Andersson, correspondence

• MS 101/12/1-2;D Letters (2) to William Speirs Bruce, 1902 and 1904 [Reports on the work of the expedition] 3 leaves, holograph

The correspondence with Polar explorer William Speirs Bruce is regarding the Swedish South Polar Expedition, 1901-1903 (leader Nils Otto Nordenskjld). This expedition mapped the unknown gap between Gerlache Strait and Orlans Channel, discovered and mapped Antarctic Sound and Crown Prince Gustav Channel, proved that Dumont d'Urville's Louis Philippe Land (now Trinity Peninsula) was part of the Antarctic Peninsula.

During the winter of 1902 the ship Antarctic (Captain Carl Anton Larsen) visited Terra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Three men (including Andersson) wintered at Hope Bay in 1903 while a shore party of 6 wintered on Snow Hill Island in 1902 and 1903. Antarctic was crushed in pack ice of Erebus and Terror Bay and sank on 12 February 1903.

The Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, 1902-1904 (led by William Speirs Bruce) was preparing to search for the survivors when news arrived that they had been rescued by the Argentine naval vessel Uruguay in November 1903.

The correspondence relates to the work carried out during the expedition.

Chronological.

The Scott Polar Research Institute holds a number of photographs, film and other illustrative material in the Picture Library, some of which covers the Swedish South Polar Expedition, 1901-1903. The catalogue can be searched on line by going to the Picture Library Database and selecting the Enter Polar Pictures link.

See SPRI collection Nils Otto Nordenskjld for additional material relating to the expedition.