Bruce Johnson papers, 1958-2023

With a passion for outdoor recreation and a love for writing, which led him to obtain an English degree, Bruce Johnson enjoys sharing his interests with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Deeply invested in learning the history of outdoor gear, Bruce has written five books in his "History of Gear" series and developed an extensive website (www.historyofgear.com). These accomplishments led him to become widely known within the outdoor recreation community, allowing Bruce to build important connections with prominent members in this field. Jack Stephenson, founder of Stephenson's Warmlite, was one of Bruce's first contacts for a 1994 article in Backpacker. Jack provided incredible first-hand correspondence and original materials related to Stephenson and his company. This connection encouraged Bruce to start writing the history of outdoor gear.

Bruce has done extensive research and written books about the history of Frostline Kits and its founder Dale Johnson, the history of Gerry Cunningham and his company Gerry Mountain Products, as well as the history of Mountain Safety Research and Holubar Mountaineering. Bruce also writes short essays about personal mountain experiences and appears on podcasts in collaboration with Utah State University's Outdoor Product Design and Development program where he shares his knowledge of the history of gear. As a self-taught photographer, Bruce also has a strong interest in photography, publishing his work on his website www.oregonphotos.com.