Ted Trueblood Collection

Series 6: Field Notebooks

Box 20 contains Ted Trueblood’s handwritten field notebooks.  They are a microcosm of the history of fishing and hunting in America, circa 1930-1980.  The early notebooks, which he started keeping while still in high school,  focus on the abundance of fish and wildlife in Idaho.  In the later years Trueblood’s focal point changes from the pursuit of the wily trout or the elusive elk to the environmental conditions in which these creatures survive.  

Trueblood started to notice deterioration of the natural environment at an early age.  On July 23, 1933, he noted: “I fished Goose Creek today.  The stream is not nearly as nice now as it was 5 years ago.”  On May 21, 1944,  he writes of catching 34 native trout in Mann’s Creek and Fourth of July Creek. 

              The notebooks of the 1930s are set primarily in Idaho and most were written in the field.  Trueblood recorded areas fished, the conditions of the day, the bait or lure used, and the results of his unique methods.  In the 1940s the Truebloods lived both in North Carolina and New York.  Their fishing and hunting activities in these states, and their return to Idaho, are documented in Notebooks 10-16. 

           Notebook 17 tells of a pike-fishing trip to Canada.  Notebooks 32, 33, and 35 contain Ellen Trueblood’s accounts of two elk-hunting trips in the Chamberlain Basin of central Idaho.  Notebook 34 is a record of a family fishing trip, also by Ellen.  Her writing contains interesting notes about collecting fungi, including descriptions and preservation methods.  Pictures of the elk-hunting expeditions are found in the photographic collection (see especially Series VII, Photographic Materials, Book 30)

An engaging discourse on the wolves in Alaska is located in Notebook 3, Frank Glaser.  Trueblood visited with Glaser in Alaska in 1952 and 1953, interviewing him on his experiences in its wilderness areas from the 1900s through the 1950s.  The noticeable changes in the country and wildlife are included in the narrative, but the primary topic is a dramatic and vivid eyewitness account of native predators. Fishing for Alaskan shee and grayling is also recounted here.  These notes became the basis of an article “Sailfish of the North---Grayling” which appeared in True, in August 1958.

Some notebooks on the list for Box 20 below are marked with an asterisk.  Typewritten copies of the entries in these books have been put into a binder in Box 21.  Note that not all the field notebooks were copied in typescript form.  The binder is arranged in order by date and it, in turn, contains some entries that are not found in the handwritten field notebooks.  These are:

Accounts of fishing and hunting expeditions for the years 1936, 1937, 1939, and 1947 - 1954

Elk and deer hunts in the Fall of 1948

A 1950 “Big Game” hunt

1953 family camping and fishing trips

A 1954 June fishing trip and September grouse hunt (complete with grub list)

            In addition, there are three notable stories contained in this binder which are also not found in the field notebooks.  Ellen wrote an account of their unusual marriage ceremony and four-month camping-fishing honeymoon dated July 6 - October 31, 1939.  (See also a letter to Chum Martuch dated April 7, 1964, in Series V, Box 18, Folder 4.)  Ellen also penned the beginnings of a story about their dog Joe, found after the June 1946 entries.  And included here is Ellen’s story about being stranded with her sons in the Oregon desert in 1960.  Another copy is located in her papers (MSS 94).

Diaries

           Ted Trueblood kept daily accounts of his activities for thirty years, from 1951 until his death in September 1982.  His diaries (Daily Planners) are found in Boxes 22 and 23.  As might be expected, the diary entries are the most personal writings in the collection.  

Here are records of Ted’s daily work and family life.  He kept a log of what he accomplished each day, noting the progress or non-progress of his writing assignments, pictures taken, and mail answered.  There are brief entries about hunting and fishing trips, along with tallies of game he and Ellen spotted.  The diaries also record more mundane things---errands, appointments, social engagements, yardwork and chores, and yields from his vegetable gardens.  Ever in tune with the outdoors, Ted noted the weather, temperature, and precipitation.  He welcomed the arrival of spring, recording the trees and bushes leafing out.

           These volumes demonstrate that Ted was very involved with his family.  He assisted his wife with her mycological research, participating in collecting trips and conferences and developing her pictures of fungi.  Relationships with various family members are discussed here; birthdays, deaths, and funeral services are recorded.  There are brief entries about the author’s involvement with environmental organizations and awards received, but much more space is devoted to the care of those close to him.

        Beginning with Ted’s heart attack in 1968 (age 55), the diaries also served as a place to record the progress of his illnesses.  The entries regarding medical problems intensify in the fall of 1977 when he developed arthritis in one leg and in 1978 when the first signs of cancer began to manifest themselves.  Since Ted kept a tally of days spent fishing and hunting each year, one can trace his physical deterioration as their number declined.  In 1961 the total was 151 days.  In 1973 it was reduced to 63, and in 1980 only 38 days were spent on his favorite pursuits.

Box 22: Diaries

         Individual diaries, 1929, 1951-1971

Box 23: Diaries

         Individual diaries, 1972-1982

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