The images in Valeen Tippetts Avery's collection were removed from manuscript collection 316, and consist of miscellaneous research photos, including images from the life of Charles H. Spencer, three videos and a collection of slides.
The Charles H. Spencer images cover two separate projects. The first are from his Crater Lake Water Development Project 1915-1917. These images have been rearranged to match the numbering on in verso side. Included are 3"x5" proofs as well as 8"x10" enlargements. This collection also includes images of Avery at the Crater Lake site in 1979, and the Lee's Ferry Gold Project 1907-1912. A letter from the Museum of Northern Arizona indicates that many of the photographs from Crater Lake are also housed in their J. C. Clarke collection of photographs, implying that J. C. Clarke was likely the photographer.
Repository:
Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Photograph Collection
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-3000 Phone: 435 797-2663 Fax: 435 797-2880 Email: scweb@usu.edu
Languages:
Material in English
Sponsor:
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)
grant, 2007-2008
Biographical Note
Valeen Tippetts Avery was born on December 22, 1936 in Great Falls, Montana. After earning her bachelor of Arts in foreign languages from Rocky Mountain College in 1959, she moved East, working various jobs in New York City, North Carolina, and Germany. Avery returned to the West in 1972 to produce and direct a weekly educational television program at KOAI TV in Flagstaff, Arizona. After six years with KOAI, she returned to school, earning her Master of Arts in history from Northern Arizona University in 1981. Avery went on to get her PhD at NAU in 1983, specializing in American social and intellectual history. NAU promptly hired her in 1984 as an assistant professor and the Director for the Center of Colorado Plateau Studies. She earned tenure and promotion to associate professor in 1990, and gave up her role at the Center of Colorado Plateau Studies two years later. Avery became a full professor in 1998, and worked in that capacity until her retirement in 2005. She was married to Charles C. Avery in 1961, with whom she had four children before their divorce in 1986. In 1996 she married colleague and English professor Bryan Short. Avery died unexpectedly on April 7, 2006, in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Avery was a prolific writer, authoring two books and numerous articles and book reviews. She is perhaps best known for her work on Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, a controversial book she co-authored with Linda Newell, first published in 1984. From Mission to Madness: Last Son of the Mormon Prophet, a biography of David H. Smith, was published in 1999. Both won the Evans Award for Best Western Biography. She was also a respected leader and teacher, serving as president of the Mormon History Association in 1987 and exciting countless students with her enthusiastic teaching style. In 2001, she was the Homecoming Dedicatee at NAU, chosen by a vote of students, staff and faculty.
Content Description
The images in Valeen Tippetts Avery's collection were removed from manuscript collection 316, and consist of miscellaneous research photos, including images from the life of Charles H. Spencer, three videos and a collection of slides.
The Charles H. Spencer images cover two separate projects. The first are from his Crater Lake Water Development Project 1915-1917. These images have been rearranged to match the numbering on in verso side. Included are 3"x5" proofs as well as 8"x10" enlargements. This collection also includes images of Avery at the Crater Lake site in 1979, and the Lee's Ferry Gold Project 1907-1912. A letter from the Museum of Northern Arizona indicates that many of the photographs from Crater Lake are also housed in their J. C. Clarke collection of photographs, implying that J. C. Clarke was likely the photographer.
More information about Valeen T. Avery is available in her paper collection: COLL MSS 316. Reference to Charles H. Spencer can be found in Box 4: Folder 1: Charles H. Spencer; Box 34: Folder 21: "Charles H. Spencer and the Most Remarkable Water Project in the United States"; Box 34: Folder 22: Free Running a publication; and Box 57: Folder 2: "All that Glitters..." a paper/manuscript by W.L. Rusho on Charles H. Spencer's life and his search for Gold in Glen Canyon and at Lee's Ferry.
You can also see Leonard J. Arrington's papers for more information about Valeen T. Avery: LJSHS COLL 1.9 Box 136: Folder 1-4. There is also reference to Helen Sekaquaptewa (image of Helen in this collection, 386:1:09:04), in LJSHS COLL 1.9 Box 107: Folder 17: Helen Sekaquaptewa and Louise Udall.
Valeen T. Avery's photograph collection contains 131 images, 68 slides, and one dvd.
Other Descriptive Information
Many of the images have captions taped or glued to them with details describing the image, some of that has been included in the descriptions. Where noted on images, the name of the photographer is included.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
Restrictions on Use :
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright
clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Valeen T. Avery photo collection must
be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections
Department Head.
Preferred Citation :
Initial Citation:
USU_P0386; Valeen T. Avery Photo Collection;
Photograph Collections Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University
Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations:USU_P0386,
USUSCA.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
The photographs in this collection were kept in the original order as much as possible.
Processing Note :
Processed in April of 2009
Acquisition Information :
The materials in this collection were donated to USU Special Collections in 2006 by the children of Valeen T. Avery.
1:06:01: "Ten yolk of oxen and four team of mules move freight wagons past the foot of a great sandstone butte on the road from Chinle to Oljato." Photo by A. H. Jones, 1909.
1907-1912
1:06:02: Leaving Chinle for Oljato. Photo by A. J. Jones, 1909.
1907-1912
1:06:03: Log cabin at base of hill. No caption to identify significance or location.
1907-1912
1:06:04: "E. H. Mayrant (right) with Navajo men."1912.
1907-1912
1:06:05: "Lee's Ferry Fort" used by Spencer as a mess hall. 1911.
1907-1912
1:06:06: The Charles H. Spencer wreckage in 1970 with unidentified man fishing. Three copies.
1907-1912
1:06:07: Remains of the Charles H. Spencer at Lee Ferry. Photo by W. L. Rusho, circa 1961.
1907-1912
1:06:08: The Charles H. Spencer at the mouth of Warm Creek preparing for maiden voyage. 1912.
1907-1912
1:06:09: The Charles H. Spencer nears completion near the mouth of Warm Creek. Photo by the Kolb Brothers, 1911. Two Copies.
1907-1912
1:06:10: Workmen posing on the superstructure of the Charles H. Spencer. Photo by the Kolb Brothers, 1911.
1907-1912
1:06:11: Albert E. Jones and Grover Nutter in a boat returning to Lee's Ferry. 1910. Photo by A. C. Waller.
1907-1912
1:06:12: Unidentified men crossing river on ferry. Lee's Ferry. 1910. Two copies.
1907-1912
1:06:13: "Sluicing Chinle shale from the cliff at Lee's Ferry." 1911. Two copies.
1907-1912
1:06:14: Spencer's Crew at Camp Ibex on the San Juan River. Left to right: (seated) W. M. Reid, Harry Ashenhurst (visitor), R. W. Stevenson, (standing) Henry King, Peterson, C. H. Spencer, "Pres" Apperson, J. H. Marks, "Twitty", J. DeJarld. George Keplinger is standing behind Apperson. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1909. Two copies.
1907-1912
1:06:15: Moving a load of camp equipment from Nakai Canyon to Spencer's Camp. Piute Mesa in background. Left to Right: Marks, King on horse, Reid, C. H. Spencer at wagon, Keplinger. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1909. Three copies.
1:07:01: E. H. Mayrant bull-whacking oxen on the road from Nakai Creek to the rim above the San Juan River enroute to Camp Ibex. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1910.
1907-1912
1:07:02: Enroute to Camp Ibex. "A block and tackle is being used to prevent the wagon from overturning." Photo by A. H. Jones, 1909. Two copies.
1907-1912
1:07:03: Men leading oxen. Note: "Dugway? at Lee's Ferry?"
1907-1912
1:07:04: Teams of oxen hauling wagons over the road from Chinle to Oljato. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1909. Two copies.
1907-1912
1:07:05: Charles H. Spencer's early gold mining venture on the bank of the San Juan River at the mouth of Copper Canyon. 1907.
1907-1912
1:07:06: "Set up at Pahreah, Utah (North of Lee's Ferry)."
1907-1912
1:07:07: Men at work along river. Maybe the amalgamator.
1907-1912
1:07:08: "Christmas dinner somewhere on the road from Chinle to Oljato." Left to right: (seated) George Smith, Harry Wetsel, R. W. Stevenson, J. DeJarld seated at table, (standing) C. T. Roach, H. C. Eckel, C. H. Spencer, P. M. Richardson, James Carter, W. E. Swinehart, W. L. Givens (cook). In the party but not in the picture, E. Howard Mayrant, M. W. Reid, A. H. Jones. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1909. Two copies.
1907-1912
1:07:09: "The Lee's Ferry Ranch. Paria River lower left, and the junction with the Colorado [River] upper left." Photo by A. H. Jones, 1910.
1907-1912
1:07:10: John H. Marks and a Navajo named Wolfkiller or Navajo George making a moccasin. Copper Canyon. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1909.
1907-1912
1:07:11: Albert H. Jones standing next to his transit on Piute Mesa. Photo by John H. Marks, 1909.
1907-1912
1:07:12: John H. Marks with transit on Pute Mesa overlooking Camp Ibex and the San Juan River. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1909. Two copies.
1907-1912
1:07:13: Crossing the Little Colorado River. 1911.
1907-1912
1:07:14: Oxen recrossing Little Colorado River for wagons. 1911.
1907-1912
1:07:15: Men breaking down wagons to create make-shift boats. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1910. Two copies.
1:08:01: Men and wagon on the road from Bluff to Oljato Trading Post. Monument Valley area. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1908. Two copies.
1907-1912
1:08:02: Spencer's men working with large machinery on the San Juan River. 1910.
1907-1912
1:08:03: Camp Ibex on the San Juan River. 1910.
1907-1912
1:08:04: Camp Ibex. Caption by Spencer: "Where [pilot] plant was set up below old Zahn workings, [San Juan River], 1907."
1907-1912
1:08:05: Image of men on the Charles H. Spencer. Circa 1912.
1907-1912
1:08:06: Remains of the Charles H. Spencer at Lee's Ferry. Photo by W. L. Rusho, circa 1961.
1907-1912
1:08:07: Men crossing the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry. Left to right: Navajo, Waller, Johnson (?), Stevenson (?), George Spencer, crouched figure and man in river unidentified. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1910.
1907-1912
1:08:08: Teams of oxen at Lee's Ferry.
1907-1912
1:08:09: Wreckage of automobile, a Thomas Royal Flyer, being towed into Flagstaff. Circa 1911. Two copies.
1907-1912
1:08:10: The wreckage of the Charles H. Spencer in 1915. USGS photo.
1907-1912
1:08:11: Wood wheels and axle wreckage. No caption to identify significance or location.
1907-1912
1:08:12: Amalgamator set-up at Lee's Ferry.
1907-1912
1:08:13: Launching the Violet Louise at Lee's Ferry, 1911.
1907-1912
1:08:14: Man shoeing an oxen. Observed by Mr. and Mrs. Rush. Mr. Rush was a 96 year old veteran of the Mexican War. Photo by A. H. Jones, 1910.
1907-1912
1:08:15: "Lovett Pipe Dredge, Lee's Ferry."
1907-1912
1:08:16: Enlargement of 1:06:10.
1907-1912
1:08:17: First bridge across the San Juan River below Mexican Hat, Utah. 1908. (caption on photo by Spencer).
1907-1912
1:08:18: "Charles H. Spencer at his mining site on the San Juan River." Circa 1910.
