Works published in the past that are now in the public domain and are related to polar exploration or polar explorers. These are faithful transcriptions and will not contain footnotes by the transcriber/editor unless explicitly stated otherwise. Some of these may be found in other categories on the site.

A Note on Narratives

As this category tries to collect publications that might be less easy to find and/or are stuck in larger bodies of work, this section won’t contain any explorer’s narratives for now. If you want to find these please go to the page on British Narratives.

Bell, Benjamin – Lieut. John Irving, R.N. of H.M.S. “Terror,” in Sir John Franklin’s Last Expedition to the Arctic Regions: A Memorial Sketch with Letters

“It has occurred to a few friends of the late Lieutenant John Irving, R.N., whose remains were recently interred with Naval honours and much public sympathy, in the Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, that a brief yet reliable memoir of the deceased might be acceptable to many of his countrymen.”

FULL VERSION / CHAPTERED VERSION

Davis, John Edward – A Letter from the Antarctic

“By Captain J. E. Davis, R.N. / Formerly Second Master of H.M.S. ‘Terror.” Written on the Ross Expedition (1839-43), 1842. Published in 1901.

Goodsir, Harry – On the Anatomy of Forbesia

“II.—On the Anatomy of Forbesia. By H. D. S. Goodsir, M.W.S., Acting Assistant-Surgeon of H.M.S. Erebus.—(Transmitted by the Author from Disco Island, Baffins Bay, in June 1845.)” Originally published Annals of Anatomy and Physiology, conducted by John Goodsir, 1850.

Goodsir, Harry – Zoology of the Arctic

“July 7th, 1845. Whale Fish Islands, Baffin’s Bay.” Harry Goodsir’s last scientific paper-slash-letter, written on the Franklin Expedition, about the Arctic fauna and flora.