Correspondence, Robert Ballard, 1973-1997
Scope and Content Note
Not all files pertain specifically to the Titanic. The first 12 files are chronologically arranged and include two files from the Institution’s Geology and Geophysics (G&G) Department. The first of the G&G files, Folder #5, “G&G Department Correspondence l977,” contains letters and memoranda about the wreck. (Letter of September l9, l977 to L. Gordon Cooper Jr. of Walt Disney Productions; memo of August l9, l977 to Drs. Paul Fye and Arthur Maxwell; see, also the IFREMER file).
The remainder of the series consists of subject files. The first two folders (folders 14, 15) include material on Project FAMOUS (French/American Mid-Ocean Undersea Study) and IFREMER ( Institut Francaise de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer). Folders 16-26 are Titanic subject files, chronologically arranged, and the rest of the folders, also chronologically arranged, pertain specifically to letters about the Titanic.
Boxes 50-53 consist of letters written to Robert Ballard from 1985-1997, after the discovery of the R.M.S. Titanic focused the world’s attention on WHOI.
September 1985 - December 1986. Following the discovery of the Titanic, congratulatory letters poured in from all over the world. They came from schoolchildren, the general public, relatives of those who had sailed or perished on the Titanic, jobseekers, and those interested in raising the Titanic. Some wrote about recovering the wine, others that they had discovered inventions to be used in salvage operations. Many sent photographs of models they had built.
January 1987-1997: The majority of these letters are from schoolchildren. Articles in magazines including Scholastic, Reader's Digest and appearances on television programs including Seaquest and National Geographic specials, and the Jason Project kept interest in the Titanic alive and prompted a steady stream of correspondence from persons all over the world. These letters are arranged by year only--there are few replies because these letters were given to an outside contractor to answer and no disk was provided with copies of her answers. By 1995 many of Robert Ballard's fans were sending him letters via E-mail.
Notable correspondents in l985-1986 included:
- Walter Lord, September l2, l985, and again on May 7, l986 (Ballard’s replied on May 22, l986)
- Ann Cerretoni Gabaree, September l6, l998 (great uncle, Patric Canavan perished on theTitanic)
- Ake Fagrell, February 12, 1986 - close friend ofTitanic survivor Agnes Sandstom (mentioned inA Night to Remember); Ballard replied on March l8, l985
- William Sokolin, September l6, l985 (NYC wine merchant interested in purchasing the wine aboard)
- James Wade Carroll, September 20, l985 (cousin, Elmer Taylor was a passenger on theTitanic and one of the few male survivors)
- Mrs. G.A.Stewart, October l0, 1986 (owns a plate from theTitanic - included color photos of the plate)
- H.J. Macie, October 25, 1986,a psychic who includes a letter from l983 tellingJack Grimm theTitanic will be found at latitude 41 degrees North and Longitude 50 degrees west
- Mr. Kenneth Gibbs, Jan 7, 1986 (sent 3 photos in his letter - of himself as a boy aboard theOlympia on March 7, 1925)
- Wyn C. Wade, January 8, l986 (author ofThe Titanic: End of a Dream)
- Major Bill Smith, August l9, l986, sent two 45 LPM records
- Horace Greeley, IV, August 5, l986 (Robert Ballard responded August 27th)- enclosing a poem written by his grandfather, Horace Greeley, M.D. (grandson of editor Horace Greeley)
- Mrs. Frances Patteson-Knight, August 21, 1986 - father died on theTitanic
Many letters from schoolchildren including:
- April 9, 1986 - Mr. Terry Haggardt and Class (entire class sent drawings of theTitanic; also invited Robert Ballard to join them.
- December 24, l985 - Scripps Aquarium Instructor Barbara Moore (includes drawing)
- January 8, 1986 - students from Bowling Green, KY
Dates
- Creation: 1973-1997
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Access
Open/Restricted: most materials in the collection are available for research; some materials may only be viewed by the Office of Origin or with permission of the Archivist.
Extent
12.5 boxes (6.25 linear feet)
Arrangement
These files consist of what was obviously a portion of a much larger filing system, which once included alphabetical, chronological, and subject files. The first 12 files are chronologically arranged. The remainder of the series consists of subject files, chronologically arranged, and the rest of the folders, also chronologically arranged, pertain specifically to letters about the Titanic.
Processing Information
Letters were arranged chronologically by the date of response. Staples and paper clips were removed, and newsclippings were photocopied. Unless envelopes contained artwork or were unusual in some fashion they were discarded.
Repository Details
Part of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Data Library and Archives Repository