Established in 1933
The aim of the Norwegian Polar Club is to increase interest in and spread news about the polar areas and Norwegian activities there before and now. In addition, the Club connects members for lectures and discussions on a wide range of Arctic and Antarctic subjects and for social exchanges.
The Norwegian Polar Club – a short history
Early in the 1930s two radio-telegraph operators, Dagfinn Steinskog and Fridtjof Bathen, launched the idea of establishing a club where polar-interested people could meet. The idea caught on and an invitation to the foundation of such a club was sent to the media, signed by such well-known polar persons as Major Gunnar Isachsen, Professor H. U. Sverdrup, Captain Oscar Wisting, Docent Adolf Hoel, Professor W. Werenskiold, Professor O. Krogness, polar explorer Carsten Borchgrevink and journalist Odd Arnesen. The Club’s purpose would be to gather people interested in polar matters for discussions on Arctic and Antarctic subjects through lectures and exchanges.
The inaugural meeting was held on 21 February 1933 in the headquarters of the Norwegian Engineering Association. The newspaper Aftenposten wrote that: “Among the participants were seen veterans such as Major Gunnar Isachsen, Oscar Wisting. Per Ristvedt from the Gjøa Expedition, K. B. Olsen from the Fram, Docent Hoel. There were people from Svalbard, Franz Josef Land, from the South and North Pole, people from the Svalbard mines, etc.” The Norwegian Polar Club was established with Adolf Hoel as chairman.
An important part of the Norwegian Polar Club’s activity has been a series of fascinating lectures that cover the various aspects of the polar areas. Many important polar questions have been aired, questions that concerned exploration, science, economic activity, history and the people who work and have worked in the polar areas.
The members’ meetings also represent a forum for those interested in polar matters. The Club has in the course of its existence participated in public discussions and raised important national problems. It has had its justification in keeping interest for the polar areas alive and by voicing important matters. It is perhaps not too modest to believe that its activity has directed useful impulses up to the decision-making authorities.
It has been decisive for the Norwegian Polar Club that it has met real interest and support from other organizations. The Club has had excellent cooperation with amongst others the Fram Museum, the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Norwegian Geographical Society.
The Norwegian Polar Club today
«Polarboken» is the Norwegian Polar Club’s publication which was first issued in 1933 and from 1959-1960 has appeared biannually. The collection contains a valuable and fascinating wealth of material. In addition, the Club’s webpage «Nytt & Gammelt fra Polartraktene» (New & Old from the Polar Regions) offers members new reading matter in the period between the Polarboken publications. The idea is that members, and possibly also others, can supply us with contributions, either solely as texts or a combination of text and illustrations, or only illustrations with accompanying necessary information.
The webpage «Bøker og hefter Online» (Books and booklets Online) presents books and booklets in flipbook-format which we believe will be interesting for the Club’s members to read. Most of these have previously been difficult to obtain.
The Norwegian Polar Club organises two lectures/presentations each half-year which are also streamed. The lectures are held in conjunction with the members’ meetings in what was Fridtjof Nansen’s home Polhøgda, now the premises of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute.
The Norwegian Polar Club website https://polarklubben.org/ :