Ted Trueblood Collection

Series 8: Audio Visual Materials

A very personal side of Ted Trueblood, and his family, is revealed by listening to and viewing the tapes in this series.  Here are recordings of family holidays, from an era when the Trueblood sons, Dan and Jack were youngsters.

         Perhaps the most poignant audio recording is the Peter Barrett interview of the author.  The half-hour talk relates fascinating autobiographical material, but also unveils an unprepossessing and relaxed side of Ted’s personality that belies his writing talent and intellect.  The tape is a homespun version of Ted’s early history, his career with Field & Stream, and his conservation /preservation work. 

        Barrett got the author to confess why he kept a sledge hammer by his typewriter---it was to exercise his arm, his fly-casting muscles, between banging out paragraphs.  “When the day comes I can handle the hammer like a fly-rod, I’ll be able to cast 200 feet.” 

       Other valuable autobiographical material is contained in the VHS interview recordings by and about Ted.  In 1981 Trueblood was named the Coors Western Outdoorsman of the Year and an interview was taped to commemorate the award.  Once again, the author’s personality shines through; clad in a bright red shirt, he grins when the interviewer asks him how long it would take to learn everything about the outdoors.  “Oh, about 10 years longer than anyone lives,” he chuckled. 

        Sadly, Trueblood was to live only one more year.  Two days after his death in September 1982, Channel 6 News in Nampa broadcast a segment about his life that includes a short interview with his son Jack.  According to Jack, his father had told him that when Eskimos are too old to be of use to their tribe, they go out on the ice and end their life.  Jack said his father just couldn’t find any ice in Nampa.

Box 48: Audio and Video Recordings

Audio Recordings

Set of 3 Reel-to-Reel Tapes:

Family, 1955  
            Christmas, 1955  
            Christmas, 1957

Cassette Tapes:

Biographical interview of Ted Trueblood by Peter Barrett, 1968
            Ted Trueblood Night, 3 tapes/February 14, 1978

Video Recordings  

16mm Film:

Mr. Trueblood #425, 2 reels (1 camera, 1 sound)  includes discussion about fishing  

3/4" Video Tape:

“Ted Trueblood” by Glen Lau Productions

VHS Tapes:

Interview of Ted Trueblood for Coors Western Outdoorsman, 1981 with 3 duplicate tapes

Interview of Jack Trueblood (re: Ted Trueblood’s life) by Channel 6 in Nampa, entire newscast, September 14, 1982.  Interview segment only on duplicate tape

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