Editing Robert Peary (section)

====1984 and 1989 National Geographic Society studies====
In 1984, the [[National Geographic Society]] (NGS), a major sponsor of Peary's expeditions, commissioned [[Wally Herbert]], an Arctic explorer himself, to write an assessment of Peary's original 1909 diary and astronomical observations. As Herbert researched the material, he came to believe that Peary falsified his records and concluded that he did not reach the North Pole.<ref name=Doubts/> His book, ''The Noose of Laurels'', caused a furor when it was published in 1989. If Peary did not reach the pole in 1909, Herbert would claim the record of being the first to reach the pole on foot.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/13/books/not-quite-on-top-of-the-world.html | title=NOT QUITE ON TOP OF THE WORLD | first=Katherine | last=Bouton | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=August 13, 1989}}</ref><ref name=Noose/>

In 1989, the NGS also conducted a two-dimensional photogrammetric analysis of the shadows in photographs and a review of ocean depth measures taken by Peary; its staff concluded that he was no more than {{convert|5|mi|abbr=on|0}} away from the pole. Peary's original camera, a 1908 #4 Folding Pocket [[Kodak]], did not survive. As such cameras were made with at least six different lenses from various manufacturers, the focal length of the lens, and hence the shadow analysis based on it, must be considered uncertain at best. The NGS has never released Peary's photos for an independent analysis. Specialists questioned the conclusions of the NGS. The NGS commissioned the Foundation for the Promotion of the Art of Navigation to resolve the issue, which concluded that Peary had indeed reached the North Pole.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/12/us/peary-made-it-to-the-pole-after-all-study-concludes.html | title=Peary Made It to the Pole After All, Study Concludes | first=Warren E. | last=Leary | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=August 13, 1989}}</ref><ref name=First/><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1991/06/09/pearys-polar-mystery/7655c951-fb71-423d-a6c7-c5b75f9817fe/ | title=PEARY'S POLAR MYSTERY | first=Boyce | last=Rensberger | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=June 9, 1991}}</ref>