Herb Crisler papers, 1907-1981

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Crisler, Herb
Title
Herb Crisler papers
Dates
1907-1981 (inclusive)
Quantity
.42 cubic feet
Collection Number
3852 (Accession No. 3852-001)
Summary
Material on Herb Crisler and Lois Crisler, including publicity for their wildlife films
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Herbert B. "Cris" Crisler was born in Comer, Elberto County, Georgia on July 23, 1893. While serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps he became acquainted with the Pacific Northwest, and relocated in 1919 to Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Settling in Port Angeles he opened his own photography business. He purchased a 100-lb. Pathe newsreel camera and began filming wildlife and the Olympic Mountains. In the winter, he supplemented his income by working in construction. Because the format of a newsreel camera was compatible with motion picture projection, Mr. Crisler began shooting footage that was later released as his first documentary, From the Mountains to the Sea (1924). In 1934 he became a wildlife photographer, and on December 7, 1941 married University of Washington English professor Lois Brown. Together, the Crislers began recording Olympic habitat and wildlife, producing several films and featuring them in cross-country lectures. Herb Crisler contracted with Disney Studios in 1950 to film the elk herds of the Olympic Mountains. In April 1951, Disney sent the Crislers to Colorado to film bighorn sheep and in the fall of 1952, they continued on to Denali National Park in Alaska to film grizzly and brown bears. The Crislers moved to the Brooks Range within the Arctic Circle in April 1953 for 18 months, where Herb filmed the caribou and Lois kept journals of her observations of the wildlife and her surroundings. The Crislers relocated to the Tarryall Mountains near Lake George, Colorado, where they continued to care for the wolves they had raised. Lois' book Captive Wild (1968) relates the story of her relationship with the wolves. The strain of protecting the wolves took a toll on their marriage, and the couple subsequently divorced. In later years, Mr. Crisler's companion was Pacific Northwest historian and author Ruby El Hult. He died in Puyallup, Washington on December 15, 1985.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, clippings, ephemera, photographs.

Material on Herb and Lois Crisler, including publicity for their wildlife films.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Ruby El Hult McAndrew, 12/29/1986

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Animal behavior--History--Sources
  • Independent filmmakers--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Naturalists--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Wildlife photographers--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Wolves--Behavior--History--Sources

Personal Names

  • Crisler, Herb--Archives
  • Crisler, Lois--Sources

Corporate Names

  • Olympic National Park (Wash.)