Aldrich, British Arctic Expedition

• MS 1532/1/26-27;D Letters (2) to Reverend C R Conybeare, 1875-1876 [Written on board HMS Alert. Thanking him for entertaining him and his wife in Southsea, 18 June 1875. Describing cairn built at latitude 82.27N longitude 61.25W, 24 May 1876]
• MS 278/1-4;BJ Journals (4) kept during the expedition, 1875-1876 [volume 1. From leaving England to leaving Smith Sound, 29 May to 19 July 1875 volume 2. From eastern Smiths Sound, 27 July to 29 August 1875 volume 3. 29 August to 23 January 1876 volume 4. 28 January to 1 April 1876 and 25 July to 14 August 1876 (the gap is filled by his 3 sledge journals)] holograph
• MS 286/1-2;BJ Journals (2) kept during sledging journeys from HMS Alert during the expedition, 1875-1876 [The first contains notes on the conducting and equipment of sledging parties together with first aid hints, Captain's instructions and surveying hints. In it is also written diary of his autumn 1875 sledging journey plus preparatory notes and diary of the 'Challenger' western sledge journey, 1 April to 7 May 1876. This is continued and concluded in the second journal, 8 May to 25 June 1876. The published account of this western sledge journey is contained in the official report to Parliament 'Journals and proceedings of the Arctic expedition, 1875-1876' p167-231 (London Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1877) a typed copy of volume 2 is available at the Institute MS 286/3/1-3;D] holograph
• MS 286/3/1-3;D Sledging journal, 8 May to 25 June 1876 [Typed copy of MS 286/2:BJ including poems and extracts from various logs] 122 leaves, typed transcript made by the Institute
• MS 286/4;BJ Notebook, 10 April to 25 June 1876. [Summarising distance travelled time spent getting under way etc. during western sledge journey] 1 volume, holograph
• MS 498;MJ Letter to George A Giffard. Written during the expedition, [19--] Letters (2) sent to G R Nares, 24 April 1876 [one undated] holograph, 3 letters, microfilm
• MS 633;BJ Scrapbook made as Senior Lieutenant in HMS Alert [Folio Contains watercolours, photographs, menus, sketches and press cuttings] 1 volume.
• MS 238/1;D Photostat copy and typescript transcription of record on specially prepared form of expedition, dated 18 April 1876 signed by Aldrich and left in cairn on Crozier Island. [Found by Defence Research Board expedition 1953]
• MS 255;D Photocopy of record, dated 24 May 1876 deposited at Cape Fanshawe Martin Ellesmere Island. [Found by Defence Research Board Expedition, 1953]
• MS 269;D Photocopy of record dated 24 May 1876 deposited at Cape Fanshawe Martin. [Found by Defence Research Board Expedition, 1953]
• MS 256-57;MSM Photocopies (2) of chart of north coast of Ellesmere Island referred to in MS 255;D deposited at Cape Fanshawe Martin Ellesmere Island [Found by Defence Research Board Expedition, 1953] 2 charts [photocopies]

The British Arctic Expedition, 1875-1876 (leader Sir George Strong Nares) was sent by the Admiralty for an attempt on the North Pole by Smith Sound. Exploration of northwest Greenland and northern Ellesmere Island took place along with scientific studies. The collection comprises of letters and journals written during the expedition

MS 498;MJ Originals held in Public Archives of Canada