Royal Society, correspondence

• MS 656/4;D Letter to John Kendall, 13 November 1952 [Regarding reports on progress of the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, especially scurvy] 1 leaf, typescript

The correspondence relates to the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 (leader Robert Falcon Scott). This expedition 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. 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. The expedition ship, Discovery, commissioned and built especially for the expedition was beset in McMurdo Sound from 1902-1904.

The institute holds over seventy archival collections containing material relating tot his expedition, see SPRI collection GB 015 British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 for more information.