IDENTIFYING ARTEFACTS ASSOCIATED WITH CAPTAIN ROBERT FALCON SCOTT’S BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1910 – 1913 HELD IN CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR EXHIBITION. Captain Robert Falcon Scott and members of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-13, Cape Evans, Antarctica, 1911. Credit Alexander Turnbull Library Collection Fiona Wills Personal Project Gateway Canterbury, Antarctic Studies February 2008 1 F Wills. G.C.A.S. February 2008. Between 1895 and 1917 (known as the heroic era of Antarctic exploration) a number of expeditions set out to explore and open Antarctica to the world. Given New Zealand’s proximity to the Ross Sea region of Antarctica, three of the heroic era expeditions departed and returned to/from Antarctica from the port of Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand. As a result of the longstanding relationship with the people of Canterbury, the province’s organisations such as the Canterbury Museum, Lyttelton Museum and Antarctic Heritage Trust collectively house one of the world’s leading publicly accessible artefact collections from this period of Antarctic exploration. A century on the public fascination with the expeditions remains. The upcoming centenary of one of the most famous of the expeditions, the British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition 1910-1913, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, provides unique opportunities to celebrate and profile the expedition and its leader, a man who has gone on to become legendary in the world of exploration. This paper identifies key artefacts associated with the expedition currently held by Canterbury institutions which have been identified as potentially suitable for public exhibition. Criteria was based on factors such as historical significance, visual impact and their ability to be exhibited. The research undertaken reconfirms Canterbury’s status as holding a collection of world leading artefacts relating to this period of history. Artefacts uncovered, many never publicly displayed before, include personal items belonging to expedition members such as Herbert Ponting’s skis and Apsley Cherry- Garrard’s sledging mask and artefacts associated with some of Antarctica’s most notable feats of endurance. 2 F Wills. G.C.A.S. February 2008. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 4 RESEARCH AIMS .......................................................................................................... 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................ 6 THE AUTHOR ................................................................................................................. 7 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 7 LIMITATIONS................................................................................................................ 10 THE INSTITUTIONS/ORGANISATIONS ....................................................................... 11 CANTERBURY‟S ASSOCIATION WITH ANTARCTICA ................................................ 13 RESEARCH OUTCOMES ............................................................................................. 15 AUTHORISATION AND PERMITS ................................................................................ 15 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................. 16 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 17 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................... 18 APPENDIX A: Significant Antarctic Events in Canterbury‟s History ..................................... 19 APPENDIX B: Definitions Used to Assist Define Ranking System....................................... 21 APPENDIX C: Artefacts Associated with the Ross Sea Party (1914-17) ............................. 22 APPENDIX D: A complete list of all artefacts held by all three institutions .......................... 24 APPENDIX E: Artefacts Suitable for Display, Canterbury Museum ..................................... 25 APPENDIX F: Artefacts Suitable for Display, Lyttelton Museum.......................................... 26 APPENDIX G: Artefacts Suitable for Display, Antarctic Heritage Trust ............................... 27 3 F Wills. G.C.A.S. February 2008. INTRODUCTION At the turn of the century Antarctica was the focus of one of the last great races of exploration and discovery. Although discovered by sealers during the first half of the 19th century it wasn‟t until 1899 that the Continent began to be explored and the race for the geographical South Pole (lying at 90 degrees south) began. During 1895 – 1917 (the period of history known as the heroic era of Antarctic exploration) a number of expeditions set out for the Continent led by men such as Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Carsten Borchgrevink and Roald Amundsen. Three of those expeditions (the National Antarctic [Discovery] Expedition 1901-04 led by Commander Robert Falcon Scott; the British Antarctic [Nimrod] Expedition 1907-09 led by Ernest Shackleton and British Antarctic [Terra Nova] Expedition 1910-13 led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott) chose Lyttelton, New Zealand as both their main port for departure and as their port of return from the Continent. Appendix A provides a list of significant dates in Canterbury‟s history relating to the expeditions. As a result of that long-standing relationship with the people of Canterbury, the province‟s institutions and organisations such as the Canterbury Museum, Lyttelton Museum and Antarctic Heritage Trust collectively house one of the world‟s leading publicly accessible artefact collections from the heroic era of Antarctic exploration. A century on the public interest in the heroic era of Antarctic of exploration continues and as Norris notes in Antarctic Reflections (n.d., P5) “few parts of the world have produced as many heroic figures as Antarctica”. The Antarctic Heritage Trust‟s annual report (2006/07, p 1) notes: Captain Scott‟s journey to the Pole 95 years ago represents just one of the many incredible stories associated with the first exploration parties to open Antarctica to the world in the name of science and exploration. The names of Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen echo down the ages. Nearly a century on, interest in the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, their expeditions and the men continues unabated. The continued and growing interest of the public with all things Antarctic, both modern and historic is clear. Tourist numbers to Antarctica are unprecedented. Books about Antarctica and the heroic era of exploration continue to be published on a regular basis (over 50 biographies about Scott alone have been written) and the classics written by expedition members continue to be reprinted. Apsley Cherry-Garrard‟s book “The Worst Journey in the World”, written about the epic mid winter journey in 1911, has been ranked by National Geographic as amongst the top 100 travel stories of all time. 4 F Wills. G.C.A.S. February 2008. Exhibitions continue to be held regularly around the world. In London the Royal Geographical Society is currently exhibiting Herbert Ponting photographs and the Natural History Museum is running a twelve month exhibition "Ice Station Antarctica". In 1999 The American Museum of Natural History exhibited „The Endurance: Shackleton‟s Legendary Antarctic Expedition‟ which went on to be a travelling exhibition with the US News noting it as "A wildly popular exhibit". In New Zealand Te Papa‟s Antarctic Heroes: Race to the South Pole” (a pay to view exhibition) attracted 64,000 visitors over six months (personal comm., Te Papa, 13 February 2008) and the Otago Museum‟s 2007 exhibition „The Big Ice‟ attracted over 55,000 visitors (personal comm., Otago Museum, 13 February 2008) and went on to travel around New Zealand. The centenary of the British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition 1910-1913, is drawing near and there is a unique opportunity to profile and celebrate the expedition and its leader Captain Robert Falcon Scott through public exhibits (including the potential for a major international travelling exhibition). For most of the twentieth century Scott was recognised as one of Britain‟s greatest heroes. The leader of two expeditions to Antarctica, with the second resulting in his and four companions‟ deaths on their return from the South Pole, have led to countless theories and debates about Scott as a man and leader which have continued for over a century. As Webb (2001) notes “the canonisation of Scott as Britain’s pre-eminent twentieth century explorer began in the popular press in the days and weeks after his death became publicly known” and the fascination has continued since. At various times Scott has been both worshipped and vilified but the man has gone on to become legendary in the world of exploration. The centenary provides unique opportunities to profile Scott and his men and to acknowledge the expedition‟s scientific contribution to the world‟s understanding of Antarctica (including laying the foundations for our understanding of the significant role Antarctica plays in the earth‟s ecosystems). It also provides opportunities to profile the spirit of exploration and adventure and the many examples of leadership as evidenced through the numerous epic