Taylor, British Antarctic Expedition

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

  • Reference
    • GB 15 Thomas Griffith Taylor/British Antarctic Expedition
  • Dates of Creation
    • 30 November 1910 - February 1912
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • 4 sketch books, 1 journal, 2 narratives

Scope and Content

  • MS 718;BJ Journal, 30 November 1910 to 21 January 1911 [Including account of glaciological and physiographical field work in New Zealand Alps near Mount Cook] 1 volume
  • MS 280/21;D Narrative, November to December 1911 [Western sledge journey] 21 leaves, typescript
  • MS 584/1-4;BJ Sketch books (4), January to February 1911 and November to February 1912 [Sledge journeys] 4 volumes, holograph
  • MS 505/3/1-3;BJ The race for the Pole, narrative of the voyage out and the building of the hut [Copied by different hands presumably from the Melbourne Argus 15 April 1911] 3 volumes

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 party 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 where 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 companions (Henry Bowers, Edgar Evans, Lawrence Oates and Edward Wilson) perished during the return journey.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Alternative Form Available

MS 718;BJ is a copy.

Related Material

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

The Institute holds over a hundred archival collections containing material relating to this expedition see SPRI collection GB 015 British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 for more information.

Additional Information

MS 718;BJ original in Geography Department, University of New England, New South Wales, Australia. (1982)