Materials are arranged in chronological order. Materials with the same date are further arranged alphabetically by title.
Accession No. PA.1995.0005: Ray Gottfried, 1995; Accession No. PA.1996.0006: Ray Gottfried, 1996; Accession No. PA.1999.0011: Purchased, 1999; Accession No. PA.1999.0012: Purchased, 1999; Accession No. PA.2000.0002: John R. Claydon, 2000; Accession No. PA.2000.0008: Gloria Delaney, 2000; Accession No. PA.2002.0015: Wayne Richardson, 2002; Accession No. PA.2006.0004: Nancy Carberry, 2006; Accession No. PA.2012.0017: Clarence Novak, 2012 September
[identification of item], United States Antarctic Service Expedition Collection, SPEC.PA.56.0259, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Sierra Sales, 2026 March; Finding aid written by: Sierra Sales, 2026 March
The United States Antarctic Service Expedition (1939-1941) was Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s third Antarctic expedition. It was sponsored by the United States Navy and State Department. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented an outline of what he wanted accomplished on this expedition: the United States would establish East Base near Charcot Island and West Base near King Edward VII Land. One hundred and twenty-five men who were solicited from the military, government agencies, and scientific institutions made up this expedition. Little America III, an exploration base, was established in 1940.
The Antarctic Snow Cruiser was a vehicle specifically designed for this expedition; it was intended to facilitate the transport of supplies in Antarctica. After its completion in 1939, the Snow Cruiser travelled from Chicago to Boston; along the way it toured through many cities and citizens lined the streets to watch it pass through. The Snow Cruiser arrived in Antarctica in 1940 and experienced many problems with its wheels and tires. Expedition crew members stationed in Little America III used the Snow Cruiser as another base where they conducted seismologic experiments and ice core sampling.
As World War II intensified, an order was given to terminate the expedition. The bases were evacuated on March 22, 1941; it was believed that a return would happen soon, so the Antarctic Snow Cruiser and other equipment and supplies were left in Antarctica. The Antarctic Snow Cruiser was rediscovered in 1946 during Operation High Jump and it was found to be operational. In 1958, the Snow Cruiser was rediscovered then abandoned once again. Its current location is unknown.
The United States Antarctic Service Expedition Collection, dated 1939-circa 2012, contains materials both from and about Admiral Richard Byrd’s third expedition to Antarctica (1939-1941). This collection contains photograph reproductions and postcards of the Antarctic Snow Cruiser when it was in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Albany, New York, and Antarctica. This collection also contains a scrapbook, newspaper photocopies, and magazine photocopies that feature articles written about expedition crew members. Photocopies of a Chilean newspaper that featured articles about the expedition are in Spanish. A photocopy of correspondence sent by John Dyer, an engineer on the expedition, and photograph reproductions of Colonel Theodore Petras and Admiral Richard Byrd are included. A Coleman lantern, a field desk, and outerwear from the expedition are also in this collection.