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Libraries > Digital Exhibits > Conquering the Ice > Men
Only the Best Men
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Ashley McKinley, aerial surveyor
and third in command, 1929.
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #7806_2
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Personnel
list for the Ice Party,
Byrd Antarctic Expedition I, 1928-1930.
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #4552.
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The selection of the crew for the expedition was
undertaken with careful consideration. In order to meet the goals of the
expedition, a variety of men with a variety of skills would be essential.
Ultimately, there were 4 pilots, 3 aircraft mechanics, three radiomen,
five dog drivers, a doctor, three surveyors, 4 scientists, a tailor, a
carpenter, news media experts, a cook and general hands, that totaled 42
men who wintered in Antarctica. In addition, a boy scout was selected
prior to the expedition in a national search. Paul Siple was the winning
scout, and accompanied not only this expedition, but all of the Byrd’s
subsequent Antarctic expeditions. Siple eventually achieved prominence as
a scientist in his own right. |
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Daily life
during the long Antarctic night,
some of the crew passing the time, 1929.
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #7806_5
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Man hauling sledge in the frigid
Antarctic night, 1929.
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #7809_38.
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Dr. Francis Dana Coman,
Surgeon and Biologist, 1929.
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #7813_2.
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Carl O. Petersen in the newspaper
office at Little America, 1929.
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #7813_5
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The crew of
the Eleanor Bolling, 1928.
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #7810_33.
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In the mess hall, Little America, 1929.
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #7806_6
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1928 letter from Chief Scout Executive
James West, inviting boy scout
applicants for the Byrd Expedition,
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #1196.
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Evaluation
sheet for Paul Siple,
the boy scout selected to accompany
the Byrd expedition, 1928,
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #1209.
The boy scout organization was
responsible for selecting the winner.
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Paul Siple, 1928,
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #7811_43.
Siple was only 19 years old when
he accompanied the expedition. |
Telegram of August 4, 1928, from James West,
Chief Scout Executive, to the six boy scouts
selected as finalists in the competition to go with
Byrd’s expedition to Antarctica,
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #4430.
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