Gerlache de Gomery, correspondence

• MS 101/44/1-9;D Letters (9) to William Speirs Bruce, 1910 to 1913 [On award of a medal to Bruce, building of the ship Stella Polaris and joint gift for Mrs Scott]
• MS 1270/1-2;D Letters (2) to Charles E. Fagan, 1895 and 1896 [3 August 1895, objects and plans for his proposed expedition, 20 April 1896, regarding funding and press reaction in Belgium] holograph, (Xerox)
• MS 100/36/1-3;D Letters (3) to Hugh Robert Mill, December 1933 [On Antarctic place names problems]

The Belgian Antarctic Expedition, 1897-1899 (led by de Gerlache de Gomery) explored the eastern part of Bismark Straight, discovering and mapping Gerlache Strait and Danco Coast. The expedition ship Belgica was beset and drifted south in the pack ice for over twelve months wintering in the Southern Ocean and 18 men spent the winter south of the Antarctic Circle. This expedition was the first to eventuate after the 6th International Geographical Congress (1895) called for exploration of Antarctica to be undertaken.

The correspondence relates to the planning of the expedition and general correspondence regarding polar explorers, their families and polar matters.

Alphabetically.

The Scott Polar Research Institute holds a number of photographs, film and other illustrative material in the Picture Library, some of which covers the Belgian Antarctic Expedition, 1897-1899. The catalogue can be searched on line by going to the Picture Library Database and selecting the Enter Polar Pictures link.

The Institute holds archival collections for fellow Belgian Antarctic Expedition members Henryk Arctowski and Georges Lecointe.