J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
Charles Eggert papers
Eggert, Charles, 1918-2005
ACCN 1659
8.5 linear feet
12 boxes and 3 oversize boxes
1904-2005
The Charles Eggert papers (1904-2005) consists of correspondence, diaries, production notes, film scripts, financial records, research materials, pamphlets, publicity materials, press releases, magazine articles, and news clippings. Eggert is a photographer and independent filmmaker. He produced films documenting trips on the Green and Colorado Rivers before the construction of the Flaming Gorge and Glen Canyon Dams.
English
Charles Eggert (b.1918) is a photographer and independent filmmaker originally based in Barrytown, New York. He was actively involved in several conservation movements in the 1950s and 1960s, including the Echo Park Dam controversy, the creation of Canyonlands National Park, and the controversy over the proposed dams in the Grand Canyon. Charles Eggert headed several river expeditions down the Green and Colorado Rivers during the 1950s, prior to the damming at Flaming Gorge and Glen Canyon. These trips resulted in the films,
A Canyon Voyage and Danger River. Amongst other conservationist films, he made Wilderness River Trail, which was considered by modern historians to be instrumental in halting construction of the proposed Echo Park Dam.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Donated by Charles Eggert (boxes 1-8) in 1997.
Donated by unknown (boxes 9-10) in 1997.
Boxes 11-15 donated by Sebastian Eggert in 2018.
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Processed by Lea Kinikini in 2002.
Addendum processed by Lisa DeMille in 2004.
Boxes 11-15 processed by Gina C Giang in 2026.
The collection was re-arranged intellectually to include the 2018 donation to minimize similar materials found in different series.
Forms part of the S. J. Quinney River Running Archives and the Utah Independent Film Archive (UIFA).
The Charles Eggert papers (1904-2005) contain correspondence, diaries, production notes, film scripts, financial records, research materials, maps, press releases, articles, and news clippings related to expeditions on the Green and Colorado Rivers and films documenting those expeditions.
See also the Charles Eggert photograph collection (P0766) and Charles Eggert audio-visual collection (A0511) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Additional audio-visual and photographs from the 2018 donation transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections in 2026.
Eggert, Charles, 1918-2005--Archives
Green River (Wyo.-Utah)--Recreational use--Sources
Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)--Recreational use--Sources
Water and Water Rights
Correspondence
Diaries
Notes (documents)
Scripts (documents)
Financial records
Maps
Press releases
Articles
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Journals and Correspondence
Eggert-Hatch River Expedition Journal
1956
1
1
Fred Wood, River Journal
1955
1
2
Correspondence
1955-1959
1
3-8
Correspondence
1955-1959
2
Correspondence
1960-2000
3
This box also contains correspondence to and from Leslie A. Jones and Fred Wood.
Eggert-Hatch Expedition Diary
9
1-2
These folders contain the original and a photocopy.
1955-1969
11
1
Between publishers related to John Wesley Powell, 1834-1902 and the Colorado River.
1960 March 2
11
2
Carbon copy letter from Eggert to W. C. Crick at Industrial Mutual Association related to Eggert's program at the IMA auditorium.
1962 May 25
11
3
Letter to Betty ----- from C.
Includes Cosmos Club bulletin, volume 14, number 5, 1962 May.
1963, 1977, 1999
11
4
Between the United States National Park Service and Eggert.
Includes United States Department of the Interior news release, 1969 March 2.
1969-1975
11
5
Related to Egger's book Colorado River journals concerning George Y. Bradley's journal and John Colton Sumner's journal.
Includes correspondence between Walker and Company; Curtis Brown, Ltd.; Utah Historical Society; Otis R. Marston; Melvin T. Smith, 1928-2020; and Wallace Stegner, 1909-1993; and Ghislaine Boulanger. Also Walker and Company agreement, 1969 and printed announcement of new titles, 1972.
Publications and Writings
Proposed Canyonland National Park Statement
4
1
"Forbidden Passage," First Draft
4
2
"Forbidden Passage," Drafts
9
3-6
Untitled Manuscript, Chapters 2-28
4
3-5
The Canyon That Was, Film Script
4
6
The Sculptured Earth , Film Script
4
7
Lectures
1952-1959
4
8-9
Colorado River journals
1972
11
6-7
Typescripts of drafts from the book.
Includes Walker and Company printed announcement of new titles, 1972.
"Forbidden Passage," Drafts
1999
11
8
Typescripts and photocopy of draft, 1999.
Includes letter from David Whitman, United States National Park Service.
"Forbidden Passage," Drafts
undated
12
1-4
Copies of typescripts.
George Y. Bradley diary
1969-1970
12
5
Original Bradley diary located at the Library of Congress.
Reproductions.
George Y. Bradley's journal
12
6
Original Bradley diary located at the Library of Congress.
Copies from the Utah historical quarterly.
Includes notes.
J. C. Sumner's journal
12
7
See also the Journal of John Colton Sumner - NAA MS 4419 at the Smithsonian.
Copies from the Utah historical quarterly.
"J. W. Powell expedition," Drafts
12
8
Typescripts beginning, "At Green River City, Wyoming, on the afternoon of May 24th, 1869…"
"Sleeping bear"
1955-2005
13
1
Includes correspondence; sketches; printed materials; and multiple drafts.
Business Materials
Resume
5
1
Financial Records
1953-1966
5
2-3
Legal Documents
1955-1961
5
4
Eggert-Hatch River Expedition Notes
1955-1956
5
5
A Canyon Voyage , Production Notes
5
6-7
Canyonlands , Production Notes
5
8-9
Agreement
1955 June 22
13
2
Between Charles Eggert and Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Financial records
1948, 1955
13
3
MP Concert Installations invoice and Covey's New America receipt.
Production Materials and Notes
Dams vs. Dinosaur
6
1-2
Danger River
6
3
Dinosaur Film
6
4
Lincoln Memorial
6
5
This is Dinosaur
6
6
Water or Your Life
6
7
Wilderness River Trail
6
8-9
Production Notes Copies
6
10
Notes
6
11
A canyon voyage printed materials
1957
14
1
Includes the Sierra Club flier at the Palo Alto high school auditorium; and the Sunset auditorium.
Adventurama
13
4
Carbon copy notes related to the production company and Danger river.
Association of Cinema and Video Laboratories
1966
13
5
Handbook: Recommended standards and procedures for motion picture laboratory services second edition.
Charles Eggert Productions, Incorporated
approximately 1964
14
2
Book showcasing Egger's production facilities.
"Citizens' Environmental Assessment (CEA) on the decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam"
2000 December
13
6
Report on initial studies by the Glen Canyon Institute.
Du Art Film Laboratories
1993
13
7
Credit application form.
Filmography : a list of canoe, kayak, raft and river conservation films by Bruce E. stafford
13
8
Photocopies.
Memorial to Lincoln transparency sheets
1955
13
9
Includes frame chart and title list.
Program the magazine of the platform world
1958 November-December and 1961 December
13
10
Advertisements for Eggert's A canyon voyage and Danger river.
Scrapbook
1955-1961
15
Primarily loose materials laid-in related to Charles Egger's productions.
Includes correspondence and printed materials.
The sculptured earth
approximately 1962
13
11
Advertisement from the United States National Park Service.
General Materials
Claire Leonard, A Canyon Voyage , Musical Score
7
1
Underman, Geology Field Guide , 1951
7
2
Newsletters and Bulletins
7
3-7
National Parks Tourist Pamphlets
7
8-12
Film Publicity
7
13
Press Releases
1952-1956
7
14
Magazine Articles
1950-1961
7
15
News Clippings
1954-1990
7
16
Leslie A. Jones Material
7
17
Miscellaneous
9
7
Awards and certificates
1941, 1957, 1976
13
12
Includes United States of America Navy Department Bureau of Navigation navy training course certificate; The Explorer's Club; and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Canyon legacy: a journal of the Dan O'Laurie Museum
1998
13
13
See also the Canyon legacy : a journal of the Dan O'Laurie Museum in the Print and Journal Division of Special Collections.
Spring 1998, volume 32.
Clippings (books, newspapers, etc.)
1944, 1951
13
14
Includes Greybull standard and tribune , volume 54, number 32, 1951 August 9.
Confluence
2001 February
13
15
See also the Confluence (Moab, Utah) in the Print and Journal Division of Special Collections.
Number 22.
Hatch River Expeditions
13
16
Information packet.
Hidden passage: the journal of Glen Canyon Institute
1999-2001
13
17
See also the Hidden passage : the journal of Glen Canyon Institute in the Print and Journal Division of Special Collections.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
1955 June 27
13
18
Organ recitals program and blank postcard.
Notes
13
19
Miscellaneous.
Maps
Colorado River Mouth of Green River Utah to Lees Ferry Arizona
1922
8
1
Dinosaur National Monument Colorado Utah
1941
8
2
Green River Wyoming, Green River Utah
1904-1922
8
3
The Knoll Quadrangle Utah
1954
8
4
River Ratings, Specifications, and Maps
10