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Mount Baker Club Records, 1897-2021

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Mount Baker Club.
Title
Mount Baker Club Records
Dates
1897-2021 (inclusive)
1925-2021 (bulk)
Quantity
14 linear feet
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0006mtbaker
Summary
The collection includes minute books, newsletters, scrapbooks, periodicals and books related to mountaineering and outdoor activities in the Pacific Northwest, together with membership, financial and legal records, and photographs related to club activities from 1925 onwards.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

The Collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the Washington State Legislature to the Washington Women's History Consortium. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

Founded in 1911 by community leaders and local businessmen in Bellingham, the Mount Baker "Hiking" Club originated as a means to promote economic development in the city and its surrounding area. Under the leadership of individuals such as Charles Finley Easton, early members sought to attract tourists and investors to Mt. Baker by publicizing its natural resources. Early promotional efforts included organizing the Mt. Baker Marathons (the precursors to today's Ski to Sea race) held between Mt. Baker and Bellingham between 1911 and 1913. From its inception, therefore, the Club's interests and activities have been closely related to the development, conservation and use of the Mount Baker area.

Although the Club's origins can be traced to 1911, the Mount Baker Club was not formally incorporated until August 1928. Under the leadership of presidents such as C.A. "Happy" Fisher, the newly incorporated Mount Baker "Hiking" Club continued to emphasize pursuit of outdoor activities, focusing in particular on hiking and skiing at Mount Baker and the surrounding mountains in the North Cascades. During the 1930s, skiing in particular became increasingly popular around the Heather Meadows area on the lower slopes of Mt. Baker. In 1935 - the year that Bellingham's first winter sports carnival was held at Mt. Baker Mountain - the Mt. Baker Ski Club was formed. Although separate entities, the Hiking and Ski Clubs remained closely affiliated for many years, sharing resources and the monthly newsletter, "The Rambler."

From the Mt. Baker Club's inception through the present day, its members have engaged regularly in camping, hiking and other outdoor pursuits throughout the Cascade region. Destinations for hiking expeditions have included British Columbia, Mt. Rainier and the Pasayten Wilderness, as well as mountains and trails around Mt. Baker and the North Cascades. The Club has also been responsible for building and maintaining property in the Mt. Baker area, including cabins at Mazama Park, Glacier, and the Kulshan Cabin below Heliotrope Ridge on the Glacier Trail. Constructed originally in 1925, Kulshan Cabin was rebuilt in 1949 and maintained under joint ownership by the Club and the Associated Students of Western Washington College of Education (now Western Washington University).

The history of the Mt. Baker "Hiking" Club has been characterized by its members' consistent interest and involvement in efforts to protect and conserve natural resources for human enjoyment. Charles Finley Easton in particular was an early proponent and supporter of plans to establish a National Park in the Baker region. Although the North Cascades National Park was established in 1967, Mt. Baker itself was excluded from this region. It was not until 1984, with the passage of the Wilderness Act, that Mt. Baker itself was afforded recognition and protection through federal legislation. Besides the Club's interest in this and other legislative developments relating to the natural environment, its members have also worked to ensure the maintenance of regional trails and resources for outdoor recreation. Among the Club's major conservation efforts was their restoration of a former forest service lookout at Winchester Mountain in 1982.

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Content Description

The Mount Baker Club collection contains detailed records of the Club's activities and interests following its formal inception in 1928. With the exception of a small number of photographs dating from 1925, the bulk of materials in the collection date from 1928 onwards.

The Collection's administrative records reflect the formal history of the Mt. Baker Club, including its incorporation in August 1928, by-laws, property records and minutes from monthly meetings. The minute books comprise an especially valuable resource for researchers, documenting Club interests and activities between 1928 and 2010. They include early membership listings, detailed information regarding the maintenance of cabins in the Mt. Baker area, and also reflect the Club's later concerns with conservation and environmental issues.

The hiking, camping and social activities of Mt. Baker Club are well documented in newsletters, scrapbooks and outing records. The collection contains an almost complete set of the Club's official newsletter, "The Rambler," from its first edition in August 1928. Copies of the Rambler reflect the outdoor, social and educational pursuits of the Club, including information about its hiking trips and camping expeditions. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings and written notes, and most notably, a large number of photographs pertaining to Club outings and social events. Photographs in the 1927-1931 scrapbook, for example, document the Club's first winter climb of Mt. Baker in 1925, the construction of the cabins at Mazama Park and Heliotrope Ridge, and the skiing tournament at Mount Baker Lodge in 1931. Outing records include trip schedules, written reports, trail literature and maps from hiking and camping expeditions.

Researchers should note that the collection at the CPNWS does not include the original scrapbook compiled by Charles Finley Easton, which documents the history and early ascents of Mt. Baker, and which was used as a as a promotional tool in lobbying for a National Park at Mount Baker. Easton's scrapbook was donated in 1946 to the Whatcom Museum of History and Art in Bellingham, where it is now housed in the Museum's Photo Archives.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The original copy of the Club's Summit Log 1925-1930 is restricted due to fragility - a copy is available to researchers.

Preferred Citation

Mount Baker Club Records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is organized in accordance with the following series and subseries arrangement:

  • Series I. Administrative Records
    • Subseries 1 - Minutes
    • Subseries 2 - Incorporation Records
    • Subseries 3 - Membership Records
    • Subseries 4 - Legal and Financial Records
    • Subseries 5 - Property Records
  • Series II. Club Activities
    • Subseries 1 - Club Outings
    • Subseries 2 - Winchester Lookout
    • Subseries 3 - Photographs
    • Subseries 4 - Newspapers and Clippings
    • Subseries 5 - Film
    • Subseries 6 - Song Books
    • Subseries 7 - Club History Files
    • Subseries 8 - Printed Hiking Information
    • Subseries 9 - Maps
  • Series III. Club Newsletters
  • Series IV. Club Scrapbooks
  • Series V. Mountaineering Periodicals
  • Series VI. Mountaineering Publications

Custodial History

In September 2001, president Márjan Eicher transferred the bulk of the Mt. Baker "Hiking" Club collection to the CPNWS on behalf of the Mount Baker Club. Additional maps, newsletters and outing materials were donated from the records of long-time Club members Chuck and Anita McCullough in 2002. In May 2004, Barbara J. Danielson donated membership records, photographs and film generated by her aunt and uncle Hazel and Carl Priest (also long-term club members). The collection has continued to grow, with periodic additions made by the Mount Baker Club.

Processing Note

Ruth Steele processed the Mt. Baker Club Records for the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in June 2002. Subsequent additions have been processed and added by Center staff and student employees, including Amber Raney (2003), and Grafton Grimm (2022).

Separated Materials

The first Mount Baker Hiking Club scrapbook, compiled by Charles Easton, was donated to the Whatcom Museum of History and Art in 1946. The original scrapbook is now held in the Museum's Photo Archives and is also available on CD Rom.

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see our Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Hiking--Cascade Range--History -- Sources.
  • Hiking--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount, Region--History--Sources--Photographs.
  • Hiking--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount, Region--History--Sources.
  • Kulshan Cabin--History--Sources.
  • Mountaineering--Cascade Range--History -- Sources.
  • Mountaineering--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount, Region--History--Sources--Photographs.
  • Mountaineering--Washington (State)--Baker, Mount, Region--History--Sources.
  • Outdoor recreation--Cascade Range--History --Sources.
  • Outdoor recreation--Washington (State) -- Baker, Mount, Region--History--Sources.

Corporate Names

  • Mount Baker Club--Archives.

Geographical Names

  • Baker, Mount, Region (Wash.)--History -- Sources--Photographs.
  • Baker, Mount, Region (Wash.)--History -- Sources.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Records (Documents)
  • Washington (State)Photographs

Finding aid prepared by Ruth Steele
2002

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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