Materials are arranged chronologically, and alphabetically by topic or given title within the same date.
Accession no. PA.2001.0001: Wayne H. and Stanley A. Richardson, 2001 February
[identification of item], Hollis and Wayne H. Richardson Family Papers, SPEC.PA.56.0081, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Andrew Cline, 2019 May-June; Karen Glenn and Devon Boerman, 2019 September-October; Finding aid written by: Andrew Cline, 2019 June; Devon Boerman, 2019 October
Hollis ("Holly") Richardson (1904-1963) was a sled dog trainer and driver who served as part of the United States Antarctic Service Expedition from 1939-1940. Richardson got his start training sled dogs in his hometown of Tilton, New Hampshire and at the Pocono Manor resort in the mountains of Pennsylvania, where Richardson and his wife, Velma served as “Recreational Directors” and maintained a kennel of sled dogs. The Richardsons trained their dogs on the resort grounds while also taking guests on recreational sled rides and, in return, received promotional support from Pocono Manor for Richardson’s participation in sled dog races.
Richardson’s race teams occasionally included dogs that had served on prior Byrd Antarctic Expeditions and placed highly in several races. Richardson achieved notoriety in the Northeastern United States for his accomplishments in sled dog racing. Richardson was appointed in 1939 to serve as a sled dog trainer on the United States Antarctic Service Expedition and departed for Antarctica as a member of the expedition in October of that year. Other dog trainers on the trip included Finn Ronne, Richard Moulton, and John Bursey. Richardson spent several months in Antarctica and returned prematurely in the spring of 1940 due to stomach illness. After the expedition, Richardson gave some talks to the public regarding his experiences.
Wayne H. Richardson is the son of Hollis Richardson.
The Hollis and Wayne H. Richardson Family Papers, dated circa 1932-1954, and 2000-2002, contains a scrapbook that document Hollis Richardson’s work and accomplishments as a sled dog racer and, later, as a sled dog trainer during the United States Antarctic Service Expedition from 1939-1940. From circa 1932-1954, Hollis Richardson assembled the scrapbook with photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence addressed to his mother during the expedition and World War II, a certificate, and an address list. Some of the clippings in the scrapbook are photocopies of the original. The first half of the scrapbook focuses on Richardson and his wife Velma's dog kennel at Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania, and Richardson's sled dog racing career in Northeastern United States during the 1930s. The second half focuses on Richardson's participation in the United States Antarctic Service Expedition. The scrapbook additionally includes some clippings of Velma's illness during the expedition, Richardson's brother's linen business, and a family portrait of three generations of the Richardson family. The collection also contains supplemental materials gathered by Hollis' son, Wayne H. Richardson, that relate to his father, and the topics of the original scrapbook, such as dog sledding. These supplemental materials include Wayne's notes and page descriptions of the scrapbook, newspaper articles, and photocopies of United States Antarctic Expedition photographs from the National Archives.