The Jonathan Duff Reed Papers consist of materials related to the 1926 Byrd Arctic Expedition and first Byrd Antarctic Expedition (BAE I, 1928-1930), including letters of recommendation sent to Admiral Richard E. Byrd on behalf of Reed, portraits of Reed in his expedition gear, photographs taken by Reed during the expeditions, and the Kodak camera he used, equipped with a fast lens for the snow. Also included are newspaper clippings about the expeditions, as well as Byrd's obituaries. Reed's certificate from the United States Navy appointing him as midshipman, his honorable discharge certificate from the United States Army, and a certificate authorizing him to man a lifeboat from the United States Department of Commerce are included. Materials are dated circa 1910-1930, and 1950-1965.