Armitage, British National Antarctic Expedition

Scope and Content

  • MS 366/5/1-5;BJ Journals (2) and work books (3), 1901-1904 [volume I, journal of the first ascent of the Ferrar Glacier, 29 November 1902 to 19 January 1903, volume II journal of a sledge journey to the Koettlitz Glacier, 28 November to 12 December 1903 with observations made during the journey, volumes III-IV copy by George Mulock of Armitage's log and angle books, angles at winter quarters 1902 log of the Discovery off Victoria Land and Ross Ice Shelf, 15 January to 8 February 1902, angles off the coast of Victoria Land, 15 to 22 January 1902, observations and angles taken during the western sledge journey of 29 November 1902 to 19 January 1903, volume V observations made during voyage of Discovery, 24 December 1901 to 8 February 1902] 5 volumes, holograph
  • MS 798;BJ Rough notebook, observations taken during January 1902 [Intended only for personal use at the time signed ABA] 1 volume
  • MS 1453/11;D Report, 29 November 1902 to 19 January 1903 [Western (inland) sledge journey] 44 leaves, typescript
  • MS 366/12;ER Report to Robert Falcon Scott on a sledge journey, 3 to 4 February 1902 (dated 5 February 1902) [In Papers of British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2 item 2] holograph
  • MS 366/12;ER Report to Robert Falcon Scott on a sledge journey 11 to 26 September 1902 (dated 3 October 1902) [Two appendices on health of the party and report on means undertaken to prevent the spread of scurvy, 1 October 1902. In Papers of British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 12 item 17] typescript with autograph
  • MS 366/12;ER Summery of sledge journey 29 November 1902 to 19 January 1903 [With appendix 'A' Western sledge journey Nov 1902 to January 1903, In Papers of British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2 item 31-32] autograph
  • MS 366/12;ER Daily report of events at the ship 9 to 20 September 1903 [In Papers of British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 12 item 40] autograph
  • MS 366/12;ER Reports by Armitage and Charles William Rawson Royds on activities on board ship, 3 November 1902 to 29 January 1903 [In Papers of British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, volume 2 items 27-28] holograph
  • MS 641/11;MJ Sledging orders number 7, 2 November 1902 [Addressed from Discovery winter quarters South Victoria Land, to Lieutenant Charles William Rawson Royds for journey to Cape Crozier, Ross Island] microfilm
  • MS 641/8;MJ Instructions for camping, [19--] microfilm
  • MS 1453/12;D Discovery in winter quarters [Report during Captain Scott's absence] 23 leaves, holograph

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 from where 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 Henry Shackleton and Edward Adrian Wilson achieved a furthest south of 82.28° 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.

Related Material

See SPRI collection GB 015 British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 for a fuller list of archival collections held by the Institute containing material on this expedition.

Geographical Names