The Hero Business, Conquering the Ice: Byrd's Flight to the South Pole

City after city acclaimed Byrd for his
achievements when he returned from Antarctica,
as in this ticker tape parade in Boston, ca. 1930.
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #8011_1.

Letter from Amelia Earhart to Byrd, July 30, 1928,
Richard E. Byrd Papers, #2901.
Amelia Earhart pledged not only her good wishes, but also money she earned from a cigarette ad,
to Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition.

Financing of this expedition was no easy task. Byrd organized the expedition as his own enterprise and used his fame – what he called “the hero business” – to attract gifts of money, supplies and equipment. Frequently, he gained supplies from manufacturers in exchange for endorsements. Byrd also turned to the wealthy friends that had supported his North Pole expedition, such as John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Edsel Ford, to supply him with the cash that he needed. Particularly valuable was the support from the news media. The New York Times sent a reporter, Russell Owens to travel with the expedition to write stories that he then radioed back for publication. Similarly, Paramount Pictures contracted with Byrd and sent two cameramen on the expedition to film and create a documentary for the general public. “With Byrd at the South Pole,” was released in 1930 and selected by the New York Times as one of the “Ten Best Films of the Year,” and winner of the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

Good Luck letter from Edith Sanford, with four-leaf clover, ca. 1928, Richard E. Byrd Papers, #5433. One of hundreds of well-wishes sent to Byrd. Note that Ms. Sanford misspoke and refers to Byrd’s upcoming Arctic, rather than Antarctic, expedition.	Radiogram from Lincoln Ellsworth to Byrd, October 8, 1928, Richard E. Byrd Papers, #5432. Well wishes came from not only the public, but also from other explorers.
Radiogram from Charles Lindbergh to Byrd, 1929, Richard E. Byrd Papers, #5041. Although Lindbergh and Byrd were considered competitors, their relationship was also one of mutual respect, as shown by this radiogram from Lindbergh thanking Byrd for naming an inlet in the Bay of Whales for him.	Commemorative poster to Bridgeport Leather Specialty Co., signed by Richard Byrd and James Bush, chairman of Bridgeport Leather, 1930. Byrd Miscellany, Accession #200214. Bridgeport Leather Specialty Company equipped the Byrd expedition with 120 pairs of jersey gloves. Many companies donated items to the expedition in exchange for the publicity they received.
With Byrd at the South Pole, video cover. Some thirty miles of film was shot in Antarctica to make the final 82-minute production.	Book, Paramount Newsreel Men with Admiral Byrd in Little America, 1934. Richard E. Byrd Papers, #3968. In addition to the film, Paramount also published this book documenting the experiences of the film crew on the expedition.
Excerpt of letter from Byrd’s mother to Byrd, undated, ca. 1928. Richard E. Byrd Papers, #5346. Transcription: “My splendid son, I am very proud of you and I am thankful God has given me men for sons who can do something in the world. You were perfectly right to go and I believe few men in the world could carry this expectation through as you will. I shall live in hopes you will find something in this frozen world worth having…” Byrd was heroic in the eyes of most, including his mother.