Arctic Passages: The Wordie Expeditions

Arctic Passages: The Wordie Expeditions of the 1930s

This exhibition, featuring dozens of photographs, original film footage and artefacts from two Arctic voyages led by Sir James Mann Wordie in the 1930s, runs until December at Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Downing Street. Opening hours are 10.30am-4.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Admission is free.

Sir James, who was part of Sir Ernest Shackleton's expedition aboard Endurance, led five Arctic expeditions during a time of major upheaval for the Inuit populations. The exhibition is thought to be the first time his photos and film footage have been displayed publicly in decades, if ever.

Sir James Mann Wordie graduated from St John's College as an advanced student in 1912, and was Master of St. John's from 1952-1959. He was chairman of the Scott Polar Research Institute and president of the Royal Geographic Society. While there he helped to plan Edmund Hilary's ascent of Everest, and assisted Sir Vivian Fuchs with his first ever crossing of the Antarctic. Wordie died on January 16, 1962.

Further information is available on the website of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.