Antarcticana

 

From the Collection of

Robert Stephenson

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUIDE TO ITEMS DISPLAYED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jaffrey Civic Center

June 1-28, 2012

CASE A: Captain Roald Amundsen

[Amundsen, with his companions, was the first to reach the South Pole in December of 1911.]

 

1. Bronze bust of Roald Amundsen by the Norwegian-American sculptor, Trygve Hammer, c. 1930s. Purchased from Floyd T. McLaughlin, Ohio, in 1974.

 

2. Autographed black and white photographic portrait of Roald Amundsen. Purchased from F. P. Elwert, Vermont, in 1972.

 

- Amundsen and his fellow explorers at the South Pole, December 17, 1911.

 

- Although associated with the Arctic, this knife is too interesting not to include. Amundsen gave it to Lincoln Ellsworth who gave it to Beekman Pool of Dublin who, in turn, gave it to me. It was used by Amundsen and Ellsworth to flatten the ice so that their plane could take off from an ice floe and return them to Norway. It was probably made by Martin R¿nne who was a member of Amundsen's South Pole expedition and was also on Byrd's 1929 expedition.

 

3. Map Route of Captain R. Amundsen's South Polar Expedition 1911-1912. From the Geographical Journal, 1913. London: Royal Geographical Society. Purchased from the Map House, London, 1998.

 

4. Amundsen's account of  his South Polar expedition, The South Pole, first English edition, 1912. Purchased at auction in 1970 for $18!

 

5. Sydpolen; den Norske Sydpolsfaerd med Fram 1910-1912, first Norwegian edition, 1912. Purchased from Explorer Books, 2000.

 

- Norwegian stamps featuring Amundsen, 45 ore and 90 ore. Issued in 1961.

 

6. Two chestnuts from chestnut tree in the front yard of Amundsen's house in Svartskog, Norway. The tree was said to have been there during Amundsen's life.

 

7. South Polar Diamond Anniversary Medal issued by the Canterbury Museum, New Zealand, in 1971-1972. Scott appears on one side, Amundsen on the other. Purchased from Explorer Books, England, 1999.

 

8. Silver 5 Kroner Norwegian coin showing King Harald V on one side, Fram on other. Issued 1996.

 

9. Fram bowl. Unfortunately this is a reproduction purchased at the Fram Museum in Oslo.

 

 

 

 

CASE B - Captain Robert Falcon Scott I

[Scott, with his companions, reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912, only to find Amundsen's tent and learn that they had lost the "race."]

 

10. Color memorial lithograph of Captain Scott. A fine example of the outpouring of sentiment that followed the polar tragedy. Purchased at a Bob Finch auction, 1999.

 

11. One of a pair of Sheffield plate candlesticks owned by Captain Scott, with his crest. Purchased from Clive Farahar, England, 1986.

 

12. "Scott of the Antarctic' tea tin. Purchased on ebay, 2002.

 

13. Scott Memorial Medal, struck in bronze by the Royal Geographical Society for the members of the expedition. Purchased at auction, 1999.

 

14. Porcelain memorial statuette of Captain Scott with the seal of Hull.

Other English cities issued the same statuette. Purchased in England, 1999.

 

15. Scott's account of his first expedition. Voyage of Discovery, London, 1905. Purchased from Gaston Renard, 1971.

 

16. This first edition of Scott's Last Expedition, London 1913, is inscribed by Oriana Wilson, Edward A. Wilson's widow. He died with Scott on the return from the Pole. Purchased from Blackwells, 1970.

 

17. South Polar Times, London 1907 and 1914. During Scott's two expeditions, a "newspaper" was produced for the amusement of the expeditioners. The single typed copy was passed around for all to enjoy. Perhaps the chief attraction was Edward Wilson's marvelous illustrations. The fourth volume, edited by Apsley Cherry-Garrard was a slim volume and lacked Wilson's art (he was dead at this point, on the return from the Pole). Back in England the three volumes (two during Discovery and one during Terra Nova) were published in limited facsimile editions. They are highly collected. The final volume was finally published in 2011. And all the volumes have just been published this year by The Folio Society. Purchased from Polar Books, 1976.

 

- Assorted trade cards featuring Scott and his men. Mostly purchased on ebay.

 

 

CASE C - Captain Robert Falcon Scott II

 

18. Royal Doulton Toby mug of Captain c1998. Purchased from Explorer Books, 2001.

 

19. Wood from three famous Antarctic ships: the Discovery, the Terra Nova and the Endurance.

 

20. Captain Scott's pipe, retrieved from his final tent on the return from the Pole. Purchased from Rhod McEwen at The Red Lion after a few beers following the Christie's  auction, 1999. We bid against each other for the lot of two pipes, and he won!

 

21. Photograph of Scott with his pipe, along with Edgar Evans, Birdie Bowers and Edward Wilson. (All died on the return from the Pole.)

 

22. Photograph of Scott's last tent as it was found by the search party in 1912. A snow cairn was built over the tent. Where is it now? Read Richard Pierce's Dead Men, available at The Toadstool.

 

23. An unopened tin of Fry's Cocoa retrieved from Scott's Cape Evans

hut by Harry Francis in the 1950s. Back then, it was common to take souvenirs from the huts. Not so now. Gift of Sharon Francis, 1999.

 

24. Menu from the Farewell Dinner of July 6, 1901 given at the Savage Club, London, for members of the National Antarctic Expedition (Discovery), signed by Scott, Shackleton, Royds, Skelton, Armitage and others. At least two other Antarctic dinners were held at the Club with similarly attractive menus. Purchased from Clive Farahar, England, 1978.

 

25. With Captain Scott at the South Pole. Collectors cards issued by Fry's Chocolate. Series of 25. Purchased from High Latitude, 1993.

 

26. Scott's Hut II [Cape Evans]. Watercolor by Lucia deLeiris of Waltham, Massachusetts, 1997. Purchased from the artist, 1997. With photograph of hut.

 

27. Captain Scott's Message to England, 1913. Purchased from American Library Services, 1977.

 

- First day cover. 75th Anniversary of Captain Scott's Arrival at the South Pole - January 1912. British Antarctic Territory.

 

28. Scott commemorative plate by Doulton. Purchased from Paul Davies, 2011.

 

29. Discovery plate. I wish this was an original. If so, it would have cost a lot more. But this is a reproduction done by the Dundee Heritage Trust. They use the plates for dinners in the wardroom on the Discovery. That's how I knew about them when I arranged a dinner there mostly for descendants of Scott's two expeditions.

 

- Trade card featuring the marble statue of Scott, sculpted by his widow, in Christchurch, New Zealand. It fell to the ground and broke into several pieces during the recent earthquake. The original version, in bronze, stands in Waterloo Place, London. Purchased on ebay, 2001.

 

- "In memory of the Antarctic Heroes." Postcard from 1912.

 

30. Hairs from Captain Oates' sleeping bag. The bag is at Scott Polar Research Institute and the then archivist, Bob Headland, swept up a few stray hairs for me. Oates ("I'm just going outside and may be some time") died on the return from the Pole.

 

 

CASE D - Apsley Cherry-Garrard and Sir Ernest Shackleton

[Apsley Cherry-Garrard was a member of Scott's Last Expedition. Throughout the rest of his life he felt guilty for not  proceeding further south and perhaps encountering the remaining three members of the Polar Party and saving their lives.]

 

[Sir Ernest Shackleton was on Scott's first expedition (Discovery). In 1907-09 he led his own very successful expedition (Nimrod). His Endurance expedition is known for its miraculous series of challenges (and for its utter failure as an expedition). His fourth and final expedition (Quest) was poorly conceived and a failure in the sense that Shackleton died just as it was getting underway.]

 

31. Numerous editions of Cherry-Garrard's Antarctic classic, The Worst Journey in the World, including the first edition, 1922. It's never been out-of-print. The Worst Journey refers not to Scott's tragic polar journey but to the winter journey of Wilson, Bowers and Cherry-Garrard to Cape Crozier to retrieve Emperor penguin eggs.

 

32. Minus Fifties, watercolor by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, signed by the artist. This scene of three men sledging depicts the 'Worst Journey' to Cape Crozier that was actually done in winter darkness. Purchased from Maggs Bros., London, in 1971.

 

- Irish stamps, issued 19 March 2004 commemorating the Endurance expedition.

 

- South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Official First Day Cover, 20th May 1996. Commemorating the 80th anniversary of Sir Ernest Shackleton's trek from King Haakon Bay to Stromness.

 

33. Metal match box with matches retrieved from Shackleton's Cape Royds hut by Conrad Larson in the 1950s. Gift of Anna Larson, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 1995.

 

34. Silver medallion issued in 1972 to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of Shackleton's death. Purchased from the British mint, 1972.

 

35. £2 silver coin issued by the Falkland Islands featuring Shackleton with the Endurance on the obverse. Gift of granddaughter Alexandra Shackleton,1999.

 

- Trade card featuring the James Caird, the boat in which Shackleton and five others sailed the 800 miles from Elephant Island to South Georgia Island through some of the worst seas in the world. Purchased on ebay, 2000.

 

- Trade card featuring Sir Ernest Shackleton Purchased on ebay, 2000.

 

36. Dunhill pipe presented to Sir Ernest Shackleton "by the cabmen of Hyde Park Corner" in 1921. (Just the case; the pipe is lacking.) Shackleton was well-known to the London cabbies. He would often end the evening with a cup of tea in one of their shelters. The one that used to be at Hyde Park Corner was quite distant from his Kensington house. Why did he drop by there? It turns out that his "lady friend" lived close by! Gift of granddaughter Alexandra Shackleton in 2000.

 

37. Shackleton's Hut, Cape Royds. Pastel by Lucia deLeiris of Waltham, Massachusetts. 1997. Purchased from the artist, 2000.

 

- Photograph of Shackleton's Cape Royds hut taken by Conrad Larson in the 1950s. Gift of Anna Larson, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 1995.

 

38. The Aurora Australis, the first and probably only book written, illustrated, printed, bound and issued in the Antarctic. Produced during Shackleton's Nimrod expedition. There were likely only about 80 copies produced and each one is unique as the book was bound in actual boards fashioned from the packing cases. Note the stenciling. No Antarctic collection is considered significant without a copy of this book.

 

39. End of wood packing case from Shackleton's Cape Royds hut. Gift of Anna Larson, Peterborough, New Hampshire, 1995.

 

40. Photograph of Ernest Joyce and Frank Wild in the "Rogue's Retreat" where the printing was done. The press is at the right and the type case is behind Wild's head in the first photo.

 

41. Photograph of Ernest Joyce in the "Rogue's Retreat" where the printing was done.

 

 

CASE E - Sir Ernest Shackleton

 

42. Shackleton – South Georgia tea towel showing the route from King Haakon Bay to Stromness in South Georgia. Purchased at South Georgia Whaling Museum, 1999.

 

43. A model of the James Caird, the 22.5 foot ship's boat that Shackleton, Worsley, Crean, Vincent, McNish and McCarthy sailed the 800 miles from Elephant Island to South Georgia through the roughest seas in the world. Once landed, Shackleton, Worsley and Crean had to climb over the mountains to get help at the whaling port of Stromness. One of the great adventures of all time. Purchased at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, 2002.

 

44. Oil painting by Lucia deLeiris of the James Caird in mountainous seas. Purchased from the artist, 2002.

 

45. General map showing the Explorations and Surveys of the  expedition  1907-09. British Antarctic Expedition 1907. Purchased from the Royal Geographical Society, 1998.

 

46. A pristine copy of The Heart of the Antarctic, first American edition, 1909. In dustwrappers and original slipcase. Purchased from Goodspeeds, 1987.

 

47. The three-volume edition deluxe of The Heart of the Antarctic in vellum. I first bought the The Antarctic Book, Winter Quarters 1907-1909 which was offered separately. It includes the signatures of every member of the shore party. Purchased from Frank Hammond, 1971. I then spent many years looking for the first two volumes offered without The Antarctic Book so I could "marry" them. I eventually found two volumes at Buddenbrooks in Boston in 1988.

 

48. South; The story of Shackleton's last expedition 1914-1917 (London, 1919 first edition). This is Shackleton's account of his Endurance expedition. Purchased from Joseph, London, 1974.

 

49. Shackleton's Last Voyage; The story of the Quest from the official journal and private diary kept by Dr. A. H. Macklin. By Frank Wild (London, 1923 first edition). Shackleton died at the start of the expedition at Grytviken in South Georgia, where he is now buried. Purchased from Gaston Renard, 1970.

 

 

CASE F - Admiral Richard E. Byrd

[America's best known Antarctic explorer, he led or was associated with half a dozen expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. On the first to the south (1928-30) he, with three others, became the first to fly over the South Pole (November 28, 1929)]

 

50. Penguin. Pastel by Elizabeth Saltonstall of Boston, Massachusetts, a relative of Marie Ames Byrd (Mrs. Richard E. Byrd). It was drawn from life, the same penguin—living, briefly in Byrd's Beacon Hill bathtub—posed twice. Purchased at The Boston Athenaeum, 1974.

 

51. American flag carried by Byrd over both poles and presented to Albert Bumstead with accompanying letter written from Dublin, New Hampshire, to North Conway, New Hampshire. Purchased from a descendant of the recipient, 1999.

 

- Photos of Bumstead with sun compass and with Admiral Byrd.

 

52. Ford Tri-motor Antarctic airplane model kit. Purchased on ebay, 2003.

 

53. Byrd Commemorative china plate with Ford Trimotor over the South Pole (showing an American flag being thrown out). Hackett American Collectors Co. Purchased on ebay, 2004

 

54. Glass bottle. In relief: Depiction of an aeroplane. "Byrd | Antarctic | 1928-1929 | Expedition." Purchased on ebay, 2002.

 

55. Chinook Bobblehead. Chinook was a sled dog bred by Arthur Walden of Wonalancet, New Hampshire. Walden was Byrd's lead dog driver on the 1929 expedition. Byrd's dogs were trained by Walden at the kennels in Wonalancet. The resulting breed is the official state dog of New Hampshire. Purchased from the New Hampshire Historical Society, 2009.

 

56. These hairs are from Admiral Byrd's caribou sleeping bag. The bag, which was shedding, was stretched out on filing case at the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State University. I just swept up a few of them. Gift of the Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University, in 1998.

 

57. Signed photograph of Bernt Balchen, the Norwegian-American who was Byrd's chief pilot on the 1929 expedition and piloted the first plane to fly over the Pole. Gift of Don Neel, Wilton, New Hampshire.

 

- Richard E. Byrd, Wischmann's Picture Pack Gum card. Purchased on ebay, 2004.

 

58. United States Antarctic Service Medal and a Byrd commemorative medal. Purchased at auction, 1999.

 

59. Richard E. Byrd lapel pin. Purchased from Explorer Books, England, 1998.

 

60. Back Home. Words and music by Irving Kahal, Sammy Fair and Pierre Norman, respectfully dedicated to Rear-Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Purchased from Explorer Books, England, 2000.

Return of Commander Byrd Military March. For piano. Purchased from Explorer Books, England, 2001.

 

- The Snow Cruiser was a mammoth vehicle taken to Antarctica by Byrd on his United States Antarctic Service Expedition. It was far too heavy and was not a success. It remains to this day in Antarctica, probably now on the ocean floor. This card was later retrieved from the Snow Cruiser by Denny DenHartog. Gift of Denny DenHartog, 2000.

 

61. Cardboard Box, Admiral Byrd Leather Jacket. Clara Grant brought something to my house in this box and I was so flabbergasted that she kindly left it with me.

 

- Radiogram from Little America from Dr Dana Coman conveying Christmas and New Year's greetings, dated December 20, 1929. Gift of Don Neel, Wilton, New Hampshire.

 

62. Holy Bible, from Byrd's base station (Little America). Gift of Don Neel, Wilton, New Hampshire.

 

63. Little America (1930 first edition) Byrd's first Antarctic expedition. Limited signed edition. Purchased at auction, 1971.

 

64. Discovery (1935 first edition) Byrd's second Antarctic expedition. Limited signed edition. Purchased New York Antiquarian Bookfair, 1971.

 

65. Alone (1938 first edition) Byrd's second Antarctic expedition. Purchased from Current Co., 1971.

 

66. Alone (1938 first English edition) Byrd's second Antarctic expedition. Limited signed edition. Purchased from Henry Sotheran, 2001.

 

 

 

CASE G

 

67. This Norwegian flag was carried by Roald Amundsen to the South Pole and over the North Pole. He gave it to the American polar aviator Lincoln Ellsworth who, in turn, gave it to Beekman Pool of Dublin, who kindly and unexpectedly gave it to me.

 

68. Mounted metal plaque, presented to Dr. Dana Coman, physician on the first Byrd expedition, by Boston Mayor James Michael Curley on June 27, 1930. Gift of Don Neel, Wilton, New Hampshire.

 

69. Assorted Antarctic libations.

 

 

CASE H - Cows go south!

 

70. This cartoon, the models and the bronze medal were kindly lent to the exhibit by the Peterborough Historical Society. Here's the story:

 

Throughout its history The American Guernsey Cattle Club continued to make headlines but when headlines read "Three Guernsey Cows Go to the Antarctic With Admiral Byrd" the world had to do a double take to make sure they heard right. Yes, cows were going on an expedition that very few men had gone before. On October 7, 1933, Admiral Richard E. Byrd asked for three Guernsey cows to go with him in order that they might have fresh milk. Admiral Byrd thought it would be a novelty if one of the cows was fairly well along in motherhood, so the calf might be born on the ice.

The cows from Deerfoot Farm, Massachusetts, Emmadine Farm, New York and Klondike Farm, North Carolina, were loaded on the Jacob Ruppert and set sail for the Antarctic on October 11, 1933 from Boston. Along with the cows were provisions of sand and straw for bedding, twenty tons of hay, twelve tons of beet pulp and two tons of bran for the two years in the Antarctic. The three Guernsey cows affectionately named Deerfoot, Emmadine, and Klondike made the voyage to the Antarctic having gotten their sea legs long before any of the crew. A baby bull calf, named Iceberg, was born 275 miles north of the Antarctic Circle on December 19th; Admiral Byrd had hoped that the birth would truly be an Antarctic event but it was not meant to be. The four cows made it to the Antarctic site where a cow barn was made out of blocks of ice complete with an electric milking machine awaited them.

Sadly, Klondike contracted frostbite and had to be destroyed. The crew's attachment to the cows was apparent when Cox (the crew that carried out the deed) is quoted in Admiral Byrds book, The Discovery, "I've put away a lot of 'em, Admiral, but it never got me before. I guess I got pretty fond of that cow." The three remaining cows returned from the Antarctic after 22,000 miles of travel in 1935 to their original owners. Going down in history as the first cows to travel to the Antarctic.

-Teresa Steer, Peterborough Historical Society Staff, 2003