Robert E. Peary. Sledging. ca. 1886-1909. Collodion print. All images courtesy of The Photography Collections of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (P78-118-126).

Written by Michelle O’Malley

Edited by Sophie Yates

During the twentieth century, the international race to reach the geographic North Pole sparked from an earlier mission to find the Northwest Passage, a trade route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As nations’ explorers traveled farther North than expected, the North Pole arose as the glorified destination, its eventual discovery a symbol for triumph and victory among mankind. It was on April 6, 1909 that the race reached its anticipated finish and the world exhaled when American explorer Robert E. Peary (1856-1920) claimed to have set foot on the North Pole.

Robert E. Peary. Henson with Raven and Blue Fox. ca. 1886-1897. Gelatin silver print.

UMBC’s North Pole Narratives: Photographs from the Wendorff Collection on Robert E. Peary, curated by Emily Cullen, features thirty photographs from Peary’s expedition, spanning from 1891 to 1909. The photographs vary in subject from sledging via dog sled and a Caribou family portrait, to the Arctic’s indigenuous Inuit people standing in front of the monument erected at Cape Columbia, a marker for the sledge team’s departure point and ensuing return from the North Pole. Every photo delivers a message of success and valor from Peary’s team, proof of both the journey’s longevity and its validity.

Robert E. Peary. Family group of Peary Caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) arranged by “frozen taxidermy” and photographed by flashlight. ca. 1886-1909. Gelatin silver print.

Yet Peary’s conquest was not done entirely on his own. It took the seasoned explorer three separate attempts to successfully reach the North Pole, the final attempt, having had help from four Inuit explorers whose knowledge of the arctic landscape proved extremely helpful as well as with his African American assistant, Matthew Henson. Henson was hired by Peary from the very start of his expedition back in 1887 and is pictured throughout Peary’s photographs, his invaluable assistance recognized. Though not the ‘main subject’ of the expedition, the inclusion of Henson’s presence on the journey as well as that of the native Inuit people highlights the fact that the treacherous journey was certainly not a one-man job.

Robert E. Peary. Permanent monument erected at Cape Columbia to mark the point of departure and return of the North Pole sledge party. ca. 1909. Gelatin silver print.

The authentic pen marks left along the expedition photographs’ weathered background borders offer viewers a glimpse into the process of the writing and recording of history. Viewers are reminded of the ‘behind the scenes’ efforts put forth by Peary and his publishers; we can almost picture the team looking over the photos, meticulously selecting and rearranging the order and insertion of images so that a heroic narrative can be effectively conveyed for the public. In accordance with these endeavors, the explorer fell into his new role as America's fearless voyager who conquered the elements and discovered new land. Peary had achieved the highly sought-after title and this was proof for all.

North Pole Narratives: Photographs from the Wendorff Collection on Robert E. Peary is on display from February 3 through May 20, 2022 at UMBC’s Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery. The exhibition was funded by a project grant from the Baltimore County Commission on the Arts & Sciences and a program grant from the Maryland State Arts Council as well as the Libby Kuhn Endowment Fund.

Photo Editor: Miller Lyle