Descriptions compiled by N. Boneham, Assistant Archivist with assistance from R. Stancombe and reference to Robert Keith Headland
Enid Briggs collected material on expeditions to the Antarctic. This material comprised of letters to explorers and their families, press cuttings and a collection of autographs.
The collection comprises of material relating to Antarctic Expeditions of the first half of the 20th century, particularly those of Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Henry Shackleton and John Lachlan Cope.
The collection is arranged in the order in which it was deposited.
Further accessions possible.
By appointment.
Some materials deposited at the Institute are NOT owned by the Institute. In such cases the archivist will advise about any requirements imposed by the owner. These may include seeking permission to read, extended closure, or other specific conditions.
Copying material by photography, electrostat, or scanning device by readers is prohibited. The Institute may be able to provide copies of some documents on request for lodgement in publicly available repositories. This is subject to conservation requirements, copyright law, and payment of fees.
Copyright restrictions apply to most material. The copyright may lie outside the Institute and, if so, it is necessary for the reader to seek appropriate permission to consult, copy, or publish any such material. (The Institute does not seek this permission on behalf of readers). Written permission to publish material subject to the Institute's copyright must be obtained from the Director. Details of conditions and fees may be had from the Archivist.
Anyone wishing to consult material should ensure they note the entire MS reference and the name of the originator.
The term holograph is used when the item is wholly in the handwriting of the author. The term autograph is used when the author has signed the item.
Clive Holland
Additional finding aids are available at the Institute.
The material covers the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 (leader Robert Falcon Scott), the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1916 (leader Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton), the Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition, 1921-1922 (again led by Shackleton) and the British Expedition to Graham Land, 1920-1922 (leader John Lachlan Cope).
The Scott Polar Research Institute holds a number of photographs, film and other illustrative material in the Picture Library, some of which covers these expeditions. The catalogue can be searched on line by going to the
The Institute holds over a hundred archival collections relating to these Antarctic expeditions see, GB 015 British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913, GB 015 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, [Weddell Sea Party] 1914-1916, GB 015 Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic Expedition, 1921-1922 and collections for John Lachlan Cope, Thomas Bagshawe, Maxime Lister and Herbert Wilkins for additional information.