1872
Roald Amundsen born July 16
Letter, 9.7.1925, from Bjørn Rock Bjørge
Object reference: RA 318B28
Type: Letter
Sender / Author: Bjørn Rock Bjørge
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 9.7.1925
Language: Norwegian
Translation
SEVILLA 9-7-1925
Mr Roald Amundsen,
O s l o .
The small Norwegian colony here in Seville, consisting of 2 men, has with admiration and anticipation followed you and your brave companions on your journey through the ice, and we allow ourselves now, albeit tardily, and so all the more heartily, to congratulate and compliment you on the results achieved and express our deepest admiration for the strength and endurance, and unfailing energy, that the deed amply demonstrates. Some of the old glory has come again over the Viking land, and it is with joy and pride we call ourselves your countrymen.
But not only we Norwegians, the Sevillanos too have followed the reports of the expedition with admiration and intense interest, and now sincerely hope that one of your brave aviators will also include Seville in his lecture tour. The enthusiam and support would no doubt be tremendous.
With regard to your book about the escape, it would be my pleasure to translate it into Spanish, if you or your publishers have not already made other arrangements.
Yours faithfully
pr. Bjørn Rock Bjørge
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Letter, 5.8.1925, from Mikhail Alekseevich Diakonoff
Object reference: RA 318B42
Type: Letter
Sender / Author: Mikhail Alekseevich Diakonoff
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 5.8.1925
Language: Norwegian
Translation
<indistinct notes written in pencil>
Mr Roald Amundsen
“Svartskog”
Bunnefjord
—————-
Since, according to the contract between the Norwegian Aeronautical Association and the State Publishing House in Leningrad, I shall be translating your new book into Russian, I take the liberty here of asking if you would be so kind as to write a short preface to the Russian edition. This preface will be reproduced photographically in the book, as well as translated into Russian. If I were also to be allowed to photograph you for reproduction in the book, I would be deeply grateful.
If you are so gracious as to grant my request, I venture to ask you kindly to fix a time when you can receive me.
Thanking you in advance for your hospitality, I remain
Yours respectfully
<signed>
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Letter, 22.6.1925, from Franz Ottenheimer
Object reference: RA 318B48
Type: Letter
Sender / Author: Franz Ottenheimer
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 22.6.1925
Language: German
🔍Large image, RA 318B48
English translation
Professor R. Amundsen.
Oslo.
Dear Mr Amundsen.
You may remember, in 1913, when I had the pleasure of welcoming you on the occasion of your lecture in Munich. There is a great span of time between then and now and a lot has changed, but your daring, your energy and your inquiring mind have remained the same.
If I allow myself today to express my sincere congratulations on your return, I consider myself fortunate to be able to tell you, as the representative of the Norwegian Colony in Munich, how proud we are of you.
Your picture, which you gave to me a long time ago, is garlanded with flowers in my room.
With best wishes and highest regards
Sincerely yours
Franz Ottenheimer
Norwegian Consul for Bavaria
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Letter, 25.8.1925, from Det Kongelige Danske Geografiske Selskab
[The Royal Danish Geographical Society]
Object reference: RA 318B36
Type: Letter
Sender / Author: Det Kongelige Danske Geografiske Selskab
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 25.8.1925
Language: Danish
🔍Large image, RA 318B36 I
🔍Large image, RA 318B36 II
English translation
To
Mr. Roald Amundsen.
With reference to our letter of <…>, allow me to send these lines so that the arrangements for your kind lectures at the “Royal Danish Geographical Society” may come to meet your wishes. We would like to ask
1/ if there are any, whom you might wish to be invited to attend the lecture, and
2/ if you wish to do the Society the honour of participating in a light meal between
Side 2
the 2 lectures, there won’t be much time, but you must have something to strengthen you then to sustain your efforts.
Hoping to hear a few words
I am, with all best wishes,
<…>
Yours sincerely
General <Secretary>
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Letter, 8.7.1925, from Beate Konow Søeberg
Object reference: RA 318B29
Type: Letter
Sender / Author: Beate Konow Søeberg
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 8.7.1925
Language: Norwegian
🔍Large image, RA 318B29 I
🔍Large image, RA 318B29 II
🔍Large image, RA 318B29 III
English translation
8.7.25
Mr Roald Amundsen
H. M. The Queen would very much like you to once more write down your name and those of your companions – Lieutenants Riiser Larsen,
Side 2
Dietrichson, Omdal and Mr Ellsworth, which she does not have. Likewise, put the date for the start, aircraft, and the day you returned.
I hope that you will now have a good rest period out at Svartskog after your hard & tiring trip. It’s the least you
Side 3
deserve!
My warmest greetings are sent to you from your devotee
Beate Konow Søeberg
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Letter, 16.7.1925, from Axel Wilhelmsen
Object reference: RA 318B52
Type: Letter
Sender/ Author: Axel Wilhelmsen
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 16.7.1925
Language: Norwegian
English translation
Oslo, 16 July 1925
W/CS.
Mr Roald Amundsen,
Uranienborg, postal adr. Baalerud,
Svartskog.
The City of Kiel’s Office of Trade and Industry has telegraphed to inform us that it has addressed an inquiry to you and to Dr. Eckener with the aim that the conference reportedly planned between you and Dr. Eckener should take place in Kiel. The aforementioned authorities in Kiel are asking that we try at the same time to help ensure that this will happen.
With regard to the above, we respectfully inform you that, provided your journey to Germany actually happens, it will be a great honour for us to obtain a quiet and suitable cabin for your pleasure on one of our passenger ships to Kiel. Departure takes place from Toldbodbryggen, Hersted, every Saturday at 11, and arrival in Kiel Sunday afternoon at around 3-5.-
It goes without saying that this also applies even if the aforementioned conference does not take place in Kiel.
Respectfully yours
Det Søndenfjelds Norske Dampskibsselskab
[The Søndenfjelds Norwegian Steamship Company]
Axel Wilhelmsen <signed>
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Letter, 20.8.1925, from Laur. Christiansen
Object reference: RA 318B64
Type: Letter
Sender / Author: Laur. Christiansen
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 20.8.1925
Language: Norwegian
English translation
Hr. Roald Amundsen, Oslo
Two years ago you were kind enough to present us with the map you used on the South Pole journey. This is now stored in Bergen Museum’s fireproof vault, pending the opening of our collections on the 4th floor of Bergen Museum’s new historical-antiquarian building, probably next year.
Now we come to you again and ask for your consideration and goodwill by remembering us with an object from the flying expedition and, in a similar way, a memento from “Maud” when it comes home. We are grateful for what we can get, but allow us to suggest that we would very much like to have maps — to be able to have a part of our map wall as a Roald Amundsen-tribute in our museum — for the edification of posterity. We dare to assure you that the objects will be treated as they should be.
We therefore hope for your goodwill and remain
in admiration
Bergen Sjøfartsmuseum
Laur. Christiansen [signature]
Forman [by hand]
A.Ragnar Brækhu [signature]
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Letter, 19.7.1915, from Edna Christofferson
Object reference: RA 318B33
Type: Letter
Sender / Author: Edna Christofferson
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 19.7.1925
Language: English
Transcription
July 19 – 1925,
Captain Roald Amundsen
North American Newspaper Alliance
New York, N.Y.
My dear Mr. Amundsen:–
It is with the utmost happiness that I learn of your safe return to civilation and to the friends who love you.
No one in the world has been more keenly interested in your flight than have I.
I witnessed your first air flight, in a hydro-airplane with the late Silas Christoffersen at San Francisco March 26t 1913. At that time I remember you purchased the flying boats from Mr. Christofferson for your contemplated trip to the north Pole the following year.
Would you please send me one of your autographed photos?
My hearty good wishes to you and to Lincoln Ellsworth
Kindest personal regards,
Mrs. Silas Christofferson
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Letter, 4.4.1925, from Sigrid Hougaard
Object reference: RA 318B37
Type: Letter
Sender / Author: Sigrid Hougaard
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 4.4.1925
Language: Norwegian
🔍Large image, RA 318B37 I
🔍Large image, RA 318B37 II
🔍Large image, RA 318B37 III
English translation
Lillesand 4/7–25.
Dear Roald Amundsen !
There should be a tribute poem to you in Tidens Tegn’s children’s newspaper, and then my poem arrived a day late, because we live here and I didn’t get it as nice as I wanted it for you. So I sent it to you, but you probably haven’t got it yet. But you should have it, and you must salute the other handsome guys from me, but now I don’t know the address,
Side 2
but the whole of Norway and the whole world know about you, so you’ll get it OK. Now the two little girls Kamilla and her sister should have been here with you. Yes, I write that poem now in honour of you and the others too:
Side 3
To Roald and his men.
In the hearts of children across Norway’s land,
will Roald and his men stand as a lasting memory.
You brave bird, whom the Pole could not hold in its icy embrace.
Welcome home! I can find no words
to explain the feeling that lives in my heart!
You stout Roald! I have a wish,
It will be fulfilled, when you on your next journey set out.
Yes, I am small, but surely I see:
“You plant Norway’s flag at the Pole next year !”
[The original Norwegian is written as rhyming couplets]
__________________
Compliments from Sigrid Hougård, Lillesand.
13 ½ years.
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Letter, 30.6.1925, from Hugo Eckener
Object reference: RA 318B66
Type: Letter
Sender / Author: Hugo Eckener
Recipient: Roald Amundsen
Date: 30.6.1925
Language: German
🔍Large image, RA 318B66 I
🔍Large image, RA 318B66 II
🔍Large image, RA 318B66 III
🔍Large image, RA 318B66 IV
Transcription
Dr. Hugo Eckener
Friedrichshafen a.B., den 30. Juni 1925.
Dr.E./H.
Herrn
Roald Amundsen,
Oslo (Norwegen)
Sehr verehrter Herr Amundsen!
Ich bestätige den Empfang Ihres Telegramms: “anfange Oslo
vierten Juli wann und wo koennen wir einander treffen” und antwortete
darauf: “zu Besprechung in Kjoebenhavn oder Hamburg
zwischen zehnten und zwanzigsten Juli bereit stop erwartet
zuvor ausfuehrlichen Brief”.
Es ist mir sehr lieb, daß Sie eine mündliche Besprechung
vorschlagen, denn die Situation ist durch einige Ereignisse
in den letzten Tagen ein wenig kompliziert geworden und es ist
am besten, sich mündlich darüber auszusprechen. Ich werde Ihne
mit einigen Worten im Nachstehenden die Situation erklären:
Seitdem ich zufällig mit Ihnen in New York bei den “hunter
zusammentraf und Ihnen den Vorschlag machte, einmal mit einem
Luftschiff zum Pol zu fahren, habe ich immer daran gedacht,
daß dieses einmal Wirklichkeit werden könne. Nach meiner Rück=
kehr von Amerika erfuhr ich dann, daß sich eine “International
Studiengesellschaft zur Erforschung der Arktis” in Deutschland
gebildet habe, welche Nansen als Präsidenten hat. Diese Gesell-
schaft hat seit einigen Monaten versucht, mit mir in Fühlung
zu kommen und eine Einigung mit mir zu erzielen. Als Sie nun
4 Wochen lang verschwunden waren, wurde zwischen mir und der
Side 2
“Studiengesellschaft” eine Besprechung in Berlin vereinbart
und zwar auf Freitag, den 26. Juni. 8 Tage vor dieser Be-
sprechung kamen Sie plötzlich wieder und ich sandte Ihnen
sofort eine Depesche des Inhalts: “Aufrichtigste Glueckwuensche
zu dem erfolgreichen ersten Versuch die Arktis mit Luftfahr-
zeug zu erforschen punkt hoffe im Sinne Vorschlages in Newyork
auf Zusammenarbeit bei weiteren Unternehmungen aehnlicher Art”.
Leider erhielt ich auf diese Depesche, wohl infolge Ihrer
außerordentlichen Ueberschwenmung mit Depeschen, keine Antwort
bis zum Freitag, den 26., da Ihre Antwort nach Friedrichshafen
gegangen war und mir von hier leider brieflich nach Berlin
geschickt wurde. So kam es, daß die Besprechung mit der
“Studiengesellschaft” vorher stattfand und daß ich mit dieser
eine bedingte Vereinbarung traf, deren Inkrafttreten davon
abhängt, daß das von mir angebotene Luftschiff von der “Studien-
gesellschaft” akzeptiert wird. Als ich von der Besprechung in
mein Berliner Büro zutückkam, fand ich Ihre Depesche vor, die
ich außerordentlich gern 3 Stunden früher in Händen gehabt
hätte. Ich weiß nun nicht, welche Absichten Sie haben, ob Sie
sich gegebenenfalls an der Expedition der “Studiengesellschaft”
unter Umständen mit beteiligen würden, oder ob Sie zuwarten
wollen, ob meine Vereinbarung mit der “Studiengesellschaft”
wirklich zum Zusammenarbeiten mit dieser führt und ob Sie es
vorziehen, allein mit mir zu arbeiten, falls die Vereinbarung
nicht in Kraft tritt. Unter allen Umständen würde ich es für
sehr gut halten, wenn wir uns über diese Situation und sonstige
wichtige Fragen einmal mündlich besprechen könnten und ich sehe
Ihrer gefälligen Nachricht darüber entgegen, ob Sie ein Interess
daran haben, an irgend einem Tage zwischen dem 8. und 20. Juli
Side 3
(zwischen dem 20. und 28. Juli habe ich keine Zeit) oder
nach dem 28. Juli mit mir in Kopenhagen oder Hamburg oder an
irgend einem Orte, der etwa in der Mitte zwischen Oslo und
Friedrichshafen liegt, zu treffen.
Indem ich nocheinmal meine herzlichsten Glückwünsche
für den Erfolg Ihres Fluges und Ihre glückliche Rückkehr
wiederhole, bin ich
in ausgezeichneter Hochachtung
mit besten Grüßen
Ihr sehr ergebener
Hugo Eckener
Undskyld engelsk
Efter å <nå> hørt han <forb.> det selv,
så har delv. min interesse faldt bort
da jeg finde at du allerede er truffet slike foranstaltninger at <juli> er ….. [by hand in Norwegian]
Side 4
Bekl.at Tiden rim<elig man > tilbud tidl …. ….
Av samme … grunn Planer kommer exp. <…> usikre og
<fnb.> stadium at [by hand in Norwegian]
English translation
Dr. Hugo Eckener
Friedrichshafen a.B., den 30. Juni 1925.
Dr.E./H.
Herrn
Roald Amundsen,
Oslo (Norway)
Dear Mr Amundsen!
I confirm receipt of your telegram: “start Oslo fourth of July when and where can we meet” and replied to it: “Ready for discussion in Kjoebenhavn or Hamburg between tenth and twentieth of July stop detailed letter expected beforehand”.
I am very pleased that you propose an oral discussion, because the situation has become a little complicated by some events in the last few days and it is best to talk about it orally. I will explain the situation to you in a few words below:
Ever since I happened to meet you at the “hunter” in New York and made the suggestion that you go to the Pole in an airship, I have always thought that one day this could become a reality. After my return from America I learned that an “International Research Association for Exploration of the Arctic” has been formed in Germany, with Nansen as president. This Association has been trying for some months to make contact and come to an agreement with me.
[The “International Studiengesellschaft zur Erforschung der Arktis mit dem Luftschiff” was also known by its shorter title “Aeroarctic”]
When you had been gone for 4 weeks, a meeting was indeed arranged between me and the
Side 2
“Studiengesellschaft” in Berlin, on Friday, June 26th. 8 days before this you suddenly came back and I sent you immediately a telegram with the content: “Sincerest congratulations on the first successful attempt to explore the Arctic by air stop hope, in the sprit of the proposal in New York, to work together on further undertakings of a similar nature.”
Unfortunately, probably as a result of your extraordinary deluge of despatches, I received no reply to this telegram until Friday the 26th, since your reply had gone to Friedrichshafen and was unfortunately sent by letter from here to me in Berlin. So it came about that the meeting with the “Studiengesellschaft” took place beforehand and that I made a conditional agreement with them, the coming into force of which depends on the airship I am offering the “Studiengesellschaft” being accepted. When I returned to my Berlin office from the meeting, I found your telegram, which I would have loved to have had in my hands 3 hours earlier. I don’t know what your intentions are now, whether you would possibly take part in the expedition of the “Studiengesellschaft” or whether you want to wait and see whether my agreement with the “Studiengesellschaft” really leads to working with them and whether you would prefer to work alone with me if the agreement does not come into effect. In any case, I would think it would be very good if we could have a face-to-face talk about this situation and other important issues, and I look forward to your kind [favourable] message as to whether you are interested in meeting some day between July 8th and 20th
Side 3
(between July 20th and 28th I don’t have time) or after July 28th in Copenhagen or Hamburg or at some place halfway between Oslo and Friedrichshafen.
As I once again reiterate my warmest congratulations on the success of your flight and your happy return, I am
most respectfully
with kindest regards
Your very devoted
Hugo Eckener
Undskyld engelsk
Efter å <nå> hørt han <forb.> det selv,
så har delv. min interesse faldt bort
da jeg finde at du allerede er truffet slike foranstaltninger at <juli> er ….. [by hand in Norwegian]
Side 4
Bekl.at Tiden rim<elig man > tilbud tidl …. ….
Av samme … grunn Planer kommer exp. <…> usikre og
<fnb.> stadium at [by hand in Norwegian]
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