Here is a significant story to consider in light of our pen pal program with Antarctica through the US Antarctic Program. In June of this year Edith Ronne died at the age of 89. She was sometimes referred to as "Antarctica's First Lady." Edith was the first American woman to ever be an active part of a US Antarctic expedition. This occurred during the 1940's. She was the wife of Finn Ronne, a famous explorer. (The first woman from any country to travel to Antarctica -- that we know of -- was Caroline Mikkelson, a Norwegian, who went there in 1935.)Edith's main task was the provide a written historical narrative of the expedition; she had a history degree from George Washington University.
The Ronne Ice Shelf -- which is on the direct opposite side of the continent from the Ross Ice Shelf where our USAP pen pal is-- was named after her by her husband, Finn.
In the photo above --taken by the US Navy and in public domain -- we see her carrying a sign at the South Pole in 1971. "SWG" stands for Society of Women Geographers. She and a Canadian woman named Jennie Darlington were the first women to "winter-over" in Antarctica in 1947-48. "Winter-over's" are people who stay in Antarctica during their "winter," which is our summer.
--Adrian
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