John Mather collection

The collection comprises of correspondence by Mather.

John Hugh Mather was born in 1887 in Stroud Green, England. While helping to load the expedition ship Terra Nova in London as a junior member of the RNVR, Mather applied successfully to join the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913 (leader Robert Falcon Scott). He served as Petty Officer for three years, but his experience of clerical work led to his being frequently taken from that rank to help with secretarial work and he became particularly adept at taxonomy.

Mather served at sea with distinction in the First World War, retiring with the rank of Commander. In 1929, he founded the Antarctic Club, an annual dining club for former members of the British expeditions, and was its dedicated Honorary Secretary until his death on 10 April 1957 in Farnborough, England.

The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by recipient.

By appointment.

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The term holograph is used when the item is wholly in the handwriting of the author. The term autograph is used when the author has signed the item.

Descriptions compiled by N. Boneham, Assistant Archivist with assistance from R. Stancombe and reference to The Polar Record (September 1957) volume 8 number 57 p562 and Encyclopaedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans ed. Bernard Stonehouse, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester (2002) ISBN 0471986658 SPRI Library (7) and Robert Keith Headland Antarctic Chronology, unpublished corrected revision of Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions and related historical events,(1 December 2001) Cambridge University Press (1989) ISBN 0521309034

Clive Holland Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England - a catalogue. Garland Publishing New York and London (1982) ISBN 0824093941.

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