Charles Eggert papers, 1904-2005
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Eggert, Charles, 1918-2005
- Title
- Charles Eggert papers
- Dates
- 1904-2005 (inclusive)19042005
- Quantity
- 8.5 linear feet, (12 boxes and 3 oversize boxes)
- Collection Number
- ACCN 1659
- Summary
- The Charles Eggert papers (1904-2005) consists of correspondence, diaries, production notes, film scripts, financial records, research materials, pamphlets, publicity materials, press releases, magazine articles, and news clippings. Eggert is a photographer and independent filmmaker. He produced films documenting trips on the Green and Colorado Rivers before the construction of the Flaming Gorge and Glen Canyon Dams.
- Repository
- University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860
Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
- Languages
- English
Historical Note
Charles Eggert (b.1918) is a photographer and independent filmmaker originally based in Barrytown, New York. He was actively involved in several conservation movements in the 1950s and 1960s, including the Echo Park Dam controversy, the creation of Canyonlands National Park, and the controversy over the proposed dams in the Grand Canyon. Charles Eggert headed several river expeditions down the Green and Colorado Rivers during the 1950s, prior to the damming at Flaming Gorge and Glen Canyon. These trips resulted in the films, A Canyon Voyage and Danger River. Amongst other conservationist films, he made Wilderness River Trail, which was considered by modern historians to be instrumental in halting construction of the proposed Echo Park Dam.
Content Description
The Charles Eggert papers (1904-2005) contain correspondence, diaries, production notes, film scripts, financial records, research materials, maps, press releases, articles, and news clippings related to expeditions on the Green and Colorado Rivers and films documenting those expeditions.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Preferred Citation
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Donated by Charles Eggert (boxes 1-8) in 1997.
Donated by unknown (boxes 9-10) in 1997.
Boxes 11-15 donated by Sebastian Eggert in 2018.
Processing Note
Processed by Lea Kinikini in 2002.
Addendum processed by Lisa DeMille in 2004.
Boxes 11-15 processed by Gina C Giang in 2026.
The collection was re-arranged intellectually to include the 2018 donation to minimize similar materials found in different series.
Related Materials
Forms part of the S. J. Quinney River Running Archives and the Utah Independent Film Archive (UIFA).
Separated Materials
See also the Charles Eggert photograph collection (P0766) and Charles Eggert audio-visual collection (A0511) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Additional audio-visual and photographs from the 2018 donation transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections in 2026.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Journals and Correspondence
- Description: Eggert-Hatch River Expedition JournalDates: 1956Container: Box 1, Folder 1
- Description: Fred Wood, River JournalDates: 1955Container: Box 1, Folder 2
- Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1955-1959Container: Box 1, Folder 3-8
- Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1955-1959Container: Box 2
- Description: Correspondence
This box also contains correspondence to and from Leslie A. Jones and Fred Wood.
Dates: 1960-2000Container: Box 3 - Description: Eggert-Hatch Expedition Diary
These folders contain the original and a photocopy.
Container: Box 9, Folder 1-2 - Description:
Between publishers related to John Wesley Powell, 1834-1902 and the Colorado River.
Dates: 1955-1969Container: Box 11, Folder 1 - Description:
Carbon copy letter from Eggert to W. C. Crick at Industrial Mutual Association related to Eggert's program at the IMA auditorium.
Dates: 1960 March 2Container: Box 11, Folder 2 - Description:
Letter to Betty ----- from C.
Includes Cosmos Club bulletin, volume 14, number 5, 1962 May.
Dates: 1962 May 25Container: Box 11, Folder 3 - Description:
Between the United States National Park Service and Eggert.
Includes United States Department of the Interior news release, 1969 March 2.
Dates: 1963, 1977, 1999Container: Box 11, Folder 4 - Description:
Related to Egger's book Colorado River journals concerning George Y. Bradley's journal and John Colton Sumner's journal.
Includes correspondence between Walker and Company; Curtis Brown, Ltd.; Utah Historical Society; Otis R. Marston; Melvin T. Smith, 1928-2020; and Wallace Stegner, 1909-1993; and Ghislaine Boulanger. Also Walker and Company agreement, 1969 and printed announcement of new titles, 1972.
Dates: 1969-1975Container: Box 11, Folder 5
Publications and Writings
- Description: Proposed Canyonland National Park StatementContainer: Box 4, Folder 1
- Description: "Forbidden Passage," First DraftContainer: Box 4, Folder 2
- Description: "Forbidden Passage," DraftsContainer: Box 9, Folder 3-6
- Description: Untitled Manuscript, Chapters 2-28Container: Box 4, Folder 3-5
- Description: The Canyon That Was, Film ScriptContainer: Box 4, Folder 6
- Description: The Sculptured Earth , Film ScriptContainer: Box 4, Folder 7
- Description: LecturesDates: 1952-1959Container: Box 4, Folder 8-9
- Description: Colorado River journals
Typescripts of drafts from the book.
Includes Walker and Company printed announcement of new titles, 1972.
Dates: 1972Container: Box 11, Folder 6-7 - Description: "Forbidden Passage," Drafts
Typescripts and photocopy of draft, 1999.
Includes letter from David Whitman, United States National Park Service.
Dates: 1999Container: Box 11, Folder 8 - Description: "Forbidden Passage," Drafts
Copies of typescripts.
Dates: undatedContainer: Box 12, Folder 1-4 - Description: George Y. Bradley diary
Reproductions.
Dates: 1969-1970Container: Box 12, Folder 5 - Description: George Y. Bradley's journal
Copies from the Utah historical quarterly.
Includes notes.
Container: Box 12, Folder 6 - Description: J. C. Sumner's journal
Copies from the Utah historical quarterly.
Container: Box 12, Folder 7 - Description: "J. W. Powell expedition," Drafts
Typescripts beginning, "At Green River City, Wyoming, on the afternoon of May 24th, 1869…"
Container: Box 12, Folder 8 - Description: "Sleeping bear"
Includes correspondence; sketches; printed materials; and multiple drafts.
Dates: 1955-2005Container: Box 13, Folder 1
Business Materials
- Description: ResumeContainer: Box 5, Folder 1
- Description: Financial RecordsDates: 1953-1966Container: Box 5, Folder 2-3
- Description: Legal DocumentsDates: 1955-1961Container: Box 5, Folder 4
- Description: Eggert-Hatch River Expedition NotesDates: 1955-1956Container: Box 5, Folder 5
- Description: A Canyon Voyage , Production NotesContainer: Box 5, Folder 6-7
- Description: Canyonlands , Production NotesContainer: Box 5, Folder 8-9
- Description: Agreement
Between Charles Eggert and Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Dates: 1955 June 22Container: Box 13, Folder 2 - Description: Financial records
MP Concert Installations invoice and Covey's New America receipt.
Dates: 1948, 1955Container: Box 13, Folder 3
Production Materials and Notes
- Description: Dams vs. DinosaurContainer: Box 6, Folder 1-2
- Description: Danger RiverContainer: Box 6, Folder 3
- Description: Dinosaur FilmContainer: Box 6, Folder 4
- Description: Lincoln MemorialContainer: Box 6, Folder 5
- Description: This is DinosaurContainer: Box 6, Folder 6
- Description: Water or Your LifeContainer: Box 6, Folder 7
- Description: Wilderness River TrailContainer: Box 6, Folder 8-9
- Description: Production Notes CopiesContainer: Box 6, Folder 10
- Description: NotesContainer: Box 6, Folder 11
- Description: A canyon voyage printed materials
Includes the Sierra Club flier at the Palo Alto high school auditorium; and the Sunset auditorium.
Dates: 1957Container: Oversize box 14, Folder 1 - Description: Adventurama
Carbon copy notes related to the production company and Danger river.
Container: Box 13, Folder 4 - Description: Association of Cinema and Video Laboratories
Handbook: Recommended standards and procedures for motion picture laboratory services second edition.
Dates: 1966Container: Box 13, Folder 5 - Description: Charles Eggert Productions, Incorporated
Book showcasing Egger's production facilities.
Dates: approximately 1964Container: Oversize box 14, Folder 2 - Description: "Citizens' Environmental Assessment (CEA) on the decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam"
Report on initial studies by the Glen Canyon Institute.
Dates: 2000 DecemberContainer: Box 13, Folder 6 - Description: Du Art Film Laboratories
Credit application form.
Dates: 1993Container: Box 13, Folder 7 - Description: Filmography : a list of canoe, kayak, raft and river conservation films by Bruce E. stafford
Photocopies.
Container: Box 13, Folder 8 - Description: Memorial to Lincoln transparency sheets
Includes frame chart and title list.
Dates: 1955Container: Box 13, Folder 9 - Description: Program the magazine of the platform world
Advertisements for Eggert's A canyon voyage and Danger river.
Dates: 1958 November-December and 1961 DecemberContainer: Box 13, Folder 10 - Description: Scrapbook
Primarily loose materials laid-in related to Charles Egger's productions.
Includes correspondence and printed materials.
Dates: 1955-1961Container: Oversize box 15 - Description: The sculptured earth
Advertisement from the United States National Park Service.
Dates: approximately 1962Container: Box 13, Folder 11
General Materials
- Description: Claire Leonard, A Canyon Voyage , Musical ScoreContainer: Box 7, Folder 1
- Description: Underman, Geology Field Guide , 1951Container: Box 7, Folder 2
- Description: Newsletters and BulletinsContainer: Box 7, Folder 3-7
- Description: National Parks Tourist PamphletsContainer: Box 7, Folder 8-12
- Description: Film PublicityContainer: Box 7, Folder 13
- Description: Press ReleasesDates: 1952-1956Container: Box 7, Folder 14
- Description: Magazine ArticlesDates: 1950-1961Container: Box 7, Folder 15
- Description: News ClippingsDates: 1954-1990Container: Box 7, Folder 16
- Description: Leslie A. Jones MaterialContainer: Box 7, Folder 17
- Description: MiscellaneousContainer: Box 9, Folder 7
- Description: Awards and certificates
Includes United States of America Navy Department Bureau of Navigation navy training course certificate; The Explorer's Club; and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Dates: 1941, 1957, 1976Container: Box 13, Folder 12 - Description: Canyon legacy: a journal of the Dan O'Laurie Museum
Spring 1998, volume 32.
Dates: 1998Container: Box 13, Folder 13 - Description: Clippings (books, newspapers, etc.)
Includes Greybull standard and tribune , volume 54, number 32, 1951 August 9.
Dates: 1944, 1951Container: Box 13, Folder 14 - Description: Confluence
Number 22.
Dates: 2001 FebruaryContainer: Box 13, Folder 15 - Description: Hatch River Expeditions
Information packet.
Container: Box 13, Folder 16 - Description: Hidden passage: the journal of Glen Canyon InstituteDates: 1999-2001Container: Box 13, Folder 17
- Description: Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Organ recitals program and blank postcard.
Dates: 1955 June 27Container: Box 13, Folder 18 - Description: Notes
Miscellaneous.
Container: Box 13, Folder 19
Maps
- Description: Colorado River Mouth of Green River Utah to Lees Ferry ArizonaDates: 1922Container: Oversize box 8, Folder 1
- Description: Dinosaur National Monument Colorado UtahDates: 1941Container: Oversize box 8, Folder 2
- Description: Green River Wyoming, Green River UtahDates: 1904-1922Container: Oversize box 8, Folder 3
- Description: The Knoll Quadrangle UtahDates: 1954Container: Oversize box 8, Folder 4
- Description: River Ratings, Specifications, and MapsContainer: Box 10
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Personal Names
- Eggert, Charles, 1918-2005--Archives
Geographical Names
- Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)--Recreational use--Sources
- Green River (Wyo.-Utah)--Recreational use--Sources
Form or Genre Terms
- Articles
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Financial records
- Maps
- Notes (documents)
- Press releases
- Scripts (documents)
