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Fink Mountain Days Manuscript

 Collection
Identifier: MS-3853

  • Staff Only

The collection consists of a typed manuscript, written in 1960 in Jonesboro, Tennessee, by mountaineer and Tennessee historian Paul Fink, entitled “Mountain Days. A Journal of Camping Experiences in the Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. 1914-1938.” An early draft of his 1975 book, Backpacking was the only way, the journal details his experiences exploring the Smoky Mountains and includes accounts of how he helped developed the Appalachian Trail there.

Dates

  • 1960

Language

The material in this collection is in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 quarter box)

Abstract

The collection consists of a typed manuscript, written in 1960 in Jonesboro, Tennessee, by mountaineer and Tennessee historian Paul Fink, entitled “Mountain Days. A Journal of Camping Experiences in the Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. 1914-1938.” An early draft of his 1975 book, Backpacking was the only way, the journal details his experiences exploring the Smoky Mountains and includes accounts of how he helped developed the Appalachian Trail there.

Biographical/Historical Note

Paul Mathes Fink was born on June 8, 1892. A lifelong resident of Jonesborough, Tennessee, Fink was deeply interested in Tennessee history and devoted to historic preservation. He served as Washington County's official historian, was an active member of the Historic Jonesborough restoration program, and held office in the Tennessee Historical Society, the Tennessee Archaeological Society, and the Tennessee Folklore Society. Fink was also an active mountaineer and conservationist, and was instrumental in establishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee and North Carolina. Fink wrote several books, including That's why they call it (1956), Jonesborough: the first century of Tennessee's first town (1972), Bits of mountain speech (1974), and Backpacking was the only way (1975). He died in March of 1980.

Related Archival Materials

Fink and Dulaney Papers Ilene Jones Cornwell Papers Jim Casada Collection of Horace Kephart and George Masa Norbert F. Riedl Collection

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480