Dee Molenaar papers, approximately 1930-2007

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Molenaar, Dee
Title
Dee Molenaar papers
Dates
approximately 1930-2007
Quantity
1.56 cubic feet (4 boxes, 1 CD, and 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
4578
Summary
Papers of Mountaineer Dee Molenaar, an artist, mapmaker and author
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.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Born to Dutch immigrant parents, Dee Molenaar (1918-) was born and raised in Los Angeles. His early climbs were in the Sierra Nevadas. As a young man in 1938, Molenaar came to the Pacific Northwest to climb its volcanos. He began guiding tours on Mt. Rainier in 1940.

Molenaar earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology with a minor in Art from the University of Washington in 1950. After graduation he worked as a field assistant to geololgy professor Peter Misch. During Molenaar's career as a geologist, he was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company, Washington Department of Conservation, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Molenaar has also used his education as a geologist to complement his artistic abilities in creating oil and watercolor paintings of mountain and desert landscapes.

Molenaar climbed peaks through the western United States, Canda, Alaska, the Alps, Himalayas, New Zealand, and Antarctica. His expeditions included the Harvard Mountaineering Committee ascent of Mount St. Elias in 1946, which was the second ascent of the mountain and the first American summit of the peak; the 1953 American expedition to K2; Mount McKinley (Denali) in 1960; Mount Kennedy in 1965; and multiple peaks in the Alps in 1973.

The Challenge of Rainier, Molenaar's most widely-known publication, was based in part upon his experience serving as a summit guide (1940-41 and 1947) and National Parks Service Ranger (1950-1952) on Mount Rainier.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Diaries (Fuhrerbuchs), correspondence, maps, photographs, questionnaires, and a manuscript. Includes correspondence and questionnaires relating to Molenaar's research on the history of mountaineering on Mt. Rainier; correspondence relating to the publicaton of Molenaar's book The Challenge of Rainier . Also includes interviews with Ella McBride, Blanche Whittaker (Jim Whittaker's wife) and Pat Whittaker (Jim Whittaker's sister-in-law regarding the news that Jim Whittaker was the first American to summit Mt. Everest.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Special Collections for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in two accessions:

  • Accession No. 4587-001, Dee Molenaar Correspondence, circa 1930-1995
  • Accession No. 4587-002, Dee Molenaar Papers, circa 1930-2007

Processing Note

Visual materials that originally accompanied this material were separated into a distinct Visual Materials Collection. For more information, contact Special Collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 4578-001: Dee Molenaar correspondence, circa 1930-1995 (bulk 1956-1971)Return to Top

.21 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Correspondence and questionnaires relating to Molenaar's research on the history of mountaineering on Mt. Rainier; correspondence relating to the publicaton of Molenaar's book The Challenge of Rainier, 1966-1995 (bulk 1966-1970).

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Source: Dee Molenaar, 7/30/1996.

Accession No. 4578-002: Dee Molenaar papers, circa 1930-2007Return to Top

1.35 cubic feet (3 boxes and 1 CD)
Arrangement: Arranged in five series:
  • Diaries, 1930-2000
  • Correspondence, 1940-1995
  • Photographs, 1954 and circa 1970-1986
  • Writings, Maps and Inventory, circa 1985-2007
  • Interviews, 1963

Scope and Content: Twelve of Molenaaar's climbing diaries ("Fuhrerbuchs"), correspondence, published landform-relief maps, black and white negatives of mountains and expeditions, and unpublished manuscript " High and Wide with Sketchpad" . Prominent correspondents include: Wolf Bauer, Fred Beckey, Charlie Bell, Chris Bonington, Nicholas Clinch, Norman Dyhrenfurth, Francis Farquhar, Sir Edmund Hillary, Charles Houston, Robert Kennedy, Peter Misch, Noel Odell, Clark Schurman, Austin Post, James Ramsey Ullman, Willi Unsoeld, Ed Viesturs, Jim Whittaker, Jim Wickwire, and many others.

CD includes interviews with Ella McBride, Blanche Whittaker (Jim Whittaker's wife) and Pat Whittaker (Jim Whittaker's sister-in-law regarding the news that Jim Whittaker was the first American to summit Mt. Everest.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users. CD audio is open to all users onsite in the Special Collections Reading Room. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Restrictions on Use: Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Special Collections for details.

Acquisition Info: Source: Dee Molenaar, March and April 2010.

Processing Info: Processed by Deborah Hamilton; processing completed in 2010.

Separated Material: Molenaar's copy of The Challenge of Rainier, containing over 400 signatures from local and international climbers, was removed for separate cataloging.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1 4578-002
Diaries
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
1930-2000
" Fuhrerbuch" : Mountaineering and Climbing Record of Dee Molenaar
1930-1978
Mt. St. Elias
1946
Geology 200 Field Course (North Cascades) of Dee Molenaar
1950
K2
1953
Helsinki 1983, The Alps 1973, Austria 1992, Diary of Dee Molenaar of trip with "K"...
1973; 1983; 1992
Climbing Notes and Other Miscellaneous Observations
1979-1992
Record of Trip to New Zealand and Antarctica November 21st-December 13th 1980
1980
Record of Visit to Juneau Icefield
1985
Record of Trip to Kala Patar Mt. Everest Region Nepal via Mountain Travel
1990
Diary of Alaska Trip
1991
Fuhrerbuch III
1992-2000
Trip to Peru and Machu Picchu
1998
Correspondence
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Scope and Content: Correspondents include:
  • Allan, Stuart
  • Allen, John Eliot
  • Ayres, Harry
  • Bates, Robert
  • Bauer, Wolf
  • Beach, Sharon
  • Beckey, Fred
  • Bedayn, Raffi
  • Bell, Charlie
  • Boehm, Julius
  • Bonington, Chris
  • Boyer, Steve
  • Bjornstad, Eric
  • Bloch, Gerry
  • Brandt, Rex
  • Brigham, Leon
  • Brockman, C. Frank
  • Brower, Anne
  • Brower, David
  • Brown, Bert
  • Brown, Dorris
  • Bryne, Peter
  • Bryson, Ted and Kristel
  • Bueler, William
  • Bunning, Bonnie
  • Burchell, Betty
  • Butler, Bill
  • Campbell, Arnie and Betty
  • Carlson, Virgil and Lee
  • Carpenter, Philip
  • Cedzo, Karen
  • Chamberlain, James E.
  • Chinese Mountaineering Association
  • Clark, Amanda
  • Clinch, Nicholas B.
  • Colson, Charles
  • Cook, Gordon
  • Corbet, Barry
  • Craig, Robert W.
  • Crenshaw, Jene
  • Cross, Tom
  • Cunningham, H.B.
  • Cuno, John
  • Dailey, Diana
  • Dalrymple, Paul
  • Dasler, Jon
  • Day, John
  • DeShazo, Donna
  • Desio, Ardito
  • Diemburger, Kurt
  • Dodson, Robert
  • Dunaway, Bil
  • Dunne, Tom
  • Dyhrenfurth, Norman
  • Eastwood, Harland
  • Engerman, Jeanne
  • Engles, Harold
  • Enzenbacker, Debbie
  • Evans, Daniel
  • Exum, Glenn
  • Fairchild, Wilma
  • Farquhar, Francis
  • Farquhar, Margery
  • Feth, Jack
  • Fitzsimmons, Matt
  • Ford, Art
  • Fryxell, Jayx and Regina
  • Gann, Ernest K.
  • Geddes, Jack and Peggy
  • Goforth, Nancey
  • Gorton, Slade
  • Grakovich, Valentin
  • Greathouse, Mrs. Walser S.
  • Haack, Wayne P.
  • Haines, Aubrey
  • Haglund, Ivar
  • Hahn, Fred
  • Hall, Henry S., Jr.
  • Hall, Jim Lydia
  • Hall, William
  • Hardy, Janet and Douglas
  • Harlin, John, III
  • Harman, Evelyn
  • Harris, Stephen
  • Hawkins, Helene and Wayne
  • Henderson, Kenneth
  • Heuston, Paul
  • Hicks, Floyd
  • Hill, Mary
  • Hillary, Edmund (Sir)
  • Horner, Stephen
  • Houston, Charles
  • Howkins, Heidi
  • Hunt, John (Sir)
  • Jenkins, Peter
  • Johnson, Burt
  • Jones, A.G.E.
  • Jurak, Josef
  • Kauffman, Andrew J., II
  • Kendall, Henry
  • Kennedy, Ethel
  • Kennedy, Robert F.
  • King, Magda
  • Kingsbury, Dwight
  • Koopman, Jane
  • Langmuir, Evelyn
  • Lawson, Elliot
  • Lee, Bob
  • Leonard, Richard
  • Lind, Dave
  • Lloyd, Darvel
  • Loganathan, A.
  • Magnuson, Warren
  • Mahre, Dave
  • Maki, Junichi
  • Mayer, LaVonne
  • McCarthy, Jim
  • McCoy, Keith
  • McWhirter, Norris D.
  • Merlino, Maxine
  • Miller, Maynard
  • Misch, Hanna
  • Misch, Niki
  • Misch, Peter
  • Molenaar, Cornelius “K”
  • Moldenhauer, Hans
  • Monteath, Colin
  • Moore, Terris
  • Morgan, Murray
  • Morrissey, James D.
  • Moulton, Terry
  • Munday, Phyl lis
  • Nagler, Karl
  • Nilsson, Erwin “Biff”
  • Odell, Noel
  • Ormes, Robert
  • Partridge, Betsy
  • Partridge, E.E.
  • Patterson, Marijke
  • Patterson, Pat and Mary
  • Pauli, John
  • Peck, Dallas
  • Phillips, Bill and Lorraine
  • Post, Austin
  • Pyle, Robert
  • Raible, Steve
  • Ray, Dixy Lee
  • Roberts, Elliott
  • Roskelley, John
  • Rowell, Galen
  • Rutter, John
  • Sanford, Scott
  • Sceva, Paul
  • Scheer, Irena
  • Schmoe, Floyd
  • Schurman, Clark
  • Shipton, Eric
  • Shorrock, Gertrude
  • Siple, Ruth
  • Siri, William
  • Smith, Milton
  • Standaert, Carol
  • Steffens, Brandon
  • Stockton, David
  • Terai, Kei
  • Thaller, Victor
  • Thomas, Lowell Jr.
  • Tobin, Daniel
  • Town, Stephen W.
  • Trenker, Luis
  • Tsuda, Shuji
  • Ullman, James Ramsey
  • Ullman, Mrs. James Ramsey
  • Unsoeld, Jolene
  • Unsoeld, Willi
  • Valsing, Ruth
  • Van Diver, Brad
  • Van Kleeck, Joyce (sp?)
  • Vermeulen, Jim
  • Viesturs, Ed
  • Viola, Herman
  • Vincent, Bronwyn
  • Wallin, Stu
  • Warburton, Mike
  • Warmerdam, C. A. “Dutch”
  • Washburn, Bradford
  • Watanabe, Mas and Hisa
  • Watson, Adam
  • Weide, Bruce
  • Welk, Lawrence
  • Whitney, Tom
  • Whittaker, James
  • Wickwire, Jim
  • Wiessner, Fritz H.
  • Wiessner, Muriel
  • Willey, Edith Maring
  • Wilts, Ellen
  • Winn, Karyl
  • Witte, Joe
  • Wenying, Wang
  • Wharton, Robert
  • Woodward, Eddy and Mel
  • Woodward, E.J.
  • Woodworth, John
  • Wren, Chris
  • Wroblewski, Lech
  • Young, Jack
  • Zelley, Mibs
  • Zimmerman, T. C. Price
1940-1995
Box/Folder Accession
2/1 4578-002
Correspondence (A-C)
1965-1995
2/2 4578-002
Correspondence (D-G)
1956-1993
2/3 4578-002
Correspondence (H-K)
1963-1991
2/4 4578-002
Correspondence (L-O)
1940-1994
2/5 4578-002
Correspondence (P-S)
1954-1993
2/6 4578-002
Correspondence (T-V)
1970-1994
2/7 4578-002
Correspondence (W-Z)
1956-1994
2/8 4578-002
Outgoing Correspondence
1977
2/9 4578-002
Correspondence- Unknown correspondent
1957-1991
2/10 4578-002
Correspondence-Additional Materials
Undated
2/11 4578-002
Expedition Postcards- Signed
1978; 1986
Photographs
1954; circa 1970-1986
Box/Folder Accession
2/12 4578-002
Photographs- Portraits of Dee
1986; undated
2/13 4578-002
Photograph- Dee Molenaar and Sir Edmund Hillary
1954
2/14 4578-002
Photographs- Head Shots
Scope and Content: Head shots include:
  • Boyd, Dan
  • Dunn, George
  • Edwards, Jason
  • Ershler, Phil
  • Houston, Charles S.
  • Gombu, Nawang
  • Hoey, Marty
  • Horiskey, Joe
  • Isaacs, Gary
  • Lynch, Jerry
  • Nielson, Larry
  • Politz, Andy
  • Roberts, Tracy
  • Simonson, Eric
  • Smolich, John
  • Van Hoy, Craig
  • Whittaker, Lou
  • Whittaker, Peter
circa 1970s-1980s
Writings, Maps, and Inventory
circa 1985-2007
Box/Folder Accession
3/1 4578-002
Inventory-Library
circa 2007
3/2 4578-002
Maps-published in original wrappers
circa 1985-2002
mapcase
Oversize folder 4578-002
Maps
1987-1999
Box/Folder
3/3 4578-002
Writings-"High and Wide with Sketch Pad"
circa 2007
3/4 4578-002
Writings-"Miscellaneous Tourism Travels"
circa 2005
Interviews
Scope and Content: Interviews with Ella McBride, Blanche Whittaker (Jim Whittaker's wife) and Pat Whittaker (Jim Whittaker's sister-in-law) regarding the news that Jim Whittaker was the first American to summit Mt. Everest.
1963
compact_disc Accession
CD408 4578-002
Interview with Ella McBride
April 19, 1963
CD408 4578-002
Interview with Blanche Whittaker
General Notes: Wife of Jim Whittaker
May 9, 1963
CD408 4578-002
Interview with Pat Whittaker
General Notes: Sister-in-law of Jim Whittaker
May 9, 1963

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cartographers--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Geologists--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Mountaineering
  • Mountaineers--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Painters--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Bauer, Wolf G.--Correspondence
  • Beckey, Fred W., 1921- --Correspondence
  • Bonington, Chris--Correspondence
  • Clinch, Nicholas, 1930- --Correspondence
  • Dyhrenfurth, Norman G.--Correspondence
  • Farquhar, Francis Peloubet, 1887-1974--Correspondence
  • Haglund, Ivar, 1905-1985--Correspondence
  • Hillary, Edmund, 1919-2008--Correspondence
  • Houston, Charles S.--Correspondence
  • Kennedy, Robert F., 1925-1968--Correspondence
  • Misch, Peter, 1909-1987--Correspondence
  • Molenaar, Dee--Archives
  • Odell, N. E. (Noel Ewart), 1890-1987
  • Post, Austin--Correspondence
  • Schmoe, F. W. (Floyd Wilfred), 1895-2001--Correspondence
  • Schurman, Clark--Correspondence
  • Ullman, James Ramsey, 1907-1971--Correspondence
  • Unsoeld, William Francis, 1926-1979 orrespondence
  • Viesturs, Ed--Correspondence
  • Whittaker, Jim, 1929- --Correspondence
  • Wickwire, Jim, 1940-