Fonds consists of textual records including a diary of a canoe journey which covers the period 1 August to 17 October 1928. The participants in the journey began their trip on the St. Jean River on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, travelling north by portaging to the Romaine River to Lake Atikonak, Lake Ossokmanuan, the Churchill River and ended their journey at the settlement of North West River on Hamilton Inlet where they took a ship. In addition, fonds includes an essay written by Philip Rogers after his Canadian government-sponsored flight to Labrador, 1968. The essay, outlining the background of the expedition and its problems, is included with the diary. The expedition was undertaken for exploration purposes. The participants were Howard Taylor of Utica, New York, leader of the expedition; Dr. John D. Kernan of New York City; Ralph Rogers and Philip Rogers of Utica, New York, who were brothers; Philippe Colombe from Donnacona, Quebec was cook and canoeman; and Wally Chambers, who lived at the mouth of the St Jean, was also canoeman and guide.
Also included is a moving image recording that documents the 1928 Taylor-Rogers expedition. Included are: sequences of the explorers travelling from the St. John River to the Romaine River, Atikonak Lake and River, and on to the Unknown River, and the Churchill, Hamilton and Northwest Rivers; numerous shots of the men portaging, doing various chores, and looking over various features along the way; views of Twin Falls, Grand Falls (now Churchill Falls), and Mud Lake; and a final sequence on the party at Grenfell Hospital at norhtwest River, Labrador.
Rogers, Philip V, 1907- : Philip Rogers, university professor, was the son of Charles B. Rogers, one of the three founders of the Donnacona Paper Company at Donnacona, south of Quebec City. During the summer of 1926 Philip Rogers was introduced to Labrador while working there for Dr. Grenfell. After his service in Labrador, he served as Professor of Biology at several universities, concluding his teaching career as Chairman of the Department at Hamilton College, Clinton, New York.
