This hitherto unknown autograph diary by the Danish first lieutenant Godfred Hansen (1876–1937), was written in August and September 1904 during the Gjøa-Expedition (which lastet from 1903–1906) and documents Hansen's experiences and work exploring and finding new routes through the icy waters of the North Western passages of North America.

In the beginning of the diary Hansen writes about the purpose of his explorations of the area during the summer of 1904 “1. at udlægge Depot saa langt som muligt inden Fairholm Island. 2. at bestemme, kortlægge og oplodde en Rute for Skibet gennem Snævringen i Simpson Strædet. Hvad 2 angaar ser jeg med fortvivlelse paa den megen Is. Ikke engang Smaaøerne kan vi komme ind til”.

During their travels Godfred Hansen and his fellow explorer Hellmer Hansen finds the skulls and bones of some polar explorers from the notorius Franklin expedition and the inscription on a stone by another polar explorer, M.A. Hall: “Vi var oppe ved Kranierne og ved at søge mellem en bunke sten fandt jeg en mærket MAH XII 1869, men søgte forgæves efter yderligere gravskrift.”.

Godfred Hansen succeded in placing repositories in the area and in the spring of 1905 he was able to map the east coast of Victoria Island also known as King Haakon VII's land.

The crew of the Gjoa-expedition was led by the Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen (1872–1928), who had set out to find the magnetic North Pole and if possible find the much sought after route through the North Western passage. Both goals were accomplished and Amundsen's and his crew acquired immediate fame for their accomplishment.