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CC0
Pocket watch likely carried by Matthew Henson in 1908-1909 Arctic expedition
- Manufactured by
- American Watch Company, American, 1850 - 1957
- Used by
- Henson, Matthew A., American, 1866 - 1955
- Subject of
- Henson, Matthew A., American, 1866 - 1955
- Peary, Robert E., American, 1856 - 1920
- Date
- 1888-1889; inscribed 1908 or 1909
- Medium
- nickel , metal and glass
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 3 1/4 × 2 1/4 × 3/4 in. (8.3 × 5.7 × 1.9 cm)
- Caption
- An engraved watch that is believed to be the watch carried by Matthew Henson (1866-1955) on his exploration of the North Pole along with Adm. Robert E. Peary from July 6, 1908 to April 23, 1909. Henson is an iconic figure among American pioneering explorers. During the 1908-09 expedition led by Admiral Peary (whom he assisted on several Arctic expeditions over a 20-year period), Henson became the first man to reach the North Pole. For his achievements, Henson received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944. In 2000, the National Geographic Society awarded Henson the Hubbard Metal – its highest award.
- Description
- This pocket watch belonged to Matthew Henson and is engraved with his initials. The watch is silver in color and the words [R.E. PEARY / NORTH POLE / EXPEDITION / 1908] are engraved on the front in an Edwardian style. Henson's initials [M.A. HENSON] are engraved on the side. The watch has a white face with black hands and roman numerals. The watchmaker's name [Am. Watch Co. / WALTHAM] is printed in the top center of the face. The inside of the watch is engraved with the watchmaker's name [American Waltham Watch Co.] and the serial number [3639616].
- Place used
- North Pole, Arctic
- Greenland, Cape Morris Jessup, North and Central America
- Place made
- Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Adornment
- Tools and Equipment-Personal use
- Type
- pocket watches
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2017.31
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
-
A Negro Explorer at the North Pole
- Written by
- Henson, Matthew A., American, 1866 - 1955
- Washington, Booker T., American, 1856 - 1915
- Peary, Robert E., American, 1856 - 1920
- Published by
- Frederick A. Stokes Company
- Photograph by
- Henson, Matthew A., American, 1866 - 1955
- Date
- 1912
- Medium
- ink on wove paper and cardboard
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 7 11/16 × 5 1/4 × 1 3/16 in. (19.5 × 13.4 × 3 cm)
- Description
- A hardcover first edition of A Negro Explorer at the North Pole, a memoir written by explorer Matthew Henson about his early 20th century international seafaring artic expeditions. There is a forward written by Robert E. Peary and an introduction written by Booker T. Washington. The book is protected by an off-white covered dust jacket.
- From top to bottom, with a halftone relief headshot of Matthew Henson, it reads: [A NEGRO EXPLORER / AT THE / NORTH POLE / By MATTHEW HENSON / With forward by Robert E. Peary / and introduction by Booker T. Washington / THIS IS the book of the foremost explorer of his race, the negro / who stood at the North Pole with Peary. / It is interesting not only because it tells of the noteworthy / achievement of a negro rising from great handicaps, / whom Peary trusted with many important responsibili- / ties, but also because in his own entertaining manner / Henson gives an extremely interesting account of the ex- / pedition, with sidelights on Eskimo life and Arctic cus- / toms, concerning which his knowledge is without peer. / It is a unique addition to the literature of exploration, and should stand / beside Peary’s “The North Pole” and Borup’s “A Tenderfoot with Peary.” / With 7 illustration from photographs. $1.00 net. / Publishers – FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY – New York].
- The spine of the book repeats the front cover title, author, and publisher information.
- There are 218 pages total, and seven black-and-white halftone-relief images depicting Henson, Eskimos, Camp Jessup, and the Roosevelt. The interior of the dust jacket features publisher advertisement synopses of Robert E. Peary’s books about the arctic. The uncovered book is constructed of a marled blue fabric featuring the same halftone relief headshot of Henson as on the paper sleeve. The title and author name are printed in bold white uppercase on the front cover and spine. The back cover of the book reads “NEW FICTION” at the top, below which are advertised three novels and their synopses, published by the Frederick A. Stokes Company of New York.
- Place depicted
- North Pole, Arctic
- Greenland, Cape Morris Jessup, North and Central America
- Classification
- Documents and Published Materials-Published Works
- Topic
- Language
- Men
- Race relations
- Science
- Travel
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2018.46.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- Public domain