Breaking Barriers of Polar Exploration During a Time of Segregation and Racism
Channel: US National Archives
Date: 2023-02-17

Co-Discoverer Matthew Henson: Breaking Barriers of Polar Exploration During a Time of Segregation and Racism

A panel will discuss the life of African American explorer Matthew Henson, who spent years exploring the Arctic with Robert E. Peary. Henson was the first one to reach the North Pole in 1909, yet he was not given the same honors awarded to other members of the expedition. Henson’s life after the North Pole reflects the racial divide of the time in which he lived. The panel will discuss Henson’s Arctic career using artifacts from the Berkshire Museum, the Explorers Club, and the National Archives and discuss recent research finds about Henson as well as the legacy he leaves us today. J. R. Harris, Explorers Club Board of Directors and Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, will moderate a discussion with Lacey Flint, Archivist and Curator of Research Collections at the Explorers Club; Charlie Catacalos, Exhibitions Research and Content Editor, Berkshire Museum; Jason Vivori, Collections Manager, Berkshire Museum, and Genevieve LeMoine, Curator/Registrar of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum.


Presented in partnership with the Explorers Club, the Berkshire Museum, and the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center at Bowdoin College.

For Live Captioning, use:   https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=JobNo.22543-NARA-Breaking.Barriers.of.Polar