John S. Flannery papers, 1965-1969

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Flannery, John S.
Title
John S. Flannery papers
Dates
1965-1969 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 boxes, (1 linear ft.)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 271
Summary
Primary and secondary documents, memorandums, meeting minutes, articles, and correspondence related to various Sierra Club issues between 1965 and 1969
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Historical NoteReturn to Top

John S. Flannery collected this material while serving as assistant to the President of the Sierra Club, Dr. Edgar Wayburn, during David Brower's tenure as executive director. Mr. Flannery later worked in Information Services at Utah State University as a feature writer.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The John S. Flannery Papers consists of primary and secondary documents, memorandums, meeting minutes, articles, and correspondence related to various Sierra Club issues between 1965 and 1969. A majority of the documents center on the Sierra Club's executive director David Brower, his actions within the club, and his conduct concerning alleged misdeeds.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

The Sierra Club is one of the largest environmental organizations in the United States. Founded in 1892 by nature writer John Muir. The purpose of the Sierra Club is to protect and preserve the natural environment. During the past century the club has become well known for its aggressive efforts to block projects it deemed harmful to the earth's ecosystem.

In the 1960s, the Sierra Club found itself embroiled in one of its greatest battles. This time though, unlike other confrontations, this struggle centered on members of the organization--specifically, its executive director David Brower.

David Brower, a long-time champion of environmental issues and a man very similar in qualities to John Muir, developed the Sierra Club from a fledgling organization of just over seven thousand members into a membership of over seventy thousand by the late 1960s. As executive director, Brower advanced the clubs reach and objectives away from the image of a hiking organization into one that more actively pursued environmental issues. Brower's opponents argued that his actions centered more on him--some members even alleged that various illegal activities were taking place. The divisiveness of these numerous issues eventually led to the removal of Brower from the club in 1969. The Flannery Collection contains documents and articles dealing directly with the controversy between David Brower and the Sierra Club.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

Permission to publish material from the John S. Flannery papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation:John S. Flannery Papers Mss # 271, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:COLL MSS 271, USUSC.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed; Bryce Spencer; 2000.

Acquisition Information

Received by donation

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Correspondence, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 1

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Paul Baum to Edgar Wayburn
1967 December 11
2
Philip Berry to: David Brower
1968 August 06
3
Philip Berry to: Richard Sill
1968 August 28
4
Philip Berry to: S.L. Sibley, President PGandE
1968 September 16
5
Philip Berry to: Board of Directors, Sierra Club
1968 November 25
6
Philip Berry to: David Brower
1969 January 30
7
Philip Berry to: John Flannery
1969 March 13
8
Philip Berry to: The Conservation Staff, Sierra Club
1969 August 30
9
Linda Billings to Mike McCloskey
1969 May 15

Correspondence, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 2

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn
1967 November 07
2
David Brower to: Charles B. Huestis
1968 January 30
3
David Brower to: George Marshall
1968 February 01
4
David Brower to: George Marshall
1968 February 28
5
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 March 24
6
David Brower to: Board of Publications Committee
1968 July 18
7
David Brower to: Phillip Berry
1968 September 04
8
David Brower to: Phillip Berry
1968 September 12
9
David Brower to: Editors of all Club Publications
1968 September 16
10
Annotated Transcript, of public statements made by Directors Sill, Adams, and Leonard
1968 October 19
11
David Brower to: Board of Directors
1968 October 22
12
David Brower to: Charles Huestis
1968 October 24
13
David Brower to: Aubrey Wendling
1968 October 31
14
David Brower to: Ansel Adams
1968 October 31
15
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 November 01
16
David Brower to: Board of Directors
1968 November 27
17
David Brower to: Membership
1968 December 08
18
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 December 10
19
David Brower to: Phillip Berry
1968 December 10
20
David Brower to: Clifford J. Rudden
1968 December 11
21
David Brower to: Secretary of the Sierra Club
1968 December 31
22
David Brower to: Cliff Rudden
1969 January 02

Correspondence, 1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 3

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn
1969 January 09
2
David Brower to: Board of Directors
1969 January 20
3
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn
1969 January 21
4
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn
1969 January 23
5
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn
1969 January 30
6
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn
1969 February 15
7
David Brower to: Membership
1969 May 03
8
David Brower to: Board of Directors
1969 June 08
9
David Brower to: Edgar Wayburn

Correspondence, 1968-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 4

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Anne Lloyd Crotty to Board of Directors, Sierra Club
1969 March 15
2
Eugene Decker to John Flannery
1969 May 01
3
John Flannery to: Richard Sill
1968 February 09
4
John Flannery to: Reorganization Committee
1968 February 15
5
John Flannery to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 October 22
6
John Flannery to: Herb
1968 November 06
7
John Flannery to: Edgar Wayburn
1969 January 14
8
John Flannery to: David Brower
1969 January 31
9
John Flannery to: Aubrey Wendling
1969 February 04
10
John Flannery to: Edgar Wayburn
1969 April 06
11
John Flannery to: Controller Sierra Club
1969 July 21
12
John Flannery to: Executive Director, Sierra Club
1969 August 06
13
John Flannery to: The Editor, Deseret News
1969 September 03
14
John Flannery to: Sierra Club Post
1969

Correspondence, 1968-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 5

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Russell W. Fizell to Edgar Wayburn
1967 September 25
2
Connie Flateboe to Edgar Wayburn
1969 April 23
3
Martin Friedman to Editor, The Yodeler
1968 December 9
4
Paul Fritz to: Mrs. William Viavant
1968 October 2
5
Paul Fritz to: W.N. Strickland
1968 October 25
6
Sue Graff to Edgar Wayburn
1969 March 2
7
Allen Horlin to Clifford Rudden
1968 October 29
8
M. Howe to Phillip Berry
1969 May 5
9
Philip Hyde to Edgar Wayburn
1968 December 17
10
Jeffrey Ingram to Membership
1969 June 17
11
John M. Jencks to: Harold Gilliam
1969 May 1
12
John M. Jencks to: Edgar Wayburn
1969 May 4
13
Richard M. Leonard to Edgar Wayburn
1968 June 10
14
Lloyd Linford to David Brower
15
Max K. Linn to Richard M. Leonard
1968 October 22
16
Martin Litton to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 December 6
17
Martin Litton to: Directors, Flannery, McCloskey, Rudden
1969 March 26
18
Martin Litton to: Richard Leonard
1969 April 10
19
Jack P. Maloney to Sierra Club
1969 March 15

Correspondence, 1967-1968Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 6

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
George Marshall to: Edgar Wayburn
1967 July 13
2
George Marshall to: David Brower
1968 February 12
3
George Marshall to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 November 13

Correspondence, 1968-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 7

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Michael McCloskey to: Members and Staff
1969 May 5
2
Michael McCloskey to: Employees, Sierra Club
1969 February 10
3
Michael McCloskey to: Donald McKinley to Members of the Board
1968 December 18
4
Michael McCloskey to: F. Stanley Mikelk to Edgar Wayburn
1969 March 13
5
Susan E. Miller to: Jack Maloney
1969 March 26
6
Susan E. Miller to: Edgar Wayburn
1969 April 25
7
Susan E. Miller to: Maynard Munger, Jr. to Membership
1969 January 27
8
Susan E. Miller to: Hugh Nash to Council Reps and Chapter Chairmen
1969 February 1
9
Susan E. Miller to: Marshall Newman to Sierra Club Bulletin
1968 September 13
10
Susan E. Miller to: Virginia Prentice to Edgar Wayburn
1969 January 12
11
Susan E. Miller to: Daniel M. Popper to Edgar Wayburn
1969 February 2
12
Susan E. Miller to: Bettina Rosay to Edgar Wayburn
1969 March 16
13
Susan E. Miller to: Florence Scheerer to Edgar Wayburn
1969 March 10
14
Susan E. Miller to: Thomas C. Sewell to Edgar Wayburn
1969 February 2

Correspondence, 1967-1968Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 8

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Richard Sill to: Eliot Porter
1967 July 30
2
Richard Sill to: Walter Baring
1967 August 10
3
Richard Sill to: Robert Rowen
1967 August 10
4
Richard Sill to: Sierra Club Members
1967 December 5
5
Richard Sill to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 January 13
6
Richard Sill to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 February 15
7
Richard Sill to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 March 6
8
Richard Sill to: G. Gervaise Davis, III
1968 April 2
9
Richard Sill to: Phillip Berry
1968 August 16
10
Richard Sill to: Edgar Wayburn
1968 September 24
11
Richard Sill to: Los Padres Chapter
1967 December 5

Correspondence, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 9

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Gary A. Soucie to Sierra Club Leadership
1969 May 8
2
Bob E. Watt to Sierra Club Board of Directors
1967 July 28
3
Robin E. Way to: Executive Committees
1968 June 18
4
Robin E. Way to: Kentucky Section Chairmen
1968 August 28

Correspondence, 1968-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 10

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Edgar Wayburn to: Richard Sill
1968 September 30
2
Edgar Wayburn to: Richard Sill
1968 October 14
3
Edgar Wayburn to: Hugh Nash
1968 December 11
4
Edgar Wayburn to: Membership (Presidents Message)
1968
5
Edgar Wayburn to: Sierra Club Staff and Regional Representatives
1969 February 3
6
Edgar Wayburn to: David Brower
1969 February 19
7
Edgar Wayburn to: Professor Loren Eiseley
1969 March 4
8
Edgar Wayburn to: Membership (Presidents Message)
1967-1969

Correspondence, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 11

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Gordon Wilson to Mr. Hausman
2
Celia in College, Alaska to John Flannery
, , 1969 April 7
3
Jack in Sitka, Alaska to John Flannery
1969 August 22
4
"Name Withheld" in Sebastopol, California to Edgar Wayburn
5
Unidentified to Bob Golden
1967 July 31
6
Dev. in London to David Hales
1969 March 7
7
Unidentified, Statement on Diablo Canyon
1968 September 15

Sierra Club Board of Directors, 1968-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 1

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Executive Committee, conference
1968 June 8
2
Special Meeting, San Francisco
1968 October 19
3
Memorandum, Proposed 1969 Budget
1968 December 6
4
Memorandum, Executive Director's Candidacy for Board of Directors
1969 January 24
5
Minutes-Annual Organization Meeting, San Francisco
1969 May 4
6
Minutes-Regular Meeting, San Francisco
1969 May 14
7
Minutes-Regular Meeting, San Francisco
1969 May 21
8
Minutes-Regular Meeting, San Francisco
1969 June 10
9
Minutes-Regular Meeting,San Francisco
1969 June 25
10
Minutes-Regular Meeting, San Francisco
1969 July 8
11
Minutes-Regular Meeting, San Francisco
1969 July 29
12
Memorandum, Financial Statement as of July 31, 1969
1969 September 4

Sierra Club Board of Directors, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 2

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Transcript (partial) from Board of Directors meeting concerning allegations against David Brower
2
Transcript (partial) from Board of Directors meeting concerning issues surrounding Diablo Canyon
undated

Sierra Club Publication Material, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 3

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Minutes-Publications Committee, Overview 1963 to 1968
1968 June 7
2
Publications Sales and Inventory Report-September 2, 1969 Minutes-Publication Committee, Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco
1969 May 5
3
Memorandum, to Board of Directors from Legal Committee concerning International Publications Program
1969 January 30
4
Memorandum, to Publications Committee from Sierra Club Southwest Office
1968 September 13
5
Report on the suspension of the editor of the Sierra Club Bulletin
1969 March
6
Billing Report for media and publication services from Freeman, Mander, and Gossage, Inc. to the Sierra Club
1969 January
7
Article detailing publishing formulas
8
Salesmen's Newsletter, Explorer
1968 October 21

Incidental Material, 1965-1968Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 4

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Note books
2
Monthly appointments and memoranda book
1968
3
Investigation Report of Wood-Tikchik Area, Alaska-US Department of the Interior
1965 April

Miscellaneous, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 5

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Correspondence to John Flanner
undated
2
Notes, abstracts, and memos
undated
3
Pamphlet, Understanding the Sierra Club, prepared by Robert Rednose
undated
4
"The Exciting Adventures of August Frog and His Small Pond"
undated
5
Ballot-For Directors Of The Sierra Club
1967
6
"Prometheus Unboundaried", satirical play with members of the Sierra Club portrayed, written two weeks before N. Y. Times Ad
undated
7
An "Exhibit Format" Glossary to be used by Sierra Club members
8
Application for Scholarship or Fellowship Award- Boyd Earl Norton
1968
9
US Department of the Interior Notice: Stamp to Honor John Wesley Powell
undated

Miscellaneous Material-David Brower, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 1

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Telegram from Ansel Adams
1969 February 6
2
Ruff draft of a letter to the Sierra Club Board of Directors
undated
3
"Brower Power Awaits The Verdict," by Harold Peterson
undated
4
Copy of Brower's News of Intent to all members
undated
5
The Yodeler: San Francisco Bay Chapter
1969 January
6
Copies of newspaper articles related to Brower and the Sierra Club
undated

Miscellaneous Material-Redwood National Park, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 2

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Brief History of Humboldt and Del Norte area presented at the dedication of redwood National Park, written by Richard Harville
undated
2
Itinerary and Program for the Dedication of the Redwood National Park
1968 November 24-25
3
Remarks of Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, Redwood National Park Dedication
1968 November 25
4
Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles related to Redwood National Park
undated

Material related to Gov. Walter Hickel's nomination as Secretary of The Interior, 1968-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 3

Container(s) Description Dates
item
1
Anchorage Daily Times, "Exterior Interior View"
1968 March 5
2
Steve Smith correspondence to John Flannery
1968 November 6
3
Statement by Senator Walter F. Mondale
1968 December 20
4
Stephen Pavish correspondence to Joseph W. Penfold, Executive Director, Izaak Walton League of America
1968 December 22
5
Warren A. Taylor correspondence to Patrick Goldsworthy, Director Sierra Club Seattle, Washington
1968 December 27
6
Hap Mathis correspondence to Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Senator Henry Jackson
1968 December 29
7
Stephen Pavish correspondence to Sierra Club
1968 December 29
8
Darlene Walsh correspondence to Sierra Club
1969 January 5
9
Walter Hickel correspondence to Robert Corbett
1969 January 7
10
John Mugaas correspondence to Sierra Club
1969 January 8
11
Transport Workers Union of America correspondence to Senator Alan Cranston
1969 January 10
12
Fred Montmorency correspondence to Senator Wallace Bennett
1969 January 13
13
Fred Montmorency correspondence to Senator Frank Moss
1969 January 13
14
Remarks by President of the Sierra Club, Edgar Wayburn
1969 January 13
15
Sierra Club Statement
1969 January 13
16
J. Scott Carter correspondence to Ed Wayburn
1969 January 13
17
Michael Buchanan correspondence to Ed Wayburn
1969 January 15
18
David Brower, "Statement Before The Committee On Interior And Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate, On The Matter Of Confirming Walter J. Hickel As Secretary Of The Interior"
1969 January 16
19
Bat Howe correspondence to John Flannery
1969 January 17
20
George Murphy correspondence to Wright's
1969 January 17
21
Joe Greenough correspondence to John Flannery
1969 January 21
22
Preston Wright correspondence to Senator Murphy
1969 January 22
23
Richard McCarthy correspondence to President of the Sierra Club, George Marshall
1969 January 22
24
Ben Avery correspondence to Edgar Wayburn
1969 January 25
25
Brock Evans correspondence (partial)
1969 January
26
Robert Lee correspondence to Edgar Wayburn
undated
27
Daniel Swift correspondence to Senator Henry M Jackson
undated
28
Senate Con firmation Hearing of Governor Walter Hickel
undated
29
Miscellaneous newspaper articles
undated
30
Western Union Telegrams from individuals and organizations opposing Walter Hickel's appointment
undated

Copies of Newspaper Articles covering Walter Hickel's nomination and appointment, 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 4

Copies of Newspaper Articles relative to issues in the State of California (i.e. Pt. Reyes, Ventana Wilderness, Disney Resort-Mineral King, etc.), 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 5

Copies of Newspaper Articles relative to issues around the country (i.e. Idaho-Middle Snake River Development, Hawaii-Club on Haleakala, California-DDT Ban, ect.), 1967-1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 6

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Sierra Club
  • Sierra Club

Personal Names

  • Brower, David J.

Form or Genre Terms

  • correspondence