James Percy Ault Papers, 1904-1957 (Bulk 1904-1931)

DTM-2003-01

Introduction

Abstract:

Extent: 12.5 linear feet, 20 document boxes, 7 flat storage boxes

Provenance: The collection was primarily donated by Captain Ault's grandson, Peter Tinsley in 1997. Ault's journals were donated by his daughter Marjorie Ault Donnally in 1957. The two donations were combined during the course of the processing.

Access Restrictions: No access restrictions.

Copyright: Copyright is held by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington. For permission to reproduce or publish please contact the archivist at the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism.

Preferred Citation: James Percy Ault Papers, 1904-1957, DTM-2003-01, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Processing: This collection was processed by Charles Hargrove in 2003.

James Percy Ault Biography

James Percy Ault was born in Olathe, Kansas in 1881. He received an A.B. at Baker University in 1904, and an A.M. degree from Columbia University in 1909. During his time at Baker Ault served as observatory assistant in the magnetic observatory of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. After his graduation in 1904 Ault joined the Carnegie Institution of Washington (CIW) as a magnetic observer. He remained an employee of the Carnegie Institution for the rest of his life. In 1905, after a short training period, Ault joined the crew of the "Galilee", a sailing vessel chartered by Carnegie to undertake magnetic research around the globe. Ault remained on the "Galilee" until November 1906. He then made magnetic observations in Northern Mexico until March 1907, when he married Mamie Totten. After marriage, the Aults moved to Washington,D.C. where they remained until Ault's death. In 1908 Ault made a three month canoe trip in the Canadian interior to make magnetic observations. In 1909 Ault received an A.M. degree from Columbia University. Later in the same year he joined the crew of the newly-commissioned research vessel "Carnegie". The "Carnegie" was a research vessel specifically designed and built for magnetic research. It was constructed of wood and non-ferrous metals so as not to affect the magnetic observations. Ault was a magnetic observer on Cruise I during 1909 and 1910. During 1911 he did office work at CIW in Washington and in 1912 he led a magnetic survey through Bolivia, Peru and Chile. In 1914 he was appointed Captain of the "Carnegie" for Cruise III, a position he would retain for Cruises IV, VI and VII. The Cruises of the "Carnegie" took Ault around the world several times, including a circumnavigation of Antarctica in 1915-1916 on Cruise IV. During the times between cruises he worked on reducing data collected on the cruises and various magnetic research topics for CIW. One exception to this was his work for the Army in 1918 on the aerial navigation of airplanes using compasses, sextants and astronomical observation. Ault and his wife had three daughters, Evelyn (b. 1912), Ruth (b. 1919) and Marjorie (b. 1923). Ruth died suddenly in 1920 from colitis. Ault was on Cruise VI of the Carnegie when Ruth died. The death had a great effect on Ault and nearly led him to resign. He was eventually convinced by his colleagues to continue the cruise. Ault's career was cut short during Cruise VII in 1929 due to an explosion during refueling of the "Carnegie" in Apia, Samoa. The entire ship burned and sank. Ault, and cabin boy Anthony Kolar, were the only fatalities.

Arrangement:

The collection consists of six series in twenty letter-sized document cases, and seven flat storage boxes comprising roughly 12.5 linear feet. There is correspondence, reports, photos, albums, newspaper clippings, and ephemera. Series 1 consists of correspondence, primarily between Ault and his wife. It is the most informative series in the collection with complete chronological coverage of Ault's time at Carnegie. Series 2 covers Ault's work with aerial navigation during WWI. Series 3 consists of articles and reports written by Ault about his travels for the Carnegie Institution. Series 4 consists of Ault's personal journals. Series 5 consists of photographs and albums of Ault's life. Series 6 consists of ephemera presumably collected by Ault or his wife. Series 7 consists of newspaper clippings about the "Carnegie", the Carnegie Institution, the destruction of the "Carnegie" and other assorted topics.
Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of the personal papers of Captain James Percy Ault and serves to illuminate both his personal and professional lives while he was an employee of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1904-1929, 1930-31, 1949-51, 1953-1954, 1956, 1957

This series consists of all correspondence saved by James Percy Ault or his wife Mamie Totten. It consists of three subseries arranged into 11 document boxes each are arranged chronologically by author. The vast majority of the correspondence consists of letters between Percy and Mamie, during and before his time with CIW. There is a smaller number of letters between Mamie and Percy and relatives and friends.

Series 1, Subseries 1: Letters between James Percy and Ault and Mamie Totten Ault, 1904-1929

This subseries consists of letters written between James Percy Ault and Mamie Totten Ault between the years 1904 and 1929. Due to the long distances involved and long delivery times it is impossible to match the letters in a one-to-one correspondence and so the letters are arranged in strict chronological order by author when possible. The Aults were voluminous correspondents and these letters served as a link between them during the many years that Percy was away due to CIW work. Perry's letters contain a great deal of information about the workings of the "Carnegie" and the Carnegie Institution. He frequently writes of his dissatisfaction with his life and how much he misses Mamie and the children. Mamie's letters are filled with news of home and their children. Occasionally a large group of letters was saved in one envelope, such as all of Ault's letters from Cruise IV. In these cases, the letters were left together. A number of the letters were undated except for a day of the week. These could only be sorted into a "Before 1907" group and "After 1907" group based on a change in the salutations before and after the Ault's wedding. After the wedding the letters almost always include the words wife or husband in the salutation. These letters were placed at the end of this subseries.

Series 1, Subseries 2: Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1905, 1907-1908, 1910, 1912, 1915-1931, 1950-1951, 1953-1954, 1956-1957

This subseries consists of correspondence to and from Percy and Mamie from family and friends. In many cases, there is no way of identifying the author. The subseries is contained in two letter-sized document boxes. These letters are arranged chronologically. Most are general friendly letters.

Subseries 3: Cables 1908-1929

This subseries consists of cables sent to and from Ault while he was on CIW business. The cables are arranged chronologically by year. They are one page each and generally consist of few words. Most are to his wife Mamie. Many of the cables are in code. The code is sometimes translated on the cable. It is unclear if the code was one of the commercially available codes used at the time or a personal code created by Ault and his wife. Because most of the cables are in code it is difficult to say why they were sent. However, there are a few personal cables that are nothing more than declarations of love. The majority of the cables come from Cruise IV, 1914-1917, and Cruise VI, 1919-1921.

Series 2: Aerial Navigation, 1918-1919, 1922, 1925

This series consists of correspondence, reports, observations and maps related to Ault's work on developing an effective method of aerial navigation for the Army in 1918. The materials are arranged chronologically.

Series 3: Articles and Reports, 1908, 1920-23, 1929

This series contains reports and articles written by Ault describing the particulars of his trips both on land and sea. They are arranged chronologically.

Series 4: Journals, 1908, 1915-1920, 1922-1923, 1925-1926

This series consists of personal journals kept by Ault. They are arranged in chronological order. They are very sparse in detail with many blank dates, and other dates that contain only one of two words of description. Probably the most interesting journal is from 1908 and covers Ault's trip in Canada taking magnetic observations.

Series 5: Photos and Albums, 1905-1916, 1919-1921, 1924?, 1927?, 1928-1929, n.d.

This series contains loose photographs and photograph albums. In many cases, the photographs were taken by Ault during his time with CIW. The loose photographs are often not labeled and consist of shots of Ault's personal and professional life. The albums serve to document Ault's travels for CIW for the years 1905-1916 including photographs taken at sea as well as photographs from locations such as the Easter Island, (list a few others). They are generally well labeled and in chronological order. Many of the photographs in the albums are duplicates of the photographs in found in the Department's expedition records.

Series 5, Subseries 1: Albums, 1909-1916

This subseries consists of albums that Ault kept of his travels for Carnegie. Most of the pictures are labeled. There are three albums covering the years from 1905-1916 and are arranged chronologically.

Series 5, Subseries 2: Loose Photos, 1914-1916, 1919-1921, 1927(?), n.d.

This subseries consists of loose photos that show scenes from Ault's personal and professional life. The series is contained in three flat document boxes. There was no discernable original order and in many cases it is impossible to determine the subject, location or time of the photo. This was especially difficult for the personal photos. The professional photos depict life on the "Carnegie". Many of these were duplicates of photos found in albums and could be provisionally assigned to a particular cruise of the "Carnegie". The photographs were placed in photograph sleeves with the CIW photographs followed by family candids and portraits. One recognizable series of photos shows the Ault family posing for Christmas photographs on board the "Carnegie".

Series 6: Ephemera, [ca. 1905-1930], 1955

This series contains ephemera collected by Ault and his wife during his life. It is split into two subseries: Carnegie Ephemera and Personal Ephemera. The series contain a wide range of materials from pressed flowers, saved stamps, hymns, articles, children's artwork, calendars, receipts and menus. The series is contained in one letter-sized document box.

Series 6, Subseries 1: Carnegie Ephemera, 1914, 1920-1922, 1928-1930

This subseries consists of ephemeral materials (such as?) directly related to the Carnegie Institution, the "Carnegie" research vessel, or the death of Captain Ault, such as Carnegie dinner menus, exhibit announcements, and clippings.

Series 6, Subseries 2: Personal Ephemera, [ca. 1905-1929], 1955

This subseries consists of assorted ephemera collect by unknown Aults, presumably primarily J.P. Ault and Mamie Ault. It contains articles, programs, stamps, pressed flowers, poetry, menus, meeting minutes, blank postcards and art and school work by the Ault children.

Series 7: Clippings, ca. 1914-1930

This series consists of clippings about the Carnegie Institution, the "Carnegie" research vessel and other assorted other topics. It is arranged in chronological order.
Folder Listing

Series 1: Correspondence, 1904-1957, Bulk 1904-1929

Series 5: Photographs and Albums, 1905-1929, n.d.

Series 6: Ephemera, ca. 1905-1955, Bulk ca. 1905-1930

Subject Terms

Topics: Carnegie (Ship), Scientific Expeditions, Geophysics, Geomagnetism

Occupation: Geophysicist

Corporate Names: Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism

Personal names: Ault, Mamie Totten

Locations

Forms: Photographs, correspondence, photograph albums

Related bibliography

Paul, J. Harland, The Last Cruise of the Carnegie, Baltimore, Williams and Wilkins Company, 1932.