2025-4-7 Guide to the Herwil M. Bryant Papers, circa 1930s-circa 2000s SPEC.PA.56.0139 Finding aid prepared by David Mezick Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2025 March This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2025-07-28T11:42-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Herwil M. Bryant Papers SPEC.PA.56.0139 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 5.64 Cubic feet circa 1930s-circa 2000s Herwil McClure Bryant (1916-2003) served as a biologist and assistant radio operator for the United States Antarctic Service Expedition from 1939-1941. He later gave lectures about Antarctic history and his experiences during the expedition. The Herwil M. Bryant Papers, dated circa 1930s-circa 2000s, contain journals, photographs, negatives, photographic slides, correspondence, notes, press clippings, and objects that Herwil M. Bryant created or collected while serving on the U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition from 1939-1941. In addition, the papers contain notes and other materials related to lectures Bryant gave about Antarctica and his experiences during the U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition, including lectures he gave aboard Antarctic cruises. (4) 5" letter document boxes; (4) oversize flat boxes; (3) flat boxes; (1) 2.5" letter document box; (1) 2.5" legal document box; (1) card box; (1) letter file folder English Bryant, Herwil M. Arrangement of Materials

Materials are arranged chronologically followed by undated materials. Materials from the same date and undated materials are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. BPRCAP.2004.4, Eugene W. Van Reeth, 2004 September; Accession No. PA.2025.0006, Stephen H. Bryant, 2023 February

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Herwil M. Bryant Papers, SPEC.PA.56.0139, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains USB flash drives, photographic slides, and 16mm film.

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the University Archives reading room only. Audio/visual materials and/or computer media may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. 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

Processed by: David Mezick, 2025 March; Finding aid written by: David Mezick, 2025 March

 Biographical Note

Herwil McClure Bryant (1916-2003) earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from American University in Washington, DC. He then started attending graduate school at the University of Toronto, working towards a degree in physics. Before finishing his graduate degree, Bryant was selected to serve as a biologist and assistant radio operator for the United States Antarctic Service Expedition from 1939-1941. He was formally a Junior Biologist for the Smithsonian Institution during the expedition and was stationed at East Base. After returning from Antarctica, Bryant worked for the U.S. government until his retirement in 1971. During this time, Bryant gave slide shows about his experiences during the U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition. From December 1990 to January 1991, Bryant worked as a lecturer for three Antarctic cruises organized by Lindblad Expeditions. He gave talks about Antarctic history as well as his experiences in Antarctica. Cape Bryant in Antarctica is named for Herwil M. Bryant.

 Scope and Contents

The Herwil M. Bryant Papers, dated circa 1930s-circa 2000s, contain materials that Herwil M. Bryant created or collected while serving on the United States Antarctic Service Expedition from 1939-1941. This includes his journals, both the handwritten originals and photocopies and typed transcriptions of the originals. Also included are photographs, negatives, and photographic slides that he created during the expedition as well as correspondence, notes, press clippings, objects, and ephemera. In addition, the papers contain notes and other materials related to lectures Bryant gave about Antarctica and his experiences during the U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition, including lectures he gave aboard Antarctic cruises. Photographs he took during Antarctic cruises are also included. There are two USB flash drives that contain digital files of Bryant’s U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition journals and photographs as well as narrations he recorded after the expedition. Also included is an unidentified reel of 16mm film.

 Bryant, Herwil M. United States Antarctic Service Expedition (1939-1941) Antarctica--Discovery and exploration--American--20th century Biologists--Antarctica--20th century Biology--Research--Antarctica--20th century Black-and-white films (visual works) Diaries Lectures and lecturing--Antarctica--20th century Lectures and lecturing--United States--20th century Negatives (photographs) Photographs Radio operators--Antarctica--20th century Slides (photographs) USB flash drives Personal negatives and slides 1 1 circa 1930s-1990s Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Contains black-and-white and color slides. United States Antarctic Service Expedition notes and correspondence 2 1-2 1937-1941 Antarctica clippings portfolio 3 1 1937-1956 U. S. S. (United States Ship) Bear matchbook 4 1 circa 1939-1941 Fid tool 4 2 1939 Byrd-cloth shirt 5 1 1939-1941 Egg drill 4 3 1939-1941 Mittens 5 2 1939-1941 Rock and shell specimens 4 4 1939-1941 Rock specimen 4 5 1939-1941 Rock specimens 4 6 1939-1941 Shell specimens 4 7 1939-1941 Typewritten journal Polar Small Accessions 3 1939-1941 United States Antarctic Service Expedition and M. S. (Motor Ship) Aconcagua negatives 1 2 1939-1941 United States Antarctic Service Expedition newspaper clippings scrapbook 6 1 1939-1941 United States Antarctic Service Expedition photograph album 7 1 1939-1941 United States Antarctic Service Expedition photographs 1 3-6 1939-1941 United States Antarctic Service Expedition photographs and negatives 1 7-14 8 1-6 1939-1941 United States Antarctic Service Expedition photographs and newspaper clippings scrapbook 9 1 1939-1945 United States Antarctic Service Expedition photographs development notes 8 7 1939-1941 United States Antarctic Service Expedition photographs, negatives, and slides 8 8 1939-1941 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Contains black-and-white slides. United States Antarctic Service Expedition Smithsonian identification tags and notes 8 9 1939-1941 White camouflage pants 5 3 1939-1941 Antarctica maps 10 1 1939, 1963 "Antarctica: Modern Articles and Lecture Material" correspondence, clippings, and notes 8 10 1939-1993 United States Antarctic Service Expedition journals and field notes 8 11-12 1939 October-1941 April "The Polar Times" published by the American Polar Society 11 1 1939 December-1947 December Limpet shell specimens 4 8 1940 Trapper hat 5 4 1940-1941 Life magazine 10 2 1940 July 8 Candle from British camp 4 9 1940 December Talcum can 12 1 1940 December Campo (Carlos Del) postcards 11 2 circa 1941 Chile postcards 11 3 circa 1941 M. S. (Motor Ship) Aconcagua photographs 11 4 1941 The American Philosophical Society proceedings about the United States Antarctic Service Expedition 11 5 1941, 1945 "The Naval Research Laboratory Pilot" publication 2 3 1944 "Biology at East Base, Palmer Peninsula, Antarctica" by Herwil M. Bryant 11 6 1945 Antarctica maps 11 7 1948-1957 Antarctic lecture notes and reference materials 11 8 circa 1950s-1990 Antarctic lecture notes and reference materials 11 9 1957-circa 1990 Scientific American "The Antarctic" edition 11 10 1962 September East Base, Antarctica press clippings and magazine 11 11 1977-1993 Lindbald cruise correspondence and brochures 11 12 1988-1991 Lindbald cruise brochure and background materials 13 1 1989 Society Expeditions correspondence 13 2 1989 Lindblad cruise brochures and notes 13 3 1989-1991, 1993 United States Antarctic Service Expedition journal photocopies 13 4 circa 1990s Antarctic lecture scripts 13 5 circa 1990 Cruise photographs 13 6-7 circa 1990-1991 Cruise photographs and negatives 13 8 circa 1990-1991 Ocean Prince Anarctic Expedition pins 4 10 circa 1990-1991 Antarctic lecture notes and clippings 13 9 circa 1990-2001 Notes about slides 13 10 1990s Lindblad cruise correspondence, informational materials, and notes 13 11 1990 United States Antarctic Service Expedition journals transcription 2 4 13 12 1990 Bryant (Genie) correspondence during Lindblad cruise 2 5 1990 December-1991 January United States Antarctic Service Expedition journals and correspondence transcription 13 13 circa 1991 Andersson Hut of 1902, Hope Bay photograph 13 14 1991 January Family reunion material 14 1 1992, 1999 Gerrish (Ross) postcards 14 2 circa 1996 Antarctic lecture thank you notes 14 3 1996, 1998 United States Antarctic Service Expedition photographs, journals, and narratives USB drives 4 11 circa 2000s Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Contains USB flash drives. Antarctic lectures posters 10 3 undated Unidentified 16mm film 4 12 undated Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements 16mm film; black and white; no sound; approximate run time: unknown Unidentified 35mm negatives 4 13 undated