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Stefansson, Vilhjalmur, 1879-1962

 

Dates

  • Existence: 1879 - 1962

Biography

Vilhjalmur Stefansson was born on November 3, 1879, in Arnes, Manitoba, Canada to Icelandic immigrants. In 1881, the family moved to North Dakota. Without a formal primary education Stefansson entered the University of North Dakota's preparatory department in 1898, but was expelled in 1902, for allegedly inciting a protest within the student body. He then enrolled at the University of Iowa from which he graduated with a B.A. in 1903. After a year of studying theology at the Harvard Divinity School he joined the Anglo-American Polar Expedition, which was under the auspices of Harvard and the University of Toronto, in 1906. In 1908, he participated in the Stefansson-Anderson Expedition, which was financed by the American Museum of Natural History and the Canadian government. The expedition took him to northern Alaska where for four years he explored the area on his way to Victoria Island where he planned to study an isolated group of Inuit who still used primitive tools and had strong Caucasian features. In 1913, he set out again on the Canadian Arctic Expedition which explored sea and islands north of Alaska and the Canadian mainland. Even though the expedition discovered Brock, Borden, Meighen and Lougheed Islands, it was overshadowed by the tragic sinking of one of the expedition's ships, the "Karluk," in pack ice and the subsequent deaths of many of its crew. It was also the last expedition Stefansson physically participated in as he began to focus his energy on the lucrative lecture circle and the writing of books on arctic subjects including "My Life with the Eskimo." In 1921, he organized the ill-fated Wrangel Island Expedition, the failure of which caused the death of all but one of its participants. In 1922, he began what was to become a lifelong project; the creation of a comprehensive polar library. In 1927, he participated in the Bellevue "Meat-Diet" experiment which required him to live on an all meat diet for one year. Being convinced of the benefits of such a diet, based on his experience living among the Eskimos earlier in his life, he continued to endorse and live by this diet even after completion of the experiment. From 1932-1954, Stefansson became an advisor on northern operations for Pan American Airways. He also performed a variety of jobs for the United States Government such as advisory work for the Coordinator of Information, authoring guide books and manuals on the arctic, as well as serving as a consultant on diet, clothing and other fields related to living in the arctic.

From 1937-1939, Stefansson was the president of the Explorers Club and in 1941, he married Evelyn Schwartz Baird who became his assistant as well as his wife. In 1946, he was contracted by the United States Office of Naval Research to create a comprehensive work on the arctic entitled the 'Encyclopedia Arctica.' Stefansson and dozens of other writers worked on the project for five years. However, the US government abruptly canceled the contract in 1951. In 1947, the Stefansson's moved to Vermont and Stefansson became an Arctic Consultant at Dartmouth College. He also sold his extensive arctic library to the college, but he and his wife remained involved in its upkeep.

Stefansson died of a stroke in Hanover, New Hampshire on August 26, 1962.

Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:

Dartmouth College Arctic Seminar records

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-28
Stefansson Mss-28
Date(s): 1953 to 1961
Abstract

Arctic Seminar (1953-1962). Consist of student papers and administrative materials including correspondence and syllabi.

Encyclopedia Arctica, typescript

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-97
Stefansson Mss-97
Date(s): 1947 to 1958
Abstract

"Encyclopedia Arctica," reference work. (1947-1951). Contains the bound typescript of this encyclopedia of Arctic studies sponsored by the United States Navy and edited by Stefansson.

Shasta Publisher's correspondence concerning Vilhjalmur Stefansson's unpublished book "Survival: Man Against Nature"

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-290
Stefansson Mss-290
Date(s): 1953-1958; 1962
Abstract

Shasta Publishers (1947-1957), Earle Melvin Korshak, founder. The collection contains The collection contains a contract, correspondence and several telegrams related to Vilhjalmur Stefansson's unpublished book "Survival: Man Against Nature."

Stefansson Arctic Collection-Glass plate negatives

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-225
Stefansson Mss-225
Date(s): 1913 to 1924
Abstract

Stefansson Arctic Collection-Glass plate negatives. Consists of 282 glass plate negatives from the Stefansson collection of Arctic photographs that document Arctic exploration and Inuit culture in the early 20th century.

Stefansson Arctic Collection lantern slides

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-226
Stefansson Mss-226
Date(s): circa 1911-1923
Abstract

Stefansson Arctic Collection lantern slides. Contains lantern slides, created from the extensive collection of printed photographs associated with Stefansson's Arctic expeditions and other journeys.

Stefansson vanity files

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-271
Stefansson Mss-271
Scope and Contents

The collection contains printed material, including university class books, articles and reprints of articles about Vilhjalmur Stefansson. Stefansson maintained the files to keep track of his professional output and press coverage.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson audio and visual material

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-268
Stefansson Mss-268
Date(s): 1946 to 1994
Scope and Contents The collection of Vilhjalmur Stefansson audio and visual material consist of interviews and lectures on a variety of media formats, including sound scriber recordings of a lecture given by Stefansson at the United Sates War College (1946), audio reel recordings of a conversation between Stefansson and Edward M. Weyer (1955), audio reel recordings of Stefansson and Henry Larson reminiscing at Dartmouth College (1962), as well as VHS tapes of an interview with Evelyn Stefansson Neff for...

Vilhjalmur Stefansson correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-196
Stefansson Mss-196
Date(s): 1895 to 1962
Abstract

Vilhjalmur Stefansson (1879-1962); personal as well as professional correspondence, manuscripts, clippings, catalogues, bills and receipts as well as canceled checks and bank statements chronicling his life, writings, research and expeditions.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson correspondence regarding lecture series

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-27
Stefansson Mss-27
Date(s): 1927 to 1930
Abstract

Correspondence regarding negotiations for a lecture series by Stefansson at Dartmouth College.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson glass lantern slides

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-279
Stefansson Mss-279
Date(s): 1920 to 1930
Abstract

Glass lantern slides (48), presumed to be used by Vilhjalmur Stefansson during one of his lectures on the Arctic.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson papers

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-98
Stefansson Mss-98
Date(s): 1902 to 1962
Abstract

Vilhjalmur Stefansson (1879-1962), Arctic explorer and writer. Papers consist of correspondence, journals, reports, manuscripts of published and unpublished books and articles, research files, source material, maps, photographs and printed matter relating to his career as a writer and arctic explorer.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson self-portrait collection

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-269
Stefansson Mss-269
Date(s): 1932 to 1939
Scope and Contents

The collection contains portraits and a silhoutte of Vilhjalmur Stefansson; comprised of a charcoal sketch, a pencil sketch and a pen and ink sketch of Stefansson's portrait as well as a silhoutte of his profile.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson vertical files

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-242
Stefansson Mss-242
Date(s): 1683 to 2004
Abstract

Vilhjalmur Stefansson (1879-1962), Arctic explorer. Contains original and reproduction pamphlets, clippings, reports, and photographs related to Stefansson's writings, research and expeditions.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson's photographic files

 Collection
Identifier: Mss-238
Stefansson Mss-238
Date(s): 1890 to 1961
Abstract

Stefansson Photographic Files (circa 1890-2002). Consist of photographs and negatives created and gathered by Vilhjalmur and Evelyn Stefansson.

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