James Caird collection

The collection comprises of correspondence by Caird to Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton regarding the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1916.

James Key Caird was born on 7 January 1837 in Dundee. He became a jute manufacturer and made a substantial fortune by introducing new technology into his jute mills in Ashton and Craigie, near Dundee. A generous benefactor and philanthropist, he helped to finance the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1916 (leader Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton), causing Shackleton to name for him the lifeboat in which he and his companions made their epic sixteen-day voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia. He was knighted and created a baronet in 1913. He died on 9 March 1916.

The correspondence is arranged chronologically.

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Descriptions compiled by N. Boneham, Assistant Archivist with assistance from R. Stancombe and reference to Robert Keith Headland Antarctic Chronology, unpublished corrected revision of Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions and related historical events, (1 December 2001) Cambridge University Press (1989) ISBN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 and James Caird Society and Who was who, 1916-1928, Adam & Charles Black, London (1947) and Geography at Edinburgh

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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