Background
Explorer/geographer George Hubert Wilkins (1894-1958) was a pioneer in
polar exploration, making ten trips to Arctic and Antarctic regions by
submarine and by airplane. His career as a polar explorer began in 1913 when he
joined the Canadian government's Stefansson Arctic expedition. He is perhaps
best-known for his 2100 mile, 21 hour flight with Lt. Ben Eielson from Point
Barrow to Spitsbergen (1928), for which accomplishment he was knighted by King
George V. Wilkins also led the Wilkins-Hearst Expedition to the Antarctic, in
the course of which he discovered many details of Antarctic geography.
Following his career as a polar explorer, Sir Hubert Wilkins became a civilian
consultant to the U.S. Army in matters relating to polar and desert regions.
This collection was apparently compiled by a Mrs. Lura B. Shreck, who may have
been a secretary to Wilkins.