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The Thomas H. Manning Polar Archives
The Institute's archives hold one of the largest collections of manuscript and other unpublished material relating to the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and to many persons who have worked there.
Please note that due to demand you will need to reserve a reader's desk to access archival material.
- Online booking request form for Archives readers
- Virtual Shackleton
- Special Collections access policy
- Picture Library
Note for participants of the SCAR History Workshop, July 2013
Delegates planning to visit Cambridge for the SCAR History Workshop during the first week of July 2013 are requested to contact the archivist directly regarding access during the week of the 24th June OR 8th July. Please title your e-mail SCAR History and send to archives@spri.cam.ac.uk or by telephone 01223 336 555.
For all other dates please use the online booking system
Finding aids:
Published Catalogue: Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England by Clive Holland (London and New York, Garland Publishing, ISBN 0 8240 9394 1). Published in 1982
On line Catalogue: The achive collections can be searched on line via the Archives Hub. Search by personal name or expedition.
The Archives Hub is a national gateway to the holdings of archives in UK universities and colleges. Search the SPRI archive catalogues on the hub from here.
Scope and Content: The collections relate primarily to British Expeditions and British Explorers. About half the collection is of Antarctic interest and covers all parts of the continent and islands. For the Arctic the exploration of northern Canada is particularly well represented, although all other regions are covered to some extent (notably Greenland and Svalbard)
Detailed chronologies of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, largely based on SPRI records include:
- The exploration of northern Canada by Alan Cooke and Clive Holland; (Toronto, Arctic History Press, ISBN 0 7710 2265 4)
- Arctic exploration and development c.500 B.C. to 1915 by Clive Holland; (New York and London, Garland Press, ISBN 0 8240 7648 6)
- A Chronology of Antarctic exploration by Robert Headland; (London, Bernard Quaritch Ltd, ISBN 978-0-9550852-8-4)
The material held in the Archives has been received from a large variety of sources. This includes gifts and loans. It includes some recent important additions which demonstrate the continued generosity of several benefactors. Other material is sometimes acquired by purchase. Presently, prices for items with polar interest are high and increasing, thus fund raising forms a substantial part of the Institute's work and is a significant problem for the collections.
A note on requirements for access to manuscript and other archival items at the Institute is available from the Archivist, who will advise on particular fields of investigation. It is necessary to make an appointment to use the material; some periods may be restricted owing to prior bookings, special events, and availability of staff. Archival material is not made available outside the Institute. Requests for further information should be made to the Archivist, Miss Naomi Boneham.
The Institute also houses the world's most comprehensive Arctic and Antarctic library. Readers using the archives also have access to this published material, including the large collection of maps and charts.