Lincoln Ellsworth Polar Expeditions Collection

Collection

Identifier: Mem 48

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Lincoln Ellsworth Polar Expeditions Collection is comprised of papers and objects that document Ellsworth’s North Pole and Antarctic expeditions between 1925 and 1939. Select items from the collection are currently on display in the American Museum of Natural History’s exhibition, “Lincoln Ellsworth, 1880-1951" and have been featured in past ones, such as “Partners in Discovery” (1963-1964) and “From the Museum’s Attic” (1985-1951). Various reproductions were made by the museum for these exhibitions and they also constitute a part of the collection.

Dates

Usage: 1925-circa 2005

Creator

Ellsworth, Lincoln, 1880-1951 (Collector, Person)

Extent

109 Items : Objects and papers

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection was arranged in three series: Series I: Memorabilia (1925-1972), Series II: Papers and Awards (1925-1976), and Series III: Materials on Exhibit (1925-circa 2005).

Custodial History

Lincoln Ellsworth collected items from his expeditions and from those of other well-known polar explorers such as Otto Nordenskjold and his trip to Snow Hill Island. Many of these items were gifted or loaned to the Museum by Ellsworth between 1931 to 1943 and were featured in exhibitions such as “Partners in Discovery” (1963-1964) and “From the Museum’s Attic (1985-1986)”. In 1932, the Italian Minister of Aeronautics, General Italo Balbo, gifted the “Norge” model to the Museum. The main exhibit that remains to this day is “Lincoln Ellsworth, 1880-1951", opened in 1933. It is situated in Section EC (East Corridor) on the AMNH’s first floor just off the Grand Gallery, which is dedicated to his Artic and Antarctic ventures. Additional donations for this exhibit were made by Ellsworth wife, Mrs. Marie Louise Ellsworth in 1971, 1972, and 1991.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts and loans made by Lincoln Ellsworth or his wife, Mary Louise Ulmer Ellsworth, from 1931 to 1991. The “Norge” model was gifted in 1932 by the then Italian Minister of Aeronautics, General Italo Balbo.

General

The dates shown for this collection mainly represent the time period in which these items were used and collected by Lincoln Ellsworth. Dates of creation will be provided for the paper series and the reproductions.

The total number of individual items is 137.The extent at the collection level displays a lesser number due to the fact that items in pairs or stored together were considered as a whole.