Alvin Cobabe photograph collection
Collection
Identifier: P1330
Scope and Contents
The Alvin Cobabe photograph collection consists of two topic areas: first, portraits of Cobabe and snapshots of him with his family; and second, images depicting Wolf Creek, Utah, particularly the construction of Powder Mountain Ski Resort in the 1960s.
The original images were loaned to the library for Alvin's induction into the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame in 2008, and were scanned and then returned to the donor.
These images are available online. The image files can be requested, but the library no longer has the original images.
Most of the caption information was provided by Aleta Cobabe, Alvin and June's daughter.
Dates
- 1962-1999
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 Note
Dr. Alvin Fred Cobabe was born on November 7, 1917 to Frederick James and Hazel Hudman Cobabe in Slaterville, Utah. He grew up in a small farming and ranching community west of Ogden, Utah, working on his family’s sheep and cattle ranch. After graduating high school, he studied radio engineering in Kansas City, Missouri, and worked for Ogden’s KLO radio station from 1937 to 1938.
In 1937, Alvin decided to go into the family business and purchased land for sheep grazing that adjoined his father’s property. While building a reservoir on the property, he purchased heavy earth moving equipment, which he used as a side business of heavy earth construction. The same year, 1937, he married June Heslop (1917-2011); together, the couple had four daughters. In 1948, Alvin bought out his father’s land and livestock company, which ran livestock in four states.
In 1956, at the age of 38, Alvin decided to pursue a dream of becoming a doctor, enrolling in pre-medicine classes at Weber State. He then attended the University of Utah, graduating in 1963; at the time, the 43-year-old Alvin was the oldest student to earn a M.D. from the University’s medical school. After interning at Dee Memorial Hospital, Alvin went into general practice. Always interested in new challenges, he pursued postgraduate education in clinical hypnosis in the 1970s. He practiced as a doctor in Weber County until 1988.
Though he had been an avid skier as a youth, a serious leg fracture kept him from the slopes until he relearned to ski in 1963. Around this time, friends suggested to him that the land that had been used for grazing livestock in Wolf Creek Canyon might be appealing for a ski resort. Throughout the 1960s, as he pursued his career as a doctor, Alvin worked to acquire adjoining properties to his family’s land while researching the ski industry. In 1966, he joined the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and the Intermountain Ski Areas Association (ISAA) and quickly took on leadership roles in the ISAA.
Alvin’s eclectic background in electrical engineering, heavy equipment operation, and construction prepared him to take a hands-on role in the construction of his ski resort. Powder Mountain ski resort opened on February 19, 1972, with one lift, Sundown lift. June Heslop Cobabe was co-owner of the resort and took an active role in the day-to-day operations, particularly hospitality. Together, the Cobabes grew Powder Mountain resort quickly, adding a Main Lodge, Sundown Lodge, and Timberline lift to the operations for the 1972-1973 season. By the twenty-first century, Powder Mountain was the largest ski area in the United States. In 2006, Alvin and June sold Powder Mountain. June passed away in 2011 and Alvin died in 2017.
In 1937, Alvin decided to go into the family business and purchased land for sheep grazing that adjoined his father’s property. While building a reservoir on the property, he purchased heavy earth moving equipment, which he used as a side business of heavy earth construction. The same year, 1937, he married June Heslop (1917-2011); together, the couple had four daughters. In 1948, Alvin bought out his father’s land and livestock company, which ran livestock in four states.
In 1956, at the age of 38, Alvin decided to pursue a dream of becoming a doctor, enrolling in pre-medicine classes at Weber State. He then attended the University of Utah, graduating in 1963; at the time, the 43-year-old Alvin was the oldest student to earn a M.D. from the University’s medical school. After interning at Dee Memorial Hospital, Alvin went into general practice. Always interested in new challenges, he pursued postgraduate education in clinical hypnosis in the 1970s. He practiced as a doctor in Weber County until 1988.
Though he had been an avid skier as a youth, a serious leg fracture kept him from the slopes until he relearned to ski in 1963. Around this time, friends suggested to him that the land that had been used for grazing livestock in Wolf Creek Canyon might be appealing for a ski resort. Throughout the 1960s, as he pursued his career as a doctor, Alvin worked to acquire adjoining properties to his family’s land while researching the ski industry. In 1966, he joined the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and the Intermountain Ski Areas Association (ISAA) and quickly took on leadership roles in the ISAA.
Alvin’s eclectic background in electrical engineering, heavy equipment operation, and construction prepared him to take a hands-on role in the construction of his ski resort. Powder Mountain ski resort opened on February 19, 1972, with one lift, Sundown lift. June Heslop Cobabe was co-owner of the resort and took an active role in the day-to-day operations, particularly hospitality. Together, the Cobabes grew Powder Mountain resort quickly, adding a Main Lodge, Sundown Lodge, and Timberline lift to the operations for the 1972-1973 season. By the twenty-first century, Powder Mountain was the largest ski area in the United States. In 2006, Alvin and June sold Powder Mountain. June passed away in 2011 and Alvin died in 2017.
Extent
42 images
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Alvin Cobabe photograph collection consists of images depicting Cobabe with his family and construction images of his ski resort. Cobabe was the founder of Powder Mountain Resort in Wolf Creek near Eden, Utah.
Arrangement
Arranged by subject
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Aleta Cobabe (daughter) in 2008.
Processing Information
Processed by Gareth Horwood in 2007.
- Title
- Guide to the Alvin Cobabe photograph collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Gareth Horwood.
- Date
- 2007 (last modified: 2021)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2021: Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Sara Davis and Claire Kempa.
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