COLORADO WHITE WATER ASSOCIATION RECORDS
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Colorado White Water Association papers document the organization’s activities in the development and promotion of canoeing and kayaking in Colorado. The collection is centered on Clyde Jones, one of the original organizers of both the Colorado White Water Association and American White Water Affiliation. Jones served as president and conservation chairperson for the Colorado White Water Association. In addition, he was the executive secretary of the American White Water Affiliation. Jones was board member of Colorado Open-Space Council, Chair of the Rocky Mountain Division of the American Canoe Association and chief chemist for the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The collection contains information on boat building, cruising, racing, water safety and conservation issues.
The material includes correspondence, membership lists, reports, by-laws, reference material, publications and photographs. Papers include correspondence, an organizational list, reports, constitution, by-laws and publications from the American White Water Affiliation, American Canoe Association, other canoeing and kayaking clubs and personal correspondence and cards sent to Clyde Jones. The collection dates from 1947 to 1983. The collection provides insight into the early days of white water sports both in Colorado and throughout the country.
This series contains Club organizational lists, meeting notes, membership applications and lists, reports, newspaper and magazine articles, publicity announcements and correspondence. Material covers the events and races.
Correspondence, notebooks, membership rosters, membership cards, publications and a prospectus comprise this series.
The series contains materials from American Canoe Association, including correspondence relating to the amateur controversy, along with other information collected by Colorado White Water Association and the American White Water Affiliation on boating organizations. Materials include newsletters, membership applications, constitutions and by-laws, event schedules and correspondence.
Personal correspondence about the reinstatement of a chemist friend, invitations to and from friends and a Christmas card constitute this series.
One scrapbook related to white water sports comprises the series.
Photographs in this series show people kayaking and canoeing on Colorado rivers, training in swimming pools or lakes, and competing in white water sports. The series includes an informal scrapbook with humorous captions. A two volume "CWWA Photographs" album of people kayaking, canoeing and water skiing features several rivers in Colorado. One of the two volumes includes a table of contents identifying people and places in each photograph.
Dates
- 1947-1983
ACCESS:
The collection is open for research.
OWNERSHIP:
Literary 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.
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Colorado White Water Association was organized in 1954. Its membership took an active role in the promotion of canoeing and kayaking on Colorado rivers, with an emphasis on safety and fun through the newsletter, The Spray. Members taught canoeing and kayaking classes at Washington Park in Denver. They promoted canoeing and kayaking for sport and pleasure. In addition, they organized and promoted white water racing in Colorado, eventually drawing world-class athletes to the state.
The Colorado White Water Association joined with other organizations to promote saving Colorado wilderness and keeping western rivers wild. The organization participated in the fight to stop the construction of Echo Park Dam on the Yampa River in Utah, which threatened to flood Echo Park and Dinosaur National Monument. In addition, the group proved instrumental in helping to clean up the Platte River in the Denver metropolitan area.
Originally established as an umbrella organization for local canoeing and kayaking clubs around the country, the American White Water Affiliation helped establish communication between white water groups. Through its quarterly publication, American White Water, members across the country were informed of events, racing schedules and issues affecting white water enthusiasts. The American White Water Affiliation hoped to gain the recognition of the International Canoeing Federation (the authority on amateur and Olympic white water racing in the United States) by establishing a uniform set of rules and regulations for white water races. The American Canoe Association was the only authority on amateur and Olympic racing in the United States, recognized by the International Canoeing Federation.
This coordinated effort developed from the battle Clyde Jones waged with the American Canoe Association over its amateur status rule. In 1948, Jones began racing in Colorado and Wyoming during the sport’s infancy in the west, when there were no distinctions between amateur and professional status. Because Jones won small monetary prizes, the American Canoe Association classified him as a professional, which barred him from participating in any race sanctioned by the American Canoe Association since only amateurs were eligible. Jones claimed that he was unaware of the existence of the American Canoe Association, as it was based in the eastern United States. Jones, along with others on his behalf, appealed to the American Canoe Association to reconsider its actions and reinstate his amateur status.
The Colorado White Water Association and American White Water Affiliation actively promoted white water sports in Colorado and around the nation.
Extent
4 Boxes
1 oversize folios
1 photo box
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
PROVENANCE:
Tom Cooper, Clyde Jones, Ben Harding and Jane Cooper donated the records to the Denver Public Library in 1987, 2003 and 2004.
Physical Description
Boxes (4 linear feet)
SIZE:
Number of Boxes: (4 linear feet)
Oversize: 1 folio
Photographs: 1 box (.5 linear feet)
LOCATION:
WH1088
PROCESSED BY:
Michael Stoetzel
March 2001
REVISED AND ENCODED BY:
Cynthia Rand
February 2005
Abby Hoverstock
August 2009
PROJECT MANAGER:
Ellen Zazzarino
- Administrative records. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- American Canoe Association.
- American White Water Association.
- Colorado White Water Association -- Archives.
- Correspondence. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Echo Park Dam (Colo.) -- History. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Financial records. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Jones, Clyde E. -- Archives.
- Kayaking -- Colorado. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- White-water canoeing -- Colorado. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- COLORADO WHITE WATER ASSOCIATION RECORDS
- Date
- August 2009
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository
