Charles Sears Oral History Interview
Scope and Content
The Charles Sears Oral History Interview consists of a single audiocassette containing an interview of Sears performed by University Archivist John Straw. The interview, approximately 55 minutes in length, focuses on Sears' experiences as a student at Virginia Tech in the late 1920s / early 1930s and as a professor in the Geology Department from the 1930s to the 1970s. The interview discusses Sears general student experiences as well as experiences specific to his major; the development and personnel of the Geology Department;, and the work of the Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory.
Dates
- 1988
Creator
- Sears, Charles, d. 1998 (Interviewee, Person)
- Straw, John B. (Interviewer, Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Biographical Note
Charles E. Sears Jr. was born February 3, 1911. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a degree in mining geology and obtained his master's at VPI in 1935. Three years later, Sears was hired as acting head of mining engineering at his alma mater. In 1942, he was called to active military duty. Sears returned to VPI in 1946 and from 1950 to 1952 attended the Colorado School of Mines, from which he earned a doctoral degree. In addition to instruction and research, he founded and served as director of the Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory. Charles Sears retired from Virginia Tech in 1977 and died on July 8, 1998.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
Audiocassette tape contains an oral history interview with Virginia Tech Professor Charles Sears, conducted by John Straw, University Archivist. Sears discusses the history of the Virginia Tech Geology Department (today the Department of Geosciences), where he served as a professor and founded the Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory.
Source of Acquisition
The Charles Sears Oral History Interview was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1988.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Charles Sears Cassette Tape by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing and description of this collection commenced and was completed in April 2021.
- Title
- Charles Sears Oral History Interview, 1988
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- John M. Jackson, Archivist
- Date
- 2021 (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu