The personal library of Nathaniel Bowditch encompasses works on mathematics, astronomy, and navigation. Among the treasures of the collection are early editions by such scientific luminaries as Galileo, Newton, and LaPlace; numerous treatises on comets and sundials; long runs of scientific periodicals; and, of course, Bowditch's own manuscripts.

This account of Thomas Godfrey was prepared "with a view of having it inserted in Rees Cyclopedia," and is preceded by an essay concerning Godfrey and his quadrant taken from the "American Magazine" (1758). Also included in this volume is a copy of James Logan's communication to the Royal Society, and a letter from Spencer to Alexander Wilson, editor of the "Cyclopedia" (1809), which discusses Godfrey and the sources for this account.

Crary covered a variety of topics in this oral history including seismic and geologic explorations, oceanography and geophysics; oil exploration in Colombia and Venezuela; early Loran and Sofar; Maurice Ewing; air acoustics and balloons; Alamogordo; Arctic and Antarctic glaciologly; International Geophysical Year.