Atkinson, British Antarctic Expedition

• MS 280/281/1-2;ER Reports of the expedition 1910-1913 [In Papers of British National Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913, volumes 1 and 2, 35 Individual papers in own hand, volume I, organisation and narrative, volume II, ship, equipment, hut, pole party, sledging rations, future exploration, scientific work] 2 volumes, holograph
• MS 280/16;ER Motor sledging report [On the design and performance of the vehicles used during the expedition] 11 leaves, holograph, typescript copy
• MS 761/8/11;D Account of the events regarding southern party [19--] [Description of the discovery of the bodies of Scott and his companions] 5 leaves, Xerox of typed copy

The British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 (leader Robert Falcon Scott) spent two winters at Cape Evans on Ross Island. Extensive scientific investigations and exploration was conducted along the coast of Victoria Land and on the Ross Ice Shelf. A party led by Griffith Taylor spent three months exploring the western mountains and this work was continued after the departure of the polar party in 1911. A northern party led by Victor Campbell established a base at Cape Adare from where they conducted scientific programmes. After moving camp the party were forced to spend the winter of 1912 in ice caves before walking back to the Cape Evans camp. The first cin documentary film of an Antarctic expedition, 90° South was made during the expedition. After successfully reaching the South Pole on 17 January 1912 Scott and his companions (Henry Bowers, Edgar Evans, Lawrence Oates and Edward Wilson) perished during the return journey.

Atkinson was left in charge during Scott and Campbell's absence. The collection covers the expedition from its organisation through to the search for the pole party.

Chronological.

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 a hundred archival collections containing material relating to this expedition see SPRI collection GB 015 British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 for more information.

SPRI collection GB 015 Apsley Cherry-Garrard contains diary entries made by Atkinson (MS 559/7:BJ and MS 559/8;BJ).

The Institute holds several archival collections containing material relating to the design and use of motor vehicles in the Polar Regions, see GB 015 Bernard Day, GB 015 Robert Falcon Scott.