Donald V. Helmberger Oral History Interview
Interviewed by Shirley K. Cohen
Interview Sessions from 1999
- May 27, 1999
- June 3, 1999
Abstract
Interview in two sessions, May and June 1999, with Donald V.
Helmberger, Smits Family Professor of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences
in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences. He begins by
recalling his family background and childhood on a farm in Northern
Minnesota, one of thirteen children. Matriculates at the University of
Minnesota in 1956 (B.S. 1961). Summer work at Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, 1961; sails to Alaska on a research vessel studying the
structure of the oceanic crust. Transfers to UCSD for graduate work in
geophysics; works at Scripps with Russell Raitt (PhD 1967).
Recollections of Walter Munk and Freeman Gilbert. Two-year postdoctoral
position at MIT, with Frank Press and Nafi Toksoz; introduced to
seismology. Works on upper-mantle modeling, supported by U.S. Air Force
in connection with underground testing of nuclear weapons. Becomes an
assistant professor at Princeton in 1969; following year, joins Caltech
Seismology Laboratory as assistant professor of geophysics. After 1971
San Fernando Earthquake, works on high-frequency modeling of
earthquakes.
Recollections of Seismo Lab when it was on N. San Rafael Ave., in
Pasadena, and of the move in 1974 to South Mudd, on Caltech campus.
Memories of Charles Richter. Recalls students: Charles Langston, Thomas
Heaton, Thorne Lay, Terry Wallace, Stephen Grand. Comments on Hiroo
Kanamori, director of Seismo Lab 1990-1998. Discusses National Science
Foundation’s establishment of earthquake centers and hopes for Caltech
to get the first one; Caltech loses out to SUNY Buffalo. Succeeds
Kanamori as director of the Seismo Lab in 1998. Discusses evolution of
directorship since Don Anderson’s tenure (1969-1989) and effects of the
move to Caltech campus. Discusses Kanamori’s directorship and work on
TriNet. Discusses Seismo Lab’s relations with U.S. Geological Survey and
the CUBE program [Caltech-USGS Broadcast of Earthquakes]. Concludes by
discussing his own efforts as director of the Seismo Lab and his hopes
for its future.
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Donald V. Helmberger Oral History Interview, interviewed by Shirley K. Cohen, Caltech Archives Oral History Project, May 27, 1999, June 3, 1999, http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Helmberger_D.