Bruce Johnson papers
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the collection is related to Frostline Kits and Stephenson’s Warmlite, with some materials containing information related to Adventure 16, Gregory, Ski Hut, and Summit. The materials in the collection are generally arranged by brand and then arranged chronologically. Both Frostline Kits and Stephenson’s Warmlite sections consists of correspondence between Bruce and other persons such as Dale Johnson and Jack Stephenson, papers, personal notes, CD discs of research related to Bruce’s books, drafts of portions of the books, article clippings, and photos related to Stephenson’s Warmlite. There are also article clippings related to Will Steger and Larry Amkraut. The middle section of the collection consists of materials related to Gregory, Ski Hut, and Summit, which includes two Ski Hut posters, and copies of articles and notes about Wayne Gregory. The remaining section is accrued materials added later, consisting of files organized by company, individual, or type of equipment.
Dates
- 1958-2023
Language of Materials
Material in English
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Bruce Johnson papers must be obtained from the Outdoor Recreation Archive Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
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.
Extent
7 boxes (5 linear feet)
Abstract
This collection contains materials related to Frostline Kits and Stephenson’s Warmlite dating from 1958 to 2023 that were created and collected by Bruce Johnson, a writer and compiler of outdoor gear history.
Arrangement
The Bruce Johnson papers are generally arranged by outdoor product brands, starting with Frostline Kits, Stephenson’s Warmlite, and a miscellaneous section containing material related to Gregory, Ski Hut, and Summit. Within these themes, the materials are arranged chronologically. The additional files are organized by company, individual, or type of equipment.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Bruce Johnson donated this collection to USU Special Collections and Archives in 2021, and additional material in 2023.
Processing Information
Processed in September of 2021, reprocessed in 2023 to add additional materials
- Title
- Guide to the Bruce Johnson papers 1958-2023
- Author
- Finding aid/Register created by Monique Davila and Clint Pumphrey; additional materials added by Lincoln Johnson
- Date
- ©2021, 2023
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English.
Revision Statements
- 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
- 2023: Added additional material (2 linear feet)
- 2024: Collection identifier changed from Coll Mss 558 to ORA 014
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu