ARCTIC SURVIVAL TRAINING CAMP PAPERS OF DAVID ABBOTT
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Arctic Survival Training Camp Papers of David Abbott span 1942 to 1997. The collection comprises two boxes, which contain a scrapbook, photographs, button, patches, and correspondence. As a former instructor at the Arctic Survival Training Camp, David Abbott collected materials both from various camps and from subsequent reunions. Reunion materials date from 1981 to 1997. Although Abbott's service was short, he was active in the survivor group before being honorably discharged. The Western History and Genealogy Department also houses the Abbott Family Collection (WH997), which contains additional material donated by David Abbott.
The series begins with a newspaper article on the Greenland Arctic Camp. A booklet on Buckley Field in Denver provides a good overview of the Arctic Survival Training Camp. Included are travel orders, the instructor's memoirs and material on the Berthoud Pass rescue.
The reunion series contains the survivors' roll call list that includes the names of those members who have passed away. Material consists of personal letters, Christmas cards, questionnaires, and newspaper clippings.
The series contains black and white photographic prints depicting survival training students and activities at numerous training camps. Also included are color photographic prints that document various reunion activities
Corporal Holmes assembled a scrapbook from his time at the Echo Lake Camp. Materials include candid camp photographs, newspaper articles on the rescue at Berthoud Pass, and death notices of fellow soldiers. Corporal Holmes includes the telegram notifying him of his son's birth. Press clippings of Barney McLean, speed skier, are included.
Dates
- 1943-1997
OWNERSHIP:
Literary rights and copyrights have been assigned to the Denver Public Library.
PUBLICATION RIGHTS:
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.
ORGANIZATIONAL NOTE
The Arctic Training School began at the Greenland Ice Cap Weather and Rescue Station. From there, the school relocated to Wisconsin, Maine, and Alberta, Canada before settling in at a site on the side of Mount Evans in Colorado. Beginning in June of 1943, the Echo Lake Camp operated for 16 months. Here the weather was perfect for training due to the arctic conditions.
In addition to weather reporting, the team of instructors trained Army Air Corps personnel for the flights across the Arctic Circle to reach Europe. The training brought a sense of resourcefulness and self-reliance to the crewmembers. The drill consisted of sleeping outside winter or summer, living off the land, and using scraps of 'downed planes' to provide shelter. The Army Air Corps personnel were taught and enjoyed dog sledding. The soldiers volunteered for the training, which took five to six weeks to complete. In April 1944, the servicemen rescued approximately 30 people on Berthoud Pass after an avalanche.
The group formed such strong bonds that they hold a reunion every two years. Reunions have taken place in Seattle, Washington, Lexington, Massachusetts, and Idaho Springs, Colorado.
Extent
1 box
1 oversize box
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
PROVENANCE:
David Abbott donated the Abbott family papers in 1985.
Physical Description
1
SIZE:
Number of Boxes: 1
Oversize box: 1
LOCATION:
WH1448
PROCESSED BY:
Ellen Zazzarino
Merrie Valliant
March 2000
REVISED AND ENCODED BY:
Cynthia Rand
October 2004
Dennis Hagen
June 2008
PROJECT MANAGER:
Ellen Zazzarino
- Abbott, David, 1914- -- Archives.
- Arctic Survival Training School -- Archives.
- Correspondence. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Echo Lake Camp (Colo.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Ephemera. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Military training camps -- Colorado. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Scrapbooks. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- United States -- Army -- Air Corps -- Training.
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Training. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- ARCTIC SURVIVAL TRAINING CAMP PAPERS OF DAVID ABBOTT
- Date
- Revised June 2008
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository
