; Miscellaneous Transcripts
129C
Transcripts: Miscellaneous
130
People: Correspondence with Allen Lowrie, Naval
Ocean Research and Development Activity and U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office
131
People: Correspondence with Walter Youngquist,
Department of Earth Sciences at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington
D-100 to D-151
Series II: Data and reports
Data and information gathered on scientific missions, publications by Heezen and
Tharp, and third-party publications.
D-100
Bruce Heezen Notes
3 folders
D-101
Deep Freeze Cruises O102S and 3614 Records
D-102
Cruises 1401N and 3918N, Cruise Deep Freeze
D-103
Physiographic Diagrams (North Atlantic Ocean),
Cable Failures, Repeater Frequency, 1956 to 1957
1956 to 1957
D-104
Cable Repairs and Soundings
4 books
D-105
Ship Repairs: Vigo to Gibraltar, Gibraltar to
Madiera, Las Palmas, Lisbon, 1898 to 1936
1898 to 1936
4 books
D-106
Cable Route Survey: Spain to Rhode Island
4 packages
D-107
Challenger Records,
1876 to 1949
1876 to 1949
4 books
D-108
Sounding Records,
1950 to 1954
1950 to 1954
D-109A
Muscatine, IA 'Auroran', University of Iowa
'Hawkeye,' 1942 to 1944, 1946
1942 to 1944, 1946
D-109B
University of Iowa 'Hawkeye,' 1947 to 1948
1947 to 1948
D-110
Cable Route Survey: Spain to Rhode Island,
1968
1968
D-111
Gravity and Ocean Depth Data, Antarctica 1962 to 1963
1962 to 1963
5 books
D-112
Books: Standard Frequency, Cable Power, Crystal
Frequencies
D-113
Topographic Profiles, Lomonosov Cruises 1, 2,
4, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11
7 books
D-114
Master Profile Book, Binder with Acetate
Inserts
D-115
Woods Hole R/V Chain Cruises 7, 41, 42, 43, 60,
63, 67, 70, and 73
D-116
Kane 9 Cruise (Published Version)
D-117
Vityaz Cruises 25, 35
D-118
Survey Ship Umitaka-Maru, 1962 to 1964
1962 to 1964
3 books
D-119
Porthcurno to Gibraltar Repairs: 1898 to 1962
3 books
D-120
Geophysical Data (Parts A, C, D): North
Atlantic Ocean, 1901 to 1971
1901 to 1971
D-121
Atlantis Cruises 152, 157, 167, and 180
D-122
West Coast Cable Repairs: 1916 to 1935, 1928 to 1960
1916 to 1935, 1928 to 1960
D-123
Duke University Reports: Indian Ocean
Expedition (1964), Anton Bruun Cruises 11 - 16, 1964
1964
D-124
Woods Hole Atlantis and Chain Cruises
D-125
Magnetic Data of Umitaka-Maru, 1964 to 1965
1964 to 1965
D-126
Kane Cruises 09C, 09D, and 09E
D-127
Vityaz 26 (1958) and Vityaz 29 (1959) Cruises,
1958 to 1959
1958 to 1959
D-128
Cable Schedule of Repairs (A-N)
D-129
Woods Hole Chain Cruises 47, 61, 70, 73, 75,
and 82, 1965-1969
1965-1969
D-130
Atlantis II Cruises 1, 6, 11, 13, 14, 16, 242,
1963-1968
1963-1968
2 Index Books
D-131
Woods Hole Chain Cruises 1-5, 28, 29-31, 36,
39, 51-53, and and 57. Bear Cruise 280
D-132
Woods Hole Chain Cruises 11, 13, 19, 21
D-133
Cruises Dawson, Endeavour, Discovery, and
Hudson
D-134
Cruises Chain 17, Jean Charcot, R.U. Trident 21
(1964)
D-135
Examples of Data Listing, Military Geology of
the Miyako Archipelago (Ryukyu-Retto) 1960
D-136
Publications (miscellany)
D-137
Publications (miscellany)
D-138
Publications (miscellany)
D-139
Publications (miscellany)
D-140
Publications (miscellany)
D-141
Publications (miscellany)
D-142
Publications (miscellany)
D-143
Publications (miscellany)
D-144
Publications (miscellany)
D-145
Publications (miscellany)
D-146
Publications (miscellany)
D-147
Publications (miscellany)
D-148
Publications (miscellany)
D-149
Publications (miscellany)
D-150
Publications (miscellany)
D-151
Publications (miscellany)
U1-U37
Series III: Unprocessed materials
Unprocessed materials in the Heezen-Tharp Collection consist mainly of
non-cartographic material including: index cards, microfilm, 35mm slides, lantern
slides, photographs, and raw data.
U1-U3
Motion Picture and Sound
U4-U7
Index Cards
U8-U10
Lantern Slides
U11-U13
Microfilm
U14-U20
Microfilm
U21-U37
35mm Slides