William A. Lewis' Journey to the Arctic Journal and Collection

Collection — Box: SC094-LEWI-001

Identifier: SC094-LEWI

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

Creation: 1923-1924

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions

Conditions Governing Use

Materials believed to be under copyright or other restrictions are available for limited noncommercial, educational and personal use only, or for fair use as defined by United States copyright law and with proper citation. Please note that the College of the Holy Cross may not hold the rights to all items in this collection. Users assume responsibility for identifying all copyright holders and for determining whether permission is needed to make any use of the content. For permission under rights held by the College, please contact archives@holycross.edu.

Biographical Note

William Alfred Lewis was born in Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada and became an American citizen later in life. He started sailing at the age of twelve and continued to do so professionally into the late 1920s. His most noteworthy voyage was a trip to the Arctic aboard the Bowdoin with Captain Donald MacMillan in 1923-1924.

The Bowdoin Expedition was commissioned by the National Geographic Society to place a tablet in memory of the members of the Lady of Franklin Bay Expedition who died on Ellesmere Island in North Greenland in 1884. MacMillan and his crew also explored the region in North Greenland to study the native people and wildlife that inhabit the area. The Bowdoin sailed from Maine on June 23, 1923 and returned from the Arctic on August 20, 1924.