An important aspect of the provision of reading materials to seamen throughout the world was the work of religious organizations such as the American Seamen’s Friend Society and many others to present small libraries to both naval and merchant ships. The movement began in Scotland but quickly was established in the United States. I’ve aggregated the material on mission libraries and books here under Great Britain.
Seamen’s Missions: Their Origin and Early Growth.
Kverndal, Roald. (Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 1986).
- Arctic Reading: Great Britain
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The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore.
Hutchinson, John Robert. London: Eveleigh Nash, 1913.
- Whalemen's Reading
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p. 42-3, description of life of impressed seaman: With books he was for many years ‘very scantily supplied.’ It was not till 1812, indeed, that the Admiralty, shocked by the discovery that he had practically nothing to elevate his mind but daily association with the quarter-deck, began to pour into the fleet copious supplies of literature for his use. Thereafter the sailor could beguile his leisure with such books as the Old Chaplain’s Farewell Letter, Wilson’s Maxims, The Whole Duty of Man, Secker’s Duties of the Sick, and, lest returning health should dissipate the piety begotten of his ailments, Gibson’s Advice after Sickness. Thousands of pounds were spent upon this improving literature, which was distributed to the fleet in strict accordance with the amount of storage room available at the various dockyards. [Footnote: Ad. Accountant-General, Misc. (Various), No. 106—Accounts of the Rev. Archdeacon Owen, Chaplain-General to the Fleet, 1812-7.]
Bering’s Voyages An Account of the Efforts of the Russians to Determine the Relation of Asia and America.
Golder, Frank Aldred. Two Volumes. New York: Octogon Books, 1968. [First Published in 1922. American Geographical Society Research Series No. I.].
- Arctic Reading: Russia
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Covers the Log Books and Official Reports of the First and Second Expeditions 1725-1730 and 1733-1742. The reading reported in these volumes is mainly about the voyages themselves, not the kind of recreational reading we find elsewhere.
A Very Gallant Gentleman.
Bernacchi, Louis Charles. London: Thornton Butterworth, 1935 [first published 1933] See supra, p. 174.
- 1910-14 British National Antarctic Expedition (Scott on Terra Nova).
- Antarctic Reading: Expeditions
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Bull, Colin. Email message to David Stam, August 31, 2005:
Papers.
Heilprin, Angelo. Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia. Mss. 147 (1).
- 1881-84 International Physical Year US Expedition to Lady Franklin Bay (led by Adolphus Greely).
- Arctic Reading: United States
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Among Angelo Heilprin Papers was a folder marked Peary Relief Expedition, an 1892 expedition in which Heilprin was involved aboard the Kite. However, the folder is mislabeled and refers not to Peary but to the Greely Relief Expedition of 1883 aboard the Proteus under the command of Lt. Garlington. There is a diary of 14 pages written by a member of that expedition, covering the period from July 19 to August 10. This was the period during which the Proteus was nipped and sank on July 23, 1883. There is an eye-witness account of the sinking, as well as passages concerning the landing of provisions from the wreck onto the ice.