David, British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-1909

• MS 1408/1;MJ Field note books (7), 28 February 1908 to 28 January 1909 [Consisting of rough diary notes (by Wild), landscape sketches and sketch maps, calculations, stores lists, etc] microfilm of 7 volumes
• MS 1408/2;MJ Miscellaneous items relating to the expedition [Includes letters (2) from Shackleton to David, 1907-1909, letters (2) from David to the commander of Nimrod, 1908, letters from Mawson to David, 1911, letter from David to Priestley, 1913, draft notes by David on scientific work, 1907, extracts from Wild's diary, 7 November 1908 to 28 February 1909, observations made on the journey to the South Magnetic Pole, lists of photographs, scientific narrative, physiographic and geological, 1907-1909] 21 items, plus maps and diagrams holograph and typescript, microfilm
• MS 1537/2/19/1-2;D Notes on the Scientific work of the British Antarctic Expedition, calculations of distance and time

The British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-1909 (leader Ernest Henry Shackleton) sailed south on board Nimrod. A shore party of 15 set up base on the Antarctic continent; they discovered nearly 500km of the Transantarctic Mountains flanking the Ross Ice Shelf. A party climbed Mount Erebus (3794 m), Ross Island. A southern party consisting of Shackleton, Jameson Adams, Eric Marshall and Frank Wild found a route up the Beardsmore Glacier and sledged to within 180km of the pole.

A second party sledged to he region of the South Magnetic pole and exploration of the area around the Ferrar Glacier was also conducted.

Chronological

MS 1408/1;MJ and MS 1408/2;D are copies

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 fifty archival collections containing material relating to this expedition see SPRI collection GB 015 British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-1909 for more information.

MS 1408/1;MJ and MS 1408/2;D Originals in the University Archives, University of Sydney, Australia (1982)