Adirondack Forty-Sixers Records

Historical Note:

The Adirondack Forty-Sixers can trace its origins back to 1936 when Ernest R. Ryder and Edward L. Hudowalski formed a social club for like-minded 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.  On May 30, 1948 this club was formally incorporated by the State of New York 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.

Scope and Content Note:

The records of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers are organized into five series: I) Correspondence; II) Questionnaires; III) Winter Forty-Sixers Records; IV) Historical Files and Personal Narratives; and V) Summit Logbooks.  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.  Correspondence files are generally arranged in chronological units that are subdivided alphabetically by surname.  Prior to 1985, these files cover multiple years. Thereafter, the correspondence files according to the year (class) in which individuals completed the task of climbing the requisite 46 peaks. Within the file for a particular individual, the letters can range from a few days to several years depending on how long it took to accomplish the feat. In these files the membership number for each individual is noted as a cross-reference to his/her questionnaire.

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 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.  The forms commenced in 1948 with information submitted retrospectively from 53 individuals known to have accomplished the feat prior to that year.  These records show that Herbert Clark, George Marshall, and Robert Marshall, were the first three to climb all 46 peeks over a period of years from 1918 to 1925. Many of the other early members accomplished the feat between 1933 and 1941. 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 summit logbooks were maintained in canisters on the summits of 24 of the high peaks, and contain signed names and comments from climbers who scaled the peaks between 1946 and 2001. The logbooks are arranged alphabetically by mountain and thereafter chronologically. 

The correspondence, questionnaires, logbooks and other materials altogether comprise a 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. 

Related Collections:

This repository has a number of other collections related to the history of outdoor recreation in the Adirondack Mountains.  One of the early members of the 46ers, C. Howard Nash compiled an excellent collection of photographs and journal of his hiking experiences in the Adirondack Mountains and other ranges in New York and New England. The records of the Adirondack Mountain Club (1922- ) details its work in establishing and maintaining hiking trails as well as publishing guides to hiking trails in the Adirondacks.

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 to 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 those writers during their lifetime or their heirs fifty years thereafter prior to citing, quoting, or publishing from the correspondence or other documents.

Series Description and Container List

Series I: Correspondence, 1940-2013

The correspondence series consist chiefly of letters exchanged between the individual climber and the secretary/ historian of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers. Prior to 1999, the task was handled by Grace (Mrs. Edward) Hudowalski, who served as secretary/historian for the organization for many years.  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. Correspondence files are generally arranged in chronological units that are subdivided alphabetically by surname. Prior to 1985, these files cover multiple years. Thereafter, the correspondence files according to the year (class) in which individuals completed the task of climbing the requisite 46 peaks. Within the file for a particular individual, the letters can range from a few days to several years depending on how long it took to accomplish the feat. In these files the membership number for each individual is noted as a cross-reference to his/her questionnaire.

Series II: Questionnaires, 1948-2013

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 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.  The forms commenced in 1948 with information submitted retrospectively from 53 individuals known to have accomplished the feat prior to that year.  These records show that Herbert Clark, George Marshall, and Robert Marshall, were the first three to climb all 46 peeks over a period of years from 1918 to 1925. Many of the other early members accomplished the feat between 1933 and 1941. 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.

Series III: Winter 46ers Records, 1962-2011

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. 

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

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.

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.

Series V: Summit Logbooks, 1946-2001

The summit logbooks were maintained in canisters on the summits of 24 of the high peaks, and contain signed names and comments from climbers who scaled the peaks between 1946 and 2001. The logbooks are arranged alphabetically by mountain and thereafter chronologically.