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Cmdr. Richard E. Byrd flies over South Pole, on Nov. 30, 1929

In the early part of the 20th century, there were still places to explore in the world. And the daring exploits of explorers were big news.

Navy Comdr. Richard E. Byrd got front page coverage when he and his crew completed their 1,600-mile flight over the

South Pole. The article credits Byrd with being the first man to fly over both the

South and North poles, but that trip over the North Pole is disputed by some historians.

Byrd, the son of a prominent Virginia family who was eventually promoted to

Ohio.

U.S. Army.

Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY NETWORK admiral, did not have any direct ties to

But Ohio State University shared his interest in polar studies dating back to post-wwii work in Greenland for the

According the university’s Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, Ohio State submitted a proposal in the mid-1980s to acquire Byrd’s expeditionary records, personal papers and other memorabilia from the estate of Marie A. Byrd, the late wife of the admiral.

The purchase of the papers provided

the nucleus for the establishment of the

Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program.

And in 1987 the Institute was officially renamed the Byrd Polar Research

Center in honor of the admiral.

The center later added climate to its name and is one of the leading research facilities looking at how the warming climate affects on polar ice.

DISPATCH FILE PHOTO From The Columbus Dispatch, November 30, 1929. Coverage of Byrd’s historic flight over the South Pole.