Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Gerry and Ann Cunningham papers, 1938-2011
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Cunningham, Gerry (Gerald); Cunningham, Ann Carman
- Title
- Gerry and Ann Cunningham papers
- Dates
- 1938-2011 (inclusive)19382011
- Quantity
- 2.5 linear feet, (5 boxes)
- Collection Number
- UUS_ORA 021
- Summary
- This collection contains materials related to Gerry and Ann Cunningham, founders of Gerry Mountaineering.
- Repository
-
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
No restrictions on access, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
- Languages
- English
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains newspaper and magazine articles written by or about Gerry and Ann Cunningham and associated outdoor product companies, pamphlets and promotional materials about camping and climbing equipment, expedition logs, photographs, and DVDs, and assorted business records, memoranda, and correspondence.
Also included are materials related to other pursuits, such as sailing equipment design, sailing charts of the Gulf of California, sailing lectures and presentation materials, as well as Gerry's work in the Arizona's Energy Department and at Verde Valley School.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
From the 1940s-1970s, Gerry Cunningham (1922-2010) was a well-known outdoor equipment designer, founding his own line of outdoor products, Gerry Mountain Sports, and working for Outdoor Sports Industries and the Colorado Outdoor Sports Corporation. As a teenager, Gerry loved the outdoors and began making and selling outdoor equipment while still in high school. He married Ann Carman, also an avid mountaineer, and throughout their married life they hiked and camped all over North America, with expeditions from Maine to California and into Canada. After being drafted into the US Army in 1942, Gerry found himself in the 10th Mountain Division, where his frustrations with Army equipment evolved into a future career of creating lightweight but functional gear for enjoying the outdoors.
Gerry and Ann built a business out of designing and creating outdoor equipment, and the couple's twin sons and daughter inspired the design of the Gerry Kiddie Carrier, which allowed them to continue to explore the outdoors with young children in tow. Gerry was a creative problem solver whose creations included the triangular carabiner, the spring-loaded drawstring clamp, dual-use hiking pants with zip off legs, compact down sleeping bags and coats, and tents with exterior flexible poles that could withstand high winds. His lightweight gear was used for notable expeditions, such as the 1953 K2 expedition, Sir Edmund Hillary's first ascent of Mt. Everest in 1953, and the first American summit of Everest in 1962.
Gerry and Ann moved from Colorado to Arizona in 1973, where Gerry spent time as the Verde Valley School headmaster, Director of Energy Programs for the State of Arizona, and he and Ann built an off-the-grid earth-sheltered dome house outside of Tucson. Their interests also included sailing, particularly around the Sea of Cortez (now called California Gulf) where Gerry continued his efforts of improving gear and charting moorages, making the great outdoors more accessible to anyone with a desire to experience it.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Gerry and Ann Cunningham papers must be obtained from the Outdoor Recreation Archive curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Preferred Citation
Initial Citation: Gerry and Ann Cunningham papers USU_ORA 021. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations:USU_ORA 021, USUSCA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into five series: I. Personal/Biographical; II. Writings and publications; III. Business records; IV. Other Pursuits; V. Photographs. Original folder titles were retained when possible.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
I. Personal/Biographical, 1951-2010Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Transcript of interview by Julie Johnson (2 copies) |
undated |
| 1 | 2 | "Of Broken Booms and Other Things" autobiographical book and CD |
2006, 2008 |
| 1 | 3 | Anne's Anti-Litter Campaign materials |
1970 |
| 1 | 4 | Articles about the Cunninghams, Gerry Mountaineering, Colorado Outdoor Sports, Outdoor Sports Industries, etc. |
1951-2010 |
| 1 | 5 | Articles about the Cunninghams, Gerry Mountaineering, Colorado Outdoor Sports, Outdoor Sports Industries, etc. |
1951-2010 |
II. Writings, Publications, 1930-2010Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 6 | Early writings, published articles |
1930's to 1970's |
| 1 | 7 | Articles by Gerry |
1970-1983 |
| 1 | 8 | Articles written by Gerry from "Gerry's Vanity Book" [binder]: Better Camping Magazine |
1971-1973 |
| 1 | 9 | Articles written by Gerry from "Gerry's Vanity Book" [binder]: SEA magazine |
1987-1996 |
| 1 | 10 | Articles written by Gerry from "Gerry's Vanity Book" [binder]: SAIL magazine, other sailing articles |
1980-1986 |
| 1 | 11 | Articles written by Gerry from "Gerry's Vanity Book" [binder]: Energy and miscellaneous articles |
1984-2010 |
| 2 | 1 | "Light Weight Camping Equipment" 4th edition working copy |
1968 |
| 2 | 2 | Our expeditions published booklets (Hunza 1957) |
1953-1970 |
| 2 | 3 | Swan Creek expedition log
Photographs located in box 5
|
1950 |
| 2 | 4 | Indian Peaks expedition report, notes
Photographs located in box 5
|
1971-1972 |
| 2 | 5 | Ann's account of business history |
circa 1970 |
| 2 | 6 | Wilderness Traveler, Canadian High Adventure DVD's |
circa 1990? |
III. Gerry Mountaineering records, 1957-2011Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 7 | Gerry Mountain Sports, Inc.
Includes notes on Himalayan tent, Gerry hood design template
|
1970-1973 |
| 2 | 9 | Gerry Mountain Sports, Dale Johnson details, other notices |
1965-1966 |
| 2 | 10 | Advertising and promotional materials |
1950-2011 |
| 2 | 12 | Memoranda from Outdoor Sports Industries |
1969-1971 |
| 2 | 13 | Business history, financial records |
1957-1970 |
| 3 | 1 | Gerry Designs catalogs (child carriers and backpacks) |
1960-1994 |
IV. Other Business and Professional papers, 1971-2010Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 8 | Climbing sketches stationery, camping brochures |
1965-1971 |
| 2 | 11 | Outdoor Sports Industries, Colorado Outdoor Sports, Delten merger agreements |
1968-1978 |
| 3 | 2 | Leave no trace controversy |
2001 |
| 3 | 3 | Email correspondence with Bruce Johnson |
2008-2009 |
| 3 | 4 | Cruising charts, articles, CDs with of lecture presentations |
1971-2010 |
| 3 | 5 | Blockits sales records |
1971-1982 |
| 3 | 6 | Blockits instruction booklets |
1971-1975 |
| 3 | 7 | Blockits articles, promotional materials |
1971 |
| 3 | 8 | Blockits Drawings |
1971-1975 |
| book | |||
| 3 | 1 | "Crusing Guide to the Lower Gulf" |
1998 |
| 3 | 2 | "Crusing Guide to San Carlos" |
1997 |
| 3 | 3 | "Cruising Guide to the Middle Gulf" |
1994 |
| Folder | |||
| 4 | 1 | Arizona Department of Energy articles |
1978-1979 |
| 4 | 2 | Energy department materials |
1977-1980 |
| 4 | 3 | Verde Valley School reports, memoranda, writings |
1974-1978 |
| 4 | 4 | Verde Valley School papers, memos |
1974-1978 |
| 4 | 5 | Verde Valley School handbooks, catalogs |
1972-1978 |
V. Photographs, 1950-1990Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 5 | 1 | Photoboards from Folio Prints
Originally housed in leather portfolio, which is also included in the box. Subjects include family members, Brainard Lake, sheep in Back Canyon, David, Peter, Susie with teepee and cottage, 20 acres in Colorado, "The Climbers" [Gerry and Ann?], the Mummy Range
|
1950's-1970's |
| 5 | 2 | French Generals Expedition photographs
Photoboards numbered 1-24, with captions/descriptions
|
circa 1950 |
| 5 | 3 | French Generals Expedition loose photographs, maps |
circa 1950 |
| 5 | 4 | Swan Creek Expedition photoboards
24 numbered and captioned photoboards, plus 5 without numbers
|
1950 |
| 5 | 5 | Swan Creek Expedition photographs
Includes 2 Super Pak Snaps booklets, photos attatched to paper with description, loose photographs, and negatives.
|
1950 |
| 5 | 6 | Thoughts on the Proposed Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, with photographs |
circa 1976 |
| 5 | 7 | Other assorted photographs
Includes a photograph of a Gerry tent pitched at 18,800 feet on Nevado Yerupaja in Peru with a personal note on the reverse signed by George Bell.
|
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Backpacking
- Camping--equipment and supplies
- Low-impact camping
- Outdoor recreation industry.
- Outdoor recreation--Clothing trade.
- Outdoor recreation--Equipment and supplies.
Finding aid written by Heather Housley and Clint Pumphrey.
2023
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
