Bernacchi, British National Antarctic Expedition

• MS 353/3/1-4;BJ Journals (4),1902-1904 [11 April to 30 October 1902, 24 September to 15 November 1902 (Includes notes on aurora, solar radiation and ice thickness, 25 March to 25 August 1902) 21 November 1902 to 8 November 1903, 10 November 1903 to 13 March 1904] 4 volumes

The British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) undertook the first extensive exploration on land in Antarctica. Funding came from the Government, the Royal Society, the Royal Geographical Society and private donations.

The expedition set up base at McMurdo Sound from where sledging parties carried out recognisance and scientific programmes. Scott made the fist balloon ascent on the continent in 1902. A three-man sledge party consisting of Scott, Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson achieved a furthest south of 82°17'S on 30 December 1902. The expedition ship, Discovery, commissioned and built especially for the expedition was beset in McMurdo Sound from 1902-1904.

The Institute holds over seventy archival collections containing material relating to this expedition see GB 015 British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 for more information.