Henry Bryant Bigelow (1879-1967) became the first Director of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 1930 and held that position until 1939. In 1927, while Bigelow was Associate Professor of Zoology at Harvard University and Curator of Oceanography at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, he was asked to prepare a report for the Committee on Oceanography of the National Academy of Science. The report was published in 1937 under his name as a book entitled "Oceanography: Its Scope, Problems and Economic Importance". It not only led to the establishment of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, incorporated on January 6, 1930, with a grant from the Rockefeller Institut of $2 million plus $50,000 per year for ten years, but to "additional financial benefits to oceanography and marine biology through gifts to the Scripps Institution, the University of Washington and the Bermude Biological Station." Bigelow's directorship coincided with his association with Harvard University and he was only in residence in Woods Hole during the summer, (allowing him to have an unbroken record of service to Harvard of 55 years). During Bigelow's term as director, the Institute grew in size and scope. Upon retiring as director in 1939, he was elected a member and President of the Board of Trustees. A chair in oceanography was founded in his name by WHOI in 1958. In 1960, recognizing his great service to the institution, he was named Founder Cha
irman of the Board, and he was also the first recipient of the Henry Bryant Bigelow Metal, an award established that year in his honor.
From the description of Records of Henry Bryant Bigelow, ca. 1930-1941. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81639673
