This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.
Accession No. PA.1986.0001: Elaine Whiteford, 1986.
[identification of item], Elaine Whiteford Collection on Richard W. Konter, SPEC.PA.56.0220, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University
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This collection is unprocessed. Finding aid written by: Devon Boerman and John Hooton, April 2018.
Richard "Dick" W. Konter was an American sailor who participated in multiple polar expeditions, including Richard E. Byrd's North Pole flight and first expedition to Antarctica where he served as chief radioman. During the First Byrd Expedition to Antarctica, 1928-1930, Konter served aboard the United States Ship (USS) City of New York.
Konter was a family friend of Elaine Whiteford (nee Whitaker), who was eight years old during the First Byrd Expedition to Antarctica. They met during that time period as they both were involved in performance entertainment. Konter played the ukelele and Whiteford danced. During the expedition, Konter sent correspondence to her and brought her autograph book on board to get signatures.
The Elaine Whiteford Collection on Richard W. Konter, dated 1926-1931, contains photographs, postcards, newspaper clippings, correspondence, a scrapbook and an autograph book regarding Whiteford's relationship with Konter and his participation in Byrd Antarctic Expedition I, 1928-1930. While much of Whiteford's autograph book contains signatures gathered by Konter during the expedition, she got other notable signatures beforehand including Edith Kermit Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt's second wife and Kermit Roosevelt, Jr., Roosevelt's grandchild.