RARE Vintage LOT of 48 Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Handbooks Knoxville TN For Sale

Huge Collection of 48 Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Handbooks.

Including year #1 1926, early years like 1928, 1936, 1938, 1940-45, and 1947.

These handbooks are hard to find in most of these years.

This vintage lot of 48 Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Handbooks from Knoxville, TN, is a rare find for collectors and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The handbooks cover various topics like trails, flora, fauna, and the history of the Smoky Mountains National Park.

The books are from 1926-2017 and are not signed. They were manufactured in the United States and are categorized under Collectibles, Historical Memorabilia, Fairs, Parks & Architecture, and National Parks. This is a great addition to any collection or a perfect gift for someone who loves hiking and the great outdoors.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE Smoky Mountain Hiking Club

The Knoxville YMCA played a critical role in the founding of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. Following a suggestion by Marshall Wilson, Assistant Boys Work Secretary at the Y, and George F. Barber, Physical Director at the Y, the YMCA Board of Directors, agreed to sponsor an adult hiking program. George Barber and his brother Charlie were selected to organize a trip to Mt. LeConte for October 19/20, 1924. A group of about twenty, while resting on Cliff Top, agreed that their experience should be shared by others. Subsequent meetings led to the formation of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, an organization separate from the YMCA. The first scheduled hike was to Mt LeConte on December 6, 1924, with 8 hikers. Additional hikes were scheduled one after the other through 1925. A club emblem was designed and is still used as the club emblem today. Then in 1926, a pamphlet was put together describing: the origin and purpose of the club, a list of each hikes with date and a short summary, suggested clothing and food, an invitation to join, club officers, and two photos of club outings. The following year, the first yearly handbook was published with expanded information. The size and general layout of the handbook have remained the same to this day.

In the beginning and extending to the present, club members have a dedication to both enjoying and preserving the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. We did this first by supporting, promoting, and actively working to make the formation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a reality. Now we continue to building around our core values: enjoyment of the outdoors; education efforts to convey the many values that a touch with nature can provide; conservation efforts to ensure that these wonderful environments endure for future generations; promoting the beauty and grandeur of the Great Smoky Mountains; and helping to maintain the Appalachian Trail.

Years of Handbooks Included

1926

1928

1936

1938

1940

1941

1942

1943

1945

1947

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1967

1968

1969

1969

1974 History 50 Years

1974 History 50 Years

1974 50th Anniversary Handbook

1975

1977

1980

1991

1992

1995

1997

2007

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017