Archives West Finding Aid

The Amos Burg papers, c.1917-1985, contain detailed diaries and travel logs of Burg's many trips throughout the world. Also included are: correspondence, articles, lecture notes, film notations for Amos Burg films, publicity about Burg (including newspaper articles and a radio interview transcript), articles by others of interest to Burg, or about him, and a collection of misc. items including his flag, records of a land purchase, passports, will, resume, and Carolyn Burg's will.

The diaries and trip logs, 1917-1983, do a very good job of documenting Burg's travels, plans to travel, and in the earliest diary his desire to begin a life of adventure. His destinations, partners on journeys, detailed listing of possible topics for articles, and a meticulous account of the cost of each adventure can be found in either his diaries or trip logs for almost every year. The earlier records are more detailed and descriptive than later records. Also included are diaries from his two companions, Buzz Holmstrom and Willis Johnson, from their 1938 Grand Canyon river trip with Burg.

Correspondence, c.1920-1977, deals both with Burg's business matters and his solicitation of work as a freelance and contract writer, photographer, and film maker, and his personal correspondence. Particularly insightful are the early correspondence, especially the letters to his parents while on his various trips in his early years. The remaining personal correspondence, while quite large in number focus mainly on the later years of Burg's life and his battle with cancer. The business correspondence includes contracts with ERPI Films over the required quality and Burg's salary for his work and letters from the various organizations he worked with concerning business arrangements. Also included are a few joint letters with Carolyn Burg concerning business matters.

The research notes, articles, lecture notes, and film materials, c.1925-1977, contain many drafts of each endeavor and in most cases a final draft also. There are copious notes for each of Burg's research topics and often references to his trip logs. Most of his articles appear to have been based on the research and logs in the collection. While not as rich in material, the film materials do include several scripts and outlines for films Burg created, many of them under the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Of note are the two folders covering the Navajo Film project which include script, budget, bank records, and a brochure using Burg's photos.

Within the published materials relating to or involving Amos Burg is a scrapbook of newspaper articles compiled by a family member that traces his exploits publically beginning around 1922 and following him through the 1940s. Most of the articles are from the Portland papers but there are a few notable exceptions. Included in this series is also a radio interview transcript from 1936 and two articles about Burg written by friends with the intent to publish them. Most of the rest of the published material is relating to Burg's journeys but without directly mentioning him.

The final part of the collection is a diversified grouping of assorted items of Burg's. Within this group are a copy of his and his wife Carolyn Burg's wills, the records for Burg's boat the "Endeavor", Amos Burg's passports, a eulogy to Buzz Holmstrom, Amos' flag, and a collection of his address books.