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Photo of Wilkins. Caption: Sir George Hubert Wilkins in furs, ca. 1930s. Wilkins OV-16.

Picture of Ice Mountainous shore. Caption: View of the Arctic ice from on board the Nautilus. Wilkins OV-16.

33-11-51. Caption: Nautilus moving through the ice. Wilkins 33-11-51.

33-12-2. Caption: The Nautilus in the Arctic, 1931. Wilkins 33-12-2.

33-13-9. Caption: Wilkins on the radio. Wilkins 33-13-9.

Drawing of the Nautilus. Caption: Drawing of the Nautilus. Wilkins OV-16.

The Idea

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

Hearst Agreement ( 7 page document). Caption: Memorandum of Agreement with Hearst Enterprises. Wilkins 15-17.

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

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

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

Ellsworth Letter (this is a 3 page letter).  Caption: On page 2-3, in the postscript, note that Ellsworth advises Wilkins that he is not requiring him to pay back the $20,000 loan.  Wilkins 15-5.

Under the North Pole Special Edition. Caption: Under the North Pole Special Edition.  Wilkins OV-16.

Under the North Pole Ad (this is a 3 page flyer). Caption: Advertisement for Under the North Pole. Wilkins OV-34.

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

Book with box.  Caption: A special contributor’s edition was sold for $50 a copy and was printed on special rag paper and enclosed in a metal box. Wilkins. OV-21.

Lecture Poster.  Caption: “I was lecturing day and night to earn as much as I could…”  (Source for quote:  Wilkins 15/19).  Wilkins OV-3.

Hand-painted advertisement.  Caption: This hand painted poster actually consists of 6 separate 30” by 40” sheets that were pieced together to make one giant advertisement. Wilkins OV-22

Purpose of the Expedition

Wilkins 13-13-34.  Caption: Chief Scientist Harold Sverdrup conducting water sampling experiments. Wilkins 13-13-34.

Oceanographic Summary.  Caption: Special datasheets were used to record scientific information.  This example is from the day on which the Nautilus reached her “farthest Northing.” Wilkins OV-16.

15-33 Purpose of Expedition (this is a 2 page document). Caption: Document detailing the purpose of the expedition. Wilkins 15-33.

Box 37 nautilus 4:  Caption: Wilkins (left) and Ray Myers (right) establishing radio contact. Wilkins 37-4.

33-13-2. Caption: Wilkins at the typewriter writing his daily installment in fulfillment of his agreement with the Hearst empire. Wilkins 33-13-2.

33-12-1. Caption: Inside the cramped quarters of the Nautilus. Wilkins at center, Sverdrup, at left. Wilkins 33-12-1.

33-11-9. Caption: Wilkins, left and chief scientist Harold Sverdrup. Wilkins 33-11-9.

33-11-24. Caption: Chief radio operator Ray Meyers at the periscope. Wilkins 33-11-24.

The Crew

Crew list.  Caption: Crew list for the Nautilus. Wilkins 15-14.

33-11-13.  Caption: Crewmembers on the Nautilus. Wilkins 33-11-13.

General Release of Crew (this is a two page document).  Caption: All crew members had to sign a contract indemnifying Lake and Danenhower and the Expedition against damages, including particularly claims for death. Wilkins 15-17.

33-11-4.  Caption: Commander Sloan Danenhower. Wilkins 33-11-14.

33-11-32  Caption: Members of the crew on the deck of the submarine. Wilkins 33-11-32.

33-12-16  Caption: Harry Rothschild, the cook on board the Nautilus. Wilkins 33-12-16.

33-11-28.  Caption: From left, Wilkins, Ray E. Myers and Frank Crilley about to toss overboard a flag before turning back from their Arctic Dash. [NY Herald Tribune, Sun. Oct. 19, 1931]. Wilkins 33-11-28.

33-11-29  Caption: Crewmembers looking at ice floes. Wilkins 33-11-29.

Nautilus 1.  Caption: The crew of the Nautilus Expedition. Wilkins 37-1.

The Submarine

Nautilus in Dry Dock 2. Caption: The sub underwent extensive modification in order to prepare it for the expedition, at significant cost. Wilkins OV-16.

Estimate to complete submarine. Caption: The modifications to be made to the O-12 were numerous and costly, as evidenced by this estimate. Wilkins OV-16.

Nautilus in Dry Dock. Caption: The submarine O-12 in dry dock, before it was renamed the Nautilus. Wilkins OV-16.

Chernikeef Log Book. Caption: The Chernikeef Log is an instrument used to measure nautical speed and distance traveled. 

Chernikeef Log Gauge. Caption: Chernikeef Log Gauge.

Chernikeef Log. Caption: Chernikeef Log.

15-1 Chernikeef Log Prices (this is a two page document). Caption: Chernikeef Log Prices. Wilkins 15-1.

 33-11-22. Caption: A crew member checking the gauge on the Chernikeef Log. Wilkins 33-11-22.

Wilkins and Ellsworth at Christening. Caption: Wilkins and Lincoln Ellsworth at the christening of the ship, March 24, 1931. Wilkins OV-16.

33-11-51. Caption: The prow of the Nautilus was equipped with a rounded plunger, shown in this picture, which served as extra protection while diving under the ice. Wilkins 33-11-51.

Signatures from crew to Wilkins. Caption: Final modifications were effected and diving trials were conducted at the New London Submarine Base.  This souvenir radiogram was given to Wilkins by the crew. Wilkins OV-16.

Wilkins, wife and Jean-Jules Verne @ christening.  Caption:  from left, Sir Hubert Wilkins, Suzanne Wilkins and Jean-Jules Verne at the christening.  Jean Jules Verne, grandson of Jules Verne, author of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was present at christening, at the invitation of Simon Lake.  Lake was the original designer of the 0-12 submarine, which became the Nautilus.  He also designed many of the modifications for under ice travel.  Interestingly, most of these modifications failed.  It was Lake who chose the name Nautilus for the submarine, hoping to capitalize on the publicity and the association with Jules Verne’s novel. Wilkins OV-16.

33-13-14.  Caption: On March 24, 1931, the submarine was christened Nautilus by Lady Suzanne Wilkins under the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge before a crowd of 800 spectators.  Due to prohibition, a silver bucket of cracked ice was used rather than the traditional champagne. Wilkins 33-13-14.

The Journey

33-11-34. Caption: Unidentified crew member. Wilkins 33-11-34.

33-12-14. Caption: Yonkers, NY.  May 9, 1931. Wilkins 33-12-14.

33-12-17. Caption: Unidentified crew member. Wilkins 33-12-17.

33-13-4. Caption: A view of the Nautilus from above, as it is towed by the USS Wyoming. Wilkins 33-13-4.

33-13-7. Caption: Crew on deck of the USS Wyoming. Wilkins 33-13-7.

33-13-8. Caption: Nautilus being towed by the USS Wyoming in the mid-Atlantic. Wilkins 33-13-8.

33-13-23. Caption: USS Wyoming. Wilkins 33-13-23.

33-13-46. Caption: View of Nautilus from the deck of the USS Wyoming. Wilkins 33-13-46.

33-13-39.  Caption: The Nautilus in dry dock once again, undergoing repairs. Wilkins 33-13-39.

33-12-4.  Caption: It was not only cramped on board the ship, but it was cold.  This image shows hoar frost that formed on the bolts inside the cabin. Wilkins 33-12-14.

Prince of Wales, Edward Albert. Caption: On July 15, 1931, while the Nautilus was in dry dock in Devonport, England undergoing repairs, the Prince of Wales, Edward Albert, paid a surprise visit.  Wilkins took him on an inspection tour through the craft. Wilkins OV-16.

The Arctic Dive

33-11-27. Caption:  The Nautilus in choppy waters. Wilkins 33-11-27.

Under ice. Caption: Picture from under the ice. OV-16.

33-13-12. Caption: The Nautilus submerging. Wilkins 33-13-12.

33-12-22. Caption: A member of the expedition taking sound pictures as two men of the crew make final examinations of the ship before the dive. Wilkins 33-12-22.

Box 37 Nautilus-5.  Caption: It was important to document the expedition on film in order to fulfill the agreement Wilkins had with Hearst Enterprises. Wilkins 37-5.

33-12-25. Caption: Wilkins and Ray E. Myers, radio expert of the expedition working on the emergency radio set. Wilkins 33-12-25. 

33-13-1.  Caption: Captain Sloan Danenhower opening the conning tower hatch following a dive.   A huge cake of ice can be seen jammed on the main ice drill. Wilkins 33-13-1.

33-11-16. Caption: Frank Crilley, diver of the expedition, being lowered into the icy water to inspect the hull of the Nautilus after it had been damaged by ice. Wilkins 33-11-16.

33-11-26. Caption: Members of the crew stretching their legs on an ice floe during a pause in the trip, a welcome respite from the cramped quarters of the submarine. Wilkins 33-11-26.

Hero or Fool

Mickey Mouse cartoon. Caption: “One of the friendly greetings I appreciated most came from Walt Disney in Hollywood.”  (Thomas, p. 264). Wilkins 14-45.

Wilkins with Mickey Mouse.  Caption:  From left, Captain Bernt Balchen, Walt Disney and Sir Hubert Wilkins at the Breakfast Club, September 28, 1932. Wilkins 35-13-1.

Charles E. Abrams letter. Caption: Letter from Charles E. Abrams. Wilkins 15-3.

Poem. Caption: Poem. Wilkins 15-4.

Nay Say letter- 1. Caption: Letter opposing Wilkins’ attempt. Wilkins 15-4.

Ellsworth Telegram. Caption: Telegram from Ellsworth to Wilkins. Wilkins OV-16.

Clover letter (this is a two page document).  Caption: Letter with four leaf clover. Wilkins 15-3.

Felix the cat. Caption: Pat Sullivan (1887-1933) cartooned for a number of publications after he immigrated to the US from Australia.  He is best known as the producer of the silent Felix the Cat animated cartoons.Wilkins OV-16.

Afterwards

Wilkins 33_9_39  Caption: Ellsworth and Wilkins, ca. 1930s. Wilkins 33-9-39.

Radiogram. Caption: Radiogram regarding the sinking of the Nautilus. Wilkins OV-16.

Wilkins 33_8_2 Caption: Ellsworth and Wilkins, front, with pilot Bernt Balchen on board the Polar Star, built for Ellsworth by the Northrup Corporation, ca. 1930s. Wilkins 33-8-2.

Wilkins 35_8_1 Caption: Wilkins never gave up on the idea of submarine travel in the polar regions.  Here, he is on board the nuclear submarine Skate with commander James Calvert, October 18, 1958.  Wilkins died shortly after thereafter, on December 1, 1958 at the age of 70. Wilkins 35-8-1.

Wilkins 33_10_26 Caption: Ellsworth’s ship, Wyatt Earp, icebound on its voyage to Antarctica, ca. 1930s. Wilkins 33-10-26.

Wilkins 35_5_1 Caption: USS Skate surfacing at the North Pole, March 17, 1959. Wilkins 35-5-1.

Wilkins 35_5_4 Caption: Crew of the USS Skate during the memorial ceremony for Wilkins on March 17, 1959.  Wilkins’ ashes were scattered over the Arctic ice. Wilkins 35-5-4.