Matthew A. Henson and Herbert M. Frisby: Maryland's Arctic Explorers
April 6, 2009 will be the 100th anniversary of Mathew A. Henson's and Commodore Robert E. Peary's planting of the American flag at the North Pole. While Commander Peary was promoted to Rear Admiral and hailed as a hero, Henson, who was born in Charles County, spent most of his life in obscurity. It was only later that the first African American to reach the North Pole received the recognition he deserved for his accomplishment.
Herbert M. Frisby, a student of Eskimo culture who made 21 trips north of the Arctic Circle, was inspired by his fellow Marylander Henson. In 1956, Frisby became the second African American to reach the North Pole, flying over it and dropping a strongbox containing an American flag and a bronze plague commemorating Henson.
It was largely through Frisby's efforts that Henson began to get the recognition he deserved. In 1937, Henson became the first African American voted into the Explorers Club in New York. In 1944, Henson received the same medal given to Peary by Congress decades earlier. And he received recognition by Presidents Truman and Eisenhower before his death in 1955 at the age of 88. His one wish was to buried in Arlington National Cemetary next to his friend, Admiral Peary. After much lobbying his wish was granted and on April 6, 1988 he was reburied at Arlington. A memorial plaque honoring him was placed in the Maryland Statehouse in 1961 and in 2000 the National Geographic Society awarded Henson its highest honor, the Hubbard Medal. The USNS Henson also was named in his honor.
Frisby was head of the science department at Douglass High School for more than 30 years. The Baltimore native traced his interest in Arctic exploration to a sixth-grade geography class. When the teacher told the class that Henson was the first black to reach the North Pole, Frisby yelled out, "I'm going to be the second!" For that he was ordered to write 500 times on the blackboard, "I will not talk out foolish things in class." Despite his teacher's disdain, he did what he said he was going to do. Frisby died on July 26, 1983 at the age of 97. His collection of Artic artifacts has been exhibited at the Maryland Science Center and the Maryland Historical Society as well as other museums. The Herbert M. Frisby Historical Society is named after him.
To learn about these artic explorers I have posted links. I hope you enjoy the photos and I look forward to any feedback or future ideas.
National Geographic's profile of Matthew Henson
I'm 
