Collection consists of records which demonstrates Bernier's significance as an explorer and expedition leader in the Canadian North. As such, it consists of these series: Correspondence and memoranda; Records of Arctic Expedition; Personal records of the expeditions and Correspondence with his friend J.W. Danio and related clippings.
Collection also consists of drawings and sketches done during polar expedition by J. E. Bernier. The works by F. C. Hennessey are entitled: "The Daughter of Melville", a view of a musk-ox calf and "Bear on Floe, Baffin Island", a polar bear on an ice floe. The sketches titled "A Night Round" and "Ha Sholder hof Soud Hafricra" by a unknown artist. The reproduction show drawings of various cairns on Melville Island, where Capt. J. E. Bernier harboured in the winter.
A collection of photographs relating to the Arctic expeditions of 1904-1905 up to 1923-25. Two photographs are located in horizontal storage, MG 30 B 6, container 3.
Bernier, J.E., 1852-1934 : J.-E. Bernier was born at L'Islet, Quebec in 1852, the son of Captain Thomas Bernier. He went to sea at the age of 12 and became a ship's master at 17. His first public service appointment was a dock master at Lauzon, 1887-1890. In 1895 he was appointed Governor of the Quebec Prison. He lobbied the Canadian government for an Arctic expedition from 1895 to 1903.
In 1904-1905 he went to the Arctic on the J.D. Moodie Expedition as Captain ofmthe ARCTIC. In 1906-1907, 1908-1909 and 1910-1911 Bernier commanded three expeditions to the Canadian Arctic Islands to exert Canadian sovereignty by collecting whaling licences and import duties, claiming islands, helping establish R.C.M.P. posts and by erecting navigation beacons.
In 1912-1913, 1914-1915 and 1916-1917 he made three private expeditions to the Arctic, in 1912 on the MINNIE MAUD and in 1914 and 1916 on the Guide. In 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1925 he made four expeditions to the Arctic Archipelago as Captain of the ARCTIC, under the command of J.D. Craig in 1922-1923, F.D. Henderson in 1924 and G.P. Mackenzie in 1925. He made extensive lecture tours lecturing on the North in Canada, the United States, Britain, France and other European countries from the late 1890's on.
