Dovers family further papers

MLMSS 12145/Box 1
MLMSS 12145/Box 2X

fonds

1911-1915, 1947-1964, 1995

9677804

0.50 metres of textual material (1 box, 1 outsize box), includes photographs - manuscript, typescript

George Harris Sarjeant Dovers was born on 11 May 1887 in Bombala, New South Wales. Between 1911-1914, Dovers was part of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition headed by Douglas Mawson, serving as cartographer at the Western Base in Queen Mary Land. Cape Dovers was named after him. Upon his return from Antarctica, he established a private practice as a surveyor in Wollongong, and in 1915, was awarded the silver Polar Medal. In 1916, he married Ursula Dorothy Dabbs (1891-1970), with whom he had three children, William John (1918-2007), Robert George (1922-1981) and Judith (1925-). He died on 8 July 1971 in Wahroonga, New South Wales.

Robert George Dovers was born on 6 May 1922 in Wollongong, New South Wales. Following his military service in World War II, he joined the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition and worked as a surveyor on several trips between 1947 and 1955. Between 1951 and 1952, he was an Australian observer in Adelie Land as part of the Third French Antarctic Expedition. He died on 3 December 1981 in Shellharbour, New South Wales.

References:
Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. "Dovers, George Harris Sarjeant (1887 - 1971)". Accessed 23 April 2024. https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P002110b.htm

Ryerson Index. "Robert George Dovers". Accessed 24 April 2024. https://ryersonindex.org/search.php

Donors are the grandchildren of George Dovers.

MLMSS 12145/BOX 1 - MANUSCRIPTS
Partial undated manuscript beginning “There is no life on the Antarctic Continent” regarding the discovery of the sixth known emperor penguin rookery in MacRobertson Land and mentions of the Third French Antarctic Expedition in Adelie Land.

“Track Without End, a novel by Robert Dovers” based on Dovers’ experiences in Papua New Guinea during World War II, including sections written from a Japanese perspective.

Two copies of a novella about Snowy, a dog living on Macquarie Island, Antarctica and its encounters with the wildlife and environment.

“A Dead Man Tells His Tale” by Eric Curry recounting the death of William Ernest Conway with forwarding letter dated 15 March 1945. Curry was a relative of Robert Dovers.

“Fourteen Months Out of Sight” by A. Campbell-Drury recounting the first Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition’s efforts to establish a meteorological base on Heard Island, dated between 27 November 1947 and 1948.

“Icescape” by Robert Dovers recounting the founding and first year at the Mawson Base in Antarctica ; two copies (one signed) of a letter from R.G. Casey about writing a forward to the book ; a letter to Dovers from R.G. Casey about the manuscript, dated 4 October 1956

MLMSS 12145/BOX 2X – PAPERS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Partial letter written on ship to drop off Western Party, dated January 1911

George Dovers Surveyors field book recording explorations of western Party Shackleton Glacier area from 7 November 1911 to 20 January 1912

“News Cuttings” scrapbook of newspaper cuttings compiled by George Dovers’ sister Alice from 24 November 1911 to 20 March 1914 about the Mawson expedition and George Dovers’ role in the National Capital Survey. Includes some photographs.

Telegrams from Pietro Baracchi, Director of the Observatory to Western Land Board asking for release of George Dovers to take part in Mawson Expedition, dated 20 November 1911; to George Dovers ordering him to report to Hobart and Dr Mawson, dated 21 November 1911




Letter to Ula Dovers (formerly Ursula Dabbs) describing the plans for the expedition, dated “Hobart, 2 December 1911”

Letter from George Dovers to his family “SS Aurora in the Pack” approaching Antarctica, dated 12 January 1912

Three letters and partial letters post stamped “Loose ship’s letters S.Y. Aurora” to Ula Dabbs “The New land, Antarctica Feb 18, 1912”

Letter to “my Dearest People at Home”, from “The Grottoes, Shackleton Glacier, Antarctica, 17 August 1912” including small map of a risky expedition.

Letter from George Dovers to family “The Hut” recording return from exploration trapped 16 days in blizzard and preparations for upcoming 3 month explorations, as well as day to day life and food in the hut. Dated 30 October 1912

Incomplete description of exploration, equipment and method of surveying from base to Gaussberg by S.E. Jones, C.A. Hoadley and G.H.S. Dovers, dated 7 November 1912

Two letters and envelope from Ula Dabbs (later Ursula Dovers) to George Dovers dated 20 November and 8 December 1912

Undated partial letter to Ula Dabbs describing return of the expedition on Australasian Antarctic Expedition letterhead

Royal geographical Society Members Ticket 1914-15

Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition book account of the 1947 Heard Island Australian expedition.

Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition envelope with Macquarie Island stamps addressed to Wilma Graham (later Wilma Dovers) and signed by ANARE staff and expedition members and later notation of professions of expeditioners and roles in the office. Dated 7 March 1948. Orange album of 14 photographic prints of 1948 Macquarie Island expeditioners with notations by Wilma identifying individuals.

“Aurora disrupts radio link” press release reports impact on communications, shipping, animal behaviour and radio chess match between Australia’s Heard Island station and South Africa’s Marion Island, 1 September 1948

Appointment of George Dovers as Coroner in State of Tasmania and its Dependencies, 3 November 1949

Certificate of Membership for Robert Dovers to The Antarctic Club as a member of the expedition 1948-1949, dated 1950.

The Antarctic Club List of Members, January 1951; Robert and George Dovers listed in the Australian Section

Certificate of Competency for Robert Dovers to be qualified as a surveyor in New South Wales, 20 March 1951

Certificate of Membership for Robert Dovers to the Institution of Surveyors, 12 October 1951

Letter from head of Expeditions Polaires Francaise to Phillip Law regarding request for support in proposed attempt to fly to Antarctica and equipment for Robert Dovers, dated 30 October 1951

Letter from P.G. Law, Director, Antarctic Division to Robert Dovers regarding Commonwealth approval for Robert Dovers to join French expedition 1951-1952 as observer, dated 12 November 1951

Royal Geographical Society certificate electing Robert G. Dovers Esq. a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 8 June 1953 ; Royal Geographical Society Session 1953-1954 Fellow’s ticket

“Antarctic Division – Department of External Affairs Press Release, 29th June, 1954” regarding first journey made by weasels over sea ice in winter to Scullin Monolith to make observations

“Press Release – Antarctic Division (not to be published before Wednesday 17th November) Dog-Sledge journey by Antarctic explorers” survey of coasts of Mc Roberston Land and Kemp Land and region inside King Edward VIII Gulf

Certificate of appointment for Robert George Dovers as “Officier d’Académie” to the Republique Française for services to science signed by Le Ministre de l’Education Nationale, 15 January 1954

Letter from the Ambassade de France en Australie to Robert Dovers regarding his appointment as an Officer of the Academy, 20 July 1954

“Southern Reconnaissance – Daily Journal” Mawson Base, 2 December 1954 – 6 January 1955. Missing page 18
Honours and Awards, 1st March, 1955, “Awarded the Polar Medal, Robert George Dovers, Esquire” citation on Governor-General Commonwealth of Australia letterhead

Menu in French for lunch for members of Australian Antarctic Expedition and crew of “Kista Dan” by Kerguelen Island French Base staff, May 1955

Newspaper clipping from the Illawarra Daily Mercury “Exploring Family” photograph and introduction of George and Ula Dovers and Robert and Wilma Dovers, 11 June 1955

Congratulatory telegram to Robert George Dovers from R.G. Casey Minister of External Affairs regarding award of Polar Medal, 24 January 1956 ; Honours and Awards, 24th January 1956, “Awarded a Clasp to the Polar Medal, Robert George Dovers, Esquire” citation on Governor-General Commonwealth of Australia letterhead

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette notice granting restricted permission from Her Majesty the Queen for Robert George Dovers to receive and wear the award of Palmes Officier d’Académie, 2 February 1956 ; attached letter to Bob (Robert) from J. Donovan of the Antarctic Division, Department of External Affairs, 8 February 1956

Signed Memorandum of Agreement between Robert Dovers and G. Bell and Sons Ltd. to publish “Husky” by Robert Dovers, dated 26 April 1956

Letter to Robert Dovers from the Royal Geographical Society, London, awarding him the Mrs Patrick Ness Award for contributions to Antarctic exploration and mapping, 5 March 1956 ; certificate dated June 1956

Letter from the Royal Society of Victoria (dated 26 November 1956), formal invitation to Robert Dovers and program to attend the Antarctic Symposium, 3 December 1956

Photograph annotated on verso “Robert Dovers (3-12-56) on occasion of being invested with Polar Medal and clasp by H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh”

Colour book cover for “My Friends the Huskies” by Robert Dovers, annotated on verso “American cover edition” ; newspaper clipping “Part Dog, Part Wolf” about Dovers’ book ; editorial clipping from The Sphere, London, about Dovers’ book, dated 23 March 1957.

Newspaper clippings reviewing Robert Dovers’ book “Huskies” and his Antarctic exploration, dated between 11 May 1957 and 14 March 1959


“Story no. 1” from A.N.Z.A.A.S. (Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science), August, 1962
“Section P ; Three Stories of Lesser Known Antarctic Journeys” by Instructor-Captain M.H. Moyes.

Two copies of “The Story of a Man Alone” by George Dovers with accompanying annotated note from Dovers & Associates “written by R.G. Dovers as told by G. Dovers & published in ‘Walkabout Magazine’ ; October 1964 edition of Walkabout Magazine with different article titled “Season in Solitary” by Commander Morton Moyes “as told to George Dovers and D’Arcy Niland”

Letter to Wilma Dovers from the Hydrographic Department of the Ministry of Defence regarding receipt of the Polar Medal by Robert Dovers and George Dovers, dated 1 September 1995

Collection has been arranged chronologically.

English, French

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder