Beschreibung:

on vellum, entitled in legend in upper left of map A Chart Showing The Activities of the 2nd Byrd Antarctic Expedition 1933-1935, beautifully drawn in black and red ink and watercolor toning with the continent in center and surrounding islands with radiating meridian lines, text identifying major places in black and drawing of Scott's ship in lower right corner with penguin on ice in lower left. The map is flanked by drawn parchment scrolls with Winter Party heading and signed by all members of the expedition with Richard E. Byrd top left. These scrolls have tiny drawings above and below of planes, dog sleds, tractors and more and signed lower right Richard Blackburn Black Maker and Owner of This Map. Map is 6.25" x 10.25". Richard Blackburn Black was born on August 10, 1902 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He graduated from Grand Forks High School in 1921. He attended the University of North Dakota, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1926. While at UND, Black was active with the Dakota Playmakers, the American Society for Civil Engineers, the Spanish Club, Scabbard and Blade, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the Young Men's Christian Association, and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Following graduation, Black found work with various employers, including the North Dakota State Engineer's Office, the Great Northern Railroad and Lake Shore Gold Mines. In 1933, he submitted an application to join Rear Admiral Richard Byrd's second Antarctic Expedition. His application was accepted, and he spent 1933 to 1935 in Antarctica. He went back to Antarctica with Byrd again in 1939, as a member of the United States Antarctic Service Expedition. Black served as leader of the East Base, on the coast of the Palmer Peninsula. In August 1941, Black was called to active duty in the United States Navy. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. He served in various capacities in the Pacific Theater of the war, before being discharged on May 20, 1946. He was awarded both the Bronze Star and Presidential Unit Citation for his service in World War II. Following the war, Black was employed by the U.S. government, helping to reconstruct the Micronesian Islands. In 1950, he was hired as prime contact between Johns Hopkins University and U.S. Army. His task was to study the establishment and maintenance of advance bases. As part of his duties, he was sent to Korea as part of the U.S. 8th Army, the main ground combat force of the United Nations. Upon his return from the Korean War, Black took a position with the Office of Naval Research in February 1953. In 1955, he again returned to the Antarctic with Admiral Byrd, as part of Operation Deep Freeze, a major scientific and exploratory expedition under the auspices of the Navy. Upon the death of Byrd in 1957, Black became the Officer-in-Charge of United States Antarctic Programs. In 1962, Black retired from the Navy Reserves and was promoted to Rear Admiral due to his wartime service. He continued in various positions at the Office of Naval Research until his retirement in 1967. Black was honored by University of North Dakota in 1958, when he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree. He also received the Alumni Association's highest honor, the Sioux Award, in 1984. Richard Blackburn Black died on August 11, 1992, at the Fernwood Nursing Home in Bethesda, Maryland. Provenance: Ex Admiral Black Collection Condition: EXC.