John Maben photographs and diaries

Collection consists of 89 black-and-white photographs, 347 nitrate negatives, two photograph albums, diaries, and correspondence. These materials date from 1921 to 1977. The bulk of the collection was created and compiled by Crater Lake National Park Company employee John Maben and documents his time as the winter caretaker of Crater Lake Lodge from 1921 to 1927.

The photographs depict the exterior and interior of the lodge, snow scenes, wildlife, roads, automobiles, and Crater Lake landmarks, including Wizard Island and Phantom Ship. The photographs also depict Crater Lake National Park employees Ranger Peter Oard, superintendent Alex Sparrow, and unidentified lodge and park staff and guests. The negatives primarily depict scenes from Crater Lake and cattle ranching in Klamath County, Oregon. They also document Klamath County businesses Rainbow Garage and T. Klamath Hotel, the Oregon Caves National Monument, Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood, and sports including skiing and track.

Documents in the collection include Maben’s typescript diaries from December 1926 to March 1927. They describe Maben’s daily activities as the winter caretaker of Crater Lake Lodge, the weather and snowfall measurements, his interactions with black bears, a ski race from Fort Klamath to the lodge in 1927, and his interpretation of Native origin stories about Crater Lake. The collection also contains correspondence after Maben’s death, between his niece Alta Knip Woodfield and his friend Alfred Castel. Their letters describe the ski race Maben organized in 1927, the formation of the Crater Lake Ski Club, and the diaries Maben kept while working at the lodge. Castel’s correspondence includes a pamphlet about Crater Lake National Park that he attributes to Maben. Also included is correspondence from George E. Woodfield to Oregon Historical Society describing the 1977 donation of Maben’s photographs, albums, and diaries to the society.