The Arnold Court Trunk Used During United States Antarctic Service Expedition, dated circa 1939, contains a wooden storage trunk that belonged to Arnold Court when he was a meteorologist for the U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition from 1939-1941. The trunk has the words U.S. Antarctic Service and West Base stenciled its sides.

The Byrd Antarctic Expedition I News is a newsletter for members of the first Byrd Antarctic Expedition (BAE I) created by Henry Harrison from 1974-1988. The newsletter mainly consists of messages from or about expedition members and photocopied press clippings related to BAE I and expedition members. Seventeen total issues of the newsletter are included in this collection, including some years where two issues were published during that year.

Volume 12 is not included, but it is not know whether that number was skipped during production of the newsletter, or whether this issue exists but is absent from the collection.

The Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Collection contains collected materials both from and about Byrd Antarctic Expedition II, some of which date before and after the Expedition. A candlestick from an expedition ship dates from 1884, and the rest of the collection dates from 1928 to 2010, with the bulk of materials dating between 1928 and 1935. The collection includes items such as correspondence from expedition members, artifacts from the United States Ship Bear and the expedition itself, a scrapbook, photocopies of the South Pole Radio News published by the expedition, an account of the trip to rescue Admiral Byrd from Advance Base by a crew member, advertisements by sponsors of the expedition, and postal covers.

The Calvin Larsen Papers, dated 1956-1958 and 2000, contain materials related to Calvin Larsen's time as a United States Navy photographer assigned to cover Operation Deep Freeze II begining in 1956, and the International Geophysical Year in Antarctica from 1957-1958. These materials include a set of 172 numbered and labeled 35mm Kodachrome slides taken by Larsen while in Antarctica in 1956-1957, and several magazines where his photographs of Antarctica were published. Also included is an audio recording of an oral history interview with Larsen from 2000. This oral history is from a series of polar oral histories sponsored by the American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program. A transcript of the interview is included in addition to the audio recording.

The Carl O. Petersen Papers, dated 1920-circa 1930s, contains correspondence sent from Admiral Richard E. Byrd to Petersen and his wife, clippings from American periodicals and one French periodical on the Byrd Antarctic Expeditions, two blank fleet naval reserve radio logs, a photograph of penguins and a ship docked in Antarctica, and an 1920 photograph of Petersen in military uniform in the West Indies.

The Charles J.V. Murphy Papers, dated 1926-1937, 1960-1974, and circa 1990s-2012, contains radio scripts, correspondence, meteorological reports, Struggle: The Life and Exploits of Commander Richard E. Byrd, book chapters, press releases, notes, correspondence between Murphy and several family members, and daily journal writings mainly concerning Byrd Antarctic Expedition II, 1933-1935, with some correspondence during Byrd Antarctic Expedition I, 1928-1930 and his North Pole flight. Due to Murphy being Byrd's ghost writer, some original Byrd materials are found in this collection. The latter materials include correspondence and articles regarding Bernt Balchen's claims that Byrd lied about his North Pole flight of 1926, as well as compact discs containing correspondence from Byrd Antarctic Expedition II.

The Charles Lofgren Papers, dated circa 1900s-1995 contains photographs, obituaries, articles, and news clippings regarding his personal life, his military career, his participation in Byrd Antarctic Expedition I (1928-1930) and his lecture tour that followed. Lofgren's lecture tour and numerous news clippings often focused on his relationship with his sledge dog, "Tom Pratt," who was born during the expedition. The 1989 material is a postage stamp commemorating Richard E. Byrd. This collection is comprised primarily of original materials that date to the time of the expedition or other events in Lofgren's life, with some photocopies of original materials created during Byrd Antarctic Expedition I that were produced at a later date.

The Charles R. Bentley Papers, dated 1948-2011, contains data sheets, data books, seismograms, aerial photographs, punched cards, microfilm, and magnetic data tapes compiled during his career as a polar scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, the collection contains course documentation, correspondence, maps, publications, minutes, programs, equipment and member lists, forms, proposals and reports gathered from Bentley's interactions with professional organizations, his expeditions, and the courses he taught at University of Wisconsin-Madison. The collection includes national and international meetings files that come from numerous polar and related organizations.

The Clifford D. Hathaway Oral History, dated 2002, contains notes, audio recordings, and transcripts of the interview between Hathaway and Brian Shoemaker conducted on May 3, 2002. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics discussed include the role of the icebreaker ship Glacier in getting to Antarctica, using Caterpillar tractors to transport supplies over snow and ice, establishing the Little America V base camp, ground controlled approach for aircraft, and rescue operations for pilots and aircraft.

Correspondence Sent by Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Member Clarence Arthur "Art" Abele, Jr. to Fred Edwin Mathias contains a handwritten holiday card from January 1934 and a two-page handwritten letter from January 1935, accompanied by the original envelopes they were mailed in. The holiday card depicts a black and white line drawing of penguins and says "Greetings from Little America." Abele wrote a brief greeting to Mathias while at sea, the day before he arrived in Little America on the second Byrd Antarctic Expedition (BAE II), commenting on Mathias' new career as a traveling salesman, and noting when he is expected to arrive in Little America. The 1935 letter from Abele thanks Mathias for sending him a Christmas greeting from Portugal, reflects on their time at Harvard speculating what their future lives would be like, and discusses what it was like to live in Antarctica for a year, noting that they are in the process of packing up and returning home to the United States.

The Daniel Talpas Papers contains materials collected by Talpas before, during, and after his time aboard the U.S.S. Philippine Sea, including a numbered photograph set of the Operation Highjump expedition, and nearly complete runs of the newsletters produced by the ship's crew, including the "Philippine Sea Line" and "Penguin Special." The collection contains general commemorative items available to the crew (stationary, matchbooks, publications), as well as items specific to Talpas, including his Ancient Order of the Deep summons and certificate, and photographs he personally took. The collection also includes Talpas' Plank Owner certificate for the U.S.S. Philippine Sea, as well as a few articles from magazines about the ship and Operation Highjump. Materials date primarily from the time immediately before, during, and after the expedition in 1946-1947, and one article about Admiral Byrd and Operation Highjump dates from 1954.

The David A. Paige Jr. and Lucille Paige Oral History, dated October 27, 2005-after 2005, contains audio recordings and transcripts of the interview with David A. Paige Jr. and Lucille Paige conducted by Raimund Goerler and Prudence Gill on October 27, 2005. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics discussed include David A. Paige Sr.’s early life after immigrating to the United States, the start of his career as a commercial artist in Boston and New York, his experiences as the expedition artist during the Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition (BAE II) from 1933-1935, the conditions he encountered in Antarctica and the artistic techniques he used there, and how he later moved to Los Angeles, California, and worked for film and television studios in Hollywood.

The David Paige Papers, dated 1933-1934, 1938, and circa 2005, contain photocopies of telegrams and other correspondence from 1933-1989, mainly between Admiral Richard E. Byrd and Paige. The majority of the correspondence concerns the access, ownership, and use of motion picture film of Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition (BAE II), shot by and housed at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California. Paige assembled a film from the footage of “only shots pertaining to art and artistic subjects” to accompany the lecture tour he was scheduling. The letters exchanged between Paige and Byrd evidence discrepancies between the two men’s understanding and approval of how Paige intended to, and ultimately did, use the footage, and Paige's interpretation of the contract between Byrd and Paramount Pictures. The correspondence includes a letter and accompanying contract sent from Emanuel Cohen, Vice President of Paramount Pictures, to Richard E. Byrd. In later years, the correspondence turns to the topic of Paige's artwork, which was in the possession of Byrd and Byrd's family. It contains a letter sent from Paige to Richard E. Byrd's son, requesting that Paige's artwork be returned to him and not included in the Byrd estate, and correspondence between the law firms representing Paige's and Byrd's estates, respectively, following their deaths, regarding custody of Paige's artwork. The collection also contains an original letter and piece of artwork, dated 1938, sent by Paige to junior high school student Sonia Grekel to reward her with the first place prize of an original pencil drawing of penguins. Also included are letters that Paige sent to Mr. W. Jewel, art critic at The New York Times, during BAE II.

The David Norman Grisez Oral History, dated 1956, and circa 1995-2002, contains audiocassettes, administrative information, and transcripts of the interview between Grisez and Goldthwait Polar Librarian Lynn Lay that took place on May 22, 2000 regarding Grisez's experiences in Antarctica as a machinery repairman and petty officer. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics found in this oral history include the establishment of McMurdo Station and a South Pole Base, the Seabees and their involvement in Operation Deep Freeze, the construction of an ice runway for supply delivery, and the activities and pastimes of men in Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze. The oral history also includes Grisez's reflections on his work with the Antarctic Support Associates (ASA) from 1995-1996, on the leadership and staff relations during wintering over in Antarctica, on the changes that occurred in the forty years between his first and second trip to McMurdo Station, and on the machinery and equipment used in Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze and in the mid-1990s.

The Dennis Anthony Wagner Jr. Operation Highjump Papers contain correspondence, ephemera, mounted photographs on loose scrapbook pages, and approximately 200 loose photographs taken while Wagner was serving in Operation Highjump, a Navy Antarctic expedition. The scrapbooks pages, likely previous parts of a bound scrapbook, consist of mounted photographs with handwritten captions and titles for groups of photographs on the pages. Photographs in the collection depict Navy ships, sailors, transportation, camp buildings, camp life, and landscapes in Antarctica. The collection also contains a souvenir program from the expedition, clippings about Admiral Richard E. Byrd's death, and correspondence between Wagner and Richard E. Byrd after the expedition. The collection dates from 1946-1957.

The Donald L. Jeanroy Papers, which dates from 1954-1958, 2005, 2012, with most of the material dating from 1954-1958, contains scrapbooks, publications, photographs, biographical information, correspondence, a patch, postal covers and postcards. Most of the collection's correspondence is addressed to Marie "Mom" Jeanroy. Also includes a collection of letters sent to Nadine Parkinson. The two were penpals during this time. The 2005 and 2012 materials are journal articles authored by Jeanroy regarding his participation in Operation Highjump.

The Donald Walk Papers contain materials Walk collected while serving in the United States Navy in Antarctica during the United States' Operation Deep Freeze 61. These materials include 35mm slides, photographs, magnetic audio tapes of recordings Walk sent to his family while on assignment, 8mm film, administrative reports, clippings, medical research, correspondence, and Antarctic clothing and equipment documenting Walk's experience as a psychiatrist and administrator. The collection also contains clippings and other publications that Walk collected after his assignment was completed, and digitized copies of most of the collection materials on DVDs and compact discs. The collection is dated 1945-1969 and circa 2006-2008.

"Dr. Louis Hauiti Potaka of New Zealand: A Biographical Essay" Manuscript by Bruce Young dates from December 2005, and consists of a typed manuscript. It is a brief biographical essay written by Young that describes what he learned about Potaka's life and participation in the Byrd Antarctic Expedition II through secondary source research. The first version of this essay was published on December 31, 1999; the version in this collection is the revised December 2005 edition.

The Edgar F. Cox Papers, dated 1907-1975, with most of the collection dating from 1930-1946, contains scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, storyboards, diaries, radio scripts, periodicals, medals, artifacts and an autograph book that primarily relate to Cox's role as herdsman and carpenter during Byrd Antarctic Expedition II with some focus on the cattle on the expedition. The collection also contains materials relating to his service during World War I and World War II as well as a coin from 1907 and correspondence and pictures from 1975 regarding the naming of Cox Point in Antarctica.

The Edith "Jackie" Ronne Oral History, dated 2000-2001, contains audio recordings, administrative information, and transcripts of the interview between Ronne and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society conducted on July 20, 2000. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by the American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics discussed include Ronne's status as the first woman to work on an Antarctic expedition, how she helped her husband Finn Ronne prepare for the trip, work and writing she did during her time in Antarctica from 1946-1948, her memories of the continent, and return trips to Antarctica throughout the rest of her life.

The Edward Frankiewicz Oral History, dated 2000-2001, contains audiocassettes, administrative information and the transcript of the interview between Frankiewicz and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society that took place on February 23, 2000 regarding Frankiewicz's experiences as a Naval pilot and officer in Antarctica. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics found in the oral history include Frankiewicz's childhood in Vermont, the flight experiences that led to his role as a transport pilot for the United States Navy in 1942 as part of Naval Transport Squadron V-1, his experiences during Operation Deep Freeze I, and his account of the first polar landing by Gus Shinn. The oral history also includes Frankiewicz's discussions on the establishment of Beardmore Camp at Liv Glacier, the living conditions at Little America and McMurdo Stations, the establishment and maintenance of tractor supply trains from Little America to Byrd Station, and the rescue of Jack Torbert and Charlie Otti in Venezuela. Frankiewicz then provided his insight on Operation Deepfreeze III, and the difficulties of flying into and clearing Little America and Cape Hallet.

The Edwin C. Flowers Oral History, dated 2000-2002, contains audiocassettes, administrative information and transcripts of the interview between Flowers and Ohio State University Polar Archivist Laura Kissel that took place on March 9, 2000, regarding his experience as a meteorologist in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (IGY). This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation Major topics of the oral history include how Flowers became a meteorologist and subsequently how he became involved with the IGY, what daily life at South Pole Station was like, and Flower's role as a weather observer and his research activities, such as weather balloon launches. The oral history also contains a discussion on Paul Siple and his influence on others at South Pole Station, the relationship between Navy personnel and civilian scientists, and Flowers' relationship with others people in Antarctica during that time.

The Elaine Whiteford Collection on Richard W. Konter, dated 1926-1931, contains photographs, postcards, newspaper clippings, correspondence, a scrapbook and an autograph book regarding Whiteford's relationship with Konter and his participation in Byrd Antarctic Expedition I, 1928-1930. While much of Whiteford's autograph book contains signatures gathered by Konter during the expedition, she got other notable signatures beforehand including Edith Kermit Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt's second wife and Kermit Roosevelt, Jr., Roosevelt's grandchild.

The Erwin H. Bramhall Papers contain a silver medal, correspondence with other members of expeditionary parties and scientists, a scrapbook, and photographs and writings by Bramhall, including a field notebook documenting his work on Byrd's Second Expedition to Antarctica from 1933-1935. The collection dates from 1926-1979 and primarily chronicles Byrd's Antarctic Expedition II and its legacy through photographs, correspondence and the medal Bramhall received for the expedition.

The Eugene L. Boudette Oral History, dated 2002-2009, contains audio recordings, notes, and transcripts of the interview between Boudette and Brian Shoemaker conducted on October 27, 2002. The notes are dated before, during, and after the interview, and the interview transcript was completed in 2009. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics discussed include ice drilling in the Arctic in Greenland, the Marie Byrd Land Traverse (1959-1960), discovering granite in the Clark Mountains in Antarctica, planning the Victoria Land Traverse (1960-1961), and his diabetes diagnosis.

Eugene Rodgers Papers for Beyond the Barrier: The Story of Byrd's First Expedition to Antarctica contains research materials used in the writing of the 1990 book, including clippings and photocopies of photographs, articles, and books about Byrd's first Antarctic expedition (BAE I) and members who accompanied him, aircraft and ships used on the expedition, and BAE I newsletters. Audio recordings of lectures and symposiums about Byrd, as well as interviews conducted by Rodgers are located in this collection. Also included is correspondence with institutions about their archival holdings related to Byrd, with other researchers interested in Byrd and Antarctic exploration, and with expedition members and their descendants, including responses to interview questions. Materials related to the process of publishing Rodgers' book with the Naval Institute Press are included in this collection, such as correspondence regarding edits to Rodgers' manuscript, edited and corrected drafts, an author guide, correspondence regarding the fair use of copyrighted material, publicity clippings and press releases, and reviews of the published book. Correspondence about talks and lectures Rodgers gave about Byrd after the publication of his book, biographical sketches about Byrd he wrote for other publications, and the use of content from his book for documentary films about Byrd and BAE I are also included. Materials in this collection are dated 1967-2005, and 2013, with the bulk of materials dated between 1987 and 1991.

Francis Dana Coman and John "Jack" Coman Family Papers, dated 1885-circa 1953, contain materials that were created, received, and/or collected by members of the Coman family, including Francis Dana Coman and John “Jack” Frederick Coman. Several items relate to Francis Dana Coman's military service and career in the polar regions. Included are photographs, correspondence, press clippings, awards, booklets, compasses, a Bible, and a pin.

The George A. Lewis Caption List and DVD for Film and Slides of Tunnel Building at the New Byrd Station in Antarctica from 1960-1961 contains a DVD of digitized 8mm film footage and 35mm slides that show the building of tunnels at the New Byrd Station in Antarctica. The film and slides were taken from November 1960 to March 1961, during Operation Deep Freeze 61. The collection also contains a printed list of captions for the slides listed in the order they are shown on the DVD. Collection materials are dated circa 2008.

The George F. Kosco Papers, which dates from 1945-before 1993, contains photograph albums, a VHS videocassette and a 16mm film regarding Operation Highjump. The videocassette contains footage of the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II, a trip to the Arctic and Operation Highjump.

The George M. Troutman Papers, dated circa 1928-1935, contain materials created or collected by George M. Troutman that mostly relate to the first Byrd Antarctic Expedition and document Troutman's connection with some of the expedition's members. In particular, the papers document his relationship with Sidney Greason. Materials include correspondence, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Also included are covers, which are self-addressed, stamped envelopes that have been sent through the mail, that Troutman collected during the second Byrd Antarctic Expedition.