Travel diary
Travel journal written in the summer of 1920 by Robert L. Ridley during his voyage to the Canadian North aboard the S.S. Thetis to visit Igluligaarjuk (Chesterfield Inlet), Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), Fort Churchill and Anaulirvik (Cape Wolstenholme). Composed of daily handwritten entries dated from July 18 to September 18, 1920, the journal documents the author’s experiences during an expedition aimed at establishing fur trading posts in these locations on behalf of the Boston company of Lamson & Hubbard. Among other things, Ridley writes about daily life on board ship, his relations with the captain and members of the crew, weather conditions and his meeting with Donald Baxter MacMillan, an experienced Arctic explorer and sailor.
Variations in title: Title inscribed by the notebook manufacturer on the cover and title page of the document: “The ‘Flexible’ Duplicate Book (for Pen and Pencil): 100 Pages in Duplicate. No. 4 .”
Source of title proper: Title based on the content of the document.
Statement of responsibility: The notebook was manufactured by John Walker & Co. Ltd. (London).
Physical description: Duplication notebook with carbon paper dividers originally containing 100 paired sheets. The duplicates of the first 81 sheets have been removed from the notebook. A carbon paper divider is placed between sheet 82 and its duplicate. The first 82 sheets bear handwritten entries on the recto, the majority in pencil.
Physical condition: The notebook shows signs of wear, such as yellowing, creasing and staining.
Immediate source of acquisition: The document was donated to the McCord Stewart Museum in 2013 by Justine Sentenne, partner of William L. Ridley (1925-2012), Robert L. Ridley’s son.
Language of the document: The document is mostly in English but includes a few entries in Inuktitut syllabics.
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This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation and Canadian Heritage.