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THE PAPERS OF CORT CONLEY relating to IDAHO LONERS MSS 142 in Boise State University, Albertsons Library, Special Collections Dept.
Cort Conley’s book Idaho Loners: Hermits, Solitaries, and Individualists was published in 1994. Conley had previously written seven books, most of which highlight his adopted state of Idaho. Originally from California, Conley worked as river guide along Idaho’s Salmon River for several years. He turned acquired knowledge of the area into his first book, The Middle Fork and the Sheepeater War (1977), co-authored by Johnny Carrey. In his most popular work, Idaho for the Curious (1982), Conley incorporated points of interest, historical information, and local legends to create a readable travel guide. Conley again combined legend and fact in his stories of Idaho Loners. He selected individuals who chose to live a solitary life. The reasons for their lonely lifestyles varied as much as the people themselves. Conley included legendary characters such as the trapper Beaver Dick, hermit Doc Hinson, rancher Helena Schmidt, and mountain man Buckskin Bill Hart. He expanded the definition of a loner to include CIA administrator James Angleton and outlaw Claude Dallas. Cort Conley was born in Berkeley, California, in 1945. He earned a bachelors degree and law degree from the University of California before moving to Idaho in 1972. He has worked as a river guide as well as a writer. Most of his books have been issued under his own imprint, Backeddy Books. He has homes in Boise and Cambridge, Idaho. Conley’s files include chapter drafts and revisions plus photocopied reference sources and research notes for each subject. The largest amounts of material amassed were for the two modern day loners, Dallas and Angleton.
Collection number MSS 142
Box 1 Folder 1. Preface: Text Box 2 Folder 1. Claude Dallas: Drafts Return to Special Collections home page |
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