“Bowdoin in the Arctic”, 1925

Contained in the collection is a typed copy of William Lewis’ daily journal of his Arctic Voyage under Captain Donald MacMillan on the vessel Bowdoin as the expedition’s cook. As the cook, and due to his age, Lewis did not join the rest of the crew during their activities in-land to Northern Greenland. His entries are about his work and the day-to-day actions of others during the long months on the expedition. Occasionally, Lewis discusses different subjects such as the beauty of Inuit women and the use and future of wireless communication.

The collection includes a letter from Dorothy Wayman donating the typescript journal and other documents to Dinand Library. There is also foreword written by Wayman describing Lewis and the importance of his journal. Wayman was interested in writing a book about the MacMillan expedition using the journal, but later found that Lewis had signed a contract with MacMillan granting all publication rights of written and photographed material of his crew on that expedition to him. Also included in the collection are articles written by and about Donald MacMillan in National Geographic concerning the voyage to the Arctic in which Lewis took part.