Geologist David Ferguson was employed by Christian Salvesen of Leith to make a geological survey of the region of worked by the company’s Antarctic whaling fleet. The object was to search for economic deposits of minerals. Ferguson first visited South Georgia from 7 January to 19 April 1912, and went south again a year later to visit the South Shetlands and Graham Land in the 1913-14 whaling season. A whalecatcher was put at his disposal.
Boxes containing glass negatives of his photographs were deposited with Salvesens in 1919 and eventually were transferred to the archives of the library of the University of Edinburgh. They are accompanied by a letter to Theodore Salvesen giving a very brief description of each photograph. Unfortunately the numbering of the negatives was based on their position in the box rather than by marking them. They are now out of order. Conservation and scanning of the negatives, funded by the South Georgia Association, has allowed most photographs to be identified by people familiar with South Georgia, the South Shetlands and the Antarctic Peninsula region.
If you can add to anything we know about the photographs, please do let us know.
Picture 7618 – Leith Harbour
Leith Harbour whaling station. Factory is centred on ‘Jericho’ at the head of the cove. 2 steam ships – Coronda (transport) behind James Turpie (coal hulk) and Imberhorne (three-master).
Picture 7628 – Catcher Crew
Crew of catcher used by Ferguson in King Edward Cove with coal hulk Louise behind them. Presumably Ferguson with tie and notebook in jacket pocket.
PIcture 7633 – Leith Harbour Approach
From Tønsberg Point, looking towards Leith Harbour (Imberhorne visible), Grass Island in foreground on right.
Picture 7641 – Moraine Fjord
Head of Moraine Fjord from near KEP. Osmic Hill on right, Greene Peninsula on left and Mt Paget behind.
Image 7643 – Zenker Ridge and Osmic Hill
Looking south from Horsehead across Moraine Fjord to Osmic Hill with Zenker Ridge centre left and Mt Paget behind.
Picture 7655 – Hamburg Overspill
From the top of Hestesletten looking south west looking at the overspill from Hamburg Glacier.
Ferguson: “Moraine flat, glacier, and rock strata, Cumberland Bay”
Image 7668 – Godthul
Head of Godthul, depot out of sight on left; Echo Lake out of sight at foot of cirque; path from Reindeer Valley in dip on right. Vertical white post just left of centre at top of cliff is the beacon on a circular stone base, close to stream flowing out of Echo Lake.
Image 7670 – Ocean Harbour
Whaling station in New Fortuna Bay, now Ocean Harbour.
Picture 7673 – Nor at Grytviken
Grytviken from KEP. Ship-rigged skrot factory Nor.
Prince Olav Harbour
Factory ship Restitution in Prince Olav Harbour with unidentified sailing ship behind. Frame of new station building behind the ships.
Picture 7702 – Ørn in Antarctica
Factory ship with ‘O’ on funnel, denoting the company A/S Ørnen. Probably the Ørn. Another factory ship and catcher behind it. Enterprise Island, Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica.
Skrott factory Nor with factory ship Hvalen behind. Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica. 1913/14.
Picture 7733 – Guvernoren in Antarctica
Factory ship Guvernoren by Nansen Island, Antarctica.
Picture 7741 – Horatio in Antarctica
Factory ship Horatio in Skontorp Harbour (Antarctic Peninsula).
All photos courtesy of the Centre for Research Collections, University of Edinburgh University, where you can find the digitised collection online HERE (opens in a new tab)
