Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
R. Duke Watson papers, 1964-1999
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Watson, R. Duke
- Title
- R. Duke Watson papers
- Dates
- 1964-1999 (inclusive)19641999
- Quantity
- 1.89 cubic feet (5 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 5275 (Accession No. 5275-001)
- Summary
- Journals and notebooks of Seattle businessman and canoeist with an overview map of his travels in Canada and Alaska
- 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
R. Duke Watson was a mountaineer, skier, climber, and canoeist. He was born in Alton, Illinois on November 14, 1915. He graduated from Western Military Academy in Illinois and the University of Michigan, class of 1937, where he studied forestry. He headed to the Pacific Northwest after and worked in the logging industry. During WWII, he became one of the first members of the new regiment that would develop into the Army's Tenth Mountain Division. He was severely wounded by fragments of an artillery shell in Italy and, after nearly six years of service, he retired as a major. Upon retirement from service at Fort Lewis, Duke re-entered the timber industry. In 1948 he married his wife Marillyn Black. Watson became involved in the lumber wholesale trade, eventually establishing his own business. Watson was among the pioneers of North Cascades mountaineering and a founder of the Crystal Mountain ski area. Over several years, he traveled well over 20,000 miles by canoe, including a transcontinental journey from the Labrador Sea on the Atlantic coast to the Bering Sea on the Pacific, as well as a branch connection through Canada's Northwest Territories to the Arctic Ocean. Some of his routes involved skiing or hiking trips. Source: Seattle Times obituary
Watson's primary recreational pursuit from 1967 through 1997 was canoe travel in the Canadian North and in Alaska. His trips, with one to six companions, crossed the continent in small segments. Some of his routes involved skiing or hiking trips.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Typescript journals and field notebooks with an overview map of his travels, mainly by canoe, in Canada and Alaska. The accession also includes a large map of Canada with his routes marked, a list of bodies of water traveled, representative color print photographs, and a book on canoeing North Canadian rivers.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | Typescripts of Volume 1--Transcontinental Traverse--Labrador Sea to Bering Sea | 1995 |
1 | Typescripts of Volume 2--Other Canoe Trips | 1997 |
1 | Typescripts of Volume 3--Various Overland Travels and Raft Trips | 1999 |
2 | Field Notes Correlating to Volume 1 of Transcript | 1967-1982 |
3 | Field Notes Correlating to Volume 2 of Transcript | 1967-1994 |
4 | Field Notes Correlating to Volume 3 of transcript | 1964-1998 |
4 | Miscellaneous Field Notes Correlating with Various Transcript Volumes | 1969-1997 |
5 | Map of Canada Showing Watson's routes | undated |
5 | List of Bodies of Water Traveled | undated |
5 | Photographs | undated |
5 | Book "Canoeing North into the Unknown" by Hodgins and Hoyle | undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Canoes and canoeing--Alaska--History--Sources
- Canoes and canoeing--Canada, Northern--History--Sources
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Watson, R. Duke--Archives
Geographical Names
- Alaska--Description and travel--History--Sources
- Alaska--Description and travel--Photographs
- Canada, Northern--Description and travel--History--Sources
- Canada, Northern--Description and travel--Photographs