Guide to "The Daily Dirt" by Walfred Miller, Annotated and Edited by Michael J. Hughes, 2019 SPEC.PA.56.5028 Finding aid prepared by Ashleigh Minor Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2019 November This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2020-03-27T14:30-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard "The Daily Dirt" by Walfred Miller, Annotated and Edited by Michael J. Hughes SPEC.PA.56.5028 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 1 0.233 Cubic feet 2019 Walfred Miller was a sailor and cook aboard the Bear of Oakland on the Byrd Antarctic Expedition II from September 1933 through May 1935. Miller was 21-years old when he joined the expedition in 1933. "The Daily Dirt" by Walfred Miller, Annotated and Edited by Michael J. Hughes includes a transcription of Miller's daily logbook during the expedition, transcribed by Hughes in 2009. The document also includes supplemental photocopies of select pages from the log, and pages added by Hughes, including maps and images of Antarctica, and information about Miller's life in Alaska after the expedition. This edition was revised in 2019. (1) flat box English Hughes, Michael J. Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2019.0005: Michael J. Hughes, 2019 November

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], "The Daily Dirt" by Walfred Miller, Annotated and Edited by Michael J. Hughes, SPEC.PA.56.5028, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

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 Processing Information

Processed by: Ashleigh Minor, 2019 November; Finding aid written by: Ashleigh Minor, 2019 November.

 Biographical Note

Walfred Miller was a sailor and cook aboard the Bear of Oakland on the Byrd Antarctic Expedition II (BAE II) from September 1933 through May 1935. He was 21-years old when he joined the expedition in 1933. After the expedition, Miller went to Alaska where he attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks and mined for gold. He wrote about his experiences on the BAE II for his school newspaper.

As of 2020, Michael J. Hughes is a researcher and friend of Walfred Miller's eldest daughter, Virginia Corkery.

 Scope and Contents

"The Daily Dirt" by Walfred Miller, Annotated and Edited by Michael J. Hughes is a transcription of Miller's daily logbook from his time aboard the "Bear of Oakland" during the Byrd Antaractic Expedition II (BAE II) from September 1933 through May 1935. Miller's log records his experiences and thoughts, as well as as the ship's location, weather, recipes, autographs from crew members, lists of correspondence he sent and received throughout the expedition, and lists of rolls of film he used. Michael J. Hughes transcribed the pages of Miller's logbook into a typescript in 2009 as part of a personal research project, and included photocopies of select original pages. The document also includes photocopies of photographs from the expedition, and supplemental information added by Hughes, such as maps and images of Antarctica. The end of the document includes photocopies of newspaper articles and photographs about Miller's life in Alaska after BAE II. This edition was revised in 2019 to include the supplements.

 Related Materials Admiral Richard E. Byrd Papers Existence and Location of Originals

Walfred Miller's original diary and logbook remains in possession of the family and is unavailable for research.

 Bear of Oakland (Ship). Byrd Antarctic Expedition (2nd: 1933-1935). Hughes, Michael J. Miller, Walfred Antarctica--Discovery and exploration--American--20th century Diaries Editors--United States--21st century Icebreakers (Ships)--United States--20th century Sailors--United States--20th century Sailors--United States--Social life and customs--20th century Seafaring life--Antarctica--20th century Ships' logs Transcriptions (documents)