Debenham, British Antarctic Expedition

Scope and Content

  • MS 279/1-4;BJ Journals (4), 1910-1912 [Volume I 26 November 1910 to 18 January 1911, volume II 19 January to 8 March 1911, volume III 14 April to 1 November 1911 and 1 March to 25 November 1912, volume IV 3 to 26 December 1912 Mount Erebus to Cape Royds] 4 volumes, holograph
  • MS 279/5;BJ Geological Notes, 1910-1911, 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 280/18;D Narrative, to 6 December 1910 [Partial and unpublished, with illustrations] 14 leaves, typescript
  • MS 279/6;BJ Notebook, January to March 1911 [Western sledge journey] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 279/9;BJ Sketch book, January to March 1911 [Includes geological notes] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 279/7;BJ Sketch book, May 1911 to August 1912 [Pencil and ink sketches] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 1437/3;D Notes on ice matters, Summer 1911-1912 [Western Geological Party, sea ice, icebergs, glaciers, illustrated with sketches and photographs] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 279/11;BJ Survey notebook, November to December 1911 [Western sledge journey] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 279/8;BJ Topographical sketch book, December 1912 [Including geological notes on mount Erebus and Cape Royds] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 279/10;BJ Survey observations, December 1912 [Made during Mount Erebus expedition] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 1069;D Diary, 1 to 27 January 1913 [Extracts torn from a ledger] 13 leaves, holograph
  • MS 1396;Sledge Plans Plan of 12 foot sledge, undated [As used on the expedition, scale 1 foot to 2 inches] 1 sheet
  • MS 591/1-4;MSM Drawings of maps (4), undated [Mostly by Debenham from which figures were prepared for the Geology Reports of the expedition] 4 sheets
  • MS 759/1-4;MSM Drawings of maps (4), undated [1924] [From which figures were prepared for the geology reports and report on the maps and surveys of the expedition, Granite Harbour, Cape Bernacchi to Dunlop Island] 4 sheets

Administrative / Biographical History

The British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) spent two winters at Cape Evans on Ross Island. Extensive scientific investigations and exploration was conducted along the coast of Victoria Land and on the Ross Ice Shelf. A second group led by Griffith Taylor spent three months exploring the western mountains and this work was continued after the departure of the polar party in 1911. A northern party led by Victor Campbell established a base at Cape Adare from whence they conducted scientific programmes. After moving camp the party were forced to spend the winter of 1912 in ice caves before walking back to the Cape Evans camp. The first cin documentary film of an Antarctic expedition, 90° South was made during the expedition. After successfully reaching the South Pole on 17 January 1912 Scott and his four companions (Henry Robertson Bowers, Edgar Evans, Lawrence Edward Grace Oates and Edward Adrian Wilson) perished during the return journey.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Related Material

See SPRI collection GB 015 British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 for a fuller list of archival collections held by the Institute containing material on this expedition.