stefansson-wrangel-09-34-032

Blackjack -2- S was a rcan of great stature in the public eye during that first quarter of the century. He was born in Manitoba of parents with Icelandic background and was christened William Stephenson. At 22 he changed hsi name to Vilhjalmur Stefansson after listening to a lecture at the University of No Dakota in which a sociology professor extolled non-conformist conduct. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1905----later enrolled as a divinity student at Harvard, but his interests changed to anthropology. His first trip came about as a member of a Harvard group who went to Iceland to study sheep husbandry. According to what Noice told me, Stefansson could at times be difficult to get along with. He formed the Stefansson Ex- ploration and Development Company, which outfit appears to have run short of money from time to time. (See Voice's letter to &NVGLOP& Q s Griffith Brewer of London). As I remember it, Stefansson had left the small group on Wrangel Island to "colonize” it for England with the expectation of checking in at that remote place in a year, supplies for the group being only enough for that period of time. However, he let the matter go due to the money situation and continuing with his writing and lecture tours. Harold Noice, fearing for the safety of the Wrangel Island party, kept prodding him on the matter, offering to command a rescue expedition without pay in the interest of saving lives if necessary. But still Stefgnsson delayed. Eventually enough money was forthcoming to fit out an Arctic ship which, commanded by Noice, left Nome and made its treacherous way through the