From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

Granville Stanley Hall was born in 1846 at Ashfield, Mass., and graduated from Williams College in 1867. After teaching at Antioch and Harvard and studying psychology in Germany, Hall organized a psychological laboratory at Johns Hopkins in 1882. Soon becoming a leader in his field, he founded the "American Journal of Psychology" in 1887; authored numerous books and articles, and served as first President of Clark University 1889 to 1920. He died in 1924.

(YAG - 40: dp. 11,600; l. 442'; b. 57'; dr. 28'; s. 10 k.; cpl. 8 to 15)

Granville S. Hall (YAG-40), a Liberty ship, was launched under Maritime Commission contract 24 October 1944 by J. A. Jones Construction Co., Inc., Panama City, Fla.; sponsored by Mrs. Isabelle Gabriel; and placed in service in October 1944 for Coast-Wise Lines. She operated as a general merchant cargo vessel until entering the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Calif., June 1952.

Taken out of reserve in May 1953, Granville S. Hall was transferred to the Navy and designated YAG 40. The ship was fitted out with scientific instruments of all kinds, including nuclear detection and measurement devices. These enabled her to explore fallout areas and carry out ship decontamination tests. Granville S. Hall was also equipped with remote control devices which allowed her to be operated by a small crew in a sealed hold, and thus making her able to explore fallout areas of heavy concentration.

Granville S. Hall operated in an "In service" category until 1957, taking part in Operation "Castle," atomic bomb tests March-May 1954 and other radioactivity and remote control tests designed to enrich the Navy's and mankind's knowledge of these scientific areas. She was placed in the San Diego Reserve Fleet in late 1957.

The ship was reactivated in May 1962 and commissioned 20 October 1962, at Triple A Machine Shop, San Francisco, Calif., Lt. Comdr. H. W. Kepler in command. With her sister ship, George Eastman, she arrived Pearl Harbor 24 November for underway training, and following completion resumed her scientific work. Since 1962 she has operated in waters off Hawaii carrying on experiments in ship protection and scientific warfare, and at present continues her vital role.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)