Guide to the Robert Edwin Peary Collection, 1855-2010, undated
No restrictions.
Cite as: Robert Edwin Peary Collection, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
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Robert Edwin Peary (1856-1920), son of Charles N. and Mary Wiley Peary, was born on May 6, 1856 at Cresson, Pennsylvania. Member of the Bowdoin Class of 1877, Peary was best known as the Arctic explorer who discovered the North Pole (April 6, 1909). However, in the years preceding and following this great event he served in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and the United States Navy, first as engineer, ultimately rising to the rank of Rear Admiral in 1909. Following surveys for the Nicaragua Canal (1887-1888), he turned to Arctic exploration, which occupied much of his time from 1891 until 1909. He was the author of the following books: Northward over the Great Ice(1898), Snowland Folk(1904), Nearest the Pole(1907), The North Pole(1910). He was President of the International Geographical Congress in 1904, received the Legion of Honor from France in 1913, and served as an Overseer of the College from 1917 until his death on February 20, 1920.
Admiral Peary married Josephine, daughter of Herman H. and Madalena Schmid Diebitsch, on August 11, 1888. They had two children, Marie Peary Stafford and Robert Edwin Peary.
This collection contains correspondence (1881-1957), which includes letters written by Peary's chief assistant, Donald MacMillan (Bowdoin 1898); notes and observations written by expedition member, Langdon Gibson (1891-1892); a published edition of Extracts from Commander Peary's Personal Diary: of his trip to the North Pole (1910); documents regarding two purchases of islands in Casco Bay (1907); images, most notable is one of President Theodore Roosevelt with Peary; clippings, ephemera and realia. For additional Peary material see: alumni scrapbooks, class of 1877.
The correspondence consists of letters written to and from Robert Edwin Peary and his family, beginning after his graduation from Bowdoin in 1877, and extending beyond his death in 1920. Many of the letters are personal correspondence between Peary family members and close friends, such as Donald Baxter MacMillan and Captain Charles Morrill. There is also business correspondence concerning preparations for Peary's Arctic expeditions, maintenance of Peary family estates, and Peary's purchase of several islands in Casco Bay.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1881 - 1910
1891, Expedition to Greenland
1907, Purchase of islands in Casco Bay
1911 - 1920
Post 1920
undated
Newspaper and magazine clippings concerning Peary, his family, his Arctic expeditions, and Arctic exploration. The clippings date from 1855, covering events such as Peary planting the flag at the North Pole in 1909, his support for an aerial coast patrol 1915-1917, and the U.S. Government issuing a stamp in his memory in 1959. Other topics include books written about Peary and the ongoing controversy over whether or not Peary actually discovered the North Pole.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1855 - 1899
1900 - 1919
1920 - 1939
1940 - 1949
1950 - 1956
1957 - 1958
1959
1960 - 1964
1965 - 1969
1970 - 1979
1980 - 2000
undated
Reproduction of NY Times for September 7, 1909 "Peary discovers the North Pole"
Miscellaneous biographical material consists of documents, ephemera, typescripts, and commemorative material related to Peary's life and works. The material includes a program for Bowdoin Class of 1877's graduation exercises and the agenda and Chapel Talk for "Peary at the Pole: a 75th Anniversary Celebration" held at Bowdoin in 1984.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1877 - 1889
1886 North Polar chart
1890 - 1909
1891-1892, "Atlantic Walrus" by Langdon Gibson
1892, "Notes on Arctic Birds" by Langdon Gibson
1910 - 1929
1911 Mar 4, Certificate from Congress
1930 - 1949
1950 - 1969
1970 - 1993
2000 Apr 27, 91st anniversary of expedition, Arlington National Cemetery
2001-2009, n.d., Peary's Fryeburg, Maine connection
2009, "The Dash," newsletter of Freeport Historical Society with articles about Peary
2010 Spring, "Peary and His Steamboat Agent: Buying Islands--Quietly," Eagle Island Journal, v.15, no.1
undated
Pamphlets written by Robert Edwin Peary, or related to Peary's Arctic expeditions. Highlights of this series include a published edition of "Extracts from Commander Peary's Personal Diary: of his Trip to the North Pole", and "Bird notes from North Greenland" by expedition member Langdon Gibson.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1887 - 1899
1900 - 1904
1905 - 1909
"Extracts from Commander Peary's Personal Diary of his Trip to the North Pole", 1910
1910 - 1914
1915 - 1919
1920 - 1922
"Bird notes from North Greenland" by Langdon Gibson, 1922
Photographs and images of Peary, his expeditions, and various other people and places. Highlights of this series include a photograph of Peary with President Theodore Roosevelt, an engraving by artist Albert Operti, a postcard by Operti entitled "Commander R.E. Peary, C.E. United States Navy", and a photograph of the Robert Edwin Peary Memorial Monument.
Arranged alphabetically by image type, and then by subject.
No restrictions.
Arctic scene by Albert Operti
Peary in fur clothing, n.d. (one view, two sizes)
Miscellaneous, n.d. - subjects unidentified
Bowdoin flag from 1909 Peary polar expedition
Bronze bust of Peary presented by Bowdoin class of 1877, n.d. (two views)
"Class of 1877, Eagle Island", 1912 Jun 28
"Dogs from Williamsport, PA", 1959 Apr 6 (two views)
"Flag Island, Peary's lead dog", n.d.
Miscellaneous, n.d. - subjects unidentified
Miscellaneous nautical, n.d. with unidentified people and places
Peary, Bowdoin class of 1877 photograph
Peary in fur clothing with his dogs, n.d.
Peary in pleasure boat with unidentified people, n.d.
Peary in uniform, signed "R.E. Peary", portrait view, n.d.
Peary in uniform, titled "Admiral Robert E. Peary, class of 1877", portrait view, n.d.
Peary with Captain Roald Amundsen and Sir Ernest H. Shackleton, 1913 Jan 16 (two copies)
Peary with Theodore Roosevelt, n.d.
Robert Edwin Peary Memorial Monument, erected 1932
Bronze bust of Peary from Century Magazine, 1910 Mar
Josephine Diebitsch-Peary seated outdoors with a dog at her side, n.d.
Peary in fur clothing, n.d.
Peary in uniform, n.d.
Postcard by Albert Operti titled "Commander R.E. Peary, C.E. United States Navy", n.d. (two copies)
Postcard (metallic) titled "Launching of the Roosevelt, Peary's Arctic ship, Bucksport, ME 1905"
A frame containing both the pin worn by Peary when he reached the "farthest north," 87[degree]6', in 1906, and a piece of fringe from the American flag he unfurled there. There is also a miniature Inuit sledge made entirely with a nail.
Arranged alphabetically.
No restrictions.
Pin worn by Commander R.E. Peary '77,when he reached the Farthese North, 87 [degree16', in April, 1906, and piece of fringe of American flag which he unfurled at that point [framed].
Sledge - miniature (six inches long) Inuit sledge, undated, made entirely with a nail. Brought home from North Greenland by Dr. Edward E. Vincent, surgeon of the Peary polar expedition of 1893.
Copper Plate (removed from scrapbook)