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Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division, 2009
Finding aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms008133
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.
The papers of Ernest W. Peterkin, naval officer and engineer, were given to the Library of Congress by his wife, Betty B. Peterkin, in 1995.
The papers of Ernest W. Peterkin were arranged and described in 1997. The finding aid was revised in 2009.
Watercolor paintings, charcoal and pencil drawings, sketches, and a sketch book have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division where they are identified as part of the Ernest W. Peterkin Papers.
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Ernest W. Peterkin is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
The papers of Ernest W. Peterkin are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Ernest W. Peterkin Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The papers of Ernest Wilson Peterkin (1920-1995) span the years 1946-1992, but are concentrated in the year 1946 and consist of correspondence, a journal, a photoreproduction of a sketchbook, a notebook, writings, orders, commendations, and miscellany. The material relates to Operation Crossroads, the first nuclear testing by the United States after World War II, conducted on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, July 1946. Peterkin was a member of the scientific group that photographed the two atomic blasts.
The collection includes Peterkin's personal log of the event and a description of the atomic blasts. Drawings and illustrations of the experiment by Peterkin, who was a professionally trained artist and illustrator, have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division. The notebook and sketchbook focus on the human experience of the nuclear test. The United States Navy, which controlled and monitored the demonstration, sought information regarding ship damage from atomic blasts and requested suggestions from engineers at the site to improve ship design. Peterkin responded with designs for an advanced cruiser and destroyer which are also in the Prints and Photographs Division.
This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material and topic.
| Container | Contents | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOX 1 | Articles from magazines about Bikini Atoll, 1968, 1986-1987 | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Biographical note, 1988 | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Correspondence, 1946-1948, 1992 | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | "Crossroads," a bulletin of Operation Crossroads by Christian L. Engleman, electronics coordinating officer, 1946, July | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Icaroscope, information and installation, 1946 | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Information and instructions, 1946, undated | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Journal ("Personal Log"), 1946, Mar. 16-Sept. 11 | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Original | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Photocopy with typewritten transcription | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Miscellany, 1946, 1968, 1989, undated | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Newspaper clippings, 1946, 1968, 1984-1985 | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Notebook, circa 1946 | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Orders and commendations, 1946-1947, undated | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Sketchbook, photocopy, 1940, May 1-1946, Sept. 7, undated | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Ship designs, correspondence and drafts, 1946 | ||||||||||||
| BOX 1 | Writings, 1946, undated | ||||||||||||
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