The Adirondack Forty-Sixers
Records, 1933-2006

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History and Organization

The Adirondack Forty-Sixers is an organization that was begun in 1936 by Ernest R. Ryder and Edward L. Hudowalski as a social club for those individuals who had successfully climbed to the summit of the forty-six peaks in the Adirondack Mountain Range that are four thousand feet or higher in elevation.  It was originally known as the Troy Forty-Sixers, as the founders and other early members were residents of that city and surrounding communities.  In 1948 it was formally incorporated as the Adirondack Forty-Sixers in an effort to secure a larger geographic base from which it could attract new members.  Today, it has members from almost every state and some foreign countries, though the large majority is from New York and other northeastern states.  The organization meets several times a year offering special programs not only on mountain climbing, but also on such topics as history, ecology, and geology of the Adirondacks.  In addition, they hold an annual business meeting to recognize new members, elect officers, adopt a budget, and consider other organizational matters.  The annual business meeting is generally held in May.  There is also a special category known as the Winter 46ers to recognize individuals who have climbed all the high peaks during the winter months when weather conditions make the task especially difficult.

Description of Records

The records of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers are organized into three series: I. Correspondence, 1936-2006; II. Questionnaires, 1933-2006; III. Winter Forty-Sixers Records, 1962-2006, and IV.  Historical Files and Personal Narratives, 1958-2004.  The correspondence files are comprised chiefly of letters between Grace (Mrs. Edward) Hudowalski, longtime secretary/historian for the organization, and individual climbers.  Letters from the climbers consist generally of descriptions of their ascents to the summits of mountains along with dates, times, and names of fellow climbers.  Grace Hudowalski's letters are more than brief congratulatory notes; they contain many interesting personal recollections and reminiscences of her own and others' experiences in climbing particular peaks.  Since 1999 other individuals holding the office of club historian have answered the correspondence.  The correspondence has been arranged in chronological units and alphabetically by surname within each unit.  The membership number for each individual is noted as a cross-reference to the questionnaires.

The questionnaire series is comprised of general information forms submitted by the individual climber after he or she has successfully conquered all forty-six Adirondack high peaks having an elevation of 4,000 feet or more.  These forms contain biographical and other general information about an individual’s hiking and mountain climbing experiences.  Most forms include an attached list of the forty-six peaks climbed; on the list, the climber notes the date each peak was climbed, companions, and other remarks.  Many forms have a photograph of the climber that was usually taken when the feat of all forty-six was accomplished.  These forms are arranged in numerical order according to the membership number assigned to an individual upon verification of having reached the summit of all 46 peaks.  Beginning with 1970, an annual list of names precedes the questionnaire forms.  Beginning in 1999 a copy of the questionnaire is also filed with the correspondence.

The Winter Forty-Sixers’ records consist of correspondence and reports much like that of the first two series.  Included is a subseries of each individual’s winter climbing record that has been filed chronologically beginning in 1962.  This is followed by a series of correspondence and reports arranged alphabetically by surname.  In both subseries an individual’s regular membership number appended with "w" is noted. 

The historical files and personal narratives consist mostly of unpublished manuscripts related to the history of the organization or special reminiscences of individual members. Here is included an annotated manuscript of the published history compiled by Dorothy O. Haeusser, et al., circa 1958.  The personal narratives, compiled by Kevin B. MacKenzie and Jeffery R. Harper, are lavishly illustrated with photographs. This series also includes news clippings, programs, and issues of Smoke Signals, the organization’s newsletter, and a video cassette of the 1992 membership meeting.

The correspondence, questionnaires, and other materials altogether comprise a truly valuable archive for the study of hiking and mountaineering activities in the Adirondacks as well as the growth and development of these activities as a popular form of recreation.  The anecdotal information is detailed and eloquent and the documentation quite complete.

Research Use and Access

To use the records of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers, researchers must sign the “Conditions of Use of Records of Adirondack Forty-Sixers” form in which they agree not to publish anything about or from these records that indicates any identifiable surnames without the express written permission of the persons named.  Researchers also understand that literary rights in any correspondence or other documents found in these records reside with the writer of the correspondence or other documents.  It is the explicit responsibility of researchers to seek permission of these writers during their lifetime or their heirs fifty years thereafter prior to citing, quoting, or publishing from the correspondence or other documents.

Series I: Correspondence, 1936-2006

Series II: Questionnaires, 1933-2006

Series III: Winter 46ers Records, 1962-2006

Series IV:  Historical Files and Personal Narratives, 1958-2004