This glacier was discovered by and named for the four Geological Party Expedition members of the West Base of the United States Antarctic Service (USAS), in aerial flights and from ground surveys in November–December 1940, as part of the Antarctic Expedition of 1939-1941 led by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd.

During the long winter months that followed, fairly accurate maps were made of the Southern Edsel Ford Ranges.

This is an area of approximately 7,000 square miles (18,000 km2) of mountainous coastland in the northwestern region of Marie Byrd Land.

During the 1940 winter night, a Geological Party Expedition of four men was organized and they prepared for the extremely long trek on two dog sleds to the Edsel Ford Ranges.

The four-man Geological Party Expedition left the West Base on October 17, 1940 and returned 82 days later on January 7, 1941 traveling a total of 691 nautical miles (1,280 km) on board their two dog sleds.