Ah, the sea. His credentials are mind-boggling. Executive director of the Vancouver Maritime Museum, author of more than 30 books, host of National Geographic’s TV series The Sea Hunters, goodwill ambassador for all things nautical, Jim Delgado has packed more adventure into his 48 years than most people would dream of doing in a lifetime, and this illustrious career has led to his dream job: diving and exploring shipwrecks worldwide. The oldest of three siblings, Delgado caught the history bug bite at 10 years old: this young archeologist horrified his mother when she found him scrubbing a skull clean in the family bathtub; a construction site near his home near Federal Way, Washington had unearthed some ancient remains. Through his high school years, Delgado spent all his time in other digs and hung around construction sites, mapping and sketching. At the age of 14, a local newspaper published an article about him titled “Young Man in A Hurry.” At the age of 20, while majoring in history at San Jose State University, Delgado signed up with the National Parks Service (NPS) as a personnel clerk but first day on the job, his boss discovered that Delgado had already written a book on a local heritage home (at the age of 18), had worked in museums since he was aged14, and was immediately promoted to Assistant to the Regional Historian. His parents were horrified, thinking he wouldn’t finish school. They needn’t have worried. Delgado came from a family with a tradition of public service and strong sense of community—which also influenced his career path—and he wasn’t about to do anything rash. At 20 years-old, he had a BA, a wife and a baby. His Dad asked him when he was going to stop and smell the roses. Then came his Eureka moment: Delgado was looking for an apartment in the San Francisco Bay area and stumbled upon the shipwreck Nianta, uncovered from construction. “I’ve seen the power of what can come out of the ground,” he says.He was hooked. Delgado began an underwater archeology program for the Park Service and learned how to dive. Fast forward to 1984. The chief historian of the NPS called and asked if he could develop standards for assessing shipwrecks nationwide and inventory every historical ship and wreck. But it meant relocating to Washington. “This wasn’t a popular decision. I was on the road for nine months out of every year and combined with marrying too young, it ultimately led to divorce. My son is autistic and that puts real strains on a relationship. My wife was isolated, away from family and friends. ”I became the acting maritime historian for the entire US park service,” says Delgado. “I visited every historic ship, maritime museum and lighthouse in the country, and interacted with so many people. Being a hands-on kind of guy, I showed up when a crew was refitting an Arctic schooner. I helped install a stove in a historic ship, brought a six pack to the workers, sat down and talked to them about sailing and ships. And that is the fun of it all. But it was mostly the shipwreck work I loved-- deep, challenging dives,” he says. (Delgado dived 2.5 miles in a sub to the Titanic and has repeatedly dived to 200 feet.) But after 13 years with the NPS and a full time job with a pension he resigned. “I had done everything I said I could,” says Delgado. His family was horrified. “They said, ‘How could you walk away from a federal job?’ ” “The only thing left was to be superintendent of a provincial park but I didn’t want to do that – the siren song of the sea was still playing in my heart. And, although I was the ‘Maritime Lone Ranger ‘, I wanted to devote myself to one thing.” He didn’t have long to wait. A head hunter, hired by the Vancouver Maritime Museum, phoned and asked if Delgado could recommend a director. “I asked him if I could throw in my resume. In April 1991 I showed up as Director and had to learn a lot, fast…My family was horrified that I was moving to another country.” “I had my nose to the grindstone the first few years,” he says. During his 15 year tenure, Delgado more than doubled the Museum’s acquisitions through his negotiating skills, raised its profile to international status and strengthened its reputation. He built new partnerships and increased funding. Delgado also curated many popular exhibits at the Museum: Titanic: Here and Now, Pirates!, and Shipwreck! plus exhibitions on the Hudson’s Bay Company’s maritime activities on the west coast and a nod to Ancient China’s Mariners, just to name a few. As well, Delgado found time to organize the reenactment of the St. Roch voyage of the Northwest Passage (the museum’s centerpiece exhibit) which led him to write an expedition diary for the Vancouver Sun. “Right after the expedition I was invited to join the Titanic expedition and share my knowledge of shipwrecks and ships – when you have all these former jobs, sometimes it just comes together,” he says, smiling. And from that, he went on to co- host 37 episodes of the National Geographic’s TV series The Sea Hunters. And he also found the time to return to school. Delgado will graduate from Simon Fraser University with a PhD in archeology this June, 2006. “I work for people, no matter if I am a TV host or museum director,” adds Delgado. One reason he loved working at the museum was “To see children’s smiling faces as they stood enthralled in the tugboat in the Alcan Children’s Maritime Discovery Centre, “ or to share with scholars rare photographs and documents in the Chung Library… Delgado could have left sooner, but “needed to get the museum into this position.” Which also meant finding a new home for the aging facility. Last year he was instrumental in finding a new location in North Vancouver and the museum board announced plans for construction of a National Maritime Centre. Delgado will vacate his office at the Vancouver Maritime Museum, “Just below the high tide line,” June 30th. The very next day he joins the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) as its executive director. Although he will remain in B.C. and possibly remain on the Museum’s board of directors, Delgado will travel the globe to raise awareness, find new projects and fundraise for INA. “I’m going to miss a lot of this job, and I’m going to miss the staff and volunteers the most,” he says. Delgado is still a young man in a hurry. |