The Western American Explorer's Club does not and has never existed, to the best of my knowledge. It is a fictionalized version of explorer clubs that were coming into being during that era, for example, the National Geographic Society, which became a formal organization in 1888 or the Explorer's Club, which formally organized in 1903.  These organizations were created to promote and finance exploration, which they continue to do to this day. The founders comprised teachers, scientists, geographers, mapmakers, explorers, and wealthy hobbyists. Professor Sherman is a member of the Western American Explorer's Club, and after teaching arithmetic for forty years, he longs to be alone. He says he joined the club because "the ambition of explorers was to go where no one had gone before" (40), and after forty years in the classroom, this was tremendously appealing.  As a club member, he feels he owes his allegiance to his fellow members to relate first to them his astounding adventures. He refuses to tell his story to his rescuers, to reporters, and even to the president of the United States, before he shares the story of his incredible journey with the club.