Series 1

Ted Trueblood’s correspondence files contain letters received by him and carbons of letters that he sent from the 1930s to the 1980s. Most of the correspondence relates to his writing career, his public life, and his interests in the outdoors.

Nowhere in this series is Trueblood’s wilderness philosophy more evident than in the communications with Frank Church,four-term U.S. Senator from Idaho. The letters, clippings, and press releases (1956-1982) retained by Trueblood illustrate the relationship he had with the Senator as constituent, lobbyist, colleague interested in wilderness preservation, and as a friend.

Correspondence with other political figures also appears. Idaho's Governor Cecil Andrus wrote a personal note to Trueblood thanking him for his support in 1974. Senator Herman Welker of Idaho complimented Trueblood on an article that was written in the early 1950s. Letters from Stewart Udall, Archibald Roosevelt, and U.S. Senator James McClure are found in this series. So too are early letters from outdoors editors such as Raymond J. Brown (Outdoor Life) and Ray P. Holland (Field & Stream).

Sheridan Anderson, the author of The Curtis Creek Manifesto, corresponded with the Trueblood family from 1976‑1983. Anderson's illustrations appear in publications for the Save Our Public Lands organization. Personal notes to Trueblood from Anderson feature samples of his unique sketches.

Much of the correspondence in this series pertains directly to hunting and fishing. The general files in Box 3 are filled with letters encouraging Ted to try a unique fly for trout or to explore a specific area for better hunting. Other professional outdoor writers, such as Bud Lilly, Bradford Angier, Peter Barrett, and Dwain Bland shared experiences with Trueblood. Several of the letters are from fans introducing Ted to new duck calls or a new way to tie on a fishing leader.

The far-reaching influence of Trueblood’s writing is evidenced in the many letters he received from “ordinary” people. For example, in April 1969, the author responded to J. L. Melancon’s request for a critique of his writing ability with a carefully crafted letter of criticism and suggestion. In December 1971, William Hellert wrote Ted a very moving “fan” letter, which dealt with conservation issues at a personal level.

A letter indicative of Ted’s willingness to help others is dated December 1939---from Mrs. James Fuller in Sweet, Idaho. Her father was being cheated on a land sale and she requested Trueblood’s assistance and advice, which he readily gave in a responding letter.

A large part of the material in this series deals directly with Trueblood’s career as an outdoor writer. He wrote for Field & Stream for over 40 years and much of the correspondence relating to that relationship is represented here: the establishment of his columns, story rejections, his hiring, his resignations, and his writing assignments. In a 1947 memo that is a masterpiece of persuasion, Trueblood convinced the managing editor of the magazine to allow him to work from Idaho (see Box 1, folder 15). In the Field & Stream files spanning 1938 to 1982, there are two letters, dated April 17, 1940, and May 20, 1959, full of autobiographical facts about Trueblood.

These files also give insight into the working structure of Field & Stream. The magazine's reaction to anti-hunting propaganda such as Cleveland Amory’s writings and CBS’s “Guns of Autumn” program (September 1975) are found in the Field & Stream editorial staff file. The influence of the magazine on conservation issues can be found here as well.

Correspondence for the publication of Trueblood's Hunting Treasury is part of this series, including correspondence with the family following his death, about a reprint. Letters with the family about a proposed Fishing Treasury can be found in Series IX, Box 51.

Additionally, correspondence in this series documents Trueblood's work on environmental concerns. He was president of Save Our Public Lands; pro and con reactions to Ted’s writing about this subject can be found in Box 2, files 15 and 16.

In 1995, additional correspondence was added to the series. Letters from Trueblood to close friends Pete Barrett and Harold Bayliss were given to his son, Jack, for inclusion in this collection. These documents, found in Box 4, include interesting and poignant accounts of the author’s personal life and career as well as his increasing health problems. (The first mention of a serious medical problem is found in a letter to Barrett dated October 24, 1977.) There are two touching letters of condolence written to Ellen Trueblood included in the Harold Bayliss file---from Bayliss’ son, Ernest.

A selective index of correspondents whose names do not appear on the folder list below may be found on a computerized database in the Special Collections Department.

Box 1: Correspondence

          Folder 1         Addresses
                        2         Anderson, Sheridan, 1976-1982
                        3         Andrus, Cecil, 1974-1977
                        4          Barrett, Pete, 1944-1982 (see also Box 4)
                        5          Bland, Dwain (turkey hunting), 1971-1975
                        6          Boats and motors, 1980-1987
                        7          Camera information, 1959-1977
                        8          Church, Frank
                        9          Church, Frank, 1959-1974
                      10          Church, Frank, 1976-1982
                      11          Church, Frank (River of No Return), 1976-1978
                      12          David McKay Co. Hunting Treasury, 1976-1984
                      13          Elks Magazine, 1963
                      14          Evinrude Motors, 1963-1976
                      15          Field & Stream, 1938-1949
                      16          Field & Stream, 1953-1975
                      17          Field & Stream, 1976-1982
                      18          Field & Stream readers, 1959-1982

Box 2: Correspondence

         Folder 1          Fishing letters, 1951-1966
                       2          Green, Fred, 1948, 1957
                       3          Henry Holt, & Co., 1954, 1962
                       4          Holland, Ray P., 1941-1949
                       5          Hormay, August “Gus”, 1935, 1967, 1973, 1978
                       6          Hunting Treasury contracts, 1981-1984
                       7          Invitations, 1961- 1967
                       8          Kidd, Vern, 1971-1972
                       9          McClure, James A., 1977-1983
                     10          Melancon, J. L., 1957-1958, 1968-1969
                     11          Poachers’ Club, 1982
                     12          Remington Arms Company, 1956-1971
                     13          Rodgers, Tom (Wild Turkey Federation) and Dwain Bland, 1976
                     14          Roosevelt, Archibald, 1965
                     15          Save Our Public Lands: Idaho, 1980-1981
                     16          Save Our Public Lands: other states, 1980-1981
                     17          Smith, Edmund Ware, 1932, 1963
                     18          Tallman, Jack, 1947-1984
                     19          Turpin, Tom, 1953-1954
                     20          Udall, Stewart, 1965
                     21          Voight, Bill, 1980-1981
                     22          Ward, Edgar B., 1962-1982
                     23          Welker, Herman, 1952

       Folder    1            General, 1929-1947
                       2            General, 1948-1967
                       3            General, 1968-1977
                       4            General, 1978-1982
                       5            General (from briefcase), 1960, 1981-1982

       Folder     1            Ted Trueblood to Pete Barrett, 1967-1969
                        2            Ted Trueblood to Pete Barrett, 1976-1977
                        3            Ted Trueblood to Pete Barrett, 1978
                        4            Ted Trueblood to Pete Barrett, 1979
                        5            Ted Trueblood to Pete Barrett, 1980-1981
                        6            Ted Trueblood to Pete Barrett, 1981
                        7            Ted Trueblood to Pete Barrett, 1982
                        8            Ted Trueblood to Harold Bayliss, 1947-1963