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[MUSEUM QUALITY ARCHIVE]
Smoky Mountains Hiking Club Handbooks (1926–2017) – 48 Volume Collection
A Near-Century of Appalachian Trail & Great Smoky Mountains History | Including the Ultra-Rare 1926 Inaugural Season Handbook
## THE OPPORTUNITY
Offered here is an unprecedented, 48-volume archive of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (SMHC) handbooks. Spanning 91 years of Tennessee history, this collection represents a nearly continuous record of the grassroots movement that founded the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
For the serious collector or regional historian, this is an "instant library." Finding these issues individually takes years of scouting; finding them as a consolidated, well-preserved archive is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
## THE "HOLY GRAIL" SURVIVORS
The value of this lot is anchored by several exceptionally scarce early editions:
1926 (The First Season): The inaugural handbook. Almost never seen on the open market.
1928 "Program of Hikes": Features early Knoxville "The Great Smoky Mountains City" branding.
The WWII Era: Includes 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1945. These volumes document club activity during national mobilization and are highly sought after.
1936 & 1938: Key pre-war issues with iconic early 20th-century outdoor typography and trail data.
## HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Founded in 1924, the SMHC was instrumental in the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and the routing of the Appalachian Trail (AT) through the region.
These handbooks serve as primary source documents for: Original Trail Routes: Maps and descriptions of trails before modern development.
Conservation Advocacy: Documentation of the club’s role in preserving the Smokies.
Regional Genealogy:
Member rosters and local Knoxville/Sevierville advertisements from the 1920s-50s.
Nature Records:
Vital records of regional flora, fauna, and geography over nine decades.
## INVENTORY LIST (48 VOLUMES)
Foundational Years: 1926, 1928, 1936, 1938
Wartime & Post-War: 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1947
Mid-Century Run: 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969
Modern & Commemorative: 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
## CONDITION & PROVENANCE
Overall Condition: Mixed vintage. The early 1920s-40s issues show expected age-toning and light shelf wear but remain remarkably intact with tight bindings.
Storage:
These have been kept in a clean, smoke-free environment.
Note to Buyer:
Please review all high-resolution photos. These are original historical documents, not reproductions.
## SHIPPING & HANDLING
Due to the high value and historical nature of this archive, the collection will be professionally packed, with early volumes individually protected, and shipped with full insurance and signature tracking.
