Canadian Arctic Expedition 1913-1915
Scenes from Herschel Island during the Canadian Arctic Expedition: Scene 1: View of Herschel Island settlement on July 24, 1914 from CAE schooner North Star. Scene 2: View from the shore of the three expedition schooners, North Star, Mary Sachs and last to arrive, Alaska on August 5, 1914. Scene 3: The Alaska loaded with supplies for Coronation Gulf. Scene 4: Mackenzie River Eskimo arriving at Herschel Island on August 6, 1914. Scene 5: The coast of Banks Island, taken on August 23, 1914. Scene 6: Unloading the Mary Sachs at Cape Kellett on September 1, 1914. Scene 7: Panorama view of a group of people at Herschel Island, including some expedition members lined up for the camera. Scene 8: Fully loaded CAE schooner North Star simulates its anticipated departure for Banks Island to search for Stefansson and his "ice party". Courtesy of Museum of Canada
Unalina’s camp, Bernard Harbour. 5 July 1916
As one of his assignments for the Gaumont Media Company in London, Wilkins was assigned to cover, as a photographer, the Canadian Arctic Expedition. This venture was to be separated into two groups; one for exploration of uncharted waters north of Canada,to be led by a loner and former Harvard divinity student, Vilhjalmur Stefansson and the other for scientific discovery, to be led by Rudolph Anderson
A whale boat cached on ice blocks. 20 May 1914
Wilkins was initially assigned to the exploration group that took off north on The Karluk.Whenthatboat got caught up in ice floes, Stefansson decided he would go search for help, fortunately taking Wilkins with him, for The Karluk was eventually crushed by the ice with half its crew perishing in the following winter.
Oviuak, Atticia’s child. 10 July 1915.
The Alaska leaving Bernard Harbour. 13 July 1916
While Wilkins learned much about human nature and living in the Arctic, especially from the Inuits he came to befriend, he eventually got himself free, only to find the Great War had been proceeding for more than a year.
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These images and their captions courtesy of Dartmouth University.