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How Norman Clyde's Photographs Found Their Way Home
Many of you kind folks have puzzled with me over some of the mystery photographs that I inadvertently collected some years ago and have posted on my website, http://www.thehighsierra.org . The latest chapter is this story concerns an email that I received in mid-December that I faithfully reproduce here:
Hello,
I have a very old overnight case that had been sitting in my parents house for 60yrs or so. Inside the box is a lot of very similar things like you have. Pictures,negatives, letters, post cards, original newspaper clips dateing from the late 30s back to 1915. The appalaction club. The backs of all the developed pictures have been written on telling the mountain name face elevation etc. One of the pictures had the name Jules Eickorn on the back so I googled it and a picture of him came up with your web page underneath. That's how I ended up with your Email address. If you would like to hear the story of where the box was found and other stuff in the box you can call me at 555-1212 as I probably wont have the box much longer. I know nothing about climbing rocks.
At first I was a bit suspicious but gave in to my curiosity and gave the writer a call. Sure enough, he did have an odd collection of old Norman's property and wanted to see it in the hands of someone who would appreciate it for its historical value.......for a price.
I was pretty concerned that one of his relatives who was a fan of Antiques Roadshow would get his ear and convince him to hold out for the big bucks so I immediately got on the phone to a friend down south who shares an interest in Clyde and convinced him to make a trip out to see this gentleman and procure the goods. Here I will mention that this friend is Dennis Kruska, author and lecturer on Clyde and his times. See if you can find a copy of his beautiful book, Twenty-Five Letters From Norman Clyde, 1923-1964 . I believe there were only 500 copies printed by Dawson's Book Shop in 1998.
So, Denny takes a trip to the wilds of Lake Elsinore where he trades a handful of cash for a case of photos, negatives, and correspondence, apparently separated from Norman many years ago. He kindly forwarded the negatives to me and I have been scanning, identifying where possible, and posting here:
http://www.thehighsierra.org/Norman%20Clyde%20Found.htm
The plan is to deliver this material to the Eastern California Museum in Independence where it can reside with the rest of Norman's possessions. I'm hoping that the Museum will have another Norman Clyde Day this spring and we can all be regaled by Denny's quest for the Lost Clyde Scrolls.
Many of these photographs are as yet unidentified so if you would like to try your luck, have at it. We would greatly appreciate it.
Mike Rettie
Alameda
