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Schaefer (Milner B.) Papers
SMC 0002
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Milner B. Schaefer Papers
Creator:
Schaefer, Milner Baily, 1912-1970
Identifier/Call Number: SMC 0002
Physical Description:
3 Linear feet
(3 record cartons)
Date (inclusive): 1934-1973
Abstract: Papers of Milner Baily Schaefer (1912-1970), a professor of oceanography and science administrator known for his work in fisheries,
marine resources, and population dynamics. Schaefer served as director of investigations for the Inter-American Tropical Tuna
Commission (IATTC) from 1951 to 1962, director of the University of California Institute of Marine Resources (IMR) from 1962
to 1970, and science advisor to the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior from 1967 to 1969. The collection includes
research notes, data, writings, correspondence, and teaching materials.
Languages:
English
.
Scope and Content of Collection
A small collection of the papers of Milner Baily Schaefer (1912-1970), a professor of oceanography and science administrator
known for his work in fisheries, marine resources, and population dynamics. Schaefer served as director of investigations
for the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1951 to 1962, director of the University of California Institute
of Marine Resources (IMR) from 1962 to 1970, and science advisor to the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior from
1967 to 1969. The collection includes research notes and data, writings, correspondence, evidence of his role in important
scientific groups and committees, and teaching materials.
Given the breadth of Schaefer's professional activities, there are clear gaps in the collection. The papers do not include
any information on Schaefer's activities as a member of the SIO scientific party on Operation Wigwam. His career as a member
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is virtually undocumented, as is his work as a representative of the National Academy
of Sciences on the Advisory Board of the National Oceanographic Data Center from 1960-1963.
Arranged in four series: 1) BIOGRAPHICAL, 2) CORRESPONDENCE, 3) WRITINGS AND RESEARCH and 4) ORGANIZATIONS.
Milner Baily (Benny) Schaefer was born December 14, 1912 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. After graduating magna cum laude with a B.S.
in fisheries from the University of Washington, Schaefer worked as a biologist for the Washington State Fisheries Department
in Seattle, and then as a scientist for the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission in New Westminster, British
Columbia. He served four years as a U.S. Navy officer during World War II, and then as an instructor for the University of
Washington School of Fisheries; an aquatic biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Stanford, California, and chief
of the Section of Biology and Oceanography at the Pacific Oceanic Fishery Laboratory in Honolulu.
Schaefer was awarded a doctorate in fisheries from the University of Washington in 1950 and then moved to La Jolla, where
he was a research associate for Scripps Institution of Oceanography and director of investigations for the Inter-American
Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) from 1951 to 1962. He became professor of oceanography at SIO and director of the University
of California Institute of Marine Resources (IMR) in 1962. From 1967 to 1969, Schaefer served as science advisor to the secretary
of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Stewart Udall, after which he returned to SIO. Schaefer participated in many scientific
expeditions, including Operation Wigwam, and served on many U.S. and international committees, conferences, and organizations,
including the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists, the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, International
Law of the Sea conferences, the Latin American Science Board, the Pacific Science Association, and numerous committees for
the United Nations and the National Academy of Sciences. Schaefer died in San Diego on July 26, 1970.
Milner B. Schaefer Papers. SMC 2. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Acquired 1981
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
Publication rights are held by UC Regents.
University of California. Institute of Marine Resources records. SAC 3. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Center for Marine Affairs records. SAC 79. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
According to former SIO Archivist Deborah Day, the U.S. Department of the Interior retains Schaefer's official files as Science
Advisor to Secretary Udall.
Schaefer corresponded frequently with Wilbert McLeod Chapman, whose papers are at the Archives of the
University of Washington. The Guide to the Wilbert McLeod Chapman Papers (Seattle: University of
Washington Libraries, 1977) includes several references to Schaefer.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Schaefer, Milner Baily, 1912-1970 -- Archives