Otis R. Marston Papers

Professional and personal papers of river-runner and historian and river historian Otis R. Marston (1894-1979) and his collection of the materials on the history of Colorado River and Green River regions. Included are log books from river expeditions, journals, diaries, extensive original correspondence as well as copies of material in other repositories, manuscripts, motion pictures, still images, research notes, and printed material. While the principal focus is the history of river-running, the collection also touches, often in depth and with original materials, on the geology of the entire region, the history of mining, water issues, hydroelectric power development, recreational use and policy issues, the history of transportation, the ecology of various riverine ecosystems, exploration, the film industry and promotion of the West, and indigenous cultures.

The images in the collection depict river-running, history, landscape, and individuals in the basins of the Colorado, Green, San Juan, Salmon, and Snake rivers for the period 1870-1978. While many of the images were taken by Otis Marston, the work of over 600 other photographers is present among the 39,000 photographs.

The motion pictures of river-running in the Colorado, Green, Grand, San Juan, Salmon, Snake, and Rogue river basins over the period 1911-1966. Also shows personalities involved in river-running, as well as the surrounding country.