London Calling: Lord Curzon and the Royal Geographical Society

Abstract

Compiled in this chapter are the reactions of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), its president Lord Curzon (George Nathanial Curzon or Earl Curzon of Kedleston), and its secretary John Scott Keltie, to Roald Amundsen’s attainment of the South Pole and to the unknown status and location of Robert Falcon Scott. The reactions documented and analyzed here, from March 1912 to October 1912, include official proclamations made publicly as well as private utterances exchanged internally—exclamations of both congratulations and condemnation. Of particular issue is Amundsen’s use of dogs as well as his secrecy in going South rather than North. Correspondence between RGS officials, Fridtjof Nansen, and Amundsen, as well as official documents and contracts, expose a fluctuating and embattled relationship between Amundsen and the eminent British institution. Moreover, an invitation to lecture at the RGS in London and to publish his account in the society’s The Geographical Journal is met with apprehension by the Norwegian explorer, who has heard rumors of resentment and dissent among the British, and whose indignation is reflected in letters of correspondence with his brother Leon and with his new British lecture agent Gerald Christy of The Lecture Agency, Ltd. Personal and official letters reveal the strong response to Amundsen’s proposed references in his speech regarding the butchering of the sled dogs.

Notes on Original Material and Unpublished Sources

• 1. Royal Geographical Society, Agenda for the Council Meeting, March 11, 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 2. J. S. Keltie to F. Nansen, letter, 13 March 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 3. John Scott Keltie photograph with plaque, exhibited at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) building, London, viewed by the author 9 July 2012

• 4. F. Nansen to J. S. Keltie, letter, 11 March 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 5. J. S. Keltie to F. Nansen, letter, 13 March 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 6. J. S. Keltie to F. Nansen, letter, 13 March 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 7. F. Nansen to J. S. Keltie, letter, 16 March 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 8. R. Amundsen to Lord Curzon, letter, 19 March 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 9. J. S. Keltie to R. Amundsen, letter, 26 March 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 10. G. Christy to L. Amundsen, letter, 12 April 1912, NB Brevs. 812:2:g, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 11. L. Amundsen to J. S. Keltie, letter, 17 April 1912, NB Brevs. 812:3:6/7, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 12. L. Amundsen to J. S. Keltie, letter, 24 April 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 13. G. Christy/The Lecture Agency to L. Amundsen, telegram, 14 May 1912, NB Brevs. 812:2:g, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 14. J. S. Keltie to F. Nansen, letter, 14 May 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 15. R. Humphreys/Chappell & Co. Ltd/Queen’s Hall to J. S. Keltie/ RGS, letter, 18 May 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 16. F. Nansen to J. S. Keltie, letter, 18 May 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 17. An Agreement made the 21st day of May 1912 between Chappell & Co., Ltd., of The Queen’s Hall, Langham Place, Regent Street, London, … and John Scott Keltie, Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, 21 May 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 18. R. Amundsen to L. Amundsen, telegram, 9 June 1912, NB Brevs. 812:1, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 19. H & W Nelson Limited, Steamship Owners to J. S. Keltie and Lord Curzon, letter, 10 June 1912 and 12 June 1912 respectively, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 20. Lord Curzon to J. S. Keltie, letter, 13 June 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 21. Lord Curzon oil painting portrait by John Singer Sargent, 1914, with accompanying plaque, exhibited at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) building, London, viewed by the author 9 July 2012

• 22. “Address to the Royal Geographical Society”, 1912, publication tearsheets, pages 5 & 6, NB Ms.fol.1924:5:4, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 23. R. Amundsen to L. Amundsen, letter, 20 June 1912, NB Brevs. 812:1, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 24. R. Amundsen to L. Amundsen, telegram, 29 June 1912, NB Brevs. 812:1, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 25. L. Amundsen to G. Christy/The Lecture Agency, Ltd., copy of letter, 29 June 1912, enclosed with letter from G. Christy to J. S. Keltie/RGS dated 27 June 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 26. G. Christy to J. S. Keltie, letter, 27 June 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 27. Lord Curzon to J. S. Keltie, letter, 2 July 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 28. L. Amundsen to J. S. Keltie, letter, 18 July 1912, NB Brevs. 812:3:6, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 29. A. Nansen to J. S. Keltie, letter, 1 August 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 30. J. S. Keltie to A. Nansen, letter, 7 August 1912, ar RGS/CB8/AMUNDSEN, Archive Material, RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London

• 31. J. S. Keltie (Royal Geographical Society) to L. Amundsen, letter, 7 October 1912, NB Brevs. 812:2:i, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 32. L. Amundsen to R. Amundsen, letter, 13 October 1912, NB Brevs. 812:3:R.A.5, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo (translated from the original Norwegian for the author by Anne Melgård during the author’s research at the National Library of Norway)

• 33. L. Amundsen to J. S. Keltie, letter, 19 October 1912, NB Brevs. 812:3:6, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo

• 34. L. Amundsen to R. Amundsen, letter, 25 October 1912, and R. Amundsen reply letter to L. Amundsen, 29 October 1912, on back of above letter, NB Brevs. 812:3:R.A.5, Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Norway, Oslo (translated from the original Norwegian)