Utah Ski Archives
The Utah Ski Archives,
established in 1989, is housed in the Manuscripts Division of
Special Collections at the University of Utah Marriott Library.
Created to preserve a comprehensive history of skiing in Utah and
the Intermountain region, the archives offer a unique opportunity
for historical and contemporary research into Utah's prospering ski
industry. The archives document the evolution of the sport and
industry, including the history of ski competition on local,
national, and international levels. The archives have been
designated as the repository for the Salt Lake Winter Olympics
Games Bid Committee records.
Ski Archives Photo Collections
Although the Ski Archives, a self-funded program, is in its infancy, the S. J. & J. E. Quinney Foundation has recognized the importance of the project and has provided critical seed money. In 1993, the Ski Archives were incorporated into the newly established Joe Quinney Recreation Archives, which also contain material on river running, hiking clubs, and other activities. Future additions of material and development of the Utah Ski Archives will continue to strengthen its importance as a repository of primary-source research materials for use both now and in the future. In addition to scholarly research of skiing as a sport, these materials are valuable resources for research into skiing-related industries such as public relations, transportation, resorts and their amenities, equipment, and clothing.
Material formats in
the various collections include correspondence, competition
rosters, organizational minutes, architectural drawings and site
plans, news clippings, and miscellaneous items ranging from lift
tickets to scrapbooks. Sound and visual recordings, graphic
presentations, photos and oral histories are frequently found in
almost all of the collections. The oral histories are an especially
useful and fascinating section of the holdings, and number over 100
interviews. Most of these oral histories listed in the guide are
processed and ready for researcher use. Other interviews listed are
expected to be available shortly. Additional holdings include 89
textual, photographic, and audio-visual collections. In selecting
collections for the guide, it was decided to be inclusive rather
than exclusive; therefore, some collections listed here may contain
only a small amount of information about skiing, but it is
information that otherwise might not be known.
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