In this section, students explored Stefansson as a young scholar, Arctic explorer, ethnographer, and author in the years prior to the publication of his magnum opus, the Encyclopedia Arctica. Representing these distinct portions of Stefansson’s life, this section is organized into three parts:
Stefansson’s role in a series of Arctic expeditions was shaped by his young adult experiences and span a timeframe from 1906 to 1923. The lessons he learned and the legacy they left, each contribute to the modern complexity of Stefansson as a figure that is both ahead of his time and a product of it.
Maintaining his role as an anthropologist, Stefansson embarked on the Anglo-American Polar Expedition (1906-1907). This expedition inspired Stefansson to dedicate the majority of his professional career to investigating the “friendly Arctic” and sharing his knowledge via lectures nationwide. Following the Anglo-American Expedition, Stefansson embarked on the Stefansson-Anderson Expedition (1908-1912) and the Canadian Arctic Expedition (1913-1918). Stefansson set himself apart from peers in the depth of his study. He forged a path for ethnographic and Arctic researchers by living among the Inuit, immersing himself in their subsistence practices and lifestyle and sinking his feet into the Arctic landscape.
However, aspects of Stefansson’s legacy were criticized. During the Canadian Arctic Expedition, his ship, the Karluk, was breached by ice and sank. Years later, he planned and funded the infamous and disastrous Wrangel Island Expedition (1921-1923) in which all but one member of the expedition perished. These scientific tragedies illuminate his flaws as a researcher and explorer of the Arctic that are often overshadowed by the glory of his legacy. While undoubtedly flawed in a number of respects, Stefansson carved a niche for himself among the most influential explorers of the 20th century.