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Kent Frost photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P1286

Scope and Contents

The Kent Frost photograph collection consists of 15 boxes containing images of the Frost family and friends, images of Kent Frost's mission and of his time in the military, and images from his explorations of Utah's outdoors including river runs, camping, and his Canyonland Jeep tours through southern Utah. Box 1 contains oversize prints. Box 2 is a photograph album. Boxes 3-8 contain photos from outdoor trips and general family photos sorted chronologically by year. Boxes 8-9 contain images related to family and friends. Several folders in Boxes 7 and 8 are digital only and are jpeg or tif file format. Box 10 contains images from river trips and other outdoor adventures sorted by photographer. Boxes 11-14 contain mostly slides and images from Kent Frost Jeep Tours and other outdoor adventures. Box 15 contains a general assortment of family photos and river trips.

Dates

  • 1914-2008

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

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

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Kent Frost photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

Kent Smith Frost was born in Monticello, Utah on January 17, 1917 to Seraphine Smith and Clarence Alfred Frost. Frost grew up exploring Southern Utah, and began working as a boatman for Normal Nevills in the late 1930s. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he served a mission to the Midwestern states. Frost served in the United States Navy on the USS Otus during WWII. He returned to San Juan County, Utah after his service. Frost was married to Violette Dixon from 1943-1946, and in 1948 he married Fern Binns.

Frost founded Kent Frost Jeep Tours in 1949 and began taking tourists on guided explorations of southern Utah. Later, he and Fern operated Kent Frost Canyonlands Tours. Kent and Fern Frost lobbied for the creation of Canyonlands National Park. Frost wrote numerous articles for Desert Magazine, Arizona Highways, and other publications. In 1971 he published My Canyonlands: I Had the Freedom of It, a personal account of his youth exploring southern Utah. Frost was recognized for his contributions to river running by numerous organizations: in 1985, he was a charter inductee to the Utah Travel Council’s Hall of Fame and in 2004 received the David Brower Award from the Glen Canyon Institute.

Kent Frost died on May 16, 2013.

Extent

15 Boxes

Abstract

Kent Frost (1917-2013) was a Utah river runner, tour guide, and author who lobbied for the creation of Canyonlands National Park. This collection consists of images of the Frost family and friends; images of Kent Frost's mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and service in the United States Navy; and images from his explorations of southern Utah's outdoors including river runs, camping, and his Canyonland Jeep tours.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Kent Frost in 2006. Addendums in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013.

Related Materials

This collection forms part of the River Running Archive, which is part of the S.J. Quinney Outdoor Recreation Archive.

Separated Materials

Example: See also the Kent Frost papers (ACCN 1687) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.
Title
Guide to the Kent Frost photograph collection, 1914-2008
Author
Finding aid created by Claire A. Kempa
Date
2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

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