The Papers of Sir George Hubert Wilkins:
Scope and Content
The Sir George Hubert Wilkins Papers, ca.
1908-1987, include correspondence, reports, photographs,
newspaper clippings, and artifacts documenting Wilkins' career
as a photographer, polar explorer, aviator, and consultant to
the United States military. Included in the collection is: a
scrapbook concerning the Graf Zeppelin historic flight
around the world; motion picture films documenting Wilkins'
expeditions; correspondence and biographical material of Suzanne
Wilkins; files concerning Wilkins' interest in telepathy and
extra sensory perception; and files of the Wilkins Memorial
Foundation.
The collection is divided into the following
series:
- I.
Biographical/Personal - Sir George Hubert Wilkins:
1912-1962.
- II. Consultant Work -
The United States Military: Includes information about
consultant work for the United States Weather Bureau.
1936-1958.
- III. Correspondence:
This is primarily general correspondence and is not specific
to any of the expeditions/trips or consultant work.
1908-1958.
- IV. Expeditions/Trips:
Included in the files of the following expeditions/trips is
the following type of information: articles, correspondence,
financial, legal, notes, and reports. 1912-1940.
Balkan War 1912
Sandow Chocolate Company Photographic Project 1912
Trinidad/West Indies 1912-1913
Canadian Arctic Expedition with Stefansson 1913-1916
England to Australia Air Race 1919
British Imperial Antarctic Expedition 1919-1920
Shackleton Antarctic Expedition 1921-1922
Russia for the Quakers 1922-1923
Wilkins Australian and Island Expedition 1923-1925
Wilkins-Detroit Arctic Expeditions 1926-1928
Wilkins-Hearst Antarctic Expeditions 1928-1930
Graf Zeppelin Around the World Trip 1929
Wilkins-Ellsworth Trans-Arctic Submarine Expedition 1931
Ellsworth Antarctic Flight Expeditions 1930s
Hindenbrug Trip 1936
Soviet Search Expedition 1937
Second Submarine Expedition Plans 1937-1940
- V. Films/Sound
Recordings: ca. 1928-1958.
- VI. Financial Records -
Personal: Personal finances of Sir Hubert Wilkins and
Suzanne Wilkins: 1930-1969.
- VII. Navigational:
Charts/Maps/Log Books: ca. 1913-1958.
- VIII. Newspaper
Clippings: 1909-1987.
- IX. Notable
Individuals/Groups/Events/Topics: This series contains
correspondence and information concerning other polar
explorers and significant individuals who had a major impact
on Wilkins' career and life; significant groups and
organizations that Wilkins was affiliated with; and major
events and topics concerning Wilkins and his work.
1926-1971.
- X. Notes and Reference
Material -Non Military: This series contains material which
is related to Wilkins's work but is difficult to classify
into series. ca. 1913-1958.
- XI. Photographs:
Arranged according to expeditions/trips, consultant work,
Sir Hubert and Suzanne Wilkins, and other individuals.
1908-1975.
- XII. Speeches/Lectures
- Wilkins: Non Military: ca. 1930-1958. See also Consultant
Work - U.S. Military
- XIII. Suzanne Wilkins:
Biographical/Personal: 1928-1971.
- XIV. Wilkins Memorial
Foundation: This series contains Foundation materials and
correspondence of Winston Ross, Foundation Vice President.
ca. 1960-1987.
- XV. Writings - General:
Writings of Sir Hubert Wilkins related to polar exploration
and other topics. Includes writings of other authors ca.
1920's-1950's. See also Consultant Work - U.S. Military for
more Wilkins' writings.
Provenance: The collection was received in two
parts, the first in 1985 and the second in 1988. Both parts were
received from Winston Ross, Sir Hubert Wilkins' last secretary
and the owner of the Wilkins collection. The collection was not
organized in any logical arrangement before it was received.
Number of Containers: 38 cubic foot boxes, 18
flat grey storage boxes, one .5 cubic foot grey box, one large
box of maps, one large box of motion picture films, and three
large rolls of materials.
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