Larry J. Pierson Papers
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2022
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Descriptive Summary
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Larry J. Pierson Papers
Creator:
Pierson, Larry J.
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0753
Physical Description:
3.8 Linear feet
(7 archives boxes and 1 record carton)
Date (inclusive): 1965-2009 (bulk 1970-1987)
Abstract: The Larry J. Pierson papers consist of a selection of work product files, research materials, and maps relating to his career
as a marine archaeologist in California between 1974 and 1987.
Languages:
English
.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Larry J. Pierson papers consist of a selection of work product files, research materials, and maps relating to his career
as a marine archaeologist in California between 1974 and 1987. Many of the work files document survey scans for cultural and
archaeological sites completed prior to major projects like the deepening of the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbor in the
1980s, as well as ocean bottom surveys for oil rig platforms and gas pipelines. This material represents only a small fraction
of his professional work. A series of maps in the collection documents areas off the coast of California in a continuous run
from Point Estero to the Mexican border, which was the foundation of his published report,
Archaeological Resource Study: Morro Bay to Mexican Border (1987). The collection also contains an unpublished compilation of data organized by Pierson and Patrick G. Gibson documenting
hundreds of shipwreck sites and other underwater obstructions (circa 1977), some writings by others, and a handful of files
on Pierson's interest in underwater salvage operations. It includes correspondence from Dr. James Moriarty III, who was interested
in the discovery of Chinese anchor stones of the coast of California in the 1970s and was investigating their origin.
Arranged in three series: 1) WORK PROJECTS, 2) SHIPWRECK AND SITE RESEARCH, and 3) MISCELLANEOUS.
Biography
Larry Jack Pierson was born on November 14, 1937 in Coquille, Oregon. At 18 Pierson joined the Air Force where he specialized
as an electronics technician at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi (1955-1957), and gained 2 years of field experience
with the Alaskan Distant Early Warning System. Between 1975 and 1977 he attended Los Angeles Valley College majoring in History
and Anthropology with minors in Geology and Oceanography, while also taking classes at the University of California, San Diego
and University of San Diego (USD). In 1979 he graduated from USD with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Anthropology, before
continuing his studies to pursue a Master of Arts in Historic Site Interpretation and Archaeology (1986). During this time
period, he also participated in several archaeological field schools in the San Diego area. Pierson held various diving certifications,
including Los Angeles County (1963), the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (1968) (now called Scuba Schools International),
and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (1968). A full list of his professional work and completed contracts
as a professional archaeologist and historian, marine archaeologist, and electronic remote sensing specialist is available
in his collection of papers (box 1, folder 1).
Preferred Citation
Larry J. Pierson Papers. MSS 753. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Acquisition Information
Acquired 2012-2013
OFF-SITE STORAGE
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
Publication Rights
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Marine archaeologists -- California -- Archives
Underwater archaeology -- California -- Pacific Coast
Archaeological site location -- California -- Pacific Coast
Salvage archaeology
Pierson, Larry J. -- Archives
Box 1, Folder 1
Pierson curriculum vitae (CV)
Box 1, Folder 2
Port San Luis - Navigation improvement supplement (Army Corps of Engineers) and historical materials
1975
Box 1, Folder 3
Correspondence with Los Angeles Maritime History Museum - Wharf expansion at Berth 206, Los Angeles Harbor
1977 May-July
Oil and gas line projects
Box 1, Folder 4
Underwater archeaology investigations for Gas Pipeline-Western LNG Terminal Company
1977
General note
Job No. 0011-168-02. Off Point Conception.
Box 1, Folder 5
Pipeline route survey, San Pedro Shelf, Calif. for or Shell Oil Company - Report
1977 October 14
Box 1, Folder 6
Marine geophysical and cultural resource surveys, proposed pipeline route offshore Long Beach, Calif. for Shell Oil Company
- Report
1978 July
Box 1, Folder 7
Cultural resource study: Archeological literature survey and remote sensing data evaluation of a short transect off Long Beach,
Calif.
1978
Box 1, Folder 8-10
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with SAI - Southern California Bight archaeological study
1977-1980
Box 2, Folder 1
Proposal for regional historic resources inventory Phase II: North San Diego County coastal area
1979
Box 2, Folder 2
Preliminary report on sensitive marine archeaological and historical sites located within the boundary of the Channel Island
National Marine Sanctuary, Volume I
ca. 1980
Los Angeles-Long Beach harbor surveys
Box 2, Folder 3
Underwater survey of sunken vessels in the outer harbor south of Terminal Island, and Cultural resource evaluation - Reports
1980
Box 2, Folder 4
A cultural resource study for the Los Angeles Harbor deepening project
1980
Box 2, Folder 5
LA harbor deepening project
1980-1981
Box 2, Folder 6-7
LA harbor deepening project maps, shipwreck locations, accuracy and data sources
1980 March
Box 2, Folder 8
Proposal to locate and evaluate all known cultural resouces in the Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor feasibility study area, and
final report
1980-1981
Box 2, Folder 9
Ferryboat Sierra Nevada - Engine salvage
1980-1981
Box 3, Folder 1
Los Angeles-Long Beach harbor areas cultural resource survey
1981 March
Box 3, Folder 2
Underwater cultural resource survey, Long Beach Harbor, Calif. - Technical proposal, Teckmarine Inc.
1987
Box 3, Folder 3
Nekton, Inc. statement of qualifications for offshore research, and marketing materials
1983
Box 3, Folder 4
Underwater archaeological remote-sensing survey and cultural evaluation of proposed offshore breakwater at entrance to Mission
Bay, San Diego Calif. - Proposal
1983 November
Box 3, Folder 5
Underwater archaeological remote-sensing survey and cultural evaluation of proposed Navy dredging and beach renourishment
near Coronado Beach, San Diego Calif.
1984 August
Box 3, Folder 6
Side scan sonar training manual
1985
Box 3, Folder 7
Isopach map of post-Wisconsin sediment thickness, Point Estero to Mexican Border
1987
Box 3, Folder 8
Isopach map of post-Wisconsin sediment thickness, Santa Barbara and San Nicholas Islands
1987
Box 3, Folder 9
Isopach map of post-Wisconsin sediment thickness data sources Point Estero to Mexican Border
1987
Box 3, Folder 10
Isopach map of post-Wisconsin sediment thickness data sources Santa Barbara and San Nicholas Islands
1987
Box 4, Folder 1
Shipwreck site predictive model map, Point Estero to Mexican Border
1987
Box 4, Folder 2
Shipwreck site predictive model map, Santa Barbara, San Nicholas, and San Clemente Islands, Tanner and Cortes Banks
1987
Box 4, Folder 3
Shipwreck distribution map, Point Estero to Mexican border
1987
Box 4, Folder 4
Shipwreck distribution map, Santa Barbara, San Nicholas, and San Clemente Islands, Tanner and Cortes Banks
1987
Box 4, Folder 5
Prehistoric archaeological site and predictive model map, Point Estero to Mexican Border
1987
Box 4, Folder 6
Prehistoric archaeological site and predictive model map, Santa Barbara and San Nicholas Islands
1987
SHIPWRECK AND SITE RESEARCH
Box 4, Folder 7
Ship Salvors, Inc. project binder relating to salvage expedition for wooden ship (galleon) wreck off San Miguel Island
1974-1975
Stone anchors off California coast
Box 4, Folder 8
Correspondence with Chinese experts re: stone anchors
1980-1986
General note
Correspondence to/from Peking and Dr. James Moriarty III.
Box 5, Folder 1-4
Correspondence re: Palos Verdes stone discovery and China connection
1975-1993
General note
Dr. James Moriarty III.
Box 5, Folder 5
Palos Verdes stones - Later assessment
2009
Box 5, Folder 6-7
Palos Verdes stones - Photographs and illustrations
1983
Box 5, Folder 8
Point Conception stones - Photographs
1985
Box 5, Folder 9
Correspondence re: Patton escarpment stones
1973-1975
Box 6, Folder 4
Shipwreck list, 2nd edition (PS Associates)
Box 6, Folder 5
Archaeology list, California sites, 1st edition (PS Associates)
Box 7, Folder 1
Binder - Complete alphabetal list of shipwrecks
1977
Box 7, Folder 2-3
Shipwrecks in California waters: A computer compendium of data by Patrick G. Gibson and Larry J. Pierson (2 versions)
ca. 1977
Box 8
Microfilm (8 reels) - U.S. Coast Guard record of wreck reports and other historical maritime resources
General note
Film boxes labeled by Pierson 1-8 with approximate dates, 1898-1934. No further identification of content.
Box 8
Microfilm (1 reel) - San Francisco Maritime Museum, S.F. Merchants Exchange Association, total ship losses 1900-1962
Box 5, Folder 10
The history and evolution of anchors, by James Moriarty III and Neil F. Marshall
1965
Box 5, Folder 11
Marine archaeology in submerged prehistoric sites, by James Moriarty III
1969
Box 5, Folder 12
Avila Beach: Descriptive data and hypotheses from the excavation of 1929 - Report by Thomas F. King
1970
Box 5, Folder 13
Underwater site testing: Results of the Texas Antiquities Committee's 1977 field season - Report by J. Barto Arnold III
1978
Box 6, Folder 1
New evidence of Asiatic shipwrecks off the California coast, or Palos Verde stones: Their origin and use, by Larry J. Pierson
1979
Box 6, Folder 2
Drug runner: A biography of the brig "Frolic" 1844-1850, a Baltimore-built opium clipper in India, China and Gold Rush California
- Typescript by Thomas N. Layton
1990
General note
Includes an inventory of artifacts from the wreck of the Frolic donated to the Mendocino County Museum.
Box 6, Folder 3
Gifts from the celestial kingdom: The cargo of the Frolic - Typescript by Thomas N. Layton
1998