2018-04-23 Preliminary Inventory of the Paul A. Siple Papers, 1920-2005 SPEC.PA.56.0097 Finding aid prepared by Devon Boerman and John Hooton; Ashleigh Minor Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2018 March; 2020 October This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-06-01T11:59-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Paul A. Siple Papers SPEC.PA.56.0097 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 2.43 Cubic feet 1920-2005 Paul Allman Siple was a polar explorer and geographer, who went on numerous expeditions in Antarctica from 1928-1959, including the Byrd Antarctic Expedition I, 1928-1930, where he served as a liaison for the Boy Scouts. The Paul A. Siple Papers, which dates from 1927-2005, contains photographs, correspondence, a scrapbook, newspaper clippings, periodicals, and artifacts relating to Siple's polar experiences. (7) letter file folders; (2) 5'' letter document boxes; (1) carton; (1) oversize flat box English Siple, Paul, 1908-1968 Siple, Ruth Johannesmeyer, 1912-2004 Arrangement of Materials

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2001.0016: Purchased, 2001 September; Accession No. PA.2002.0012: Mary C. Branan, 2002 September; Accession No. PA.2006.0005: Jane Siple DeWitt, 2006 May, 2007 May; Accession No. PA.2007.0008: Jane Siple Dewitt, 2007 April; Accession No. PA.2020.0004: Rebecca C. Princehorn, 2020 October

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Paul A. Siple Papers, SPEC.PA.56.0097, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

This collection contains 78 rpm records.

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the University Archives reading room only. Contact the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program at polararchives@osu.edu for more information.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

This collection is unprocessed. Finding aid written by: Devon Boerman and John Hooton, 2018 April; Ashleigh Minor, 2020 October

 Biographical Note

Paul Allman Siple, 1908-1968, was a polar explorer and geographer. At age nineteen, he was chosen to be the Boy Scout that would accompany then-captain Richard E. Byrd on his First Antarctic Expedition (1928-1930). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Allegheny College in 1932, and his doctorate in geography from Clark University. Siple served on numerous expeditions to Antarctica, including all of Admiral Byrd’s expeditions. He was also partially credited with devising the wind-chill index.

Ruth Siple,1912-2004, was the wife of Paul Siple and an active member of the Antarctican Society for 40 years. The Antarctican Society, as of 2018, is a non-profit educational organization that focuses on people and topics related to Antarctica. International Geophysical Year participants created the organization in 1960. Alongside micrometeorologist Paul Dalrymple, Ruth Siple published the organization's newsletters for over twenty years. She was declared honorary president of the Antarctican Society from 1988 until her death.

 Scope and Contents

The Paul A. Siple Papers, which dates from 1920-2005, contains photographs, correspondence, a scrapbook, newspaper clippings, periodicals, records, artifacts, postal covers relating to Paul's polar experiences. This includes his expeditions with Richard E. Byrd, including Byrd Antarctic Expedition I, 1928-1930 and later polar expeditions such as International Geophysical Year, 1957-1959. The collection also contains periodicals, correspondence and artifacts that show Paul Siple's connection to the Boy Scouts of America. In addition to correspondence with her husband, the collection also contains photographs and articles from and of his wife, Ruth Siple relating to her Antarctican activities and her travel to New Zealand.

 Related Materials Admiral Richard E. Byrd Papers Charles Passel Papers Paul and Ruth Siple Family Artwork Collection “My Life and Good Times” Manuscript by Olin Stancliff Byrd Antarctic Expedition (1st: 1928-1930) Siple, Paul, 1908-1968 Siple, Ruth Johannesmeyer, 1912-2004 78 rpm records Antarctica--Discovery and exploration--American--20th century Boy Scouts--Antarctica Cultural artifacts Geographers--Antarctica--20th century Periodicals Photographs Scrapbooks Accession No. PA.2001.0016 1928-1940 Photographs at the CBS microphone. Byrd Antarctic Expedition I Polar Small Accessions 3 1928-1930 Letters Polar Small Accessions 3 1940 January 26 Scope and Contents

These appear to be written by Ruth Siple, and quote extensively from Paul Siple's diary and letters to her.

 Accession No. PA.2002.0012 1920-1969 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains 78 rpm records.

 Paper cup- "Byrd's Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole, 1928" PA.2002.0012.0001 circa 1928 "Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden" journal PA.2002.0012.0001 1 1938 April News clippings PA.2002.0012.0001 2 1930 News clippings PA.2002.0012.0001 3 1936 News clippings PA.2002.0012.0001 4 1937 News clippings PA.2002.0012.0001 5 1941 Scrapbook: Red Leather Cover PA.2002.0012.0001 6 1931 "The Snow Cruiser" booklet PA.2002.0012.0001 7 circa 1939 Cavalier magazine PA.2002.0012.0001 8 1958 June The Polar Times magazine PA.2002.0012.0001 9 1935, 1955-1960 Magazine: Scouting PA.2002.0012.0001 10 1955 November "Antarctic Broadcast" records PA.2002.0012.0001 11 1940 April 13 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

78 rpm records; 8 inch; Vinyl; Approximate run time unknown.

 News clipping PA.2002.0012.0001 12 1958 News clippings PA.2002.0012.0002 1955 November Correspondence PA.2002.0012.0003 1 1920-1930 Correspondence, artwork, photos, booklet PA.2002.0012.0003 2 1928-1961 Correspondence, envelopes, booklet PA.2002.0012.0003 3 1927-1969 Correspondence, news clips PA.2002.0012.0003 4 1927-1969 News clippings, photos, postcards PA.2002.0012.0003 5 1927-1969 Accession No. PA.2006.0005 1925-2005 28" square scarf from the International Geophysical Year PA.2006.0005.0001 1 circa 1957-1959 T-shirt, size large, from Siple Station, Antarctica PA.2006.0005.0001 2 circa 1973-1989 Commemorative plate depicting the City of New York, Byrd Antarctic Expedition I; Bear of Oakland, Byrd Antarctic Expedition II; plane and dog, by Fraunfelter China PA.2006.0005.0001 3 circa 1927-1935 Cigarette papers in book, imprinted "Byrd Antarctic Expedition II, 1933" PA.2006.0005.0001 4 circa 1933 Biographical and career information PA.2006.0005.0002 1 1968-2005 Biographies and obituaries PA.2006.0005.0002 2 1968-1970 Biographies, journal and newspaper articles on Siple PA.2006.0005.0002 3 1947-1998 Boy Scouts correspondence PA.2006.0005.0002 4 1928-circa 1930 Boy Scouts newspaper articles PA.2006.0005.0002 5 1928-circa 1930 Boy Scouts PA.2006.0005.0002 6 1928-1994 Non-Antarctica related news clippings, correspondence, flyers PA.2006.0005.0002 7 1959-1976 Online articles on Siple PA.2006.0005.0002 8 2005 Oversized articles and clippings PA.2006.0005.0002 9 1956-1998 Articles and clippings on Windchill PA.2006.0005.0002 10 1983-1992 Correspondence and essays by Paul Siple PA.2006.0005.0002 11 1933-1948 Correspondence and essays by friends of Siple PA.2006.0005.0002 12 1958-1994, undated Siple family letters, biographies PA.2006.0005.0002 13 1963-1968,undated Paul Siple drawings and carvings PA.2006.0005.0002 14 1961-1966 Cachets: prints PA.2006.0005.0002 15 1930-1991 Cachets PA.2006.0005.0002 16 1933-1983 Honors and awards PA.2006.0005.0002 17 1928-1995 Antarctica Map, Siple obituary, correspondence, newsletters PA.2006.0005.0001 18 1970-2005 Photographs of Paul A. Siple PA.2006.0005.0001 19 1925-1972 Paul Siple, Ruth Siple, family photographs PA.2006.0005.0001 20 1937-1988 Paul Siple with others, photographs PA.2006.0005.0001 21 1955-1966 Medals in photographs PA.2006.0005.0001 22 1958 Boy Scouts and International Geophysical Year memorabilia PA.2006.0005.0001 23 undated Photographs PA.2006.0005.0001 24 undated Ruth Johannesmeyer Siple in New Zealand PA.2006.0005.0002 25 1993 Ruth Johannesmeyer Siple: Other Antarctic activities PA.2006.0005.0002 26 1974-1975 Photographs PA.2006.0005.0002 27 1932, 1957-1966 Accession No. PA.2007.0008 1956-1958 International Geophysical Year postal covers Polar Small Accessions 2 1956-1958 (4) postal covers. Operation Deep Freeze cover with letter to Larry Gould Polar Small Accessions 2 1956-1958 Scope and Contents

This cover has been signed by both Siple and Byrd.

 Accession No. PA.2020.0004 0.08 Cubic feet 1947, 1957-after 1958 (4) letter file folders Scope and Contents

Accession No. PA.2020.0004 includes a 1957 letter from Paul A. Siple sent while he was in Antarctica. The letter was written on Antarctica International Geophysical Year (IGY) 1957-1958 letterhead, and mailed in an accompanying IGY envelope to Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Coleman in Canton, Ohio with a message that reads "Best wishes from the South Pole." Also included is a newspaper clipping from an unknown publication written after 1958 about Siple's visit to Canton, Ohio to talk about "man's first winter" in Antarctica; and two National Geographic magazines from 1947 and 1957, featuring articles written by Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Paul A. Siple, and other Antarctic explorers about their expeditions at the South Pole.

 Coleman (Mr. and Mrs. F. P.) letter and envelope received from Paul A. Siple Polar Small Accessions 5 1957 November 29 "Paul A. Siple, Antarctic Authority, To Visit City" newspaper clipping from Canton, Ohio Polar Small Accessions 5 after 1958 "Our Navy Explores Antarctica" article by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd in National Geographic Magazine Polar Small Accessions 5 1947 October "We Are Living at the South Pole" article by Paul A. Siple in National Geographic Magazine Polar Small Accessions 5 1957 July