[Manly/Manley, Merle Wood] (1895-1982). Historically Significant Extensive Collection of Two Albums with ca. 500 Original Gelatin Silver Photographs, Documenting Hikes and Mountaineering Trips of the Mazamas Club (Oregon) in the Cascades and the Rocky Mountains in the 1920s, Including the Ascents of Mt. Hood (1923), Mt. St. Helens (Labour Day 1924), Mt. Jefferson (1923), "Glacier Peak Region" (1926), Mt. Rainier (1927), Mt. Adams, Mt. Chinidere, Manly's Surveys for the Club's "Research Committee," Views of the Mazamas Lodge, the Interior of the Mazamas Club in Portland, Portraits of Mountaineers, Including the Compiler, &c. Ca. 1923-1927.

Two Oblong Folio albums, from ca. 26,5x34 cm (10 ½ x 13 ¼ in) to ca. 26x31 cm (10 ¼ x 12 in). 48 (12 blank) and 50 (2 blank) black stock leaves. Both albums with over 480 mounted original gelatin silver photos, including four panoramas from ca. 8,5x36 cm (3 ¼ x 14 ¼ in) to ca. 7,5x20 cm (3 x 7 ¾ in) and over thirty large images from ca. 21x26 cm (8 ¼ x 10 ¼ in) to ca. 12x17 cm (4 ¾ x 6 ¾ in); the rest of the photos are from ca. 8,5x14 cm (3 ¼ x 5 ½ in) to ca. 4,5x7 cm (1 ¾ x 2 ½ in). Most photos with period white ink captions on the mounts (many captions relate to several images); several series of images are dated from 1923 to 1926; several photos with the routes of mountain ascents outlined in pencil or ink by the compiler. With a printed illustrated brochure "A trip through Land of Wool," authored by Manly (Oregon City Woolen Mills, 1924, 24 pp.), inserted into the mounted printed envelope of the "Oregon City Woolen Mills." With a mounted silk ribbon, commemorating Mazamas Club's ascent of Mt. Hood in July 1925 and a mounted paper ribbon advertising the dedication of new Mazamas Club rooms in Portland, Oregon, in May 1926. With 17 loosely inserted gelatin silver photos from ca. 13x16,5 cm (5 ¼ x 6 ½ in) to ca. 7x8,5 cm (2 ¾ x 3 ¼ in); seven images with period pencil captions on verso; two photos with ink stamps "E.F. Peterson" on verso. With a loosely inserted typewritten letter to Manley from the "U.S. Senate, Committee on Appropriations", ca. 20x26,5 cm (8 x 10 ¼ in), signed by the Oregon committee member Frederick Steiwer. Period black faux leather album, fastened with a string, gilt-lettered title "Photographs" on the front cover; period black full cloth album, gilt-lettered title "Snap Shots" on the front cover. Bindings rubbed on extremities; one with the rear cover detached from the stub; the other with the binding detached from the stub. Mounts brittle, with tears and chipping on extremities, several leaves detached from the stub and loosely inserted, one photo with the top upper part cut out, several images heightened in white, a few photos with mild fading, but overall a very good collection of strong interesting photos. Historically significant, extensive collection of ca. 500 original gelatin silver photos, taken and collected by an Oregon mountaineer, writer and advertising agent, Merle W. Manly. In the 1920s, he was a member of the "Mazamas" alpine club, founded in Portland in 1894 (the third oldest in the United States after the Appalachian Mountain Club, 1876 and Sierra Club, 1892; see more ). During this time, Manly was a member of the Mazama Executive Council (1926-1932, with breaks) and several committees, its vice-president (1928), official historian (1931-1932) and the editor (1924-1928) of the club's annual publication "Mazama: A record of mountaineering in the Pacific Northwest." The "Mazama" published three of Manly's illustrated reports of the club's mountaineering expeditions: "The West side climb of Mt. Hood in 1923" (1923, p. 21), "The Conquest of Mt. Logan" (1925, p. 85) and "Next year, Mt. Rainier" (1926, p. 106). Manly published at least two works in a book form: an advertising brochure "A trip through the land of wool…" (Oregon City Woolen Mills, 1924), present in this collection; and an illustrated account of a winter ascent of Mount Hood "When winter comes" (Portland, Or., 1933). In his main time, Manly worked in the Portland advertising industry and in the 1940s was the chairman of the Oregon branch of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (The Oregonian, 15 October 1947, p. 17). The two albums date back to Manly's active mountaineering years with the "Mazamas" and document at least fourteen of the club's expeditions in the Cascades in the 1920s. One of the earliest is "Mazama Outing, Mt. Hood, 1923," with over 20 images, including various views of Paradise Park, Eden Park, Barrett Spur, "Ice falls of Reid Glacier," two excellent large views of the Reid Glacier (one outlining th.…