Scott, British National Antarctic Expedition

• MS 366/14/11;ER Notes, undated [Regarding James Clarke Ross going through the outer pack, 1841-1842] 3 leaves
• MS 1453/4;BJ Notes, undated [Biographical information on officers and men who served in Discovery] 1 volume, holograph
• MS 366/14/31;ER List, undated [Gear to be forwarded, from Melbourne to Lyttelton]
• MS 366/14/13;ER Paper [summer cruise, 1901-1902] 12 leaves
• MS 366/12/36;ER Notes of a speech, undated [Delivered before the second years sledging, In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 36]
• MS 366/13/43-97;ER Notes and jottings, 1902-1904 [Various subjects] circa 40 leaves
• MS 1453/5;BJ Experimental Note-Book, 1902 [Notes on ice, snow and earth temperature experiments] 1 volume, holograph
• MS 641/12/1-5;MJ Instructions and sledging orders to Lieutenant Royds, 1902 to 1903 [Regarding Cape Crozier, instructions, work to be attended in Discovery during Scott's absence, instructions for Barrier Journey, mention of emperor penguins] 5 leaves, autograph
• MS 366/12/3;ER Rough draft of instructions to Lieutenant Shackleton, 17 February 1902 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 3] holograph
• MS 1537/2/5/7;D As MS 366/12/3;ER
• MS 366/12/8;ER Copy of Scott's instructions to Lieutenant Royds, 3 March 1902 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 8] autograph
• MS 366/12/12;ER Orders for Lieutenant Royds, 29 March 1902 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 12] holograph
• MS 1537/2/55;D Articles written for the South Polar Times, April to May 1902 [Volume 1]
• MS 366/14/19;ER Notes on dissection of a seal, 27 May 1902, 4 leaves
• MS 1464/3;BJ Journal, 18 July to 31 October 1902, 7 March to 25 October 1903 [This is volume III of Scott's 4 volume expedition journal] 1 volume, holograph
• MS 1160/1;MJ Copy of MS 1464/3;BJ microfilm
• MS 366/12/13;ER Notice, 21 September 1902 [Composition and objectives of the forthcoming sledge parties In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 13] holograph
• MS 366/12/14;ER Sledging orders to Lieutenant Royds, 9 September 1902 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 4] holograph
• MS 366/12/16;ER Sledging orders to Lieutenant Armitage, 10 September 1902 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 16] autograph
• MS 366/12/19;ER Notice, 11 September 1902 [Regarding the officers and men required for the southern depot party, In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2 item 19] holograph
• MS 366/12/21;ER Sledging order to Lieutenant Skelton, 14 September 1902 [Regarding work to be carried out in Discovery In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 volume 2, item 21] holograph
• MS 641/13;ER Copy of MS 366/12/21;ER microfilm
• MS 366/12/23;ER Sledging orders to Dr Koettlitz, 21 September 1902 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 23] autograph
• MS 366/12/26;ER Sledging orders to Lieutenant Armitage, 31 October 1902 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 26] holograph
• MS 1464/4;BJ Sledging journal, 2 November 1902 to 9 February 1903, 1 volume, holograph
• MS 1160/2;MJ Copy of MS 1464/4;BJ
• MS 366/12/36;ER Notes of a speech, undated [Delivered to the crew before the second year's sledging, In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 36]
• MS 366/12/38;ER Orders to Lieutenant Armitage, Lieutenant Royds, Lieutenant Barne, September 1903 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 38] holograph
• MS 366/12/39;ER Memo to Lieutenant Armitage, Lieutenant Royds, Lieutenant Barne, September 1903 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 39] holograph
• MS 366/12/41;ER Instructions for a sledging journey to Lieutenant Royds, 6 September 1903 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 41] holograph
• MS 366/12/42;ER Sledging Orders to Lieutenant Royds, 21 September 1903 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 42] autograph
• MS 366/12/44;ER Instructions for southern journey to Lieutenant Barne, 1 October 1903 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2, item 44] autograph
• MS 366/13/2;ER Barrier Journey instructions, to Lieutenant Royds, 11 October 1903
• MS 465;D Instructions and letter to Lieutenant Armitage, 11 and 24 October 1903, 6 leaves, typescript copy
• MS 366/13/5-9;ER Programme for western journey, 1903
• MS 366/13/10-11;ER Instructions to H T Ferrar, 1903 [Western journey] 3 leaves
• MS 1153/4-5;D Memoranda (2) to H T Ferrar, 25 October and&63; 1903 [Instructions relating to sledge travelling] 3 leaves, holograph, (Xerox)
• MS 840/2;D Arrangements for the abandonment of Discovery, February 1904, 2 leaves, holograph
• MS 366/13/39;ER Arrangements for the abandonment of Discovery, 1904 [In Papers of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 volume 3 item 39]
• MS 1354/3;D Arrangements for abandonment of Discovery winter quarters, February 1904, 2 leaves, holograph; MS 1354/1/1-3;D The identity of the captain of the relief vessel was unknown to Scott when these letters were written.
• MS 847/2;D Arrangements for abandonment of Discovery, February 1904 (Duplicated MS 1354/3;D) 2 leaves, holograph
• MS 1354/1/1-3;D Letters (3) to the Commander of the relief ship [William Colbeck], 22 January, 3 March and 10 September 1902 [Written separately but delivered at the same time] 7 leaves, holograph (Xerox)
• MS 1354/2/1-6;D Letters (6) to William Colbeck, 1904 [Largely about the freeing of Discovery] 13 leaves, holograph (Xerox)
• MS 366/13/40;ER Programme for homeward voyage addressed to William Colbeck
• MS 366/14/1;ER Notes on the Southern Continental land, 3 leaves
• MS 366/14/12;ER Paper [Sea Ice] 12 leaves
• MS 366/16/13;ER Account with the lecture agency ltd. February 1905
• MS 366/16/14;ER Text of lectures, 1905, 83 leaves
• MS 366/16/15;ER Prcis of lectures at Albert Hall, London, 3 leaves
• MS 366/16/16;ER Introduction to lectures and list of slides, 4 leaves
• MS 366/16/17;ER Corrected proofs of published addresses
• MS 1453/24;D Draft fragment of chapter 18 of The voyage of the Discovery (London, 1905) 16 leaves, holograph
• MS 366/16/32;ER Manuscript of The voyage of the Discovery, 6 leaves
• MS 1453/24;D Draft fragment of chapter 18 of The voyage of the Discovery (London, 1905) 16 leaves, holograph
• MS 366/16/33;ER List of whom to receive The voyage of the Discovery, 18 October 1905
• MS 1633;D Illustrated catalogue of the Discovery Antarctic exhibition, London, includes lists of crew, list of photographs and paintings, holograph
• MS 1368/13;D Testimonial for H T Ferrar, 5 March 1905 [Testimonial regarding his service in Discovery] holograph
• MS 575/7;MJ 'The southern journey, 1902 to 1903' [Miscellaneous documents connected with the purchase and authenticity of the manuscript] microfilm

The British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (led by Scott) undertook the first extensive exploration on land in Antarctica. Funding came from the Government, the Royal Society, the Royal Geographical Society and private donations. The expedition set up base at McMurdo Sound from where sledging parties carried out recognisance and scientific programmes.

Scott made the fist balloon ascent on the continent in 1902. A three-man sledge party consisting of Scott, Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson achieved a furthest south of 82°17'S on 30 December 1902. The expedition ship, Discovery, commissioned and built especially for the expedition was beset in McMurdo Sound from 1902-1904.

Scott published The voyage of the Discovery on his return.

Two relief expeditions were mounted to the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904. The first 1902-1903 was organised by the Royal Geographical Society, the second, 1903-1904, by the Royal Navy. The steam yacht Morning captained by William Colbeck took part in both expeditions, on the second voyage she was joined by the steam yacht Terra Nova captained by Henry Duncan MacKay. After Discovery which had been beset since 1902 was freed from the ice the three ships sailed north in February 1904.

The collection covers, diaries, orders, notes and lectures written prior to and during the expedition. The collection also includes material relating to The voyage of the Discovery and the lecture tours undertaken by Scott on his return from the Antarctic.

The material is arranged chronologically.

MS 575/7;MJ, MS 1160/1-2;MJ are copies

The Institute holds over seventy archival collections containing material relating to this expedition, see SPRI collection GB 015 British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 and GB 015 British Relief Expeditions, 1902-1903-1904 for more information.

MS 575/7;MJ, MS 1160/1;MJ and MS 1160/2;MJ Originals held by the Mitchell Library, Sydney, Australia (1982)