Function and purpose

This collection of images is in a number of formats (glass plate negatives, lantern slides, albums of printed images and postcards) and covers the following historic Antarctic expeditions;

• British Antarctic Expeditions - Discovery, 1901-1904 - Nimrod, 1907-1909 - Terra Nova, 1912-1913 - Endurance, 1914-1917 - Ross Sea, 1916-1917, British Graham Land Expedition 1934-37, Shackleton-Rowett Expedition 1921-22
• Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914
• British, Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (BANZARE), 1929-1931
• Ellsworth rescue expedition, 1935-1936.

There are various photographic portraits of personalities closely linked to Antarctic expeditions, including Joseph Kinsey. There are also a small number of images depicting early 20th century Arctic expeditions, as well as photographs of the ship, CGC Sweetgum.

The majority of the collection was purchased by the Australian Antarctic Division from the estate of John King Davis, Captain of the Aurora on the Australian Antarctic Expedition of 1911 to 1914.

One photographic folder containing images was donated by the Liddiard and Fletcher families. Thomas Liddiard was Able Seaman and Frank Fletcher was Chief Officer on board the Aurora.

One set of glass plate negatives was donated to the Australian Antarctic Division by Frank Stillwell's family. Frank Stilwell was a biologist on the Australian Antarctic Expedition.

The collection includes 6 photographic albums, 19 folders of original photographic prints (one of which is a solander box) and postcards and 186 gelatine plates and lantern slides. Some images in this collection are subject to artistic copyright.

Related legislation

Using the series

Language of material

Physical characteristics

System of arrangement and control

These records are arranged into three categories to be controlled: glass plate negatives, photographic albums and photographic folders. Glass plate negatives are controlled with a 'GP' prefix and should be issued at container level. Photographic albums are aggregate items (with control symbol Album 1, Album 2 etc), and the photographs within are constituent items. The constituent items have a control symbol prefix of H, or are numerical in square brackets where there was no H prefix control symbol issued by the agency. This is the same for the photographic folders. There is one photographic sub-item, which is also controlled using a H prefix. Photographs will have to be issued at album/folder level, with the exception of sub-items.

Relationships with other records

Finding aids

Access conditions

Series history

Provenance

Immediate source of acquisition

Custodial history

Quantity in agency custody

Disposal history

Publication note

Additional information

End notes

Sources