Collections
Journals in the AAC library
The library participates in an international exchange program,
sending the American Alpine Journal to over 120 mountaineering
organizations within the U.S.. and around the world. In return,
the library receives publications from regional and local climbing
clubs across America, as well as clubs and trade publications
from around the globe
List of Journals
Maps
The library has several thousand maps of mountain regions. These range from current trekking maps for the Himalaya, Alps, and other climbing areas, to topo sets and historical maps with a special strength in Alask and the Canadian Rockies. Maps are not cataloged, and there is no listing. They are arranged by location.
Himalayan Library
The John Boyle Himalayan Library documents mountaineering in the Himalaya and Seven Summits, with special emphasis on the 8000 meter peaks. The collection includes nearly 3000 books in dozens of languages
Photographs
Historical photographs, especially from 1900-1950, are a special
strength of the collections. The collection features images by
Hunter & Fannie Bullock Workman, Elizabeth Cowles, Vittorio Sella,
and Ansel Adams. The Portrait Photo File [link to list] and the
AAC Card Photograph File [link to list] have been inventoried.
List of Photo Collections
Rare Books
Members of the AAC have had amazing careers as collectors. Early club luminaries like J. Monroe Thorington and Henry F. Montagnier built incredible collections of rare books, some dating to the 15th century, documenting travel, exploration, and natural history of the Alps. Other club members added more treasures. The rare book room houses over 2500 rare books, including a 1561 natural history by Conrad Gersner, to signed first editions of contemporary books about mountaineering. Rare books are cataloged in Henry.
Manuscript Collections
Letters, diaries, and other unpublished materials form the core of the manuscript collections. Sketchbooks and albums of climbing in the Alps, Alaska, Caucasus, and other regions date from the mid-nineteenth century. Contemporary climbing journals and correspondence from expeditions provide an intimate view of the climbing life. Not all manuscript collections have been processed, but a list is available.
List of Manuscripts and Archives
AAC Archives
The Club’s history is documented in its own archives— the records created in the operation of club business. These include minutes of meeting, membership applications, scrapbooks and clippings files, reports of various AAC committees, and Club publications. Consult the Library Director for access to the archives.
Expedition Reports
Original reports from climbing and research expeditions, some sponsored by the AAC.
Oral Histories
Oral histories or interviews with climbers form an important source of documentation for our community. All interviews are available in the library; we are in the process of adding internet access to our audio files.