James P. Delgado
Encyclopedia
James P. Delgado is a maritime archaeologist
, explorer and author
.
of the United States.
His association with San Jose State University
led to his enrolling there. In his sophomore year, he shifted to San Francisco State University
as a cooperative education student working with the National Park Service
. He remained with the N.P.S. through University. While working as park historian on sites such as Alcatraz and a number of military forts and gun batteries, including the excavation of a forgotten Civil War fortification at Black Point
, his interest in ships and especially shipwrecks was intensely reinforced by the discovery of buried ships from the Gold Rush of 1848-1851. Delgado worked with archaeologist Allen Pastron on several excavations in downtown San Francisco in the 1980s. Among the buried ships he would help excavate or analyze between 1979 and 2005 were the storeships Niantic and General Harrison, and the ships William Gray and Candace.
The N.P.S. years also introduced him to shipwrecks, diving, and underwater archaeology. His early projects in California also included the 1982-1985 documentation of the medium clipper ship King Philip
on Ocean Beach, the schooner Neptune, also wrecked on Ocean Beach (in 1900) and the steamships Tennessee
and Winfield Scott
, wrecked at Tennessee Cove in Marin County and off Anacapa Island in California's Channel Islands. Working closely with the Park Service's submerged cultural resources unit, he participated in surveys of wrecks in his own park and Pearl Harbor
, where he participated in the study of the sunken and USS Utah, and finally at Bikini Atoll
in the Pacific, where he worked with the team on the atomic-bombed ships of Operation Crossroads
, the world's first nuclear tests (1946). Those wrecks include the carrier USS Saratoga
, the Japanese battleship Nagato
, the battleship USS Arkansas
, the destroyer USS Anderson, the attack transport USS Gilliam and the submarine USS Pilotfish.
After gaining a master's degree in underwater archaeology from East Carolina University
, he was assigned by the N.P.S. to work as project historian on the USS Monitor
Project with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
. He then headed the National Park Service's maritime preservation program, the National Maritime Initiative, as its founding chief. The NMI was also the maritime preservation program for the federal government, and as chief, he led an effort to study 142 ships for designation as national landmarks, inventoried the nation's maritime resources, and supported the development of standards and guidelines for preservation and documentation. He continued his active diving and shipwreck work during those years. This included the documentation of the wreck of the famous US Navy brig USS Somers
, the setting for the Navy's only mutiny and the inspiration for Herman Melville
's Billy Budd
.
In 1991, he moved to the Vancouver Maritime Museum
in Vancouver, British Columbia and remained there for fifteen years as executive director. He returned to university and gained a Ph.D. at Simon Fraser University
. He also hosted the television series The Sea Hunters
with author Clive Cussler
for five years.
He has written, contributed to, or edited 33 books. In 2006 he joined the Institute of Nautical Archaeology
(INA
) as Executive Director, and in April 2008 he was elected President and CEO of this worldwide archaeological institute. Among his later projects Delgado was the principal investigator on the 2010 expedition to map the Titanic shipwreck site, and he also spent several years leading the archaeological documentation of the early submersible Sub Marine Explorer
. In October 2010, he left INA to become the Director of Maritime Heritage in the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration in Washington, D.C.
Maritime archaeology
Maritime archaeology is a discipline within archaeology as a whole that specifically studies human interaction with the sea, lakes and rivers through the study of associated physical remains, be they vessels, shore side facilities, port-related structures, cargoes, human remains and submerged...
, explorer and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Life
As a maritime archaeologist who has worked all around the globe, he has spent decades underwater exploration and has uncovered many new archaeological sites across the globe. He was born in the San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
of the United States.
His association with San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
led to his enrolling there. In his sophomore year, he shifted to San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
as a cooperative education student working with the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
. He remained with the N.P.S. through University. While working as park historian on sites such as Alcatraz and a number of military forts and gun batteries, including the excavation of a forgotten Civil War fortification at Black Point
Black Point (Sonoma County, California)
Black Point is a cape on the Pacific Coast of northern California in the United States. It is located in the Sea Ranch area of Sonoma County at , approximately northwest of San Francisco and approximately northwest of Santa Rosa....
, his interest in ships and especially shipwrecks was intensely reinforced by the discovery of buried ships from the Gold Rush of 1848-1851. Delgado worked with archaeologist Allen Pastron on several excavations in downtown San Francisco in the 1980s. Among the buried ships he would help excavate or analyze between 1979 and 2005 were the storeships Niantic and General Harrison, and the ships William Gray and Candace.
The N.P.S. years also introduced him to shipwrecks, diving, and underwater archaeology. His early projects in California also included the 1982-1985 documentation of the medium clipper ship King Philip
King Philip shipwreck
The King Philip shipwreck is the wreck of the King Philip, a 19th century clipper ship—a fast commercial three-masted sailing ship—which was named after an Indian chief. The wreck of this ship is only rarely visible; very infrequently the timbers can be seen protruding from the sands of Ocean...
on Ocean Beach, the schooner Neptune, also wrecked on Ocean Beach (in 1900) and the steamships Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
, wrecked at Tennessee Cove in Marin County and off Anacapa Island in California's Channel Islands. Working closely with the Park Service's submerged cultural resources unit, he participated in surveys of wrecks in his own park and Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, where he participated in the study of the sunken and USS Utah, and finally at Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll is an atoll, listed as a World Heritage Site, in the Micronesian Islands of the Pacific Ocean, part of Republic of the Marshall Islands....
in the Pacific, where he worked with the team on the atomic-bombed ships of Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945...
, the world's first nuclear tests (1946). Those wrecks include the carrier USS Saratoga
USS Saratoga
USS Saratoga may refer to:* One of several United States Navy ships named after the Battle of Saratoga in the American Revolutionary War:** , a 18-gun sloop launched in 1780; lost at sea the following year...
, the Japanese battleship Nagato
Japanese battleship Nagato
Nagato was a battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy; the lead ship of her class. She was the first battleship in the world to mount 16 inch guns, her armour protection and speed made her one of the most powerful capital ships at the time of her commissioning.She was the flagship of Admiral...
, the battleship USS Arkansas
USS Arkansas (BB-33)
USS Arkansas , a was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 25th state.A dreadnought battleship, Arkansas was laid down on 25 January 1910 at Camden, New Jersey, by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation. She was launched on 14 January 1911 sponsored by Miss Nancy Louise...
, the destroyer USS Anderson, the attack transport USS Gilliam and the submarine USS Pilotfish.
After gaining a master's degree in underwater archaeology from East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
, he was assigned by the N.P.S. to work as project historian on the USS Monitor
USS Monitor
USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship commissioned by the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She is most famous for her participation in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862, the first-ever battle fought between two ironclads...
Project with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
. He then headed the National Park Service's maritime preservation program, the National Maritime Initiative, as its founding chief. The NMI was also the maritime preservation program for the federal government, and as chief, he led an effort to study 142 ships for designation as national landmarks, inventoried the nation's maritime resources, and supported the development of standards and guidelines for preservation and documentation. He continued his active diving and shipwreck work during those years. This included the documentation of the wreck of the famous US Navy brig USS Somers
USS Somers
USS Somers may refer to:, was a schooner that fought on Lake Erie and Huron during the War of 1812. She was captured by the British in 1814., was a brig launched in 1842 and sunk in 1846...
, the setting for the Navy's only mutiny and the inspiration for Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
's Billy Budd
Billy Budd
Billy Budd is a short novel by Herman Melville.Billy Budd can also refer to:*Billy Budd , a 1962 film produced, directed, and co-written by Peter Ustinov, based on Melville's novel...
.
In 1991, he moved to the Vancouver Maritime Museum
Vancouver Maritime Museum
The Vancouver Maritime Museum is a Maritime museum devoted to presenting the maritime history of Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Canadian Arctic. Opened in 1959 as a Vancouver centennial project, it is located within Vanier Park just west of False Creek on the Vancouver waterfront. The main...
in Vancouver, British Columbia and remained there for fifteen years as executive director. He returned to university and gained a Ph.D. at Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
. He also hosted the television series The Sea Hunters
The Sea Hunters: True Adventures With Famous Shipwrecks
The Sea Hunters: True Adventures with Famous Shipwrecks is a nonfiction work by adventure novelist Clive Cussler published in the United States in 1996. This work details the authors search for famous shipwrecks with his nonprofit organization NUMA. There is also a television series titled The...
with author Clive Cussler
Clive Cussler
Clive Eric Cussler is an American adventure novelist and marine archaeologist. His thriller novels, many featuring the character Dirk Pitt, have reached The New York Times fiction best-seller list more than seventeen times...
for five years.
He has written, contributed to, or edited 33 books. In 2006 he joined the Institute of Nautical Archaeology
Institute of Nautical Archaeology
The Institute of Nautical Archaeology is the world’s oldest organization devoted to the study of humanity’s interaction with the sea through the practice of archaeology. INA’s founder Dr. George Bass pioneered the science of underwater excavation in the 1960s through work at Cape Gelidonya and...
(INA
INA
INA as an acronym may refer to: by IOC country code* Indian National Army was an Indian nationalist force during World War II aimed at overthrowing British rule over India* Indian Naval Academy* INA, a division of the Schaeffler Group...
) as Executive Director, and in April 2008 he was elected President and CEO of this worldwide archaeological institute. Among his later projects Delgado was the principal investigator on the 2010 expedition to map the Titanic shipwreck site, and he also spent several years leading the archaeological documentation of the early submersible Sub Marine Explorer
Sub Marine Explorer
The Sub Marine Explorer is a submersible built between 1863 and 1866 by Julius H. Kroehl and Ariel Patterson in Brooklyn, New York for the Pacific Pearl Company. It was hand powered and had an interconnected system of a high-pressure air chamber or compartment, a pressurized working chamber for...
. In October 2010, he left INA to become the Director of Maritime Heritage in the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration in Washington, D.C.