National Geographic Society (U.S.)

The eruption of Mount Katmai on the Alaska Peninsula in 1912 was one of the great volcanic events of modern history. The eruption covered the town of Kodiak with almost one foot of ash and the explosion was reportedly heard as far away as Juneau, 750 miles distant. To study this phenomena, the National Geographic Society launched several scientific investigating expeditions to Katmai and surrounding areas affected by the eruption. There was a brief expedition to Kodiak and Afognak Islands, led by George C. Martin in 1912 to study the effects of ashfall from the Katmai explosion. Other expeditions to the volcano itself were launched between 1913 and 1919, the most significant of which were those of 1917 and 1919. These expeditions were under the direction of Robert F. Griggs, who later published a book and several articles on the phenomena. One direct result of the expeditions was the creation of the Katmai National Monument in 1918 by proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson.

From the description of Katmai Expeditions : photographs, 1913-1919. (UAA/APU Consortium Library). WorldCat record id: 60772021