Nearing graduation from the University of Washington, Mr. Morton sailed with other scientists on the 1937 Arctic cruise of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter NORTHLAND. The papers describe his responsibilities as an oceanographer testing temperature and chemical characteristics of water at oceanographic stations in the Arctic. His letters and diary describe the cruise and-impressions of various locales which include in part, the Inside Passage, Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Golovnin Bay, King Island, Little Diomede, St. Lawrence Island and Arctic villages.

The NORTHLAND was under the command of F.A. Zeusler, who also served as a U.S. commissioner for the Nome District handling various court matters. Medical personnel from the ship treated people in the villages and Mr. Morton describes operations and care provided. Also on board the vessel was Father Bernard Hubbard, destined for King Island, and the noted anthropologist, Dr. Ales Hrdlicka. The newspaper clippings describe the work of these men in Alaska.