Louise Boyd

This post was created by our 8th grade MHM volunteer, Tyler. Thank you, Tyler!         

 Louise Boyd was an american explorer of the arctic, born right here in San Rafael CA. She extensively noted her expeditions to Greenland and became and important asset in WWII.
           She was born on September 16, 1887. In her childhood she enjoyed playing with her older brothers Seth and John. They rode horses, explored Mt.Diablo, hunted, fished and led pretty adventurous lives. When Louise was a teenager both her brothers died of a heart disease during the same year. As a memorial, the Boyd family donated their gate house to San Rafael, where it is now serves as our Museum. Both her parents died between 1919 and 1920, leaving her with an amazing estate worth an enormous amount of money. It was that fortune that funded her explorations.

Louise Boyd on her first trip to Norway

           In 1924 she took her first trip to Norway. Legend has it that on said trip she saw a polar bear on the ice, which inspired her to explore the arctic. Her first pleasure trip was taken aboard the "Hobby" in 1926.  This was simply a pleasure trip to hunt and film. Her second voyage, in 1928 ended up being a rescue mission after Roald Amundsen had gone missing during his rescue mission of Umberto Nobile. Although she was unable to find them, her efforts were highly rewarded.
           Boyd's most famous voyages, however, were her scientific expeditions in 1931, 1933, 1937, and 1938. During these expeditions, she explored the North Eastern side of Greenland and wrote a book called The Fiord Region of Eastern Greenland. Her favorite area of Greenland, near the De Geer Glacier is still called Louise Boyd Land.
            After the start of WWII, Boyd's knowledge became an important resource to the US. She was directed not to publish her book and instead explore the strange magnetic and radio phenomena. In 1941 she organized an expedition for the National Bureau of Standards.  She had to charter the ship Effie M. Morrissey swell as pay for food, supplies and a crew. The findings of said expedition were important in the war and our victory.              
           After the war, Louise took part in many academics around the bay area such as the Academy of science, SF symphony and even an Honorary Law degree. She invested and lost the remainder of her money and had to sell her property to San Rafael. She died in San Francisco on September 14, 1972, 2 days before her 85th birthday.