doi:10.7916/d8-7jp1-gy89Oral history interview with W. Arnold Finck 1997Finck, W. Arnold, 1920-2016oral historiessound recordingssound recording - nonmusicalFinck, W. Arnold, 1920-2016Columbia UniversityLamont-Doherty Earth ObservatoryVema (Ship)Childhood: Grand View, New York; army service, Antigua, Coolidge Field; New York Life Insurance Company auditing department; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory [LDEO] business department, 1951- early 1980s: LDEO establishment, local residents’ reactions, grounds, social life, payroll, government funding, grant system, director’s house; Nature Conservatory interaction; fund diversification: Office of Naval Research, National Science Foundation, Atomic Energy Commission, Lamont family founding Industrial Associates; Project Sunshine radiation testing; sea pay policy, Vema acquistion; Vetlesen Foundation funding, travel office establishment; Columbia University [CU] funding, Doherty Foundation gift; LDEO publications; LDEO and CU split speculation, 1960s; Palisades Geophysical Institute founding; LDEO foundation set-up; government auditing; directorship changes; International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958.