Documents

On Display Now

The National Archives’ Featured Documents are a rotating selection of remarkable documents currently on display at the National Archives Museum. These documents offer a unique glimpse into the pivotal moments and personalities that have defined our American experience. Explore the stories behind these historical documents and gain a deeper understanding of their significance, available for you to view online.

The War Beneath the Waves: Mary Sears and the Navy’s Oceanographic Unit

During World War II, navigating the Pacific Ocean’s perilous tides and currents posed a constant challenge to the U.S. Navy. To update their maps and intelligence, the Navy established an Oceanographic Unit in 1943. The team of scientists was led by Mary Sears, a marine biologist commissioned as a lieutenant junior grade in the women’s division of the Naval Reserve, the WAVES.

The War Beneath the Waves: Mary Sears and the Navy’s Oceanographic Unit

During World War II, navigating the Pacific Ocean's perilous tides and currents posed a constant challenge to the U.S. Navy. To update their maps and intelligence, the Navy established an Oceanographic Unit in 1943. The team of scientists was led by Mary Sears, a marine biologist commissioned as a lieutenant junior grade in the women’s division of the Naval Reserve, the WAVES.