Collection search - Robert J. Williamson fonds [multiple media]

Record information – Brief
1
Robert J. Williamson fonds [multiple media]

Hierarchical level:

Fonds

Date:

1910-1973.

Reference:

R1633-0-1-E, MG30-B44

Type of material:

Textual material, Objects (including medals and pins), Photographs, Sound recordings

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

98111

Context of this record:

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Robert J. Williamson fonds
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Record information – Details
Fonds includes:

4 lower level description(s)
View lower level description(s)

Date(s):

1910-1973.

Place of creation:

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent:

12 cm of textual records.
4 medals.
3 photographs b&w.
1 audio reel (15 min).

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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Fonds consists of correspondence, clippings and other memorabilia pertaining to Williamson's involvement in the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913, as well as his military and naval career. Among the correspondence is an exchange of letters between R.J. Williamson and V. Stefansson, regarding published accounts of the last expedition written by Robert Bartlett and J. Hadley.

Also included are three medals inscribed with Williamson's name for service during World War I. A fourth medal was awarded to him for his voluntary service during World War II; it holds no inscription. The medals have been assigned medal numbers 15996 to 15999.

The fonds also contains two photographs (one available in two copies) of Inuit, ca. 1910. One shows a group of eight Inuit aboard a ship and formally arranged as if having their photograph taken; the image bears the inscription "Eskimos on board D.S.R.C. Bear R. Grassow" (Grassow is presumably the name of the photographer). The other shows a woman in skin clothing standing at the entrance to a tent which appears to be made of cloth; three children are visible in front of the tent.

The fonds includes a sound recording of an interview with Robert Williamson on the CBC radio program, "Those were the Days" recorded 28 April 1971. During the interview, Williamson recalls his experiences aboard the C.G.S. Karluk, and his walk to Wrangle Island during the Canadian Arctic Expedition.

Provenance:

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Williamson, Robert J

Biography/Administrative history:

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Williamson, Robert J : Robert J. Williamson was born in Newcastle on Tyne, England, on 13 August 1882, the son of Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Williamson. He apprenticed as a ship's engineer with Hawthorn Leslie in Newcastle on Tyne, then worked on various passenger steamers before joining Vilhjalmur Stefansson's Canadian Arctic Expedition. Williamson signed on as engineer of the C.G.S. "Karluk" in 1913. When the "Karluk" was crushed by ice in January of 1914, Williamson was one of the survivors who walked to Wrangel Island before being rescued in September of that year. Eleven of his companions died on the expedition.

Williamson joined the Royal Navy in 1915, serving on the HMS "Woodnut" and "Sunhill" before returning to Canada in 1919. He spent the rest of his career on the HMCS "Malaspina" (1921-1941) and joined the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve in 1939. He was forced to retire in 1941 due to ill health. Williamson lived in Victoria, B.C., with his wife Lisette (née F. Lisette MacKay). He died sometime after his 95th birthday in 1973.

Finding aid:

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Sound recording: (Electronic) See MISACS for item level descriptions.

Medals: (Electronic) See ICON for item level descriptions. Medals have been assigned nos. 15996-15999.

Additional information:

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General note:

Acquired in 1963 from R.J. Williamson via the Department of Northern Affairs. Additional material was received in 1999 from Dr. R.T.C. Worsley of Victoria, B.C.

Custodial history:

Photographs were found in the estate of Mr. R. J. Williamson, and donated to the National Archives by Dr. Christopher Worsley, responsible for the estate.
Subject heading:

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Explorers - Arctic regions, 1918-1959 Vilhjalmur Stephenson, [1915-1919]

Arctic regions - Discovery and exploration - Canadian, 1918-1959 Robert Bartlett, 1918-1959

Canada - Exploring expeditions - 20th Century, 1918-1959 J. Hadley, 1918-1959

R.J. Williamson, 1918-1959
Source:

Private

Related control no.:

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1999-01265-8
2000-0037 VSA
2001-00628-4
MG30-B44

Former archival reference no.:

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MG30-B44
Ordering and viewing options

Conditions of access:

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Textual records

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [MG30 B 44] 1--2

[Consultation 90 Open]

Object

[Consultation90 Open]

Graphic (photo)

[Consultation90 Open]

Sound recordings

[Consultation90 Open]

Terms of use:

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Medals: Access to the medals is to be provided by an art archivist. Copyright is expired.
Photographs: No restrictions on use. Copyright is expired. Credit: Name of photographer / National Archives of Canada / Copy negative no.
Sound recording: Reproduction and use in any form requires the written permission of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

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