Title: Correspondence from Vilhjalmur Stefansson to Ada Blackjack

Identifier: 0021-s1-b7-fe-i2   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/86341)

Description: Copy of correspondence sent by Arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson to Ada Blackjack as received by Inglis Fletcher. In the letter, Stefansson states that all the money he owed to Blackjack had been paid. This was sent in response to a letter Stefansson received from Blackjack on June 28, 1950 stating that she only received $300 of the $500 owed to her for her story. However, Stefansson also states in the final paragraph that "this is all so long ago that I do not remember whether you ever promised any specific sum". Blackjack was the sole survivor of the Wrangel Island Expedition and her diary was used by Stefansson for the basis of his book on the event. Throughout the years, Stefansson claimed to have paid Blackjack all she was owed, while Blackjack maintained she was never compensated for her story.