Suzanne Tully McCarthy was born in 1936 in Roanoke, Virginia. She is of English, Scottish, Northern European, Scandinavian, and Germanic descent, with her maternal grandparents, Emma Row Arbenz and Herman Leonard Arbenz, hailing from Wheeling, West Virginia. Her paternal grandparents were Mary Clarcia Jarrell and Richard Grant Tully, with roots in West Virginia and Virginia. Suzanne pursued her education in mathematics, earning a B.A. from the College of William and Mary in 1957. She furthered her studies with an M.S. in numerical analysis from Johns Hopkins University in 1975. Additionally, she took several courses in ocean studies from the US Department of Agriculture between 1959 and 1960. Her professional career began in July 1957 at the Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS) in the Tides and Currents Division, where she analyzed tide measurements and operated the tide-predicting machine. During her tenure at the C&GS, she was involved in a project concerning drift bottles, recording and summarizing the data from any retrieved bottle. She left the C&GS after the birth of her first child. Later in life, when her children were older, she worked for a defense contractor in Maryland. Suzanne has been married to William 'Pat' McCarthy since December 2, 1961, and they have three children.

Scope and Content Note
Session 1 - August 2, 2023: This interview provides a detailed account of McCarthy's early life, family history, and personalexperiences. McCarthy was born in 1936 in Roanoke, Virginia. She describes her family history, focusing primarily on her mother's side. McCarthy's maternal lineage includes German, Swiss, and English roots, with her grandfather being an English orphan who immigrated to the United States during the Civil War. McCarthy also discusses her experiences growing up as an only child and the impact of her mother's single parenthood on her upbringing. The interview also touches on McCarthy's education and her decision not to attend Smith College, despite it being part of her initial plan. She discusses the lack of guidance in her decision-making process and her eventual choice to stay closer to home for her education. 

Session 2 - August 8, 2023: This interview covers a wide range of topics related to McCarthy's personal life, educational background, and professional experiences. The interview begins with a discussion about McCarthy's mother's involvement with the Art Students League in New York, a prestigious group known for producing famous artists. McCarthy shares that her mother worked for designer Walter Dorwin Teague and later pursued painting, with some of her works still in McCarthy's possession. McCarthy's early life in Greenwich Village, New York, is also explored. She attended PS 41 and lived on 13th Street, the northern border of Greenwich Village. She shares her experiences as a child in the area, including attending art classes at a local Macy's store, participating in the Brownie Scouts, and attending various events such as the circus and a radio show performance. The interview also delves into McCarthy's college years, including her experiences with math professors at William and Mary. McCarthy's summer experiences during college are discussed, including her work for the local Richmond power company, Vepco, and her family's annual trips to Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Suzanne also discusses her early years and experience with the Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Session 3 - August 16, 2023: This interview provides a detailed account of the operations and organizational structure of the Tides and Currents Branch of the Oceanography Division prior to its reorganization into the Marine Data Division in 1960. Suzanne shares their experiences working in the division, including her interactions with other branches and divisions and the physical layout of the offices. She also discusses the use of the Tide Predicting Machine No. 2, also known as "Old Brass Brains," and the challenges associated with its operation. Suzanne mentions the importance of calibration and the potential impact of environmental factors such as temperature and humidity on the machine's performance. The interview also touches on the division's relationships with other entities, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, the Navy Hydrologic Office, and the National Academy of Sciences. The interview also delves into the personal histories of some of the division's employees, including World War II veterans and those who benefited from the GI Bill. Suzanne also discusses the leadership of Dr. Stewart, who may have been a catalyst for the division's reorganization. Overall, this interview provides valuable insights into the workings of the Tides and Currents Branch during a period of significant change and development in the field of oceanography.