Otis R. Marston Papers, 1870-1978

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Summary

Abstract:
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.
Extent:
600 Linear Feet (432 boxes, 54 microfilm reels, 251 volumes, 162 motion picture reels, 61 photo boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Otis R. Marston Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

Otis R. "Dock" Marston (1894-1979) was a noted river-runner and historian of river lore. A key participant in the opening of Grand Canyon to motorized navigation and an organizer of the 1960 jet boat run up through the canyon, he was also a leading historian of the Colorado and Green river basins.

Acquisition information:

Gift of the Estate of Otis R. Marston, with numerous smaller additions from G. Marston and many others November 7, 1979, with additions 1950-1992.

The Galloway-Stone Expedition photograph album, Box 410(3) gift of Barragan. "Rapids Ahead" by P.L. Wright gift of Helen R. Wright, April 13, 1988.

Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library staff. In 2015, Diann Benti updated the finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series and subseries:

  • Series 1. Written material
  • Subseries 1. Alphabetical
  • Subseries 2. Chronological
  • Subseries 3. Geographical
  • Subseries 4. Miscellaneous
  • Subseries 5. Maps
  • Series 2. Visual and audio material
  • Subseries 1. Photographic prints
  • Subseries 2. Sound recordings
  • Subseries 3. Microfilm
  • Subseries 4. Photograph albums
  • Subseries 5. Volumes
  • Subseries 6. Motion picture film
  • Subseries 7. Coded negatives and transparencies
  • Subseries 8. General negatives
  • Subseries 9. 35mm negatives
  • Subseries 10. Color transparencies
  • Series 3. Addenda

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Boxes 421-429, Marston book manuscript open for reading only. May not be copied or quoted.

Bill Belknap photographs permission to use for public or commercial purposes must be obtained from Westwater Books, P.O. Box 2560, Evergreen, CO 80439.

John Harvey Butchart photographs permission to use for public or commercial purposes must be obtained from Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives Dept., Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 6022, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6022.

Kolb Brothers photographs permission to use for public or commercial purposes must be obtained from Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives Dept., Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 6022, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6022.

P.T. Reilly photographs are now part of the Plez Talmadge Reilly Collection at the Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives; permission to use for public or commercial purposes must be obtained from Cline Library, Special Collections and Archives Dept., Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 6022, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6022.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Otis R. Marston Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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