Josephine Cecilia Peary (née Diebitsch; May 22, 1863 – December 19, 1955) was an American author and arctic explorer.[2][3] She was the wife of Robert Peary, who claimed to be the first to have reached the geographic North Pole.
Josephine Cecilia Diebitsch was born on May 22, 1863 on a farm in Maryland.[1] Her mother, Magdalena Augusta (Schmid) Diebitsch, was from Saxony. Her father, Hermann Henry Diebitsch, was a military officer from Prussia. During the American Civil War, the Diebitsch family farm was destroyed, which led the family to relocate to Washington, D.C.[1] Hermann was a clerk at the Smithsonian Institution.[4] She had a brother, Emil Diebitsch, who later became the mayor of Nutley, New Jersey,[5] and a sister, Marie Diebitsch.[3]
Josephine first met Robert Peary in 1885 while she was attending dancing school. They got engaged in 1886, at which time she resigned from the Smithsonian Institution. She married him on August 11, 1888. She often accompanied him on his northern travels, where she traveled farther North over the ice fields than any white woman had before.[3] Her eagerness to explore the world prompted her to accompany her husband on the Peary expedition to Greenland of 1891–1892.[4] She accompanied him on six of his Arctic expeditions and was considered a First Lady of the Arctic.[1] While they were married, in 1909, Robert Peary claimed to be the first to have reached the geographic North Pole. At that time, Josephine stayed home on Eagle Island in Casco Bay, Maine, which Robert bought in 1877.[4]
Josephine and Robert had two children: Marie Ahnighito Peary born in 1893, who became known as "Snow Baby", was born less than thirteen degrees from the North Pole, and a son, Robert E. Peary Jr. Although both children were Arctic adventurers, Robert Jr. became a construction engineer. They also had three grandchildren, Edward Peary Stafford, Robert E. Peary III, and Peary Diebitsch Stafford.[3]
Later life and deathedit
In 1914, the Pearys bought the house at 1831 Wyoming Avenue NW in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C.[6] Robert Peary began renovating the house in 1920, shortly before his death, after which the renovation was taken over by Josephine. Josephine sold the house in 1927, receiving a $12,000 promissory note.[7]
^"Peary's Discovery of Pole Celebrated. His Widow Is Among Guests at a Dinner Party". The New York Times. April 7, 1939.
^Vigoda, Ralph (June 25, 1995). "Washington's present meets the past in Adams-Morgan NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR". The Baltimore Sun.
^"Architectural drawing for alterations to a row house ("residence") for Josephine D. Peary (originally for Adm. Robert E. Peary), 1831 Wyoming Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C." Library of Congress. 1920.
^"NEW PUBLICATIONS; A WOMAN NEAR THE NORTH POLE. MY ARCTIC JOURNAL. A Year Among The Icefields and Esquimaus. By Josephine Diebitsch-Peary. With an Account of the Great White Journey Across Greenland, by Robert E. Peary, Civil Engineer, United States Army. New-York: The Contemporary Publishing Company". The New York Times. November 27, 1893.
Wikisource has original works by or about: Josephine Diebitsch Peary
April 14, 2024
josephine, diebitsch, peary, josephine, cecilia, peary, née, diebitsch, 1863, december, 1955, american, author, arctic, explorer, wife, robert, peary, claimed, first, have, reached, geographic, north, pole, josephine, cecilia, diebitsch, pearyjosephine, diebit. Josephine Cecilia Peary nee Diebitsch May 22 1863 December 19 1955 was an American author and arctic explorer 2 3 She was the wife of Robert Peary who claimed to be the first to have reached the geographic North Pole Josephine Cecilia Diebitsch PearyJosephine Diebitsch in 1892BornJosephine Cecilia Diebitsch 1863 05 22 May 22 1863Maryland 1 DiedDecember 19 1955 1955 12 19 aged 92 NationalityAmericanOccupation s Explorer AuthorSpouseRobert Edwin Peary m 1888 died 1920 wbr Children2Peary circa 1913Peary s daughter Marie Ahnighito Peary 1893 1978 in 1909 Contents 1 Early life 2 Marriage and Family 3 Later life and death 4 Works 5 Awards and Accomplishments 6 ReferencesEarly life editJosephine Cecilia Diebitsch was born on May 22 1863 on a farm in Maryland 1 Her mother Magdalena Augusta Schmid Diebitsch was from Saxony Her father Hermann Henry Diebitsch was a military officer from Prussia During the American Civil War the Diebitsch family farm was destroyed which led the family to relocate to Washington D C 1 Hermann was a clerk at the Smithsonian Institution 4 She had a brother Emil Diebitsch who later became the mayor of Nutley New Jersey 5 and a sister Marie Diebitsch 3 Josephine attended Spencerian Business College and graduated as the class valedictorian in 1880 She found herself qualified and on track for a copyist clerk and tallyist position at the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Department of the Interior 1 Josephine wrote My Arctic Journal 1893 during the Peary expedition to Greenland of 1891 1892 4 Marriage and Family editJosephine first met Robert Peary in 1885 while she was attending dancing school They got engaged in 1886 at which time she resigned from the Smithsonian Institution She married him on August 11 1888 She often accompanied him on his northern travels where she traveled farther North over the ice fields than any white woman had before 3 Her eagerness to explore the world prompted her to accompany her husband on the Peary expedition to Greenland of 1891 1892 4 She accompanied him on six of his Arctic expeditions and was considered a First Lady of the Arctic 1 While they were married in 1909 Robert Peary claimed to be the first to have reached the geographic North Pole At that time Josephine stayed home on Eagle Island in Casco Bay Maine which Robert bought in 1877 4 Josephine and Robert had two children Marie Ahnighito Peary born in 1893 who became known as Snow Baby was born less than thirteen degrees from the North Pole and a son Robert E Peary Jr Although both children were Arctic adventurers Robert Jr became a construction engineer They also had three grandchildren Edward Peary Stafford Robert E Peary III and Peary Diebitsch Stafford 3 Later life and death editIn 1914 the Pearys bought the house at 1831 Wyoming Avenue NW in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington D C 6 Robert Peary began renovating the house in 1920 shortly before his death after which the renovation was taken over by Josephine Josephine sold the house in 1927 receiving a 12 000 promissory note 7 She moved to Portland Maine in 1932 3 She died on December 19 1955 at the age of 92 3 8 Works editMy Arctic Journal 1893 9 The Snow Baby 1901 Children of the Arctic 1903 4 Awards and Accomplishments editGranted the National Geographic Society s highest honor the Medal of Achievement for her Arctic accomplishments 4 A charter member of the Philadelphia Geographic Society as well as the Appalachian Mountain Club 3 An honorary member of a Woman Geographers Club 3 References edit a b c d e Erikson Patricia March 2009 Josephine Diebitsch Peary 1863 1955 PDF Arctic 62 102 104 doi 10 14430 arctic117 Josephine Diebitsch Peary Peary MacMillan Arctic Museum Archived from the original on July 9 2010 a b c d e f g h Obituary December 20 1955 Mrs Peary also leaves a sister Miss Marie Diebitsch of Washington a b c d e f Josephine Diebitsch Peary Collection 1861 2003 University of New England Peary s Discovery of Pole Celebrated His Widow Is Among Guests at a Dinner Party The New York Times April 7 1939 Vigoda Ralph June 25 1995 Washington s present meets the past in Adams Morgan NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR The Baltimore Sun Architectural drawing for alterations to a row house residence for Josephine D Peary originally for Adm Robert E Peary 1831 Wyoming Avenue N W Washington D C Library of Congress 1920 Woman Arctic Explorer Dies The Bulletin December 20 1955 via Google News NEW PUBLICATIONS A WOMAN NEAR THE NORTH POLE MY ARCTIC JOURNAL A Year Among The Icefields and Esquimaus By Josephine Diebitsch Peary With an Account of the Great White Journey Across Greenland by Robert E Peary Civil Engineer United States Army New York The Contemporary Publishing Company The New York Times November 27 1893 nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Josephine Diebitsch Peary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Josephine Diebitsch Peary amp oldid 1209684939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
