Guide to the Dorothy and Grenold Collins papers
undated, 1907-2002
Collection number: HMC-0422.
Creator:
Collins, Dorothy.
Collins, Grenold.
Title: Dorothy and Grenold Collins papers.
Dates: undated, 1907-2002.
Volume of collection: 6 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: The papers of an Alaskan bush pilot, sportsman, and business owners.
Biographical note:
Grenold Collins was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1907. He attended prep schools in California and Washington and then studied at Stanford University and at the University of Washington. After leaving school, he worked at various jobs in Washington, California, Nevada, and Alaska. He became a Deputy Game Warden, Game Warden, and Wildlife Agent (1932-1941) for the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey, during which he became a bush pilot. In 1941, he married Dorothy Booth Tibbs. During World War II, Collins was a pilot for the Morrison-Knudsen construction firm. Following the war, he formed the Gren Collins Charter Airplane Service and Big Game Guide Service. Collins was elected to the Territorial Senate (1945-1947). For a number of years, he was the Western Alaska representative of the Salmon Division of the Libby, McNeill, Libby Company. Throughout his life, Grenold Collins was an active outdoorsman who was interested in a variety of activities including sport fishing, hunting, shooting, and bird watching. Because of these interests, he traveled extensively in Alaska, Canada, Africa, Asia, and elsewhere. He recorded many of his activities in photographs and motion picture film. Collins died in Anchorage in 1992.
Dorothy Booth (Tibbs) Collins was born in Boise, Idaho in 1909. She received a teaching degree from Monmouth College, and moved to Alaska in the early 1930s, where she taught at Russian Mission and McGrath. After marrying Grenold Collins in 1941, Dorothy Collins accompanied her husband on his many travels. She also owned and managed a treasure shop in Downtown Anchorage, as well as the Global Travel Agency. Dorothy Collins died in 1999.
Collection description:
The collection contains the papers of Dorothy and Grenold Collins. Included in the collection are correspondence, Grenold Collins’ aviation, game commission, and hunting records, as well as Collins’ family photographs and film.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged into the following parts:
Part 1. Grenold Collins papers; 1918-1991
Series 1. Personal papers; undated, 1919-1982
Series 2. Personal correspondence; undated, 1918-1991
Series 3. Aviation records; 1930-1986
Series 4. Game Commission records; 1932-1941
Series 5. Hunting papers; 1947-1978
Part 2. Dorothy Collins papers; 1931-2002
Part 3. Collins family photographs; undated, 1907-1990
Part 4. Collins family film; undated, 1936-1968
Digitized copies: Selected photographs and two of the films have been digitized and can be found online at Alaska’s Digital Archives. For information about obtaining copies please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives holds copyright to material created by Dorothy and Grenold Collins.
Preferred citation: Dorothy and Grenold Collins papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Related materials: Archives and Special Collections also holds the Robert Wethern papers, HMC-0433, which includes a memoir written by Gren Collins, as well as correspondence between Wethern and the Collinses.
Separated materials: Publications were removed from this collection and some were added to Rare Books. Please contact an archivist for further information.
Acquisition note: The collection was donated to the Archives by Dorothy Collins in 1994 and a deed of a gift was signed. Additions to the collection were made in 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2016, and 2020. In 2016, Susannah Kent (director of the Grenold and Dorothy Collins Alaska Trust) donated family photographs.
Processing information: This collection was described, one photograph album disassembled, and photographs rearranged by Jeffrey Sinnott in 2003. The digitization of the film reels was funded by the Dorothy and Grenold Collins Alaska Charitable Trust in 2000. The guide to the collection was converted to current standard by Veronica Denison in 2014. The 2020 addition to the collection was incorporated into the finding aid in 2022 by Shu Mayer.
A 2016 addition was added to the finding aid in 2023 by Becky Butler.
Container list:
Part 1. Grenold Collins papers; 1918-1991. 1.80 cubic feet.
Part 1. Series 1: Personal papers; undated, 1919-1982. 0.70 cubic feet.
This series contains the personal papers of Grenold Collins. It includes records, journals, and notebooks relating to Collins’ hunting trips, legal papers, audiocassette tapes, writings, and personal records.
Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
1/1 | Vita | circa 1930 |
1/2 | The Collins’ Story | circa 1980 |
1/3 | “Proposal for a Photographic Study in Color of Alaska’s Mountains” | undated |
1/4 | “The Gren Collins’ Program for Support of University of Alaska Biological Investigations” | undated |
1/5 | Note on getting married | undated |
1/6 | Poetry | undated |
1/7 | Alaska Legislature memoriam certificate and obituary | 1993 March 26 |
1/8 | Grenold Collins autobiographical sketch | undated |
1/9 | News clippings about Grenold Collins | undated, 1928-1956 |
1/10-12 | Transcripts of Vaughn Hubbard interview with Grenold and Dorothy Collins, audiocassette numbers 1, 2, 4-6 of interview (Note: tape numbers 3 and 7 are missing) | 1989 February |
1/13 | Transcript of Grenold Collins Reminiscences | 1989 |
1/14 | “Alaska—1962”: Manuscript of article by Lee Richardson on the Kvichak Club | 1962 |
1/15 | Audiocassette: “Gren, Lee Richardson, and Fred Greenley on the Copper. At the Cabin for Fish Chowder & drinks & BS” | 1966 June |
1/16 | FBI file: Stay Behind Agents Program | 1950-1952 |
1/17 | Harold Gillam rescue logs | 1943 February |
1/18 | English papers | 1928 |
1/19 | Memberships and certificates: The American Ornithologists’ Union, Pioneers of Alaska, and The Explorers Club | 1945-1971 |
1/20 | College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka (Tanzania): correspondence and newsletters | 1965 |
1/21 | News clippings and newsletters | 1924-1994 |
1/22 | Territorial game warden court cases: xerographic copies of court documents and newspaper clippings | 1931-1939 |
1/23 | The Palm: yearbook for California Proprietary School for Boys; Principia yearbooks | 1923-1924, 1928 |
1/24 | Writings: story and journal article | 1940, 1963 |
1/25 | Banco de Pruebas de Armas de Fuego certificate for guns; scuba diving certificate | 1956, 1973 |
1/26 | Notebook of poetry and hunting | circa 1919 |
1/27 | “Songs of a Sourdough” by Robert W. Service and Gren Collin’s hunting and gun notes | 1922-1924 |
1/28 | Student record book (University of Washington) | 1926-1930 |
1/29 | Diary and notes of a trip on a sailing ship | 1928 May-June |
1/30 | Notebooks on a trip to Europe and Africa | 1949 |
1/31 | “Narrative of a Hunt: With Arthur and Marsh on the Kvichak” | 1966 September |
1/32 | Journal notes on a sheep hunt | 1969 July-August |
1/33 | The Kvichak Club: 1963 Fall season; 1974 expedition (typescript diary) | 1963, 1975 |
1/34 | Legal papers: will, agreements, and deeds | 1939-1974 |
1/35 | Certificate of Election: Territorial House of Representatives | 1944 |
1/36 | Passports, International Driving Permit | 1948-1977 |
1/37 | Hunting guide license and trophy scoring document, Boone and Crockett Club | undated, 1956 |
1/38 | Bills and receipts; business card, Global Travel Service Inc. | 1939-1982 |
1/39 | Flight commemorative envelope, Juneau to Fairbanks | 1938 |
1/40 | Lists: Bristol Bay fishing guides and outfitters, personal effects, books | undated, 1978 |
1/41 | Maps: Southeast Alaska, hand drawn | undated |
oversize
folder 1 |
Collins Engineer Company’s map of the Yukon Valley showing routes to the Gold Fields | undated |
oversize
folder 1 |
Map of the New Gold Fields of North-Western Alaska by D. A. Macdonald to Alaska, fishing, hunting, and flying | 1899-1972 |
1/42 | Notes, papers, reports | undated, 1966 |
1/43 | Motion picture film reel lists | undated |
1/44 | U.S. Revenue (Documentary) Stamps; German currency 10,000 Mark Note with notes on back | 1922, 1945-1948 |
1/45 | Walker’s Copper River Fly Fishing Lodge: advertisement | undated |
1/46 | “Memories of Africa”: film script | undated |
4/32 | Grenold Collins obituary | circa 1992 |
Part 1. Series 2: Personal correspondence; undated, 1918-1991. 0.30 cubic feet.
This series contains letters sent and received by Grenold Collins. The earlier letters relate to family and school friends. The correspondence from the 1930s relates primarily to his work for the government. Later correspondence concerns flying, hunting, and writing about his career. Arranged in chronological order.
Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
1/47 | Correspondence | undated |
1/48 | Correspondence | 1918-1929 |
1/49 | Correspondence | 1931-1936 |
1/50 | Correspondence | 1937-1958 |
1/51 | Correspondence | 1959-1964 |
1/52 | Correspondence | 1966-1980 |
1/53 | Correspondence | 1981-1993 |
1/54 | Correspondence: Grenold Coffee of California | 1985-1991 |
Part 1. Series 3: Aviation records; 1930-1986. 0.20 cubic feet.
This series contains papers recording Grenold Collins’ activities as a pilot in Alaska. Included are log books, notebooks, and medical certificates.
Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
2/1 | Certificate of Competency, Evidence of Aeronautical Knowledge, C.A.A. case, F.A.A. certificate, F.C.C. Permit, Medical Certificate | 1938-1984 |
2/2 | Alaska Public Service Commission, Air Commerce Certificate | 1961 |
2/3 | Pilot log books | 1930-1931, 1939-1941 |
2/4 | Pilot log books | 1941, 1943 |
2/5 | Pilot’s personal log book; Aircraft log and maintenance record | 1943-1949 |
2/6 | Pilot log book; Trip notebooks | 1944-1985 |
2/7 | Trip notebooks; Calendar book of trips | 1973-1979 |
2/8 | Trip notebooks | 1981-1984 |
2/9 | Trip notebooks | 1985-1986 |
2/10 | Pilot metal clip board and flight record sheets | 1949, 1958-1959 |
Part 1. Series 4: Game Commission records; 1932-1941. 0.40 cubic feet.
This series contains field diaries and correspondence. The series consists of one notebook and forty-nine field diaries maintained by Grenold Collins while he served as Deputy Game Warden, Game Warden, and Wildlife Agent. The series also contains correspondence sent and received by Collins. Arranged in chronological order by record type.
Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
2/11 | Notebook: notes on wildlife, villages, people | circa 1934-1938 |
2/12-19 | Field diaries and travel record | 1932-1941 |
2/20 | Correspondence | undated, 1931-1941 |
Part 1. Series 5: Hunting papers; 1947-1978. 0.20 cubic feet.
This series contains correspondence, papers, and pamphlets relating to Grenold Collins’ interests in hunting in Africa, India, and elsewhere. Included are letters, brochures, and information from several safari guide firms. Among the papers are journal notes on different trips.
Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
2/21 | African hunting trip: journal notes | undated |
2/22 | Correspondence and papers: Ker and Downey Safaris LTD, information and journal notes | 1947 |
2/23 | Correspondence | 1947-1958 |
2/24 | Correspondence | 1960-1965 |
2/25 | Correspondence with Toby Rochat, South Africa | 1965-1967, 1971 |
2/26 | Correspondence: African Wildlife Management/African Wildlife Leadership Foundation | 1965-1968 |
2/27 | Correspondence | 1967-1971 |
2/28 | Correspondence: regarding 1973 Africa trip | 1971-1973 |
2/29 | Correspondence | 1977-1978 |
2/30 | African brochures, hunting safari booklet, maps | undated, 1957, 1975 |
2/31 | Kenya Firearms Certificate; News clippings | undated, 1960, 1965 |
2/32 | Mount Kenya Safari Club: application and prospectus | undated |
2/33 | Sudan Safari Tours Company | undated |
2/34 | Uganda Government reports | 1957-1959 |
2/35 | Van Rooyen Brothers African Safaris flier; Westley Richards Catalog | undated, 1953 |
2/36 | Hunting in England and India | 1964-1971 |
Part 2. Dorothy Collins papers; 1931-2002. 0.2 cubic feet.
This series consists of the papers and correspondence of Dorothy Booth (Tibbs) Collins. The series includes Collins’ interview transcripts for the Alaska Women’s Oral History Project and a biography written by Barbara Packard. The majority of the correspondence contains letters Collins wrote to her parents in Hoquiam, Washington, and her friend Margaret Reavis of La Grande, Oregon. Collins wrote from the Alaska towns of Russian Mission, Holy Cross, Cordova, Shageluk, McGrath, and Anchorage; and Independence, Oregon. Transcripts of the letters in folders 43 and 44 are available and located in folder 46.
Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
2/37 | Alaska reminiscence and valuation | circa 1931 |
2/38 | Writing course, University of Alaska, Fairbanks: correspondence, notes, and typescript drafts | 1963 |
2/39 | Alaska Women’s Oral History Project: Dorothy Collins interview; annotated index of project; interview summary, log, and transcript; and bibliographic reference | 1980 |
2/40 | Passport, International Driver’s License | 1964-1980 |
2/41 | State of Alaska, Department of Revenue: hunting, trapping and sport fishing Permanent Identification Card | 1980 |
2/42 | “Snatches of Memories: Dorothy Collins, Even in her time – A Legend” compiled by Barbara Packard | 2002 |
2/43 | Correspondence | 1931 |
2/44 | Correspondence | 1932-1942 |
2/45 | Correspondence: Margaret Reavis, Barry S. Mayer of the Fly fisher’s Club of Oregon | 1986, 1988, 1993 |
2/46 | Transcript of letters | 1931-1935, 1942 |
4/33 | Russian Mission photographs | 1931 |
Part 3. Collins family photographs; undated, 1907-1990. 2.2 cubic feet.
This series contains the photographs of Dorothy and Grenold Collins. Photographs primarily depict fishing and hunting trips, portraits of the Collins’, the Collins’ family and friends, airplanes, the Kvichak Club, and scenery.
Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
3/1 | Adventure Films, Inc.: making of the film, “The Great Country”: McNeil River bears, camp, and pelican airplane | 1958 |
3/2 | Africa: photo stills from “Memories of Africa”: Hippopotamus, Cape Buffalo, Zebra, wild dogs, Leopard, Elephant, And Crocodile, and Wakamba dancers | circa 1955 |
3/3 | Alaska Territorial Game Commission, taken by Hewitt’s Photo Shop (Grenold Collins standing second from right) | circa 1936 |
3/4 | Alberta hunting trip | 1969 |
3/5 | Arctic trip: Eskimos and first plane | 1935 |
3/6 | Bahamas | undated |
3/7 | Belize and Honduras | 1966 |
3/8 | Bristol Bay fishery and sailboats | circa 1947 |
3/9 | Copper River and Lake Iliamna: aerial views | circa 1941 |
3/10-11 | East Africa: Wakamba dancers (Kenya), elephants (Nile River, Uganda), giraffe (Kenya), hippopotamus (Nile River, Uganda), wildebeest (Kenya), and Murchison Falls (Nile River) | circa 1955 |
3/12 | Fairbanks Ice Carnival: Grenold Collins and Jack O’Connor with airplane, photos by Kay J. Kennedy | circa 1938 |
3/13 | Guatemala | undated |
3/14 | Halibut Charter in Cove | undated |
3/15 | Halibut with Pete, Dermot Kydd, and family trip (includes photos from Kvichak Club, Igiugig) | undated |
3/16 | Hong Kong and family photos | undated |
3/17 | India: Sikhs and Tiger | undated |
3/18 | Kvichak Club: buildings and property, Igiugig | undated |
3/19 | Kvichak Club: Milottes, Hatchers, Crowdy | 1983 |
3/20 | Lisa’s graduation, fishing in Scotland | 1978 |
3/21 | Log cabin: before and after addition | undated |
3/22 | McKinley National Park: scenic views of Polychrome Pass, Mount McKinley, and Wonder Lake | undated |
3/23 | Norway | 1978 |
3/24 | Quebec: fishing trip | undated |
3/25 | Rhinoceros | undated |
3/26 | Spain and Greece: Spanish street scenes and Greek palace guards | undated |
3/27 | Sri Lanka | undated |
3/28 | Trophy room: mounted animal heads | undated |
3/29 | Pair of moose calves and Kvichak Club from air; Fisherman with two large fish; Arctic Grayling and fishing scenes at Kvichak Club; Fishermen with rainbow trout, Mr. William S. Street, Seattle; Walker’s Camp, Copper River | 1961-1982 |
3/30 | Two older men fishing for rainbow trout | undated |
3/31 | Hunting camp and moose; Two men on fishing trip; Grenold Collins in camp and float plane; Fish and fly reel, man with Dall sheep head and cape on pack frame, mine tailings, and Robert Service Cabin, Dawson, Yukon Territory; Grenold Collins with tiger kill, India; Grenold and fellow hunter with Dall Sheep, Klutina hunt | undated |
3/32 | Dorothy and Grenold Collins at party; Biplane delivering cargo to native village; Man next to Gren Collins plane and beaver fur and gear in front of log cabin; Collins plane stored upside down near beach, planes at airstrip, and fishing from small boat; Dorothy Collins and friends with pets in front of log home; Dorothy Collins with rifle in front of log cache and cabin; Grenold Collins with rifle and basket in field, with geese in front of float plane, and with caribou and moose antlers next to side of building; Men with geese and fish next to Gren Collins float plane | undated |
3/33 | Men and planes, Dorothy Collins and dog on boat dock, and native grave site; Man with goose and retriever next to plane; Flood in Fairbanks | undated |
3/34 | Kvichak Club buildings and fishing; “Dr. Schroeder, Seattle, Copper River Rainbow, Dry fly”; Fishing trips; Portraits of Grenold and Dorothy; Flooded trailer park | 1964-1983 |
3/35 | Grenold Collins with fishing party at Kvichak Club | 1970 October |
3/36 | Cabin and other buildings at Kvichak Club; Fishing trips; Lunch at Rogue River; Grenold and Dorothy Collins at mountain cabin; Bird hunting; Medicine Hat train station; Anchorage sunset; Ducks; Pheasant hunters; Orcas and dolphins in marine show; Game board | 1962-1978 |
3/37 | Grenold and Dorothy Collins and friends, their home, the Kvichak Club at Igiugig, Collins’ Labrador retriever, East Africa, marlin fishing off the Mexico Coast | undated |
3/38 | Family photos; Fishing and hunting trips; Planes; Skiing; Portraits of Dorothy and Grenold | undated, 1907-1990 |
3/39 | Hunting, hiking, fishing, planes | undated |
3/40 | Grenold Collins’ airplanes, other airplanes and pilots | undated, 1938 |
3/41 | Moose swimming in lake and portrait of Labrador Retriever in front of fire | undated |
3/42 | Kvichak Club, Igiugig | undated, 1968 |
3/43 | Scenery: McKinley National Park and King Island; Lakes, stream, waterfall, and tidal glacier | undated |
3/44 | Ships and bomber in Resurrection Bay from air, Glacier Photo Service, Seward, Alaska | circa 1942 |
3/45-48, oversize folder 1 | Dorothy and Grenold Collins photo album: Xerographic copy of original album; Fishing, hunting, and wildlife; Inupiat native peoples, villages, and whaling; Alaska Native schoolchildren; Dog sled and team 10 miles below Holy Cross; Indian medicine man at Holikachaket; Dutch Harbor “Street Scene—Hoquiam” | undated, 1931-1947 |
3/49 | Grenold Collins Alaska photo album: airplanes, ships, riverboats, and kayaks, whaling, reindeer herding, fur trapping, and hunting, McKinley National Park, Yukon River villages, Nenana, the Tanana River, and the Copper River | undated, 1935, 1940 |
3/50 | Photograph album: photographs during Grenold Collins’ time at The Principia, including football games, rowing, and friends | circa 1928-1930 |
3/51 | Photograph album: Grenold Collins at University of Washington, Southeast Alaska, California, voyage to Arctic Alaska aboard C.S. Holms, family, and friends | circa 1928-1930 |
3/52 | Grenold Collins Circle District photograph album: Game Warden photographs; Circle City, Circle Hot Springs, the Yukon River, Holy Cross and various other Yukon River villages, the Tanana River, Valdez, the Curry Hotel, Nenana, and Sand Point; Placer gold mining (drift, hydraulic, and dredge), game animals (bear, geese, and wolves), and hauling freight by dog teams | circa 1935-1940 |
4/1 | Color travel photo post cards: Qinyong, Terra Cotta Army; Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China; Guilin and Lijiang, China; Mala Mala Game Reserve, Africa | undated, 1982-1983 |
4/2 | Alaska Cruise | 1974 July |
4/3 | Bristol Bay fishing | 1971 |
4/4 | Prince William Sound, Kvichak Club, Igiugig | 1984 July |
4/5 | Prince William Sound, Totems, and Kvichak Club | 1974 October |
4/6 | Fairbanks, Alaskaland, Geese, Australia | 1967-1969 |
4/7 | Kvichak: Jon and Marge | 1981 October |
4/8 | Kvichak Club, Glacier Bay | 1968-1970, 1973 |
4/9 | Grand Canyon | undated |
4/10 | Hawaii | undated |
4/11 | Hawaii | 1968, 1972 |
4/12 | Africa | undated |
4/13 | Alberta | 1968-1969 |
4/14 | Botswana | 1973 August |
4/15 | China: Guilin, Peking, Imperial Palace, Great Wall, Hong Kong | 1983 |
4/16 | China (commercial travel slides): Palace Museum, Guilin scenes, Qin Yong Terra Cotta Figures from the Imperial Tomb of Qin Shi Huang | undated |
4/17 | England, San Diego Aquarium | 1971, 1973 |
4/18 | Europe | undated |
4/19 | Hong Kong | undated, 1965 |
4/20 | India | 1965-1972 |
4/21 | Nikonos, Mexico | 1974 |
4/22 | Mexico | undated |
4/23 | Micronesia, Looney Birds | 1974 |
4/24 | Underwater and Florida, Lima Peru | undated, 1973 |
4/25 | Quebec: fishing | 1981 |
4/26 | Rogue House | 1966-1968 |
4/27 | South America: Machu Picchu, Peru, Columbia | 1973 |
4/28 | Baby Gren | 1965-1967 |
4/29 | Collins Family, Nome gold dredge, aviation, and hunting | undated, 1964-1976 |
4/30 | Collins Family, Nome gold dredge, Kvichak Club, Alaska Highway, aviation, wildlife, hunting, fishing, and travel | undated, 1960-1965 |
4/31 | Collins Family, Kvichak Club, Alaska Highway, Puerto Vallarta, aviation, hunting, and fishing | undated, 1960-1962 |
4/34 | Collins 2020 addition, unlabeled box | 1971 |
4/35 | Collins 2020 addition. Box labeled McKinley | 1971, 1973 |
4/36 | Collins 2020 addition, unlabeled box | 1964, 1971, 1973 |
4/37 | Collins 2020 addition, slide box labled #2 | 1971, 1973 |
4/38 | Collins 2020 addition, unlabeled box | 1978 |
4/39 | Collins 2020 addition, unlabeled carousel in carousel order | Undated, 1995 |
4/40 | Collins 2020 addition carousel labeled start #1 in carousel order | 1971-1975 |
4/41 | Collins 2020 addition, carousel labled #2 Africa unclear where carousel starts | 1971-1972 |
4/42 | Collins 2020 addition, carousel #3 Africa unclear where carousel starts | 1971-1972 |
4/43 | Photos: fishing at Igiugiq, Kvichak Club members, old Alaska, dog | Undated, 1949 Febuary 10 |
4/44 | Photos: of Grenold as baby, his (Grenold) father, planes, of him (Grenold) & 1st wife (Robin) | Undated, 1909, 1940 March 25, 1965 July 2 |
4/45-47 | Photos: Belgian Congo and Uganda, other Africans, elephants, hippopotamus, giraffe, crocodile, zebra, wild dogs, leopard, Wakamba tribe, Wakamba dancers | undated |
4/48 | Photo Negatives: Africa & Alaska, Dorothy in Hawaii | undated |
4/49 | Collins family photographs | undated, 1933 |
Oversize folder 1 | Photographs of Grenold Collins with airplane | undated |
Part 4. Collins family film; undated, 1936-1968. 1.80 cubic feet.
This series contains motion picture, unedited, and family film. Film subjects include hunting and fishing, airplanes landing, vacations and hunting trips to various countries, animals, and Alaskan scenery. A majority of the film reels were digitized in 2000 with support from the Dorothy and Grenold Collins Alaska Charitable Trust. Reference copies and window (time) dubbed copies are available for each VHS. Mini DV video cassette masters are also available. Film reels 31 and 32 have been digitized.
Box | Tape# | Reel# | Description | Dates |
5 | 1 | 20-21 | “Rainbows on the Fly”: Filmed by Steve Hatch: Grenold Collins and friends fly-in fly fishing on McNeil River. Includes boating, fishing, cooking fish for lunch, and McNeil River brown bears (42 minutes) | undated |
5 | 2 | 22 | “The Great Country”: Copyright by Edgar M. Queeny; Photographed and Produced by E. M. Queeny, Assisted by James Rebbe; Pilot Joe Morris; Co-Pilot Jack Elliot; Guide Gren Collins; Music Gene Forrel. Contains brown bears at McNeil River, salmon traveling up river and spawning, Lake Grosvenor, Katmai National Park, Valley of 10,000 Smokes, Mt. Katmai, and Crater Lake | 1958 |
5 | 3 | 23 | “Alaska Holiday, Igiugig, Alaska, August 25-Sept. 15, 1962”: Footage of the lodge and outbuildings at Igiugig, fishing in the area, and mountains, glaciers, and rivers from Collins’ plane (23 minutes) | 1962 |
5 | 4 | 24 | “Nepal”: views of Katmandu (airport, temples, market, streets, musicians), working elephants, and tiger kill (39 minutes) | 1961 |
5 | 5 | 25-27 | Nepal out takes and untitled film, Safari footage riding elephant on tiger safari (41 minutes) | 1961 |
5 | 6 | 28 | Marijean trip to Mexico: contains views of trip aboard the yacht “Marijean” of Vancouver, B.C. to Mexico; marlin fishing, Mexican village, bullfight, Mexican port city (30 minutes) | undated |
5 | 6 | 29 | St. Lawrence, London, Venice, Cairo, Egyptian pyramids (6 minutes) | 1949 |
5 | 6 | 30 | Ducks Unlimited Projects in Canada: Arthur M. Bailey, executive director of Ducks Unlimited, talking about wetlands projects in Canada, and introducing the Edgar M. Queeny film, “The Great Country.” Silent footage of the Mexican coast and Grenold Collins launching a canoe next to his plane (8 minutes) | 1949 |
5 | 7 | 31 | “Oldest Films”: walrus hunting off Point Lay, Point Hope Eskimos, Hooper Bay, Yukon at Mountain Village; Point Lay, Point Barrow, reindeer roundup near Unalakleet, St. Lawrence Island, Gambell, and Savoonga; Katmai National Park, Valley of 10,000 Smokes; Bristol Bay, Lake Clark Pass, large rainbow trout in Naknek River, sport fishing (46 minutes) | undated, 1936 |
5 | 8 | 32 | “Bristol Bay Fishing”: Salmon fishing with cannery sail boats, and cannery operations; Red salmon spawning and McNeil River bears from the making of the film, “The Great Country” (34 minutes) | 1949, 1963 |
5 | 9 | 33 | “Collins Alaska, 1960-1961”: Contains scenes of hunting and fishing (moose, bear, geese, Dall sheep), various wildlife (ground squirrels, marmots, swans, caribous); McNeil River brown bears; and fishing and hunting club at Igiugig (38 minutes) | 1960-1961 |
5 | 10 | 34 | “Odds and Ends, Old Film, Alaska, Started to Edit, 1968”: Contains Kvichak Club, Igiugig; hunting (sheep, caribou, moose, geese, etc.) and fishing; wildlife; native village/fish camp; animal pelts (wolf, beaver). Includes MacNeil River brown bear footage (35 minutes) | 1968 |
5 | 11 | 35 | “Alaska Wildlife”: Contains views of Kvichak Club (hunting and fishing on the Kvichak River), McNeil River brown bears, salmon spawning, arctic grayling fishing, moose, caribou and Dahl sheep in McKinley National Park, and tagging salmon (35 minutes, color; silent) | undated |
5 | 1-11 | Mini DV video cassette masters of tapes 1-11 | undated, 1936-1968 | |
5 | 12-13 | 1-2 | “Memories of Africa”: Finished film, (80 minutes) Credits: Martin Moyer Productions; Photography – Gren Collins. Contain views of East and Central Africa, wildlife, peoples, scenery, and hunting | circa 1961 |
5 | 14-15 | 3-6 | “Memories of Africa”: Alternate version with James Brinkley, parts 1 and 2 (82 minutes) | undated |
5 | 16 | 7-8 | “Memories of Africa”: unedited footage (57 minutes) | circa 1961 |
5 | 17 | 9-13 | “Memories of Africa”: out takes: African Out Takes, African Trophy Rejects, Lions, Horses, Thompson Falls (40 minutes) | circa 1961 |
5 | 18 | 14-16 | Work Print Rejects; Lions, Leopard, Wild Dogs, Wakamba Dancers; Leader film and short film clips (Note: not on VHS) | undated |
5 | 19 | 17-19 | Parts 1 and 2 of finished film (51) | 1948 |
5 | 12-17 | Mini DV video cassette masters of tapes 1-7 | circa 1961 | |
6 | 1 | 36-41 | McNeil River Brown Bears, Catching Fish, Swain Hunting Party (42 minutes) | circa 1955 |
6 | 2 | 42-46 | Swain Party (12 minutes) | circa 1955 |
6 | 3 | 47 | McKinley National Park: Park road, scenery, buildings, and wildlife in fall (8.75 minutes) | undated |
6 | 3 | 48 | Eskimo dancing, Nome, Bethel, Kodiak, fueling plane (10.75 minutes) | undated |
6 | 3 | 49 | Upper Russian Lake, Russian Orthodox Church, aerial shots (5 minutes) | undated |
6 | 3 | 50 | Ringed Plover, Don Graham Fishing, Geese, Lake Clark Pass (9.5 minutes) | undated |
6 | 4 | 51 | Fly Fishing, Retriever, Float Plane (5 minutes) | circa 1964 |
6 | 4 | 52 | Fairbanks: Downtown, University, Airport, Dredge (15 minutes) | circa 1964 |
6 | 4 | 53 | Man and Float Plane in Lake (0.15 minutes) | circa 1964 |
6 | 4 | 54 | Cleaning Fish (1.5 minutes) | circa 1964 |
6 | 4 | 55 | Luke Fishing (1.15 minutes) | circa 1964 |
6 | 4 | 56 | Caribou and Arctic Grizzlies (3 minutes) | circa 1964 |
6 | 4 | 57 | Pelicans Feeding and Buildings Damaged in Anchorage Earthquake (3 minutes) | circa 1964 |
6 | 4 | 58 | Igiugig Fishing Camp Scenes (2.75 minutes) | circa 1964 |
6 | 5 | Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum Film
Footage: wrecked airplanes, airstrips, planes on floats and skis, dog sled and team, fueling and servicing planes, landing and snowshoeing on glacier, wolf hunting, and visiting native village (12.5 minutes). |
undated | |
6 | 1-5 | Mini DV video cassette masters of tapes 1-11 | circa 1955-1964 |