• The American Geographical Society acquired its Fliers’ & Explorers’ Globe in 1929 as a gift from AGS President John H. Finley. As Editor-in-Chief of the New York Times, Finley invited early heroes of exploration and aviation to draw their routes and sign their names on the 18-inch globe.

• Signers of the Fliers’ & Explorers’ Globe over the years are men and women who have explored certain places on earth for the first time in recorded history, reached new extremes of height or depth, pioneered new means of travel, or set aviation records. Their accomplishments have been made at great personal physical risk.

• The Society has continued the custom and, in so doing, has created a remarkable and unique symbol of humanity’s unquenchable drive to explore the universe.

• Signers of the Fliers’ & Explorers’ Globe are proposed by AGS’ Exploration Committee for approval by the AGS Honors Committee and confirmation by the AGS Council.

What is the “Flyers and Explorers” Globe?Background

• A priceless record of historically significant events of human achievement

• Recognition of great exploration achievements,including, but not limited to, those in aviation

• The importance of geography in understanding the world around us

• The American Geographical Society and its longstanding role in exploration

What does the “Flyers and Explorers” Globe represent?

The AGS has developed successful corporate sponsorships in support of the Globe…

• AGS developed corporate sponsorships in support of the Globe to raise awareness of the historical importance of the Globe and Exploration, and to further awareness and support of the AGS

• Marsh Aviation and Delta Air Lines led the sponsorship of two Globe signing events in 2004

• USAIG, a leading aviation insurer, contributed funds to support Globe refurbishment

• The AGS offers additional sponsorships by corporations, museums and individuals for future Globe signings and corporate or “museum” public displays to further understanding and awareness of the Globeand its historical importance

1. Roald Amundsen

2. Neil Armstrong

3. William Anders

4. Robert A. Bartlett

5. William Beebe

6. Fred Austin

7. Alexander Beliakov

8. M. Bellonte

9. Russell Boardman

10. Frank Borman

11. Louise A. Boyd

12. W. S. Brock

13. Richard E. Byrd

14. Clarence C. Chamberlin

15. Valery Chkaloff

16. L. Cotte

17. D. Costes

18. Amelia Earhart

19. Hugo Eckener

20. Lincoln Ellsworth

21. Charles Evans

22. James E. Fitsmaurice

23. P. J. Gaffney

24. Walt Pitman

25. Harold Gatty

26. John Glenn, Jr.

27. Lawrence Gould

28. K. R. Greenaway

29. Wolfgang von Gronau

30. Albert A. Hegenberger

31. Matthew A. Hensen

32. E.P. Hillary

33. Herbert Hollick-Kenyon

34. Baron Gunther von Hunefeld

35. C. Kingsford Smith

36. Herman Koehl

37. Joseph Le Brix

38. Richard Light

39. Charles A. Lindbergh

40. James Lovell

41. George Lowe

42. Harry Lynch

43. Harry Lyon

44. Lester J. Maitland

45. Harrison Finch

46. Brian Jones

47. Don Walsh

48. Jack L. Martin

49. J.A. Mollison

50. Robert Cushman Murphy

51. Fridtjof Nansen

52. Erik Nelson

52. B. Orteig

53. Russell Owen

54. Robert Peary

55. Carl O. Petersen

56. J. Polando

57. Wiley Post

58. Finn Ronne

59. Fred Roots

60. J. de Sibour

61. Violette de Sibour

62. Vilhjalmur Stefansson

63. Leigh Wade

64. Sir Hubert Wilkins

65. J. Tuzo Wilson

66. Walter A. Wood

67. J. M. Wordie

68. Bertrand Piccard

69. William Ryan

70. Junko Tabei

71. Liv Arneson

72. Edith Ronne

73. Jennie Darlington

74. Ann Bancroft

75. Dr. Sylvia Earle

76. Bryan Allen

77. Ann Bancroft

78. Bill Anderson

The AGS Fliers’ and Explorers’ Globe Signers

President John F. Kennedy looks on as Astronaut John Glenn signs the Globe

2004 Globe appearances…

• New York, March 2004, attendees join old and new signers of the globe at the Powerhouse in the Museum of Natural History.

– Event honorees, and new Globe signers included• William Anderson – 1958 commander of the submarine NAUTILUS, first

vessel to cross the North Pole by water • Ann Bancroft - first woman to reach both the North Pole (1986 by dog sled)

and South Pole (1993 on skis)• Liv Arneson - one of the first women to ski and sail across the Antarctic

Landmass in 2001• Junko Tabei – first woman to climb Mt. Everest in 1975

– Prior signers who introduced the new honorees for this event:• Brian Jones - carried out the first non-stop round the world flight in a balloon,

Breitling Orbiter 3• William (Bill) Anders: First lunar orbital mission, 1968, Lunar Module Pilot,

Apollo 8 • Don Walsh - dived deeper than any other humans in history when they

descended to the bottom of the Marianas Trench in 1960

                   (Left to Right) Brian Jones, Don Walsh, Junko Tabei, Bill Anderson, Liv Arnesen, Ann Bancroft, Bill Anders

AGS President Jerry Dobson (left), Mr. and Mrs. Bill Anderson, AGS Executive

Director Mary Lynne Bird (right)

Ms Junko Tabei

New York March 2004 Globe Signing Event

Ms. Michele Burns, DeltaChris Duncan, Delta

Ms. Anne BancroftMs. Liv ArnesonMs. Mary Lynne Bird, AGS

William Anderson,Ms. Mary Lynne Bird, AGSDon Walsh

Dr. Jerome Dobson, AGSJerry Frick, MarshNathan Sambul, Marsh

Back: Chris Duncan, Brian Jones, Don Walsh, Junko Tabei, Liv Arneson, Jerome Dobson, Anne bancroft, Bill Naders, Nathan SambulFront: John Gould, Michele Burns, Mary Lynne Bird, William Anderson

2004 Globe Appearances, continued

• Atlanta, May 2004, our second event, was hosted at the Atlanta History Center.

– Event honorees, and new Globe signers included: • Bryan Allen – the first person to fly a human-powered aircraft 22 miles

across the English Channel in 1979 • Dr. Sylvia Earle – walked unassisted on the sea floor at a record depth of

1,250 feet below the surface in 1979• Edith Ronne – In 1947, became one of the first women to winter-over

Antarctica

– Introducing Event honorees included:• Neil Armstrong - the first person to set foot on the moon's surface in 1969 • Keith Greenaway - navigated the first U.S. military flight in 1946 over the

North Pole • George Lowe - a member of the 1953 British Everest Expedition, the first

team to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.

Left to Right: Neil Armstrong, George Lowe, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Edith Ronne, Keith Greenaway, Bryan Allen

Atlanta May 2004 Globe Signing Event

Ms. Mary Lynne Bird, AGSDr. Sylvia Earle

Ms. Edith Ronne Bryan Allen

Ms. Edith Ronne, George Lowe Neal Armstrong, Ms. Karen Ronne Tupek

To find out more about the extensive history of the Flyers’ and Explorers’ Globe,as well as a complete listing of the Globe signers and the events for which theysigned, please visit http://www.amergeog.org/globe.htm

For those interested in corporate sponsorships of the Globe, or in a Globedisplay event for your corporation or museum event, or researching the Globe’s expansive history, please contact the Executive Director of The American Geographical Society, Ms. Mary Lynne Bird, at MLBird@amergeog.org.