Scott British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904

Scope and Content

  • MS 1485;D Journal, 6 August 1901-31 May 1903, 203 Leaves, holograph (Xerox)

Administrative / Biographical History

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. 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 minutes South on 30 December 1902. The expedition ship, Discovery, commissioned and built especially for the expedition was beset in McMurdo Sound from 1902-1904

Arrangement

Chronological

Note

The spine of the volume is marked with the name of Charles Ford, but from internal evidence the journal is clearly that of Scott.

Related Material

The Institute holds numerous archival collections containing material relating to this expedition see SPRI collection GB 015 British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 for a fuller list

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.

Additional Information

The spine of the volume is marked with the name of Charles Ford, but from internal evidence the journal is clearly that of Scott.