Smithsonian Institution Archives

Alfred C. Glassell Oral History Interviews, 2002

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU9601
Creators:
Glassell, Alfred C. (Alfred Curry), 1913-2008, interviewee
Dates:
2002
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
3 mini-audiotapes (Originals).
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Introduction

Introduction
The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives' record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Alfred C. Glassell, Jr., was interviewed for his achievements in sport fishing, his contributions to National Museum of Natural History, and his service to the Smithsonian Institution.

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
The Alfred C. Glassell, Jr., Interview was conducted on March 12, 2002, by Judy Terry Smith and Clyde F. E. Roper from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The interview discusses Glassell's background and early career in the petroleum industry; his adventures in sport fishing; the scientific expedition to the Indian Ocean aboard his ship, the Argosy; the capture of the world record 1,560 pound black marlin; his induction into the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Hall of Fame; his wife and family; his first visit to the Smithsonian Institution; the formation of the Smithsonian National Board; his views on leadership, development, and museum outreach; the scientific expedition with the University of Miami Marine Institute (Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences); and other angler friends. The collection consists of 2.5 hours of audiotape recording and 75 pages of transcript.

Historical Note

Historical Note
Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. (1913-2008), a leader in the petroleum industry and an advocate for marine biology research, was a generous supporter of the Smithsonian Institution. He was born on March 13, 1913, in northwest Louisiana on Cuba Plantation, a remote cotton plantation near the Red River. He received a B.A. from Louisiana State University in 1934, and in 1945, after serving approximately three and half years in the U.S. Army, he moved to Houston, Texas. Glassell traveled the world extensively hunting marlin, blue fin tuna, and swordfish. He was a member of the U.S. Team in the International Tuna Cup Matches for seven years and served as captain of the 1952 second-place team. He secured the world record title for hooking a 1,560 pound black marlin, the largest grander caught on rod and reel, off the coast of Cabo Blanco, Peru, on August 4, 1953. Glassell donated the immense fish to the Smithsonian for a new hall titled Life in the Sea at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). As an accomplished sport fisherman, he was inducted into the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in 2001.
He organized scientific expeditions around the world aboard his vessel, the Argosy, for Yale University in 1957, and in 1961 for the University of Miami, where a research laboratory bears his name. He was named an Honorary Member of the Smithsonian National Board of which he was a founding member. In 1991, the Smithsonian Benefactors' Circle recognized him for a lifetime of patronage and dedication to the Smithsonian Institution. He founded the Glassell School of Art, a teaching wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston (MFAH) where his world-renowned collection of gold is housed, and he served as Chairman Emeritus of the MFAH board of trustees.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9601, Alfred C. Glassell Oral History Interviews
Use Restriction
Restricted (Tapes and transcripts). Contact SIHistory@si.edu to request permission.

More Information

Notes

Oral Histories


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Glassell, Alfred C. (Alfred Curry), 1913-2008 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Watson, Thomas J., 1914-1993 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Schultz, Leonard P. (Leonard Peter), 1901-1986 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smith, F. G. Walton (Frederick George Walton), 1909-1989 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sanchez, Julio Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Williams, Theodore S. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smith, Judith Terry, interviewer Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Roper, Clyde F. E., 1937-, interviewer Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Life in the Sea Hall Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
International Game Fish Association Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Argosy (Ship) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian National Board Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Benefactors' Circle Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
University of Miami. Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Yale University Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Division of Fishes Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
University of Miami. Institute of Marine Science Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scientific expeditions -- Ecuador Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scientific expeditions -- Indian Ocean Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scientific expeditions -- Panama, Bay of (Panama) Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Swordfish fishing Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tournament fishing Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tuna fishing Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Marine biology Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Marine sciences Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Saltwater fishing Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Big game fishing Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Billfish fishing Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Exploratory fishing Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fishes -- Type specimens Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fishing -- Records Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fishing stories Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Petroleum industry and trade Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum trustees Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Marlins Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oceanography Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World records Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Benefactors Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Marine animals Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ichthyology Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gifts Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum exhibits Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oral history Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peru Place Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiotapes Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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