Encyclopedia of Exploration [Parts 2 & 3: 1800 to 1850 and 1850 to 1940] by Raymond John Howgego

Encyclopedia of Exploration [Part 2:] 1800 to 1850

CONTENTS:

Introduction vii-x
      General Organization and Content
      Bibliographies
      World Exploration 1800-1850
      Acknowledgments
Alphabetical entries 1-671
Index to Persons 673-685
Index of Ships 686-690

BALLENY, John (.75)
BARNARD, John (.25)
BELLINGSHAUSEN, Faddei Faddeevich (1.25)
BISCOE, John (1.25)
BRISBANE, Matthew (.75)
DAVIS, John (.5)
DECAEN, Rene-Marie (.5)
DUMONT D'URVILLE, Jules Sébastien César (5.25)
ENDERBY BROTHERS (1.5)
FANNING, Edmund (.5)
FOSTER, Henry (.75)
HERRING, Joseph (.5)
HOOKER, Sir Joseph Dalton (1.5)
KEMP, Peter (2.5)
LAZAREV, Mikhail Petrovich (.5)
LYALL, David (.5)
MORRELL, Benjamin (1)
PALMER, Nathaniel Brown (1.5)
PEALE, Titian Ramsay (.5)
REYNOLDS, Jeremiah N. (1.25)
ROSS, James Clark (2.25)
SHEFFIELD, James (.5)
SMITH, William (1.75)
WEDDELL, James (2)
WILKES, Charles (2)

SUMMARY

See below under the same title, Part 3.

CONTENTS:

Introduction vii-x
General Organization and Content
Bibliographies
Exploration in the Oceans, Islands and Polar Regions from 1850
Aerial Exploration
Sources and Acknowledgments
Alphabetical entries 1-703
Index to Persons 705-717
Index of Regional, Island and General Articles 718
Index of Ships, Boats, Aeroplanes and Airships 719-724

AMUNDSEN, Roald Engelbregt Gravning (nearly 3 pages)
Antarctic Exploration: historical overview (5-1/2 pages)
Auckland Islands (2 pages)
BORCHGREVINK, Carsten Egeberg (3-1/2 pages)
BRUCE, William Speirs (3+ pages)
BULL, Henryk Johan (1-1/2 pages)
BYRD, Richard Evelyn (4-1/4 pages)
Campbell Island (1 page)
CHARCOT, Jean Baptiste Etienne Auguste (3-1/2 pages)
COOPER, Mercator (1/2 page)
COPE, John Lachlan (1-1/2 pages)
Crozet Islands (1 page)
DALLMANN, Eduard (1 page)
DRYGALSKI, Erich Dagobert von (2 pages)
DUNDEE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION (1-1/2 pages)
ELLSWORTH, Lincoln (2 pages)
FILCHNER, Wilhelm (1-1/2+)
GERLACHE DE GOMERY, Adrien Victor Joseph de (6 pages)
Heard Island (3/4 page)
Kerguelen Island (1-1/4 page)
LARSEN, Carl Anton (1-1/2 pages)
Macquarie Island (3/4 page)
MARKHAM, Clements Robert (2-1/2+ pages)
MAWSON, Douglas (10 pages)
NORDENSKJÖLD, Nils Otto Gustafv (4-1/2 pages)
RIISER-LARSEN, Hjalmar (1 page)
RYMILL, John Riddoch (2 pages)
SCOTT, Robert Falcon (19 pages)
SHACKLETON, Ernest Henry (16+ pages)
SHIRASE, Nobu (2 pages)
South Georgia (2-1/2 pages)
THOMSON, Charles Wyville (1/2 page)
WILKINS, George Hubert (2-1/2 pages)
WISTING, Oscar (1-1/4 pages)
WORDIE, James Mann (1 page)

CONTENTS:

Introduction ix-xv
General Organization
Indexing of Personal Names
Place Names
Ships
Bibliographies
World Exploration in 1800
Sources and Acknowledgments
Alphabetical entries 1-1,136
Index to Persons 1,137-63
Index of Ships 1,164-68

AMUNDSEN, Roald Engelbregt Gravning (nearly 3 pages)
Antarctic Exploration: historical overview (5-1/2 pages)
Auckland Islands (2 pages)
BORCHGREVINK, Carsten Egeberg (3-1/2 pages)
BRUCE, William Speirs (3+ pages)
BULL, Henryk Johan (1-1/2 pages)
BYRD, Richard Evelyn (4-1/4 pages)
Campbell Island (1 page)
CHARCOT, Jean Baptiste Etienne Auguste (3-1/2 pages)
COOPER, Mercator (1/2 page)
COPE, John Lachlan (1-1/2 pages)
Crozet Islands (1 page)
DALLMANN, Eduard (1 page)
DRYGALSKI, Erich Dagobert von (2 pages)
DUNDEE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION (1-1/2 pages)
ELLSWORTH, Lincoln (2 pages)
FILCHNER, Wilhelm (1-1/2+)
GERLACHE DE GOMERY, Adrien Victor Joseph de (6 pages)
Heard Island (3/4 page)
Kerguelen Island (1-1/4 page)
LARSEN, Carl Anton (1-1/2 pages)
Macquarie Island (3/4 page)
MARKHAM, Clements Robert (2-1/2+ pages)
MAWSON, Douglas (10 pages)
NORDENSKJÖLD, Nils Otto Gustafv (4-1/2 pages)
RIISER-LARSEN, Hjalmar (1 page)
RYMILL, John Riddoch (2 pages)
SCOTT, Robert Falcon (19 pages)
SHACKLETON, Ernest Henry (16+ pages)
SHIRASE, Nobu (2 pages)
South Georgia (2-1/2 pages)
THOMSON, Charles Wyville (1/2 page)
WILKINS, George Hubert (2-1/2 pages)
WISTING, Oscar (1-1/4 pages)
WORDIE, James Mann (1 page)

SUMMARY

What's immediately obvious is that this 3-volume set is beautifully produced. The paper, binding, design, printing and presentation are all of high quality. With regard to these points it far surpasses the other titles which are serviceable but not overly handsome. It's a pleasure to hold these volumes.

Possibly the most impressive thing about this effort (apparently a 4th volume is planned) is that it's been undertaken by one person and not a stable of contributors.

The writing is elegant and a joy to read. I personally don't care for the way dates are presented (e.g. "On 23.11.35 Ellsworth and. . .") but that is small point. One very often comes upon facts that don't appear in any of the other titles. In just one example, who knew that Richard Byrd "had come face to face with bandits in the Philippines"?

Unlike some titles, the entries on people do not concentrate just on the Antarctic portion of their lives, but give details on what came before and after, making for a far fuller and more interesting entry.

The volumes are large and heavy and the text somewhat smaller than the other volumes but this doesn't seem to hinder their use. They easily lie flat.

The entries are generally longer than in other titles (nearly 2-1/2 pages per average entry) and the persons or subjects treated are necessarily more selective, although many persons and subjects are mentioned in the entries for others and can be found using the indexes.

The lack of maps or illustratons may be considered a disadvantage by some. On the other hand, it has been possible to include more text by leaving them out.

Although not in itself a disadvantage, the fact that the coverage not only includes the Arctic but the rest of the world, means that there is more material here than the typical Antarctican will want or need.

It would be nice to have an electronic version of some sort. The only title that offers this option is MILLS.

Unlike most of the other titles, there is no supplementary material such as an exploration timeline which would be useful and not difficult to produce.

The bibliographies at the end of each entry are thorough and comprehensive and far more extensive than any other title. The first entry in the ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW section is Aagaard's Fangst og forskning i Sydishavet which is largely unknown, in Norwegian and very scarce—but also one of the great works of Antarctic scholarship. Few errors in the bibliographic entries jumped out at me. Bob Headland's Chronological List is mentioned, specifically the second edition of 2005. That's wishful thinking! Bob is still carrying around the galleys and still is having 'problems' with maps.

The entry for Frederick Cook has him attending the College of Physicians and Surgeons which is part of Columbia University not New York University. A small and unimportant point. Without having read most of the entries, it's hard to know how frequently one would come upon errors, but my hunch is that it would be rare.

Exploring Polar Frontiers; A Historical Encyclopedia by William James Mills

Exploring Polar Frontiers; A Historical Encyclopedia

Vol I
      Contents (Entries in Alphabetical Order by Volume) v-x
      Entries Listed in Chronological Order xi-xviii
      Entries Listed by Category xix-xxii
      Maps (20 outline maps in black and white) xxiii
      Introduction xlv-xlvi
      Alphabetical entries A-L 1-388
Vol II
      Contents (Entries in Alphabetical Order by Volume) v-x
      Alphabetical entries M-Z 389-723
      Glossary 725-730
      Polar Timeline: A Chronological Listing of Polar Expeditions by Region 731-739
      Selected Bibliography 741-767
      Index 769-795
      About the Author 797

Description:

Covers the entire history of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, from the voyage of Pytheas ca. 325 B.C. to the present, in one convenient, comprehensive reference resource.

The next decade will see centennial celebrations marking the heroic age of the great polar explorers: Robert Falcon Scott, Roald Amundsen, and Sir Ernest Shackleton. From Pytheas's voyage to the Arctic Circle in 325 B.C. to Børge Ousland's solo crossing of the Arctic Ocean in 2001, the history of our quest to conquer the poles is filled with tales of courage, inspiration, tragedy, and triumph.

Exploring Polar Frontiers: A Historical Encyclopedia is the only reference work that provides a comprehensive history of polar exploration from the ancient period through the present day. The author is a noted polar scholar and offers dramatic accounts of all major explorers and their expeditions, together with separate exploration histories for specific islands, regions, and uncharted waters. He presents a wealth of fascinating information under a variety of subject entries including methods of transport, myths, achievements, and record-breaking activities.

By approaching polar exploration biographically, geographically, and topically, Mills reveals a number of intriguing connections between the various explorers, their patrons and times, and the process of discovery in all areas of the polar regions. Furthermore, he provides the reader with a clear understanding of the intellectual climate as well as the dominant social, economic, and political forces surrounding each expedition. Readers will learn why the journeys were undertaken, not just where, when, and how.

Title Features

• 511 A-Z biographical, geographical, and subject entries on polar exploration such as dogs, man-hauling, Elephant Island, South Georgia, and major explorers such as Sir John Franklin, Fridtjof Nansen, and Richard Byrd

• Extensive collection of photographs, many taken by expedition participants

• Vivid illustrations, including woodcuts and drawings

• 20 maps detailing Arctic and Antarctic regions

• Chronology of expeditions beginning with the voyage of Pytheas in 325 B.C. through the present

Highlights

• The only title to tell the stories of all major polar expeditions, Arctic and Antarctic

• Numerous great stories, many that rival Roald Amundsen's journey to the South Pole and Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance voyage

• Examines the intellectual, social, economic, and political forces surrounding each expedition."

Source: www.abc-clio.com

SUMMARY

When I first obtained a copy of this title and consulted it a few times I concluded that it really wasn't very helpful. I seemed to seldom find what I was looking for. I've since concluded otherwise.

Like HOWGEGO, MILLS has fewer entries than some titles but they are longer, nearly as long as HOWGEGO (an average of 2.23 pages versus 2.47). So it's not particularly suitable for quickly looking up some fact like the spelling or a name or a birthdate.

The author sadly died shortly after the book appeared (he was the librarian at Scott Polar Research Institure). Comments have been made that some errors weren't caught in the rush to publication. Without reading it through I can't attest to this. (One I came upon was incorrectly locating the East Hampton Library in Connecticut rather than on Long Island, NewYork. Another: It's Henryk Bull not Henrik.)

The Timeline in Vol II is not particularly useful although the concept is fine: Dates on one side and geographic region along the top. But the entries themselves are merely last names with no commentary (e.g. Cooper alone rather than Mercator Cooper, first documented landing on the Antarctic continent). The 'Entries Listed in Chronological Order' in Vol I is more useful as some descriptive information is included.

The Advisory Committee and Contributors are all knowledgeable. Entries by the Contributors are signed but these are not numerous so most of what appears was apparently the work of William Mills.

The few black and white illustrations are generally well-selected and complement the text well.

The 'Selected Bibliography' is lengthy and comprehensive.

Encyclopedia of the Antarctic edited by Beau Riffenburgh

Vol I

vii Advisory Board
ix-xviii Contributors
xix-xxi Introduction (Beau Riffenburgh)
How to use this book
Acknowledgments
xxiii-xxix List of Entries A-Z
xxxi- Thematic List of Entries

Atmosphere and Climate
Birds
Conservation and Human Impact
Geography
Geology
Glaciology
History, Exploration, and History of Science
Marine Biology
Marine Mammals
Oceanography
Research Programs, International Organizations, Atlantic Treaty System
Sea Ice
Solar-Terrestrial Physics and Astronomy
Technology and Transport
Terrestrial Biology and Limnology

xxxvii Map of Antarctica
xxxix Map of the Antarctic Peninsula
1-579 Alphabetical entries A-K
1-86 Index (covers both volumes)

Vol II

vii Advisory Board (same as in Vol I)
ix-xviii Contributors (same as in Vol I)
xix-xxi Introduction (Beau Riffenburgh) (same as in Vol I)
How to use this book
Acknowledgments
xxiii-xxix List of Entries A-Z (same as in Vol I)
xxxi- Thematic List of Entries (same as in Vol I)

Atmosphere and Climate
Birds
Conservation and Human Impact
Geography
Geology
Glaciology
History, Exploration, and History of Science
Marine Biology
Marine Mammals
Oceanography
Research Programs, International Organizations, Atlantic Treaty System
Sea Ice
Solar-Terrestrial Physics and Astronomy
Technology and Transport
Terrestrial Biology and Limnology

xxxvii Map of Antarctica (same as in Vol I)
xxxix Map of the Antarctic Peninsula (same as in Vol I)
581-1108 Alphabetical entries L-Z
1109-14 Appendix I: Chronology of Antarctic Exploration
1115-18 Appendix II: The Antarctic Treaty
1119-21 Appendix III: Signatories to the Antarctic Treaty
1123 Appendix IV: SCAR Code of Conduct for Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes in Antarctica
1125-33 Appendix V: Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
1135 Appendix VI: Scientific Research Stations in the Antarctic Region
1137 Appendix VII: Antarctic Academic Journals
1139-46 Maps (17 in all)
1-86 Index (covers both volumes)

Aviation, History of (extensive)
Christensen Antarctic Expeditions (1927-1937). Extensive treatments of little known expeditions (5 pages)
All the national scientific programs and stations are described.
Photography, History of in the Antarctic (2.75 pages)
Ponies and Mules (2.25 pages)
Protected Areas Within the Antarctic Treaty Area (12 pages)
Sealing, History of (2.25 pages)
Whaling, History of (3.75 pages)

H.J.P. Arnold
Philip Ayres
Susan Barr
Bjørn Basberg
Tim Baughman
David Burke
Bob Burton
G.E. Fogg
Bill Fox
Rai Goerler
David Harrowfield
T.J. Jacka
Michael Rosove
Jeff Rubin
Ann Savours
Michael Smith
Peter Speak
Bernard Stonehouse
John Thomson
David W.H. Walton

SUMMARY

This title—the newest of the lot—has a lot in common with MILLS. The overall design, look and feel are very similar (2 volumes, binding, page layout.) There are almost no illustrations, however.

For Antarcticans, the advantage of this title is that it's exclusively Antarctic.

This title has more entries (of an historical/cultural nature, that is) than either HOWGEGO or MILLS but less than the others. The average length of these entries is 1.8 pages. The historical/cultural entries make up approximately 20% of the book The Contributors are numerous and impressive; among the leading lights of their respective fields. The list stretches over 10 pages.

Although the historical/cultural side of Antarctic exploration is certainly covered well, it is the scientific side of things that is the focus of this title. This makes it unlike the other titles.

The Appendices are useful although mainly to the scientific user.

The Chronology of Antarctic Exploration is excellent, beginning in 1487 and ending with the IGY 1957-58. It focuses exclusively on expeditions and voyages and includes is the date, name of the expedition or voyage, the leader, the name(s) of the ship(s) and the accompishments.

My biggest complaint with the set is it's price: $425, the highest price of any of the titles discussed here.

Being the newest title, there should be an electronic version but apparently not.

Antarctica; An Encyclopedia by John Stewart

Vol I

vii Foreword (Sir Edmund Hillary)
ix Table of Contents
xi-xiv Preface
xv-xviii A Capsule History
xix-xx A Note on Alphabetization
xxi-xxii Abbreviations
1-597 Alphabetical entries A-L

Vol II

v Table of Contents (same as in Vol I)
598-1132 Alphabetical entries M-Z
1133-1160 Chronology (1502-1990)
1161-1172 Expeditions
1173-1193 Bibliography

Aerial photography
Airplanes
Automobiles
Balloons
Births in Antarctica
Churches
Deaths in Antarctica
Disasters
Dogs
Food
Helicopters
Historic Huts
Landings
Mapping of Antarctica
Movies
Mysteries
Recreation
Sanitation
Sledges
Southing records
Stamps
Tractors

SUMMARY

STEWART's two-volume encyclopedia was the first one to appear (1990) and for a quick reference, it remains the most handy. Why? Well, the actual volumes are smaller and more easily handled and pulled off the shelf to look up something without a lot of fuss. But undoubtedly, it's biggest attribute is the number of entries: too many to actually count but by counting a typical ten pages and multiplying, I come up with 14,000 entries. (The runner up is STONEHOUSE with only 260.) This, of course, means the entries are noticeably shorter than the competition: less than a tenth of a page (the shortest in the group) versus about 2-1/2 pages for the longest entry (HOWGEGO). But the shortness of the entries serves a purpose here: fast reference.

The number of entries has the advantage of upping ones chances when looking something up. Although the answer may lurk in a larger entry in one of the other encyclopedias, one has to hunt for it. In STEWART, it's usually there, alphabetically, easy to find. Some have pointed out that STEWART isn't always absolutely accurate.

Like RIFFENBURGH, STONEHOUSE and TREWBY, it's exclusively Antarctic.

Like HOWGEGO and TREWBY, this effort is almost exculsively the work of one person. That's neither good nor bad, but it certainly is impressive.

Some have said that STEWART has lots of errors. Yes, I have found some: in the entry for the British Imperial Transantarctic Expedition (Endurance), Stewart says Shackleton, Crean and Worsley showed up "at an astonished Grytviken" when, of course, it was Stomness (p. 134). Albert Armitage's middle initial is B not P (p. 40). Gregory is noted on p. 408 as "director of the civilian staff" on Scott's Discovery expedition. He was appointed to head up the scientific staff, but resigned once he learned he would be serving under Scott and thus never actually was on the expedition. On p. 248, Edwin De Haven, a member of the US Exploring Expedition, is entered as Edmund H. De Haven. And on page 429, the steward on the Discovery was Clarence not Charles Hare. Minor errors for the most part, but after awhile as they creep up, one has to be somewhat cautious.

There are some interesting subject entries (see the listing above), more than any of the other encyclopedias offer.

Both the Chronology, Expeditions and Bibliography sections at the end of Vol II are lengthy and comprehensive. Together they total 61 pages. Pretty impressive quantitatively.

NOTE: The author e-mails to say that he's underway on a new version of his encyclopedia.

Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans edited B. Stonehouse

[vii] List of Advisory Editors
[ix] List of Contributors
[xi]-xii Introduction (by Bernard Stonehouse)
[1]-297 Alphabetical entries
298-301 Appendix A. Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora
302-306 Appendix B. Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals
307-314 Appendix C. Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
315-335 Appendix D. Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
336-339 Text of the Antarctic Treaty
340-344 Further Reading
345-347 Study Guide: Climate and Life
348-353 Study Guide: Exploration
354-357 Study Guide: Geography
358-359 Study Guide: Geology and Glaciology
360-363 Study Guide: Information Services
364-368 Study Guide: National Interests in Antarctica
369-373 Study Guide: Protected Area under the Antarctic Treaty
374-377 Study Guide: Southern Oceans and Islands
378-391 A-Z Listing of Encyclopedia Entries

Klaus Dodds
Robert K. Headland

Klaus Dodds
Robert K. Headland
William Mills

SUMMARY

This effort by Bernard Stonehouse will, I would suggest, be usurped by the more recent and more comprehensive RIFFENBURGH. There's some similarity in approach: a large number of contributors with entries pulled together by an editor, as opposed to HOWGEGO and STEWART, for instance, which are the work of single authors.

A plus is that next to STEWART, this encyclopedia has the largest number of 'historical/cultural' entries, 260. The next largest occurs in TREWBY. These two are also the shortest in overall length and the only single-volume titles. In other words, the entries are relatively numerous but not very lengthy and comprehensive.

The Study Guides at the back are perhaps useful for students. They are essentially summaries of the encyclopedia by subject area with entry titles in bold for referencing. For me, the Study Guide on Exploration is a useful summary.

The production is straightforward enough but rather boring as far as the design, typography and maps and illustrations are concerned.

The main criticism that can be levelled at the title is its cost which at $425 is far more than it should be. That's the same price as the newer and far bulkier RIFFENBURGH. Fortunately I was able to get a mint secondhand copy for $177 which is still a lot to pay.

Antarctica. An Encyclopedia from Abbott Ice Shelf to Zooplankton edited by Mary Trewby

Antarctica. An Encyclopedia from Abbott Ice Shelf to Zooplankton

Contributing Editors [6]
Foreword (by Gillian Wratt, Chief Executive, New Zealand Antarctic Institute) 7
Map of Antarctica (Physical) 8-9
Map of Antarctica (Political) 10-11
Alphabetical entries 12-203
Photographic credits 203
Selected bibliography 204
Index 205-208

SUMMARY

Without question what jumps out about Mary Trewby's effort is the very affordable price, only $35, by far the lowest price of any of those included here. Given that alone, there's little reason not to purchase a copy.

The production is more attractive than some and included are some good photographs, both historical and modern and in color and black and white.

It's the shortest of the titles discussed, 192 pages versus the 1,374 of the two HOWGEGO volumes. But there are quite a few 'historical/cultural' entries (163) although their length average about a third of page (only STEWART's are shorter).

Some of the entries are disappointedly short of information. The one on Shackleton's Nimrod, for instance, says little more than that it was used by Shackleton and that it was towed by Koonya. Nothing about where or when it was built, how long it was, what happened to it, etc.

RECAP

HOWGEGO is unquestionably the most attractive and best produced, has the most detailed and best written entries and is the most impressive when it comes to what one person can accomplish. On the other hand, it's not exclusively polar.

The entries in MILLS are lengthier and more comprehensive than many of the others; both polar regions are included; and the price has come down. It is the only title that is also available in an electronic version.

RIFFENBURGH is the newest of the lot and tied for first on price: $425. Only the Antarctic is dealt with. A good combination of science oriented entries and historical/cultural. Will probably be the standard Antarctic encyclopedia for some time.

STEWART has the advantage of having far and above the most entries and they are all Antarctic oriented. For quick reference, it's the one to have close at hand. Perhaps more errors have crept in than with the other titles.

STONEHOUSE is possibly the one to skip mainly because it's the same high price as the newer RIFFENBURGH and is far less comprehensive.

It's hard to turn up TREWBY. If it were $150 or $100, one could do without it; but at $35, it belongs on all Antarcticans' shelves.