2026-2-16 Guide to the Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Collection, 1884, 1928-2010, bulk 1928-1935 SPEC.PA.56.0250 Finding aid prepared by Audrey Wimbiscus Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2026 January This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-06-08T10:16-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Collection SPEC.PA.56.0250 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 6.12 Cubic feet Bulk, 1928-1935 1884, 1928-2010, bulk 1928-1935 The Byrd Antarctic Expedition II (1933-1935) was the second Antarctic expedition led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd. The Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Collection contains collected materials both from and about Byrd Antarctic Expedition II, some of which date before or after the expedition; materials date from 1884, and 1928 to 2010, with the bulk of materials dating between 1928 and 1935. The collection includes item such as correspondence from expedition members, artifacts from the United States Ship Bear and the expedition itself, a scrapbook, photocopies of the South Pole Radio News published by the expedition, an account of the trip to rescue Admiral Byrd from Advance Base by a crew member, advertisements by sponsors of the expedition, and postal covers. (2) cartons; (2) oversize flat boxes; (1) card box; (1) 2.5" legal document box; (1) item English Arrangement of Materials

The Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Collection is arranged in chronological order; materials with the same date are further arranged in alphabetical order by item title.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.1996.0007: John A. Knapp, 1996 June; Accession No. PA.2005.0007: Cynthia Stotlar, 2005 July; Accession No. PA.2007.0014: Parmer Books, 2007 May; Accession No. PA.2007.0018: Jerome Berg, 2007 August; Accession No. PA.2010.0010: Carolyn Keefer, 2010 August; Accession No. PA.2011.0021: Herschel A. Rubin, 2011 May; Accession No. PA.2011.0025: Joanne Morse, 2011 July; Accession No. PA.2012.0008: T. C. and Elizabeth Williams, 2012 April; Accession No. PA.2012.0010: Purchase, 2012 June; Accession No. PA.2012.0015: Marty Martinson, 2012 September; Accession No. PA.2014.0006: Goldthwait Polar Library, 2014 August; Accession No. PA.2014.0007: J. Thomas Cottrell, 2014 October; Accession No. PA.2015.0001: Mark Kautzmann, 2015 January; Accession No. PA.2017.0002: Purchased, 2017 January; Accession No. PA.2017.0008: Lisa E. Florence, 2017 June; Accession No. PA.2017.0009: American Textile History Museum, 2017 March

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Collection, SPEC.PA.56.0250, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University

 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

Processed by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2026 January; Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2026 January

 Historical Note

The Byrd Antarctic Expedition II (1933-1935) was the second Antarctic expedition led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd. This expedition was privately funded by donors and advertisers, as well as by sales of a United States commemorative stamp issued by the United States Post Office for philatelic covers that would be sent to Antarctica and officially postmarked at Little America, an exploration base camp. Between 1933 and 1934, the post office at Little America stamped more than 150,000 pieces of mail. In addition to the scientific experiments and Antarctic exploration that occurred during this expedition, Byrd spent most of the winter of 1934 alone in a meteorological hut approximately 100 miles into the interior of the continent called Advance Base. While there, he made winter weather observations and almost died from carbon monoxide poisoning before being rescued by members of the expedition.

 Scope and Contents

The Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Collection contains collected materials both from and about Byrd Antarctic Expedition II, some of which date before and after the Expedition. A candlestick from an expedition ship dates from 1884, and the rest of the collection dates from 1928 to 2010, with the bulk of materials dating between 1928 and 1935. The collection includes items such as correspondence from expedition members, artifacts from the United States Ship Bear and the expedition itself, a scrapbook, photocopies of the South Pole Radio News published by the expedition, an account of the trip to rescue Admiral Byrd from Advance Base by a crew member, advertisements by sponsors of the expedition, and postal covers.

 Related Materials Admiral Richard E. Byrd Papers Amory H. "Bud" Waite Papers S. Edward Roos Papers David A. Paige Papers Barney Bradley Papers Russell S. Robinson Collection “My Life and Good Times” Manuscript by Olin Stancliff "Memories of an Old Ship: The Bear" Manuscript by Russell S. Robinson Admiral Byrd's South Pole Game "Little America" Created by Parker Brothers Inc. Byrd Antarctic Expedition (2nd: 1933-1935) Advertisers--United States--20th century Advertising--United States--20th century Antarctica--Discovery and exploration--American--20th century Cachets (Philately)--Antarctica--20th century Correspondence Covers (Philately)--Antarctica--20th century Dishes (vessels for food) Flags Postage stamps Scientific expeditions--Antarctica--20th century Gimbal candlestick from the USS Bear 1 1 1884 Scope and Contents

Inscribed with "From the US Steamer Bear which rescued Leiut. A. W. Greely at Cape Sabine Arctic Ocean, June 22, 1884."

 Correspondence from Harold June to George H. Kautzmann 2 1 1928-1934 Fraunfelter China bowls 3 1-2 1930-1933 Scope and Contents

Two Franfelter China Company cereal bowls made for the expedition. Bowls are white stoneware with blue trim, and are illustrated with a dog and a ship.

 "Admiral Byrd's Second Antarctic Expedition Sponsored by Grape Nuts" brochure 2 2 1933 Pioneer Instrument Company Aircraft Octant 4 1 1933 Mitchell (Gilbert) correspondence to Evaline Mitchell 2 3 1933-1934 South Pole Radio News volume 1 number 3 2 14 1933-1934 Byrd Antarctic Expedition II flag 1 1933-1935 "Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Scientific Program" 2 4 1933-1935 Red-orange wool trail flag on bamboo stick, used by Richard E. Byrd 5 1 1933-1935 Van (Phil) scrapbook 6 1 1933-1935 Battle Creek Food Company Lacto-Dextrin Byrd endorsed ads 2 5 circa 1934 Byrd Antarctic Expedition II 3 cent stamp 2 6 1934 Byrd's South Pole Ship postcard 2 15 1934 Postal covers 2 7 1934 Demas (Pete) correspondence to Hazel McKercher 2 8 1934 December 21 United States Ship Richard E. Byrd patch 2 13 circa 1961 Scope and Contents

Patch has an image of United States Ship Bear on it.

 Poulter (Thomas C.) "The Winter Night Trip to Advance Base: Byrd Antarctic Expedition II 1933-1935" 2 9 1973 Van (Phil) article in Rockwell News volume 9, number 5 6 1 1993 October Fraunfelter china bowls correspondence 2 10 1999-2005 South Pole Radio News volume 1 numbers 2-3 (1933-1934) photocopies 2 11 2007 Lowd (Wilfred H.) Byrd Antarctic Expedition II correspondence (1933-1934) photocopies 2 12 2010