Wilkins at Ellsworth’s castle
Schloss Lenzburg in Switzerland,
1930. Wilkins OV-16. 

Memorandum of Agreement with Hearst Enterprises. Wilkins 15-17.

Lincoln Ellsworth was 50
at the time of the expedition,
ca. 1930s. Wilkins OV-16.

In the Summer of 1930, Wilkins and his wife Suzanne took a belated honeymoon trip to Switzerland, where they stayed at the luxurious castle Schloss Lenzburg, owned by wealthy friend and colleague Lincoln Ellsworth.  It was during this 6 week vacation that Wilkins and Ellsworth finalized the plans for what would become the Wilkins-Ellsworth Trans-Arctic Expedition. Ellsworth was the chief financier of the expedition, contributing $70,000 plus providing another $20,000 as a “loan.” Hearst Enterprises paid $61,000 for exclusive rights to the story of the expedition for publication in the New York American.  The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute contributed $35,000. As a publicity and fund-raising idea, Wilkins published Under the North Pole: The Wilkins-Ellsworth Submarine Expedition before the expedition actually took place. This item raised $3,200.  Finally, Wilkins himself donated $22,000 of his own money to the expedition, representing lecture fees and personal savings.

Letter written by Ellsworth
to Wilkins loaning
him $20,000 and considering possible future involvement.
Wilkins OV-16.

Letter from the Texas
Company to Wilkins on January 28, 1931 regarding support.
Wilkins OV-16.

On pages 2-3, note that Ellsworth advises Wilkins that he is not requiring him to pay back the $20,000 loan. Wilkins 15-5.

Authenticity page of
Under the North Pole.
Wilkins OV-21