Processed in June of 2012
This collection was likely donated to Special Collections and Archives by W.H. Olwell in the early 1990s.
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Bear River Club histories must be obtained from the Department Head
The Bear River Club is a duck hunting organization that operates out of Box Elder County, Utah. Founded in April 1888, the group initially took the name of its owner, Vinson Davis, who first traveled to the Bear River in the spring of 1887. In his diary Davis describes the Vinson Davis Club as a "club house which consisted of a large living and dining room, 5 bedrooms, with double beds, in each room." By the end of the 19th century it had become a very popular destination for duck hunters, and Davis decided that he could no longer shoulder the responsibility on his own. In April 1901 Davis made arrangements with William Bradley and and A.E. McKenzie to sell the club for the sum of $6,000. The men agreed to retain Davis as foreman of the group, which was renamed the Bear River Club.
This collection consists of two histories of the Bear River Club. The first is entitled, "The Early Years," and its author is identified only by her first name, Pauline. Another narrative, "History of the Bear River Club," was penned by longtime member W.H. Olwell and appears to contain extensive passages from the diary of Vinson Davis, who was heavily involved in the club during its early years. While Olwell mentions events that occurred as late as 1990, the majority of these two histories cover the period from 1901 to 1930.