Tait, correspondence

This material is held atScott Polar Research Institute Archives, University of Cambridge

  • Reference
    • GB 15 John B Tait/Correspondence
  • Dates of Creation
    • 10 November 1952
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English.
  • Physical Description
    • Letter

Scope and Content

  • MS 356/88;D Letter to Robert Neal Rudmose Brown, 10 November 1952 [Regarding the recovery of a drift bottle released by the expedition found on the coast of New Zealand] typescript

Administrative / Biographical History

The Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, 1902-1904 (leader William Speirs Bruce) undertook exploration of the Weddell Sea. To the west of Queen Maud Land the expedition discovered Coats Land, which was named for James Coats Jr and Major Andrew Coats who had supported the expedition.

A meteorological observatory (Omond House) was established on Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands which was later transferred to the Argentine government who continue to run it to this day. (Laurie Island is now the oldest continuously operational observatory in the region.)

The expedition conducted a comprehensive scientific program, plans were made to search for the missing Swedish South Polar Expedition, 1901-1903 (leader Nils Otto Nordenskjld) but were set aside when news of their rescue by the Argentine naval ship Uruguay arrived.

Related Material

See SPRI collection GB 15 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, ships logs and plans, 1902-194 for a fuller list of archival material held by the Institute on regarding this expedition.