American Historical Ephemera and Photography

[TRAVEL & EXPLORATION]. [MACINTOSH, H.P., photographer]. Oversized cabinet card portrait of members of the Greely Arctic Expedition of 1881-83. Ca 1881.

6 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. photograph on larger cardstock mount (toning, soiling, losses to print; mount with soiling and significant wear to edges and corners). "GREELEY ARCTIC EXPEDITION / Season of 1881-83" printed to left and right of image. 21 men are featured seated and standing in the portrait. The man seated to the viewer's far left hold what appears to be a riding crop or baton in his lap. Subjects are identified in print to upper and lower mount recto: "STANDING—Schneider D. Cross D. Linn D. Long S. Fredericks S. Henry D. Connell S. Bender D. Salor D. Biedersack S. Gardner D. Ellis D. Ralston D. / SITTING—Brainard S. Ellison D. Keslingbury D. Greeley S. Lockwood D. Israil D. Jewell D. Rice D." Verso bears ink stamps and inscription identifying the image to "Lawrence R. Craig."

The Lady Franklin Bay Expedition (also known as the Greely Expedition) was one of a number of explorations of the Arctic in the late 19th century. The expedition was designed to establish a weather observation station on Ellesmere Island, and consisted of a party of 21 men lead by Lt. Adolphus Greely. The expedition gained fame after multiple resupply ships were thwarted by pack ice and Greely and his men were forced to endure starvation conditions at Cape Sabine before being rescued in June 1884. By that time, only 7 of the original expedition members had survived. The seventh initial survivor, Joseph Elison, died on the journey home. Sensational rumors of cannibalism followed the survivors though this was never proven.