This series consists of black and white prints relating to Admiral Peary's expeditions to the Arctic. Some of the photographs may have been used in Peary's publications and lectures. Most of the photographs capture the scenic views in the Arctic region and document native life in Greenland. Peary explored Greenland and its coast to determine its insularity and to find a route to the North Pole. Studies of the northern ice caps were crucial to Peary's success in finding a route to the North Pole. He and members of his expeditions studied Greenland's physical features, minerals, and animal and plant life. Many of the landscape images are not captioned and are faded or of poor quality. Among the best landscape views is the image of "Face of Bowdoin Glacier" (XP-XPW-16-1).
A large percentage of the images in this series represent anthropological studies (XP-XPW-3 through 8). While living with the Eskimos, Peary gained their confidence and was able to take photographs of the physical characteristics of male and female Eskimos. Several such photographs are included in this series.
In order to survive in the Arctic region, Admiral Peary felt it essential to communicate with the natives and adopt some of their culture and habits. Peary copied the Eskimos' dress patterns and gained knowledge of their expert hunting skills. Whenever necessary, expedition members traded guns and other articles with the Eskimos when bartering for sled dogs, fresh meat, and furs. The Eskimo women made clothing, sleeping bags, and tents from the skins and furs of various Arctic animals. Four views of an Eskimo skin tent or tupik are shown (see items XP-XPW-3-6, XP-XPW-11-4, XP-XPW-11-5, and XP-XPW-11-6).
Dr. Frederick A. Cook, a surgeon and ethnologist, was one of the specialists who accompanied Peary. During the 1891-92 expedition, Dr. Cook studied the Eskimo community which resided on the west coast of Greenland between Melville Bay and Kane Basin. Most of the records relating to Dr. Cook in this series, however, are photographs of newspaper articles relating to disputes between Cook and Peary over who was the first to reach the North Pole (XP-XPW-20-12 through XP-XPW-20-20).
Also included in this series are photographs Josephine Peary and Matthew Henson. Mrs. Peary is shown with Ikwa, a male Eskimo, his wife, Mane, and their two children, Annadore and Noya, during the 1891-92 expedition (XP-XPW-20-2). Also, during this expedition, Mrs. Peary is pictured distributing cooking utensils to the Eskimos (XP-XPW-11-1). This image of Mrs. Peary may have been taken by Mrs. Peary's brother, Emil Diebitsch. Matthew Henson is shown dressed in hooded Arctic fur attire in one view, circa 1908-09 (XP-XPW-20-5). Another image of Henson is a full-length, undated view (XP-XPW-20-4).
