R. Duke Watson papers, 1964-1999

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Watson, R. Duke
Title
R. Duke Watson papers
Dates
1964-1999 (inclusive)
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

Acquisition Information

Donated by Duke Watson, 12/5/2001.

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