A.K. Best Collection, 1983-2015

This series includes business correspondence with Orvis. The documents include a project timeline, correspondence, invoices from Best, drawings of specialty tools A.K. curated, and a letter to McKenzie Fly Tackle Company addressing the unauthorized use of Best’s name on a product.

This series contains A.K. Best’s manuscript material for his books Advanced Fly Tying, A.K.’s Fly Box, Dying and Beaching Natural Fly Tying Materials 1st edition, Dyeing and Bleaching Natural Fly Tying Materials 2nd edition, Fly Fishing with A.K., Fly Tying with A.K., Production Fly Tying 1st edition, Production Fly Tying 2nd edition, and Solitary Trouting. Additional materials include an untitled poem, as well as early drafts for magazine articles for Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide, Fly Rod and Reel, The Bamboo Fly Rod, Fly Tyer Magazine, Tightloop, and The Virtual Fly Fishing Shop. This series also contains various manuscripts from authors such as John Gierach, David Klausmeyer, Derrell Martin and Taylor Streit sent to Best for review. Magazine article drafts start in Box 10, folder 3, and manuscript material from other authors begin in Box 12. This series contains oversized materials that have been separated from the series, the separation is denoted by an asterisk (*) next to the folder from which the material was removed.

This series contains published magazine articles and periodicals written by A.K. Best ranging from 1983-2015.This series also contains interviews of and published articles written about Best that include feature articles from John Gierach.

This series includes photographs of flies A.K. Best tied, as well as meadow streams, fish, portraits of Best, and 35mm slide transparencies meant for publication. This series contains oversized materials that have been separated from the series, the separation is denoted by an asterisk (*) next to the folder from which the material was removed.

This series includes flies tied by A.K. Best as well as memorabilia such as certificates awarded to Best over his lifetime and a hand drawn portrait of Best by Mike Gula. This series contains oversized materials that have been separated from the series, the separation is denoted by an asterisk (*) next to the folder from which the material was removed.