Collection GB 0402 USP - USS POLARIS (Charles Francis Hall)

1 file and 1 framed item

GB 0402 USP 1869-1876 collection 1 file and 1 framed item Coppinger , R W , Surgeon , polar explorer

The USS POLARIS was originally launched as the AMERICA, it was renamed the USS POLARIS in 1871 when it was loaned to Charles Hall's North Polar Expedition. The expedition was the failed first U.S. expedition to the North Pole. Eighteen of its members, including officer George Tyson, were marooned on an ice floe, where they drifted for six months until rescued by another ship. Capt Charles Francis Hall died, Nov 1871 and foul play has been suspected. The expedition ended when the ship ran aground, was crushed by the ice and abandoned by the remainder of the crew.

Charles Frederick Hall was born 1821; business man in Ohio; mounted a rescue expedition to find the survivors of John Franklin's expedition, 1859 (failed); second expedition with the same purpose (failed), 1865-1869 [on this second expedition it has been suggested that Hall killed one of his crew]; expedition to reach the North Pole on the USS POLARIS, 1871; died on the expedition, 1871.

The collection arrived in two accessions. The Record was found in June 1922 by Dr Layge Koch who presented it to the RGS in 1925. The copies of correspondence were donated by A G E Jones, 1990.

Note or manuscript 'Record' left in an Arctic cairn by Surgeon R W Coppinger, 12 May 1876, while with the sledge party from HMS ALERT during that vessel's Arctic expedition. On the reverse of the note is a copy of an earlier 'Record' made by crew member of USS POLARIS, Capt S G Budington, 7 May 1872, reporting the progress of the POLARIS, including the death of Capt Charles Francis Hall, 8 Nov 1871. Presumably Coppinger retrieved the original record from the cairn, returned it to the US government and made a copy on the reverse of his own note to leave in the cairn.

Photocopies of refusal by Canadian Court to take action relating to Charles Francis Hall's alleged shooting of Patrick Coleman during a 1860s expedition to search for the explorer John Franklin, Oct-Dec, 1869, with covering letter from A G E Jones.

Arranged in order of the description in Scope and Content.

Accessible via The Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.

Photocopying at the discretion of the Archivist, and subject to completion of an 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without the permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.
English

The Record is framed.

Collection level description available in the Foyle reading room.

Originals of the refusal by Canadian Court are held in The National Archives (ref: HO 45/8319).

Prepared by Archives volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery. ISAD(G) ed.2, name authority NRA. July, 2001; May 2008. Arctic Arctic regions Climatic zones Coppinger , R W , fl 1870 , explorer Geographical exploration Geography Hall , Charles Francis , d 1871 , explorer HMS Alert Polar regions USS Polaris

The collection arrived in two accessions. The Record was found in June 1922 by Dr Layge Koch who presented it to the RGS in 1925. The copies of correspondence were donated by A G E Jones, 1990.

Note or manuscript 'Record' left in an Arctic cairn by Surgeon R W Coppinger, 12 May 1876, while with the sledge party from HMS ALERT during that vessel's Arctic expedition. On the reverse of the note is a copy of an earlier 'Record' made by crew member of USS POLARIS, Capt S G Budington, 7 May 1872, reporting the progress of the POLARIS, including the death of Capt Charles Francis Hall, 8 Nov 1871. Presumably Coppinger retrieved the original record from the cairn, returned it to the US government and made a copy on the reverse of his own note to leave in the cairn.

Photocopies of refusal by Canadian Court to take action relating to Charles Francis Hall's alleged shooting of Patrick Coleman during a 1860s expedition to search for the explorer John Franklin, Oct-Dec, 1869, with covering letter from A G E Jones.

Arranged in order of the description in Scope and Content.

Accessible via The Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.

Photocopying at the discretion of the Archivist, and subject to completion of an 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without the permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.

• English

• Latin

English

Collection level description available in the Foyle reading room.

ISAD(G) ed.2, name authority NRA.

• English