Library Treasures
The Lure of the North
Opens March 12, 2008
Renowned polar explorer Robert Peary used these words to describe his consuming passion for the Arctic—a “lure” he characterized as “a strange and powerful thing.”
Like Peary, The Academy of Natural Sciences has felt this strong attraction to the far north. Its “Golden Age” of Arctic exploration spanned from the early 1890s until the early 1930s. During this time, the Academy participated in numerous expeditions to the Arctic, conducting scientific studies and amassing natural history specimens. “The Lure of the North” presents a sampling of this period in Academy history.
Robert Peary's began his polar exploits in 1891-92 with an expedition to Greenland sponsored by the Academy. His goal was to reach the northernmost tip of Greenland to demonstrate that it was an island. Scientists from the Academy used the expedition as an opportunity to gather specimens for their natural history collections.
Some years later, Peary used Greenland to launch his final quest for the North Pole. For Harry Whitney, a passenger on Peary's ship, it was an opportunity to hunt big game. Unfortunately for Whitney, he became embroiled in the controversy of who reached the pole first, Peary or his rival, Frederick Cook.
For many, the controversy still rages, but Harry Whitney continued to hunt big game in the North and supplied the Academy with a wealth of specimens.
“The Lure of the North” displays books, photo albums, correspondences and specimens from both the 1891-92 Peary Expedtion and from Greenland travels of Harry Whitney.
Robert Peary
Harry Whitney