Rolleston, correspondence

• MS 1453/148;D Letter to Robert Falcon Scott, 10 February 1901 [Edward Wilson's doctor's opinion of his fitness for Antarctic work] 1 leaf, holograph

The British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon 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. Wilson served as surgeon, artist and vertebrate zoologist during the expedition. He was a member of the three man sledge party (with Scott and Ernest Shackleton) who achieved a furthest south of 82°17'S.

The Institute holds over seventy archival collections containing material relating to this expedition, see SPRI collection GB 015 British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 for more information. The Institute holds an extensive archival collection for Edward Adrian Wilson.