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CHARLES MINOT DOLE PAPERS

 Collection
Identifier: WH1001

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The papers in this collection range from 1936 to 1976. Correspondence, articles, speech transcripts and press releases comprise the bulk of the collection. Copies of Dole's letters are included along with the many letters he received from friends and colleagues. The early correspondence reflects Dole's determination to form the National Ski Patrol. During World War II, the copious correspondence reflects Dole's efforts to convince the Army to train troops in mountain and winter warfare. Dole also saved press releases and recruiting correspondence for many of the 10th Mountain Veterans. He corresponded with a few soldiers frequently. These letters are included, documenting the activities of the 10th Mountain Division while they trained and went to battle in Italy. After World War II, Dole spoke at reunions for the veterans of the 10th Mountain Division. The collection includes transcripts of these speeches and copies of articles written by Dole. Also, Dole wrote a book about his own personal skiing adventures, Adventures in Skiing. The collection contains draft manuscripts of this book.

SERIES 1 NATIONAL SKI PATROL SYSTEM 1936-1998 BOX 1-8

This series consists of correspondence sent and received by Dole in his efforts to establish the National Ski Patrol System. Reports and memos document the operations of Ski Patrols throughout the United States. Meeting minutes, newsletters and speech transcripts are also included. The papers are arranged alphabetically.

SERIES 2 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION PAPERS 1940-1970 BOX 9-21

Correspondence, articles, and speech transcripts document Dole's lifelong struggle to persuade the United States military to train soldiers in mountain and winter warfare. These papers are also arranged alphabetically.

Letters of recommendation, questionnaires and correspondence received and sent regarding the recruits comprise this series. Correspondence between Dole and some of the veterans who were his special friends such as Percy Rideout, John Jay and Whitman Reynolds, detail the activities of the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Press releases from the Fifth Army describing the Bronze Star activities of solders are also included.

SERIES 3 PERSONAL PAPERS 1929-1970 BOX 21

Dole's manuscripts for his book, Adventures in Skiing comprise the bulk of the series along with awards and papers from personal organizations. Family and friends' correspondence constitute a small portion of the series.

SERIES 4 AUDIOVISUAL N.D. AVENVELOPE 1

This series consists of a reel-to-reel audiotape of a 10th Mountain Division memorial.

SERIES 5 1939-1974 MICROFILM 136, REEL 1

Microfilm number 136, reels 1, contains images of correspondence, articles, newspaper clippings and photographs from scrapbooks Dole kept for the National Ski Patrol and for the 10th Mountain Division.

SERIES 6 PHOTOGRAPHS 1940-1976 PHOTOB0X 1

Ranging from 1939 to 1976, the photographs include personal photographs of Dole, many skiing photographs and 10th Mountain Division photographs. Also, the National Ski Patrol is portrayed in these photographs, especially as they appeared during the 1960 Olympics held in Squaw Valley, California.

Dates

  • 1938-1976

ACCESS:

The collection is open for research.

OWNERSHIP:

Literary and copyrights - as appropriate - 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.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Charles Minot ("Minnie") Dole (1899-1976) was born in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. His father, Charles Thurston Dole worked in manufacturing. Dole was educated at public schools and at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. In 1923, he graduated from Yale University. Following graduation, Dole worked in the wool industry in Massachusetts until 1926. At that time he moved to Europe, remaining there until 1929, engaging in various business ventures with William H. Brown.

Returning to the United States, Dole joined the New York City insurance office of Thayer Shedd as an insurance salesman. In 1931, he worked for C.A. Slosson and Company, leaving in 1933 to work for Flynn, Harrison, and Conroy as a general insurance broker. Dole remained with this company until 1950, when he became vice-president of Ward Howell Associates, Inc., New York City, an executive recruitment company. Becoming a director in 1953, Dole continued with Ward Howell until 1962 when together with Robert Fordyce he established the executive recruitment firm of Fordyce and Dole. In 1964, Dole retired.

Dole grew up in ski country where, through the influence of his mother, he was a mountain climber and a skier. In 1936, while skiing on a mountain slope in Stowe, Vermont, Dole fell and broke his ankle. At that time, ski search and rescue services did not exist, so Dole had to wait for his wife to find help. Soon afterwards, his friend, Frank Edson, died from a skiing accident while racing. Dole was asked to head a safety study committee for the Amateur Ski Club of New York. In 1938, the president of the National Ski Association appointed him chairman of the National Ski Patrol Committee. Copious correspondence and persistent effort led to the development of the National Ski Patrol System across the country. Dole served the new organization from its inception until 1950 when he was named honorary chairman of the board of trustees for life.

By 1941, the National Ski Patrol System consisted of 89 local patrols and 1500 registered patrolmen. All members of the patrol were required to take an intensive Red Cross first-aid course and, of course, had to be competent skiers. They were responsible for caring for ski accident victims and helping them down the slopes on toboggans. During the early years, the National Ski Patrol System received its operating funds through private contributions. Dole, himself, received no remuneration.

In 1939, during the Russo-Finnish War, Dole along with Robert Livermore, Roger Langley and John Morgan were impressed by the Finnish army's well trained fast-moving ski troops. Determined to convince the United States Army to train troops to fight under winter and mountain conditions, Dole and the others met with George C. Marshall. Eventually, Dole persuaded the War Department to establish the 87th Infantry Mountain Division. This unit later expanded into the 10th Mountain Division. During the four years that the mountain troops were recruited and trained, Dole headed the recruitment efforts through the auspices of the National Ski Patrol System, acted as an advisor to the division, and made inspection tours of its training camps, all without remuneration. The National Ski Patrol System as an organization received funds from recruitment contracts with the Army.

Dole's recruitment work came to an end in 1944 when the division was sent overseas. In 1945, the 10th Mountain Division spearheaded the successful breakthrough of the German Winter Line in Italy. For his efforts, Dole received a War Department citation in 1946. He maintained close ties with The National Association of the 10th Mountain Division for the rest of his life, attending many reunions and corresponding with veterans.

Dole died in 1976 in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Extent

21 boxes

1 AVEnvelope

1 Reel Microfilm

1 PhotoBox

Language of Materials

English

PROVENANCE:

C. Minot Dole donated his father's papers in 1989 and 2012.

SELECTION OF RELATED MATERIAL

National Ski Patrol Collection WH872

10th Mountain Division RecordsTMD1

SIZE:

21 boxes

1 AVEnvelope

1 Reel Microfilm

1 PhotoBox

LOCATION:

WH1001

PROCESSED BY:

Ann Brown

2005

Dennis Hagen

2012

PROJECT MANAGER:

Ellen Zazzarino

Title
CHARLES MINOT DOLE PAPERS
Date
2012
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository

Contact:
10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy
Denver CO 80204 United States