Guide to the Earland E. Hedblom Papers, 1939-1975

Summary Information

Title:

Earland E. Hedblom papers

Creator:

Hedblom, E.E. (Earland E.)

ID:

M344

Date [inclusive]:

1939-1975

Extent:

2 Linear Feet

Repository:

George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine 04011

Abstract:

United States Navy Medical Corps member and chief medical officer on Operation Deep Freeze I in Antarctica beginning in 1955, and later one of the U. S. Navy's key experts on polar medicine.

Using These Materials

Conditions Governing Access:

No restrictions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

The collection was donated by Earland Hedblom Jr. in 2018.

Preferred Citation:

Earland E. Hedblom papers, George J. Mitchell Dept. of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine.

Acknowledgment of non-neutrality:

The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.

Biographical / Historical

In 1914, Earland Everett Hedblom was born into the family of Swedish immigrants in Loveland, Colorado. His father, Edward Emanuel Hedblom, worked in the railroad industry. He graduated from Colorado College in 1935 and the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1939. He married Ruby Kysar Hedblom and had two children.

Hedblom joined the United States Naval Station at Tongue Point, Oregon during the second world war. The family moved to Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Santa Rosa, Florida, in 1950. In 1955, Captain Hedblom became the staff surgeon for Commander of the US Navy Support Force in Antarctica. He would help coordinate operation "Deep Freeze," which maneuvered Navy service members to fly to the Antarctic continent to support civilian scientists doing research. He lectured to the Para-Rescue Team assigned to the Navy's VX-6 Air Development Squadron that provided air support for studies in Antarctica. He served as the Medical Officer of Task Force 43 in the Ross Sea area for Operation Deep Freeze I from 1955 to 1956. In 1961, Hedblom authored the "Polar Manual" for the Department of Cold Weather Medicine of the US Naval Medical School as a guide those working in the most frigid of temperatures. This work situated him as an expert on Arctic medicine and the physiological effect of cold. He assisted in the 1965 revisions of his work as the medical consultant to the Arctic Institute of North America and the Cold Weather Medical Consultant to Surgeon, Alaska Naval Command.

Earland E. Hedblom died in 1982 in Brunswick, Maine. The Hedblom Glacier between Mount Creak and Tito Peak in Victoria Land, Antarctica is named after Captain E.E. Hedblom.

Scope and Contents

The Earland E Hedblom papers date from 1939 to 1975 and measure 2.5 linear feet in 2 boxes. The papers are arranged in five series: Correspondence, Artic Research & Writings, Resource Files, Operation Reports, and Photographs.

The Correspondence series (1951-1971) consists of a small collection of professional correspondence related to Hedblom's work in the Navy.

The Artic Research and Writings series (1950-1971) encompasses Hedblom's own research notes and published writings about polar medicine.

The Resource Files series (1939-1973) contain published materials related to Hedblom's own research interests, namely survival in cold temperatures, physiological effects of the cold, and how to prepare for Artic weather.

Operational reports from Operation Deep Freeze I through IV along with journal entries and reports from other expeditions into Antarctica can be found in the Operation Reports series (1955-1965).

Photographs from Hedblom's operations in the Artic, portraits of the captain, and other images are in the Photographs series (1947-1965).

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents:

The Correspondence series (1951-1971) consists of a small collection of professional correspondence related to Hedblom's work in the Navy.

Correspondence, Artic Institute of North America1960

box 1 folder 1

Correspondence, cold weather clothing and naval uniforms1974

box 1 folder 2

Correspondence, endorsement of captain EE Hedblom1971

box 1 folder 3

Correspondence, memo, alcoholic beverage control board1955

box 1 folder 4

Correspondence, Navy, 19601956

box 1 folder 5

Correspondence, on eyeware in the Arctic1957-1960

box 1 folder 6

Scope and Contents:

The Artic Research and Writings series (1950-1971) encompasses Hedblom's own research notes and published writings about polar medicine.

Cold medical epidemiology1961

box 1 folder 7

Cool notes on how to keep warm and warm notes on how to keep cooln.d.

box 1 folder 8

Disturbances due to cold1971

box 1 folder 9

Medical problems encountered in Antarctica1961

box 1 folder 10

Newspaper clipping, proper dress, gear essential for cold weather survivaln.d.

box 1 folder 11

Polar manuel, notes and drafts1960

box 1 folder 12

Snowscapes eye protection1961

box 1 folder 13

Sunglasses and visual sensitivity1950

box 1 folder 14

A dark glass for visual protection in polar operation1950

box 1 folder 15

Scope and Contents:

Antarctic Journal of the US1968

box 1 folder 16

Antarctic research series, volume 221974

box 1 folder 17

Arctic Aeromedical laboratory1961

box 1 folder 18

Arctic Aeromedical laboratory, technical documentary reports1962-1965

box 1 folder 19

Arctic aeromedical laboratory, technical note1962-1966

box 1 folder 20

Arctic Aeromedical laboratory, studies and publications1962-1967

box 1 folder 21

Arctic Aeromedical laboratory, indigenous populations use of environment1966

box 1 folder 22

Arctic Summer, medical and dental reportsn.d.

box 1 folder 23

Arctic institute of North America1960

box 1 folder 24

Atmosphere Radioactivity in South America and Antarctica1960

box 1 folder 25

Alaskan Command Aircrew, Artic Survival Training School1960

box 1 folder 26

Arctic operation, infantry school1949

box 1 folder 27-28

Blood pressure and subarctic climate in the soviet union1959

box 1 folder 29

Complete eye protection, Bausch and Lomb safety eyewear1954

box 1 folder 30

Cold weather medicine1978

box 1 folder 31

Cold acclimation, symposium1959

box 1 folder 32

Deaths in the Anarctic1960-1969

box 1 folder 33

Disturbances due to cold, US Navy medical news letter1965

box 1 folder 34

Emergency, temporary, and semipermanent housing for polar areas1956

box 1 folder 35

Encyclopedia arctica, volume III1951

box 1 folder 36

Food and food habits in Alaska and norhtern Canada1961

box 1 folder 37

Guide to polar diving, office of naval research1974

box 1 folder 38

Introduction to Antarctic, US naval support force1967

box 1 folder 39

Meteorology of the Artic1956

box 1 folder 40

Monograph on Frostbite1940

box 1 folder 41

PM-3A Nuclear power plant, McMardo station1960

box 1 folder 42

Professional services, learning lessons the hard way1965

box 1 folder 43

Rations, US navy, task force1955-1956

box 1 folder 44

Reports on scientific results of the US Antarctic service expedition1939-1945

box 1 folder 45

Special Antarctic edition, stars and stripes1963

box 2 folder 1

US antarctic projects officer, data sheets on foreign antarctic organizations1961

box 2 folder 2

US antarctic research program, status report1959

box 2 folder 3

US army medical reseach laboratory, cold experiments1960

box 2 folder 4

US antarctic projects officer, Bulletin1962

box 2 folder 5

Scope and Contents:

Operational reports from Operation Deep Freeze I through IV along with journal entries and reports from other expeditions into Antarctica can be found in the Operation Reports series (1955-1965).

Air intelligence information report, north pole drifting stations1946-1955

box 2 folder 6

Deep freeze I, medical report, part seven1955-1956

box 2 folder 7

Deep freeze I, medical report, part three1955-1956

box 2 folder 8

Deep freeze, operational pamphlet1955

box 2 folder 9

Deep freeze, operation plan, no. 1-551955

box 2 folder 10

Deep freeze II, trail party report1956

box 2 folder 11

Deep freeze II, task force forty-three1956

box 2 folder 12

Deep freeze I & II, final report, vol V1955-1957

box 2 folder 13

Deep freeze II, medical report1958

box 2 folder 14

Deep freeze II, staff organization1956

box 2 folder 15

Deep freeze III, operation plan no. 1-571957

box 2 folder 16

Deep freeze III, operation order no. 1-57, change no.21957

box 2 folder 17

Deep freeze IV, report1958-1959

box 2 folder 18

Deep freeze IV, ice safety and environmental hygiene for personnel1958

box 2 folder 19

Deep freeze IV, medical summary1958

box 2 folder 20

Deep freeze, 1-58, narrative report1958

box 2 folder 21

Deep freeze 60, operation plan no. 1-591959

box 2 folder 22

Deep freeze 61, operation plan no. 1-601960

box 2 folder 23

Deep freeze, operational welcome aboard manual1975

box 2 folder 24

Deep freeze, little america v naval base, antarctica1955-1957

box 2 folder 25

Deep freeze, chronology of events1954-1958

box 2 folder 26

Deep freeze, press releases and articles1955-1959

box 2 folder 27

Journal entries1958

box 2 folder 28

Journal entries1959

box 2 folder 29

McMurdo sound, US aval facility report1956-1957

box 2 folder 30

Operation high jump, task force1946-1947

box 2 folder 31

Scope and Contents:

Photographs from Hedblom's operations in the Artic, portraits of the captain, and other images are in the Photographs series (1947-1965).

Captain Jensen cutting cake to celebrate nurse anniversary1965

box 2 folder 32

Deep freeze, airplane transport1950

box 2 folder 33

Deep freeze, men building igloos in arctic1956

box 2 folder 34

Deep freeze, military personnel1957

box 2 folder 35

Deep freeze, operational photographs1955-1957

box 2 folder 36

Deep freeze, TF43 personnel photographs1955-1957

box 2 folder 37

EE Hedblom, photographs and portraits1950

box 2 folder 38

John Paul Jones, portrait1947

box 2 folder 39

Medical layout at "las," official US navy photo release1957

box 2 folder 40

Medical photographs, hands and feet1950

box 2 folder 41