The Frederick Albert Cook Collection dates from 1909, 1955, and 1991-2009, with the bulk of items dating from 1991-2009. It consists of materials that are about Cook, including newspaper clippings covering his and Robert Peary's journeys to the North Pole, a book prospectus about Cook's journey to the North Pole, and a microfilm copy of the Library of Congress's Frederick Albert Cook Papers.The collection also contains essays and photographs from writers who argue that Cook did not reach the summit of Denali or the North Pole, and writers who believe that he was the first person to reach the summit of Denali and the North Pole.

The Richard G. Dickerson Oral History, dated 2000-2001, contains transcripts, administrative information and audiocassettes of an interview between Dickerson and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society. This oral history took place on April 21, 2000, regarding Dickerson's experiences in the Navy and as a pilot in Antarctica and the Arctic. 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 Dickerson’s career in the Navy, his experiences flying C-130s with skis attached, the difference between a runway and a ski-way, seasonal activities on the Ross Ice Shelf, and the use of dogs for transportation, which had changed significantly from earlier Antarctic expeditions. The oral history also contains discussions on the establishment of a runway on ice island T-3 in the Arctic, the Arctic Research Lab Ice Station II (ARLIS II), the use of native Iñupiat labor, the Arctic Ice Dynamics Joint Experiment (AIDJEX) project, the construction of the Alaskan Pipeline, and landing at Russian bases in the Antarctic.

The Ian M. Whillans Papers, dated 1955-2001, contains datasheets, maps, reports, articles, aerial photographs, negatives, notes, equipment lists, calculations and field books regarding Whillans' glaciological research in Antarctica and Arctic regions.

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 Robert E. Peary Collection, dated 1907-1909, 2002-2006, consists of materials about Robert E. Peary and his journey to the North Pole. This collection contains a photocopy and microfilm reel of a 1898-1901 physician’s diary kept by Dr. Thomas Dedrick, a surgeon who accompanied Peary on his 1898-1902 expedition to the North Pole. Page numbers are written on the photocopies. This collection also includes galley proofs and typescripts for Hampton’s Magazine article, “The Discovery of the North Pole.” Peary edited the galley proofs and typescripts with notes and corrections. Also included is a compact disc that contains a copy of an original 1909 Victor Record recording of Peary reading an excerpt of “The Discovery of the North Pole.” The original format of this recording is not in this collection.

The George Cvijanovich Oral History, dated 1958 and 1983-2002, contains recordings, administrative information and a transcript of the interview between Cvijanovich and Ohio State University Polar Archivist Laura Kissel that took place on May 8, 2000, regarding his experiences in the Arctic and as a geophysicist. 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 collection include Cvijanovich’s work at the Sorbonne and Columbia University, his experiences on Ice Station Alpha on the ice floe “Ice Skate,” his observations regarding interaction between military personnel and scientists, the development of a nuclear magnetic resonance instrument and his experience of having the first experiment on the high energy accelerator at Geneva.

The Stephen Barnes Oral History, dated 1958-1965, and 2000-2001, contains audiocassette recordings, administrative information, and transcripts of an interview between Barnes and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society conducted on March 13, 2000. This interview was part of a series of 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 of the interview include Barnes' recollections of Operation Deep Freeze II, the Sky High Station in Antarctica, and his ionospheric research in Antarctica, Maui, and elsewhere. Barnes also reflects on the contributions of various scientists in Antarctica, the challenges and dangers of living in Antarctica for an extended time, and his personal life since his retirement in 1994.

The Jehu L. "Dusty" Blades III Oral History, dated 2000-2001, contains audio recordings, administrative information and a transcript of the the interview between Blades and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society that took place on March 12, 2000, regarding Blades' experiences as a helicopter pilot and commanding officer in the Arctic and 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 the opportunities in Blades' life that allowed him to pursue flight in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, the shipment of helicopters to the polar regions in 1952, the development of helicopter rescue techniques, and his experiences during Operation Deep Freeze I. The collection also contains Blades' recollections of travel from Norfolk, Virginia to McMurdo Station, Antarctica; his time as commanding officer during Operation Deep Freeze 65; the 1964-1965 construction of the Palmer Station; and the relations between international Antarctic scientists and military personnel.

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 William Anderson Oral History, dated 2000-2001, contains recordings, administrative information, and a transcript of the interview between Anderson and former Ohio State University Polar Archivist Raimund Goerler that took place on March 15, 2000, regarding his experiences as the captain of the United States Ship Nautilus. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by American Polar Society and The Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics of the interview include planning for expeditions, unsuccessful efforts, Anderson's fears that the Navy would cancel the expedition after the first failure, and the importance of Dr. Waldo Lyon, chief scientist on the Nautilus in developing the special instruments that enabled the submarine to measure ice thickness and plot the Barrow Sea Canyon.