Jorgen Holmboe Papers
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2013
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Business Number: 858-534-2533
Fax Number: 858-534-5950
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Descriptive Summary
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Jorgen Holmboe Papers
Creator:
Holmboe, Jörgen, 1902-1979
Identifier/Call Number: SMC 0101
Physical Description:
0.8 Linear feet
(2 archives boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1918-1980
Abstract: The papers of meteorologist Jorgen Holmboe contain mainly personal and professional correspondence, but also document his
participation on the Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition of 1934-1936. The bulk of this material is in Norwegian with some
material in English and German.
Languages:
Norwegian
.
Publication Rights
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Preferred Citation
Jorgen Holmboe Papers, SMC 101. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.
Acquisition Information
Acquired 2001, 2005.
Scope and Content of Collection
The papers of meteorologist Jorgen Holmboe document his work as assistant to Vilhelm Bjerknes and his participation on the
Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition of 1934-1936. The collection also documents the Holmboe family in Norway and the United
States.
The papers are arranged in two series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE and 2) PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL PAPERS.
Biography
Jorgen Holmboe was born on November 8, 1902, near Hammerfest, Norway. In 1922, he entered the University of Oslo, initially
studying mathematics. He became research assistant to meteorologist Vilhelm Bjerknes, founder of the Bergen Geophysical Institute
and leader of the Bergen School of Meteorology, in 1925. After graduating in 1930, Holmboe worked as a meteorologist for the
Norwegian weather service, first in Tromso, then in Bergen. From 1933 to 1935, he served as meteorologist for the Lincoln
Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition. Upon his return, Holmboe married Kirsten Bendixen; they had one daughter, Anna, born in 1941.
Holmboe was appointed assistant professor at MIT in 1936, and then was invited by Bjerknes to join him in establishing a
meteorology program at UCLA. Initially part of the physics program, the meteorology department was established as a separate
department at UCLA in 1946. Holmboe served as the first chair of the Meteorology Department in 1946, and again from 1949-1958.
His research principally concerned wave motion in the atmosphere, the formation of cyclones, and air flow over the Sierra
Nevada.
Holmboe was appointed professor emeritus at UCLA, and retired in 1970. He died on October 29, 1970.
OFF-SITE STORAGE
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Polar regions -- Discovery and exploration
Meteorologists -- United States -- Correspondence
Meteorologists -- Norway -- Correspondence
Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Faculty
University of California, Los Angeles -- Faculty
Wilkins, George H. (George Hubert), Sir, 1888-1958 -- Correspondence
Petterssen, Sverre, 1898-1974 -- Correspondence
Kidson, E. (Edward), 1882-1939 -- Correspondence
Holmboe, Kirsten, 1908-2000 -- Correspondence
Hesselberg, Th. (Theodor), 1885-1966 -- Correspondence
Holmboe, Jörgen, 1902-1979 -- Archives
Ellsworth, Lincoln, 1880-1951 -- Correspondence
Bergeron, Tor, 1891-1977 -- Correspondence
Barnett, M. A. F. (Miles Aylmer Fulton), 1901-1979 -- Correspondence
CORRESPONDENCE
Scope and Content of Series
The CORRESPONDENCE series makes up the bulk of the collection, containing personal and professional letters primarily in Norwegian.
The series and is arranged in two subseries: A) Chronological and B) Alphabetical.
A) The first subseries contains letters arranged by date. These letters are mainly professional in nature. A group of letters
to and from the Holmboe family, including Jorgen Holmboe's parents, are found here as well. These letters are filed under
"Family Letters" and sorted by date.
B) The second subseries is arranged by correspondent. The bulk of these are letters between Jorgen and Kirsten Holmboe, with
most letters written in Norwegian. Several of these letters appear to have been numbered by Holmboe and are kept in their
numerical order. Also included are letters from Anna Holmboe, Baard Holth and Fred Spiess.
Box 1, Folder 1-2
1929 - 1935. Includes congratulatory telegrams on Holmboe's marriage
Box 1, Folder 3
1936-1937, 1940, 1946, 1949
Box 1, Folder 8
Holmboe, Anna
1955, 1962-1968, 1972
Holmboe, Jorgen to Kirsten Holmboe
Box 1, Folder 10-15
1937 - 1938. Numbered letters
Holmboe, Kirsten to Jorgen Holmboe
Box 2, Folder 5-6
1937 - 1938. Numbered letters
Box 2, Folder 9
Spiess, Fred Noel
1935 - 1936
PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL PAPERS
Scope and Content of Series
Series 2) PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL PAPERS contains materials related to Holmobe's life, family, travels and work. Of particular
interest are papers related to the Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition, including invoices, travel documents, meteorological
information and correspondence. The bulk of this material is in Norwegian.
Box 2, Folder 10
Biographical materials
1918 - 1980
Box 2, Folder 11
Certificates, memberships & honors
1941 - 1969
Box 2, Folder 12
Holmboe, Kirsten Bendixen - Biographical materials
1924 - 1965
Box 2, Folder 13
Lincoln Ellsworth Expedition
1929 - 1935
Box 2, Folder 14
Meteorological papers & correspondence, re. Southern hemisphere
1933 - 1938
Box 2, Folder 15
Loyalty oath controversy, UCLA
1949
Box 2, Folder 16
The Bergen School of Polar Front Meteorology - Typescript
undated
Box 2, Folder 17
Jacob Bjerknes obituary - Drafts
1975
Box 2, Folder 18
Bergeron, Tor. Draft of a Commentary on the Copenhagen (1929) Codes for Weather Messages. Translated from the German original
ca. 1935
Box 2, Folder 19
Jorgen Holmboe and the Bergen School of Meteorology (video)
1979
Languages:
English.
General
Betacam tape and DVD. Digitized version available upon request.
Conditions Governing Access
Original restricted (digital version available).
