Finding Aid: USS CASSIN YOUNG Oral History Project

 

Introduction

To complete the cataloging of the USS Cassin Young Oral History Project Collection, the materials were transferred from Boston National Historical Park’s curatorial storage rooms to the NMSC office, also at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The transcripts were removed from the lower drawer of a metal file cabinet; the audio cassettes were removed from the top drawer of a metal storage cabinet; and the audio tapes were removed from a metal storage cabinet.

The collection materials fall into three categories: written transcripts, audio cassettes, and audio tapes. Transcripts and related papers had been stored separately for each of the two collections. These papers were stored in folders arranged alphabetically by interviewee with related papers pertaining to the conduct of the oral history projects stored at the front. Information about several interviewees was found in multiple folders. Original audio cassettes were stored in a single drawer each in its original plastic container. Not all written transcripts could be associated with an audio cassette and some audio cassettes had no related written transcript. Audio tapes in their original paper-covered cardboard boxes had been stored vertically on four shelves, arranged alphabetically by interviewee. Not all audio tapes could be associated with a written transcript and audio cassette.

The Boston National Historical Park also has additional copies of many of the audio cassette tapes. These were not cataloged as they are considered to be reference copies of the materials.

The collection has been arranged into series based on the three formats described above. Original folders were replaced with acid free materials. During rehousing, information from original folder titles was used in new folder labels. Additional information pertaining to contents or accession number marked on original folders was copied onto acid free paper and inserted at the front of the new folders. The date of the interview has been used as the main date on the folder label, and the dates of supplemental materials has been written separately an labeled as such. Oversize items were removed to map case storage (107/2H/MC12D7), and the removal of such items is documented with separation sheets. The original packaging of audio cassettes, audio tapes and video tapes was replaced with archival containers. The collection is now stored with the park’s photograph collection in the bally structure.

A copy of the National Park Service manual Collection, Using and Preserving Oral History in the National Park Service was found among the associated papers in the Boston Naval Shipyard Oral History Collection. It was removed to be returned to the park’s cultural resource reference library.

The collection was cataloged into the Collections Management Module of the Automated National Catalog System Plus. In the Archives Module, a collection level record was completed and item level records were filled out for each interviewee. In order to facilitate access further, this finding aid was created, including a description of the collection and collection listing

 

Part 2: Collection Description

Scope and Content Note

USS Cassin Young Oral History Project Collection, 1942-1986 (bulk dates 1979-1984)

Catalog number: BOSTC 3426.

Quantity: Approximately 209 items.

Storage: 3 letter size archives boxes, 2 audio cassette boxes, and 73 audio tape boxes.

Location: Boston National Historical Park, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA 02129.

Description: This collection is comprised of the oral history interviews taken during the USS Cassin Young Oral History Project, which was coordinated by Francy K. Bockoven, Historian at the Boston National Historical Park. The interviews were conducted between 1979 and 1984, but the greatest majority of them took place in August 1980 and August 1983 during two reunions held for USS Cassin Young sailors. Boston National Historical Park staff conducted the interviews, which were recorded on the audio cassettes in this collection. The collection also includes draft and final transcriptions of many of the interviews, as well as copies on reel-to-reel audio tapes created by Ian Communications Group, Inc. in Wilmington, MA in 1986.

The USS Cassin Young Oral History Project Collection is related to several other collections at Boston National Historical Park. These include the USS Cassin Young Operational Records (BOSTC 1678) and the USS Cassin Young Books and Manuals Collection (BOSTC 1751-3425).

Organization: USS Cassin Young Oral History Project Collection, 1942-1986 (bulk dates 1979-1984)

A. Transcripts
B. Audio Cassettes
C. Audio Tapes

 

Series Descriptions

Series A. Transcripts

The transcripts were produced from the audio cassettes. A copy was sent to the interviewee for corrections, and a final, edited copy was produced. This series consists of both drafts with handwritten corrections and final transcripts that incorporate those corrections, along with extraneous material related to the interview. At the beginning of the series are four folders that consist of material relating to the project as a whole. The remaining folders are arranged alphabetically by the name of the interviewee.

Series B. Audio Cassettes

The audio cassettes are the original collection from which the other series were produced. It consists primarily of two-sided ninety-minute cassettes, but it also includes two-sided sixty-minute and one-hundred-twenty-minute cassettes. The cassettes are arranged alphabetically by the name of the interviewee. In cases where there is more than one interviewee, the cassette is arranged by the name of the first person listed on the original transcript folder. There are five cassettes at the end of the series that are generically named (i.e., Navigators). These are arranged alphabetically among themselves.

Series C. Audio Tapes

This series was produced directly from the audio cassettes by Ian Communications Group, Inc. of Wilmington, MA on June 30, 1986 in full track, tails out format. Each tape corresponds to one side of a two-sided ninety-minute audio cassette. They are arranged identically to the audio cassettes. When both sides of a cassette were used, there are two audio tapes, one labeled “SIDE A” and the other labeled “SIDE B.” One interview is labeled Part 1, 2, and 3 rather than Side A and B, as it was recorded on one 120-minute audio cassette and required three audio tapes.

 

Part 3: Collection Listing

 

A. Transcripts

 

B. Audio Cassettes

 

C. Audio Tapes

 

Appendix A: Index of Interviewees

 

Interviewee Index

Last updated: March 31, 2025

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Boston National Historical Park
21 Second Ave
Charlestown, MA 02129

Phone:

617 242-5601

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