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Clark E. Schurman photograph collection, between 1920 and 1949?

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Schurman, Clark E., 1882-1955
Title
Clark E. Schurman photograph collection
Dates
between 1920 and 1949? (inclusive)
Quantity
65 photographs, 324 slides (3 boxes, 1 oversize folder) ; sizes vary
Collection Number
PH1408
Summary
Photos and slides depicting Boy Scout Troop 65 activities, including camping, mountain climbing and training activities. Slides depicting mountain training of the Army 10th Mountain Division in World War II
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

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permissions of Visual Materials curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Clark E. Schurman was born in Wisconsin around 1883, and established a career in advertising and graphic design. Following the death of his wife Alma in the 1918 flu epidemic, he sent his daughter Ruth to reside with relatives before relocating to Seattle to work for the Boy Scouts of America. He became a leader of Troop 65. He developed a love of the mountains, becoming a senior guide on Mount Rainier. In 1937, he collaborated with Judge William Long, Archie Phelps and Ben Evans to build Camp Long, a 68-acre natural space in West Seattle. Schurman also designed a manmade climbing structure and, in collaboration with the Works Progress Administration, built his completed structure in Camp Long. It was originally named Monitor Rock; following Schurman's death it was renamed Schurman Rock. Following U.S. entry into World War II, Schurman may also have participated in training the 10th Mountain Division in ice climbing on Mount Rainier. Schurman died in 1955 at the age of 72.

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Historical Background

The Boy Scouts of America, as established by William Dickson Boyce, Edward S. Stewart and Stanley D. Willis, was incorporated on February 8, 1910, absorbing several other, similar organizations. With a strong focus on outdoor activities, wilderness survival skills, good citizenship and character development, the Boy Scouts of America proved a huge success, with over a million members today. Seattle's Scouting chapter was established in 1913-1914, with some 10,000 members by the time of the Scoutennial in 1952.

The 10th Mountain Division, established in 1918, is a light infantry unit in the U.S. Army, specializing in mountain and winter warfare. Following the success of Finnish fighters on skis against the invading Russians in World War II, the 10th Mountain Division was activated as a unit to conduct warfare in cold, adverse conditions. While its main training camp at the time was Camp Hale in Colorado, much training was accomplished in Mount Rainier National Park, where the division took advantage of Mount Rainier's Arctic conditions and high elevations to train for winter warfare and ice climbing. Following the completion of training, the 10th Mountain Division was shipped out to Italy to fight against Nazi Germany.

Camp Long, originally a little-used part of the West Seattle Golf Course, is today a public park, known for its extensive hiking trails and rustic cabins. Schurman Rock (originally Monitor Rock), a 20-foot, erratically shaped rock climbing training structure, still stands in Camp Long. Built by Works Progress Administration labor, it has been used to train amateur rock climbers since 1937. Today, it can be privately rented or used in rock climbing classes.

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Content Description

Photographs of Seattle Boy Scout Troop 65 activities including climbing Mount Rainier, camping, and other outdoor activities. Slides of rock climbing techniques and slides from the 10th Mountain Division Ice Climbing School, the 10th Mountain Division's training place of Camp Hale, and the division's 1943 training activities at Mount Rainier National Park.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Abigail Broga, December 15, 2013.

Processing Note

Processed by: Rose Strickman, 2016, Sara Cordes, 2017

Originally accessioned as PH2015-001

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 


2015 (Last modified: 12/15/2021)

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