Alf Engen papers
Collection
Identifier: ACCN 1006
Scope and Contents
The Alf Engen papers (1915-1972) contain photocopied news clippings and mementos gathered by Alf Engen's mother concerning Engen's international Nordic and Alpine skiing careers. Some correspondence and certificates are also included. There are nine scrapbooks in the collection that cover his athletic career in his native Norway, as a champion soccer player and ski jumper, and as a United States, Olympic, and world champion ski jumper. The material within each scrapbook is organized chronologically, though several of the books overlap the same time period and are similar in content.
Some items from the collection have been digitized and are available online.
Some items from the collection have been digitized and are available online.
Dates
- 1915-1972
Creator
- Engen, Alf, 1909-1997 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical Sketch
Engen was born in Mjondallen, Norway, the oldest of three boys. Their father died when Engen was nine years old. The boys learned to ski jump as youngsters, and became well known for their Nordic ability in their homeland. In 1929, at age twenty, Engen immigrated to the United States with his younger brother, Sverre. They settled in Chicago, where the two brothers joined the American-Norwegian Athletic Club to meet fellow Norwegians. Engen and several members of the club traveled to Westby, Wisconsin, to participate in a ski jumping meet. With his first jump in the Westby Nordic event, Engen broke the world's distance ski jump record, and was asked to join a group of professional jumpers that toured the North American Nordic circuit. In 1931, he settled permanently in Salt Lake City. His youngest brother, Kaare, and their mother, Martha, immigrated to the United States in 1933 and the three Engen brothers traveled the United States as professional jumpers, breaking Nordic records and gaining recognition wherever they went.
In 1937, Engen married Evelyn Pack, of Centerville, Utah, regained his amateur standing, and ranked among the top Nordic skiers in the world. During this time he worked for the United States Forest Service as a winter sports advisor, planning and developing ski areas in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming. In 1938, Engen was invited to represent the Sun Valley Ski Club in Nordic jumping. While living in Idaho, he performed in several movies and newsreels, and taught himself how to Alpine ski. In 1940 Engen finished first in the National Four-way (jumping, cross country, slalom and downhill) held in Seattle, Washington. He was an international figure in the ski world, having won some five hundred trophies and medals in events around the world. His first son, Alan was born in 1940 (and became an outstanding skier during the 1960s, see box 4, folders 15-20). During World War II, Engen served in the Quartermasters Corp of the United States Army at Ogden, Utah. He worked as a consultant in snow and avalanche conditions and a technician in winter warfare clothing and equipment.
After the war Engen established the Alf Engen Ski School at Alta, Utah, and became director of the Deseret News and Telegram Free Ski School. In 1948, Engen and Walter Prager were co-coaches for the United States Olympic ski team. Jon, Engen's second son, was born in 1951. Engen was inducted into the United States Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming, Michigan, in 1956. He continued as head of the Alf Engen Ski School in Alta until his retirement in 1989. The Deseret Ski School continued as a yearly tradition, with Engen as its director until the late 1970s.
In 1937, Engen married Evelyn Pack, of Centerville, Utah, regained his amateur standing, and ranked among the top Nordic skiers in the world. During this time he worked for the United States Forest Service as a winter sports advisor, planning and developing ski areas in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming. In 1938, Engen was invited to represent the Sun Valley Ski Club in Nordic jumping. While living in Idaho, he performed in several movies and newsreels, and taught himself how to Alpine ski. In 1940 Engen finished first in the National Four-way (jumping, cross country, slalom and downhill) held in Seattle, Washington. He was an international figure in the ski world, having won some five hundred trophies and medals in events around the world. His first son, Alan was born in 1940 (and became an outstanding skier during the 1960s, see box 4, folders 15-20). During World War II, Engen served in the Quartermasters Corp of the United States Army at Ogden, Utah. He worked as a consultant in snow and avalanche conditions and a technician in winter warfare clothing and equipment.
After the war Engen established the Alf Engen Ski School at Alta, Utah, and became director of the Deseret News and Telegram Free Ski School. In 1948, Engen and Walter Prager were co-coaches for the United States Olympic ski team. Jon, Engen's second son, was born in 1951. Engen was inducted into the United States Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming, Michigan, in 1956. He continued as head of the Alf Engen Ski School in Alta until his retirement in 1989. The Deseret Ski School continued as a yearly tradition, with Engen as its director until the late 1970s.
Extent
16.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes, 8 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Alf Engen papers (1915-1972) contain photocopied news clippings and mementos gathered by Alf Engen's mother concerning Engen's international Nordic and Alpine skiing careers. Alf Engen was a United States, Olympic, and world champion ski jumper who served as a consultant to the U.S. Army ski forces during World War II. He founded the Alf Engen Ski School at Alta, Utah. Click here to view digitized items from the collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Boxes 1-5 were donated by Alf Engen in 1988 (12.5 linear feet).
Folder 27 of box 5 was donated by Darrell Barnes on an unknown date.
Alan K. Engen donated boxes 6-9 in 2005 (3.25 linear feet).
Folder 27 of box 5 was donated by Darrell Barnes on an unknown date.
Alan K. Engen donated boxes 6-9 in 2005 (3.25 linear feet).
Separated Materials
See also the Alf Engen ski video collection (A0391) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Processing Information
Processed by Jane Chesley in 1997.
Processed by Lisa DeMille in 2004.
Processed by Samuel Passey in 2005.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Processed by Lisa DeMille in 2004.
Processed by Samuel Passey in 2005.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Creator
- Engen, Alf, 1909-1997 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Alf Engen papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Jane Chesley, Taylor Ouimette and Betsey Welland.
- Date
- © 1997 (last modified: 2014 and 2019)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu