Margaret Elder Dow papers

The papers of Margaret Elder Dow contains journals, correspondence, newspaper clippings, reports, notes, manuscripts and research material, some on microfilm, related to Elisha Kent Kane and the Grinnell Expeditions. Manuscripts for her books "Danger First-The Life of Elisha Kent Kane, Pioneer Explorer of North Greenland," "Advance on the Dark" and "Elisha Kent Kane-America's First Great Arctic Explorer" are also included. Elisha Kent Kane, son of a prominent Philadelphia family, received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. As assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy, he was assigned to the Orient and Mexico. In 1850 he sailed as senior medical officer on the first Grinnell Expedition to the Arctic in search of Sir John Franklin. And in 1853 he organized and was in command of the second Grinnell Expedition to continue the search. On this voyage new land was discovered and charted, and many scientific observations and surveys were conducted. Upon his return, Kane wrote of his adventures in Arctic Explorations and became a popular hero. In poor health since childhood, Kane died in 1857, at the age of 37. Collection also contains correspondence and manuscripts by Herma Briffault, a friend and researcher on the Arctic.