1261100
- TitleWilliam Colbeck photographs and clippings relating to the British Antarctic (Southern Cross) Expedition, ca 1860-1930
- Creator
- Call numberPXA 2123
- Level of descriptionfonds
- Date
ca 1860-1930 - Type of material
- Reference code1261100
- Issue CopyDigitised
- Physical Description61 photographs, 1 ephemera, 5 clippings (1 box) - black & white - carte de visite; printed ;
- ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
The British Antarctic Expedition of 1898 to 1900 was also known as the Southern Cross Expedition. It was the first British expedition, and the first to stay during winter, to Antartica and was led by the British explorer Carsten Borchgrevink. It also initiated the use of dogs and sledges in Antarctic exploration. The expedition camped at Cape Adare where they carried out scientific observations.
William Colbeck was born in Hull, August 8, 1871 and was a merchant navy apprentice from 1886 to 1890. He was awarded a Royal Navy Reserve commission in 1898, the same year that Carsten Borchgrevink invited him to join the Expedition to Antarctica. Colbeck was in charge of the magnetic observation work.
Louis Bernacchi migrated to Tasmania from Belgium in 1884. He trained in astronomy at the Melbourne Observatory in the use of sextants and magnetic instruments. He joined the Carsten Borchgrevink’s expedition in New Zealand. Bernacchi was responsible for the majority of photographs of the expedition, credited with being the first to be taken on land depicting the Antarctic continent.
Sources:
New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust
https://www.nzaht.org (Accessed 19.6.2015)
State Library of Tasmania
http://www.linc.tas.gov.au (Accessed 19.6.2015)
Australian Dictionary Biography
http://adb.anu.edu.au (Accessed 19.6.2015) - Scope and ContentCollection of photographs, newspaper clippings and carte de visite portraits.
Images 1-37 are of the British Antarctic Expedition and Antarctica and portraits of William Colbeck. Images 38-61 are unidentified and undated carte de visite of men, women and children. No's. 38-50 are by photographers in Hull, the birthplace of William Colbeck. No's. 62-67 are a certificate and clippings concerning events in William Colbeck's life.
1. Siberian huskies and Lapp tent. Ole Must, Persen Savio, and 2 unidentified men.
2. Crowd on board a ship St Katharine’s Dock, London.
3. Woman and man on board a ship St Katharine’s Dock, London.
4. 3 men on board a ship. St Katharine’s Dock, London.
5. Group portrait of 6 men on board a ship. St Katharine’s Dock, London.
6. Ship’s crew on board a ship.
7. Ship’s crew on board a ship.
8. Theodolite work in the pack, with the Southern Cross in background.
9. Taking exercise in the pack.
10. The Magnetic Observatory tent, William Colbeck.
11. The Magnetic Observatory tent, William Colbeck.
12. Unidentified man with burgee flag marked with a skull and crossbones.
13. Unidentified man with 2 husky dogs and burgee flag marked with a skull and crossbones on pole.
14. Dogs eating.
15. Camp Ridley at Cape Adare.
16. Group portrait of 9 men and 2 huskies and a sledge on board a ship.
17. Group portrait of 9 men and 2 huskies and a sledge on board a ship.
18. Group portrait of 3 men and 2 huskies and a sledge on board a ship.
19. 2 unidentified men in wet weather clothes on board ship.
20. Snow and ice scene with burgee flag marked with a skull and crossbones on pole.
21. Unidentified man with flat cap in snow holding a pipe.
22. William Colbeck standing with sitting husky dog.
23. Probably Carsten Borchgrevink standing in front of icicles with a husky dog.
24. The ship ‘Southern Cross’ in full sail at sea.
25. The “Southern Cross” ship at anchor, Ridley Beach, Cape Adare. Building the huts. Titled on verso.
26. Unidentified man in naval uniform, probably a Sub-Lieutenant, on board a ship.
27. Unidentified man in naval uniform, probably a Lieutenant, on board a ship.
28. William Colbeck in naval uniform of a commander on the deck of a ship. On reverso is inscription, “I don’t know whether I sent you one of these from Hobart, 1 May 1902”.
29. Group portrait of 4 men and 2 women on board a ship. William Colbeck in middle dressed in naval uniform of a commander, probably May 1902.
30. Departure of last Tasmanian Contingents for South Africa, titled on verso, ca 1901.
31. Unidentified young man in military uniform.
32. Large group of men in front of several buildings.
33. Wall covered in framed photographs and bookshelves.
34. Group portrait of 3 unidentified men. Photographer Coupe & Bennett, 16 & 17 Bedford St., Plymouth. Titled on verso, May 1891 Plymouth.
35. Portrait of William Colbeck in full naval dress of a Sub-Lieutenant of the Royal Navy Reserve
36. Portrait of William Colbeck in full naval dress of a Sub-Lieutenant of the Royal Navy Reserve
37. Season’s Greetings folder containing photograph of probably the four sons of William Colbeck. Dated June 1924, inscribed, “love and best wishes from all at Calford [?]”.
38. Full-length portrait photograph of a young girl sitting on a table.
39. Full-length portrait photograph of a young boy sitting on a chair.
40. Three-quarter length portrait photograph of a woman sitting at a desk.
41. Three-quarter length portrait photograph of a woman sitting at a desk.
42. Bust portrait photograph of a young bearded man.
43. Three-quarter length portrait photograph of an elderly woman.
44. Full-length portrait photograph of two men, of whom one is seated and the other is standing.
45. Full-length portrait photograph of a man leaning on a chair on which a hat lies.
46. Three-quarter length portrait photograph of a seated elderly woman in a bonnet.
47. Full-length portrait photograph of a seated woman in winter clothes with an umbrella in her left hand.
48. Three-quarter length portrait photograph of a standing woman leaning on a seat with a small book in her right hand.
49. Full-length portrait photograph of a woman standing by a chair holding a hat in her right hand.
50. Bust portrait photograph of a bearded man in a checkered shirt, a necktie, a collared waistcoat, and an overcoat.
51. Full-length portrait photograph of a bearded man standing by a chair with his left hand on his hip, wearing a pair of striped trousers, a checkered shirt, a necktie, a collared waistcoat, and an overcoat.
52. Bust portrait photograph of a bearded man in glasses, wearing a necktie, a vest and a jacket.
53. Full-length portrait photograph of two children, one boy and a girl, the boy perched on a chair holding his hat in both hands, and the girl standing between the boy and a desk on which her hat lies.
54. Bust portrait photograph of an adolescent boy wearing a cap and a double-breasted winter coat.
55. Three-quarter length portrait photograph of a woman in a Victorian dress sitting at a desk, holding a small book in her right hand.
56. Full-length portrait photograph of a woman in a Victorian dress standing by a chair.
57. Full-length portrait photograph of a bearded man sitting on a chair with this legs crossed.
58. Full-length double portrait photograph of an elderly couple, the woman seated and the man standing by her side with his right hand on her right shoulder and his left hand holding a cane.
59. Bust portrait mounted photograph of a bearded man wearing a waistcoat and an overcoat.
60. Full-length portrait mounted photograph of an elderly woman wearing a bonnet, sitting with a book in her left hand in front of a brick building.
61. Full-length portrait mounted photograph of a seated woman in a Victorian mourning dress and a widow's cap, looking down to what seems to be a photograph in her hands.
62. Certificate of Purchase no. 4179 and Receipt for Hull General Cemetery Company. Addressed to Mrs Elizabeth Colbeck of 62 Park Street, Hull. Acquisition of family vault. 26 September 1878.
63. Newspaper clipping, “New Antarctic Expedition”. Picture of Captain Scott’s ship Discovery, ca 1901.
64. Newspaper clipping, “The Discovery’s stowaway, Cardiff newsboy’s futile attempt to see the world”, ca 1901.
65. Newspaper clipping, “As the world goes by, a great little ship”, ca 1901.
66. Newspaper clipping, “A gifted son of Hull, The late Lieut.-Com. W. Colbeck, Polar expeditions recalled”. 1930.
67. Newspaper clipping. “Capt. Colbeck, notable people at interment”. 1930. - Copying ConditionsOut of copyright: Created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales - Description source
The majority of the images have appeared in the following publications and were used by the cataloguer for description.
To the South Polar regions, expedition of 1898-1900 by Louis Bernacchi. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1901.
First on the Antarctic Continent being an account of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1898-1900 by C.E. Borchgrevink. London: C. Hurst & Company, 1980. Photographs by Louis Bernacchi.
That first Antarctic Winter, the story of the Southern Cross Expedition of 1898-1900 as told in the diaries of Louis Charles Bernacchi. Written by Janet Crawford. Christchurch: South Latitude Research, 1998. - Date note
Except for 2 images the collection in undated. - Creator/Author/Artist
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