Payson R. Stevens FIBEX/Vulcan Film Documentary Collection
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: Payson R. Stevens FIBEX/Vulcan Film Documentary Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SMC 0171
Physical Description:
6 Linear feet
(11 flat boxes, 1 shoebox, and 3 record cartons)
Date: 1981
Abstract: Documentary footage shot by Payson R. Stevens during Leg II of the FIBEX/Vulcan expedition (24 February to 28 March, 1981)
in the Scotia Sea of Antarctica.
Languages:
English
.
Scope and Content of Collection
Documentary footage shot by Payson R. Stevens during Leg II of the FIBEX/Vulcan expedition (24 February to 28 March, 1981)
in the Scotia Sea of Antarctica. FIBEX was a large international study; the Scripps Institution of Oceanography was one participant,
with Oz Holm-Hansen contributing as chief scientist for one leg aboard the R/V Melville. It includes photographic slides,
sound recordings, and films. The slides are 35mm color slides arranged in 23 small groupings by subject, by Stevens. The sound
recordings are associated with the film reels and include interviews, meetings, and ambient sounds. According to correspondence
retained when this material was donated to the Library, the sound recordings "sync" with the films, but the numbering relationship
between the two formats is unclear. Further investigation will be required to match sound reels to film reels.
The film is 16mm and includes all footage that was created for a future documentary, which was never made. Subjects include
interviews with scientists, onboard research activities, animals, and Antarctic vistas, islands and scenery. Films are arranged
in two subseries. The raw footage has little description and overall, those films are in poor condition and exhibiting vinegar
syndrome. The "dailies" were created by Payson in August 1981 and are in much better condition. They appear to be compilations
of original footage ("roll" numbers are cited on the inventory). A shot log was included with the original gift, but it is
so brief and incomplete that it is not particularly helpful to identify subjects of each film, beyond what is included in
the finding aid notes.
Arranged in three series: 1) SLIDES, 2) SOUND RECORDINGS, and 3) FILMS.
Historical Background
BIOMASS/FIBEX Programme
An international BIOMASS (Biological Investigations of Marine Antarctic Systems and Stocks) programme started in 1976. It
arose from the growing interest of many countries in the living resources of the Southern Ocean - mainly krill, fishes, and
squids. The BIOMASS programme was planned for 10 years and included oceanographic surveys, studies on krill and fish populations
structure and fishery statistics, laboratory experiments on krill, bird and seal censuses.
The first part of the BIOMASS programme was the so-called FIBEX (First International BIOMASS Experiment) in 1981 - a joint,
complex program of oceanographical studies of the Southern Ocean carried out by 13 vessels from 11 states.
(The above statements on BIOMASS and FIBEX are adapted from: Stanisław Rakusa-Suszczewski et al, Antarctic oceanobiological
expeditions organized by the Polish Academy of Sciences, p. 63 [https://journals.pan.pl/Content/110832/PDF/1998-1-2_061-079.pdf])
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography participated in FIBEX with Vulcan-6 and Vulcan-7 surveys of the Scotia Sea (53°S to
60°S, 50°W to 33°W).
For information on Payson R. Stevens, a Scripps Institution of Oceanography alumni and filmmaker, please visit his website
at: https://www.paysonrstevens.com.
Preferred Citation
Payson R. Stevens FIBEX/Vulcan Film Documentary Collection. SMC 171. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Acquisition Information
Acquired 2004-2011
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. UC Regents own copyright to the 35mm slides.
Restrictions
Original audiorecording media are restricted. Sound recordings have been digitized and listening copies may be available for
researchers. Film in series 3A is in poor condition, and no film has been digitized; inquire in advance to determine viewing
accessibility.
Box 1, Folder 1
Cape Horn; scientists; science meeting
Box 1, Folder 2
RV Meteor; Herwig fishing vessel; Seal Rock
Box 1, Folder 5
Birds; wandering albatross; skuas, petrels
Box 1, Folder 6
King George Island; Tobapilla Bay
Box 1, Folder 7
Elephant Island; Seal Island
Box 1, Folder 8
Storms; King George Island
Box 1, Folder 10
Black browed albatross; icebergs
Box 1, Folder 12
Ice pack; King George Island
Box 1, Folder 14
Icebergs; birds; RV Melville
Box 1, Folder 16
Birds; sunsets; RV Melville
Box 1, Folder 17
Beagle Passage; Captain Haines
Box 1, Folder 20
Elephant Island; Seal Rocks
Box 1, Folder 22
Punta Arenas, Chile; Magellan Straits
Box 2, Folder 1
Roll #1
General note
Tape for camera #4, August films FIBEX 2-28, Sci Meeting Aboard Meteor - time 00:22:26.
Box 2, Folder 2
Roll #2
General note
Exposed aboard Meteor 3/28, Herwig 3/29 - time 00:12:41.
Box 2, Folder 3
Roll #2A
General note
Wild sound, 1008-1010, 1015-1017. Herwig; Melville, HydroAC launch 3/1, Bongo launch 3/2 - time 02:33:36.
Box 2, Folder 4
Roll #3
General note
Sound #101-116 Exposed - time 00:19:40.
Box 2, Folder 5
Roll #3
General note
Exposed - Russians on radio - time 00:24:52.
Box 2, Folder 6
Roll #4
General note
Wild sound, Storm noises/chain ship noises, Wild sound 3001-3014 - time 00:24:51.
Box 2, Folder 7
Roll #5
General note
Exposed, Wild sound 3015-19, Sound 117 - time 00:14:41.
Box 2, Folder 8
Roll #6
General note
Exposed, Sound 130-133, Microlab Farooq Azam & Jim - time 00:13:40.
Box 2, Folder 9
Roll #7
General note
Exposed 3/19-Synch, Van lab 150-2, Comp. RM 153/4; Wild Main Lab discuss/USSR - time 00:24:47.
Box 2, Folder 10
Untitled
General note
Exposed/FIBEX, Synch-172, Eric Schulenberger discussing MOCNESS Tank Series 3/22 - time 00:20:57.
Box 2, Folder 11
Untitled
General note
Exposed FIBEX - time 00:24:52.
Box 2, Folder 12
Untitled
General note
Exposed 3/21, Ed Briton - time 00:17:19.
Box 2, Folder 13
Untitled
General note
Exposed 3/20 FIBEX - time 00:24:01.
Box 2, Folder 14
Untitled
General note
Exposed 3/24, FIBEX TATO - time 00:23:41.
Box 2, Folder 15
Untitled
General note
3/24 Exposed OZ interview, end with SD #208 - time 00:24:42.
Box 2, Folder 16
Untitled
General note
3/25 Exposed OZ room group meeting - time 00:24:47.
Box 2, Folder 17
Untitled
General note
3/25 Exposed OZ room (2) group meeting - time 00:24:50
Box 2, Folder 18
Untitled
General note
3/25 Exp OZ group meeting (3) - time 00:16:41.
Box 2, Folder 19
Untitled
General note
Exposed 3/26-6, end of science meeting (whales) & OHH on intercom - time 00:08:46.
Box 4
Film 16
General note
"Voyage to Antarctica/Promo"
Box 4
Film 17
General note
"August films: Antarctica"
Box 5
Film 19
General note
"Screened rolls"
Film - Positive Dailies (19 reels)
Box 6
Reels 1-2
General
Reel 1 (Can Id "A"): Roll no. 1
Reel 2 (Can Id "A"): Roll nos. 2, 3, 4
Box 7
Reels 3-4
General
Reel 3 (Can Id "B"): Roll nos. 5-6
Reel 4 (Can Id "B"): Roll nos. 7, 8, 9
Box 8
Reels 5-6
General
Reel 5 (Can Id "C"): Roll nos. 10, 11
Reel 6 (Can Id "C"): Roll nos. 12, 13, 15
Box 9
Reels 7-8
General
Reel 7 (Can Id "D"): Roll nos. 16, 17
Reel 8 (Can Id "D"): Roll nos. 18, 19, 20
Box 10
Reels 7A and 17
General
Reel 7A (Can Id "J"): Roll nos. 15, 16, 17
Reel 17 (Can Id "J"): Roll nos. 43, 44, 45
Box 11
Reels 8A and 16A
General
Reel 8A (Can Id "E"): Roll nos. 1, 4
Reel 16A (Can Id "E"): Roll no. 32 plus end of "E"
Box 12
Reels 9-10
General
Reel 9 (Can Id "G"): Roll nos. 21, 22
Reel 10 (Can Id "G"): Roll nos. 23, 24, 25
Box 13
Reels 11-12
General
Reel 11 (Can Id "F"): Roll nos. 26, 27
Reel 12 (Can Id "F"): Roll nos. 26, 27
Box 14
Reels 13-14
General
Reel 13 (Can Id "H"): Roll nos. 3, 9, 12, 24, 25
Reel 14 (Can Id "H"): Roll nos. 30, 36, 37, 40, 42
Box 15
Reel 15
General
Reel 15 (Can Id "I"): Roll nos. 32, 33, 34
