Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Instagram Youtube Tumblr Newsletter

Explore Colorado’s past through the archives, artifacts, and photographs of the History Colorado Collection.

The Stephen H. Hart Research Center provides access to the History Colorado Collection as well as research and reproduction services. The Research Center is open via appointment Wednesday through Saturday from 10am-3pm. Please visit the Research Center page for more information. Research Center staff are happy to help with virtual assistance at cosearch@state.co.us or by telephone 303-866-2305. 

The 10th Mountain Division, a full division of the United States Army, specializing in mountain and winter warfare, trained at Camp Hale, Colorado, during World War II.

Experienced in skiing, mountaineering, and cold-weather survival as well as military tactics, the soldiers fought enemy forces in the Italian Campaign of 1945. Dubbed the “ski troops” by the press, the 10th Mountain Division remains the only military division recruited by a civilian organization, the National Ski Patrol. Many 10th Mountain veterans contributed greatly to the development of the recreational ski industry in the United States and to the growth of related fields such as outdoor equipment development, recreation, and nature conservation.

In 1987, the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, consisting of alumni of the World War II division, designated History Colorado and the Denver Public Library Western History Department as joint repositories of their historical materials. Among the contributions to the History Colorado collection are skis, boots, uniforms, climbing equipment, weaponry, war souvenirs, and a snow cat.

Found 23 record(s)
Item SelectionAvailable ActionsImageObject NameTitlesort by Title ascendingObject IDsort by Object ID ascending
Z3066422.jpg
armbandUS Army Medic Armband of Francis W. "Bud" Lovett, 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment88.405.1
Z3066441.jpg
RucksackRucksack Used by 2nd Lt. Leonard B. Sutton at Camp Hale, Colorado89.148.2
89.666.56.jpg
stoveStove, Cooking, Gasoline, M1942, 1 Burner ; Type 2 mountain stove89.666.56
Z3066410.jpg
Mountain BrushBrush, Mountain Stock No. 74-B-791 ; Snow broom89.678.4
Z3066416.jpg
compassLensatic Compass and Carrying Case of Raymond C. Richardson, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment89.678.6
Z3066472.jpg
FezBenito Mussolini's fez90.117.1
91.80.2.v1.jpg
SweaterSweater, Highneck Stock No. 55-S-64234--55-S-64252 ; US Army fatigue sweater91.80.2
Z3066423.jpg
Lip balmChapstick Carried by Capt. Albert H. Jackman, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment91.417.9
Z3066442.jpg
Ice AxAustrian Ice Ax Taken as War Booty by James A. Scales, 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment92.397.1
Z3066436.jpg
telephoneEE-8-A ; US Army Field Telephone Used by Headquarters Company, 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment93.515.1
Z3066440.jpg
Climbing Rope85th Mountain Infantry Ice and Glacier Climbing School rope94.63.1
Z3066439.jpg
Crampon, pairEckenstein design crampons94.63.2
Z3066390.jpg
bayonet, scabbardUS Model M1 Garand Bayonet with Scabbard of Charles "Charlie" Darby Hunt95.208.4
Z3021254.jpg
pack framePack Frame Used by Lt. Adrian J. Durant Jr., 604th Field Artillery Battalion95.293.4
Z3066382.jpg
Flare GunFlare Gun Used by Troops of the 10th Mountain Division to Celebrate V-E Day95.300.2.A
Z3066470.jpg
FlagNazi Banner Captured by Bert Fein, 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment97.76.1
Z3066401.jpg
knifeKnife Issued to Ed Kysar for the Assault on Kiska, Aleutian Islands Campaign97.117.1
Z0038969.jpg
pistolGerman Luger P08 (Parabellum) and Holster Taken as War Booty by Sol Gutow, 605th Field Artillery Battalion97.247.4
Z3066438.jpg
EpeeEpee of Benito Mussolini, Presented by His Fencing Instructor Camillo Rodolfi, and Taken as War Booty by Ben Kovach, 85th Mountain Infantry Division99.11.1
Z0019808.jpg
bracelet, identificationIdentification Bracelet of US Army Medic Francis W. "Bud" Lovett, 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment2001.105.8
2001.165.2.v1.jpg
pillow coverSouvenir Pillow Cover Featuring Camp Hale, Colorado2001.165.2
Z3066408.jpg
Goggles, SnowGoggles, Ski-Mountain; Stock No. 74-G-79 ; Ski-Mountain Goggles of Robert A. Huddleston, 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment2009.32.1.1
Z0001429.jpg
FlagJapanese Flag Taken from Kiska by John Daily, 87th Mountain Infantry RegimentTMD.45.1
Long, rectangular strip of double-layered white cotton with a red medic cross stitched to it in the center. Back of the armband is stamped "M 291504" in black ink.
Very large rucksack worn on the back. Olive drab canvas on a tubular metal A-shaped frame. Large center pocket with flap that has two cotton webbed tiedown straps. The large pocket has three smaller pockets on it--one on each side and one in the center--each with a flap and blonde leather strap and buckle closure. The top of the rucksack slips onto the top of the frame and is reinforced with a heavy, thick piece of leather. The shoulder straps are wide and thick cotton webbing. There are several cotton web straps on the rucksack for adjusting the fit and securing to the frame. The lower sides of the frame curved forward to hug the hips of the wearer.
This set consists of a Type 2 model 1942 gasoline cooking stove and burner in a two-part cylindrical aluminum case.
A small, handheld brush made of stiff, brown straw folded over and gathered with heavy gauge wire that is shaped and twisted to keep the brush intact and to form a loop at the top. From Quartermaster Supply Catalog, QM Sec.1, p.30: "Brush, mountain, is a stiff brush particularly useful to troops camped on snow. It is used to brush snow and frost from clothing and equipment and to keep the tent floor clean."
Black metal compass with hinged lid and back sight that raise up for use. The lid has an integral wire sight in a slot that is oriented perpendicularly to the compass face. The rear sight, with lens and rear sight slot, is oriented the same. The lid has luminoud dots at the top and bottom of the sight. The rear sight locks the compass dial in place when it is down. When raised the compass dial can locked by a button on the left side, The dial has the directions in orange letters with an arrow substituting for north. Two series of graduated numbers in white around the perimeter of the compass dial. The maker's name is in white lettering at the center. The commpass has a movable glass crystal in a brass frame. The crystal has a gold index line integrated into it on ones side. A brass, swivel holding loop is at the base of the back sight. The compass includes its original olive drab carrying case. The case is canvas with cotton tape borders for reinforcement. A flap is secured down by two
Black felt fez with large metallic gold-on-red perched eagle at the center front. Over the top from front to back and around the wearer's right side is a thick double strand of corde, knotted at the front next to the eagle and at the back right. Black fringe is at the top front of the hat between the cords, somewhat like a loose, draping rooster's comb. A wide, pinkish-orange chevron with a thin, black stripe running through the middle is on the wearer's left side of the hat. A smaller metallic gold-on-red perched eagle is at the chevron's center. On the hat's inside is a wide, brown leather headband and cream-colored cloth lining. A cream-colored silk tassel is stitched to the inside back. Several retailer's, manufacturer's and other inscriptions are embossed on the headband and printed inside the crown.
U.S. Army Fatigue Sweater Worn by 1st Lieutenant Neal P. McKinstry at Camp Hale, Colorado. He last served with Company A, 10th Anti Tank Battalion. All worsted wool, slip over, high collar, buttoned neck sweater. Olive drab. Buttons (5) are plastic olive drab. Gathered waist. Tag in the inside back of neck, but text is faded and illegible. This sweater was designed by Robert Bates. Robert Bates, a member of the team that climbed K-2 in 1936, worked in the Office of the Quartermaster during World War II, developing and testing cold weather gear for the mountain troops. He helped create the design of the fatigue button-neck sweater that became known as a fatigue sweater. On September 30, 2003, Bates recounted the story of giving instructions to the designer about designing a high-necked sweater that could be opened at the neck to ventilate the body's heat. He noted that when he got hot, the thing he needed most was to get cool air around his neck. The sweater was originally designed for
Small metal tube of lip balm with removable cap. Tube is silver metal, painted black with white lettering. Cap is silver metal with white enamel on the top flat surface. Tube contains a yellow, waxy balm.
Ice ax with long, wooden handle, oval in cross section. At the top is a dual, bright steel tool -- on one side is long ice pick with a serrated edge on the bottom. On the opposite side is an adze blade, flat and wide. The top secured to the wooden handle by two long straps extending down and held in place by three rivets flush on each side. The bottom of the ice ax is a long bright steel ferrule from which extends a tapering spike, square in cross section. A steel ring with a tan canvas strap looped through it is on the handle and moves up and down loosely, stopped near the bottom of the ice ax by a screw and spacer.
US Army Model EE-8-A field telephone. Heavy, rectangular, brown leather case, oriented vertically. Heavy duty stitching in the construction throughout. A leather carrying strap is secured at both ends by steel rings on one one side of the case. It is wrapped around the bottom of the case to help support the weight and is adjustable by an metal roller buckle. Right side of the case has a black metal cavity with a folding crank of birght metal and black plastic. A flap cover over the top is held down by a snap (or "Lift the Dot"--aka an LTD) fitting. Inside the case on the right side is the battery operated mechanics of the phone. To the left is a cavity to hold the receiver. The workings of the phone are metal with some knobs on the top. The receiver is black and is connected to the phone by a cloth covered wire.
Light gray length of rope. One of the strands of cordage has a bright green stringer running through it.
Dull gray, hand forged iron or steel crampons. Two-piece, open framework construction joined at the center to create a hinge for movement. 12 spikes--10 vertical on the sole and 2 downward curved horizontals on the heel. There are 6 uprights, each with an enclosed metal ring for holding cord to tie crampons to boots. The front rings have an arched piece for fitting over the toe of the boot. Marked "W.GENOSSENSCHAFT FULPMES, 43, ECKENSTEIN".
Dull gray steel bayonet with 2-piece black, ribbed plastic grips held by a single screw. Blade is single-edged with a single fuller running about 6" of the blade's lenth. Flat back edge. Left ricasso stamped with "AFH/ [ordnance bomb] / US". Bird's head pommel. Crossguard with muzzle ring at top, but muzzle ring is twisted and broken. Spring catch button on grip behind muzzle ring releases bayonet from scabbard or rifle. Scabbard is oilve drab green plastic with a dull gray, steel mount at top. The mount has a US ordnance bomb logo on the front and a belt ring on the back.
Canvas and wood carrying frame for moving heavy or odd sized loads that would not fit in rucksacks or field packs. Wood ladder-type frame with four crossboards and a bar at top. Metal caps on the bottom of the sideboards. Frame is partially wrapped with tan/olive drab canvas and gathered together at the back with heavy cord strung through metal eyelets. Thick, cotton web shoulder straps are attached to the top crossboard and are adjustable by gray metal slides and smaller straps at the bottom. A load was lashed to the back of the frame using the 10 hooks along both sides of the frame (5 on each side). Leather swatches reinforce the canvase where the hooks are stuck through. The center of gravity could be adjusted as needed by adjusting the height of the load on the packboard. (see Baumgardner, 1998:120 and accession file)
German Heeres Model 1928 Signal (Flare) Gun. Large, dull gray gun made of aluminum alloy with checkered, black plastic grips.A lanyard ring is on the butt. Large, smoothbore barrel, faceted at back and round at front. A blued steel spur on the trigger guard pushes forward to break the gun down at the breech for loading in cartridges. Wehrmacht stamps on right side of frame and on back right of barrel. Other markings on left side of frame and barrel.
Large, red banner--oriented vertically--with a large black swastika in a white circle in the center. Selvaged edges on the side and machine-stitched elsewhere. Metal grommet at each corner for hanging and tying down. Several signatures are handwritten in the white field surrounding the swastika. Signatures are in black ink.
Small fighting knife and sheath. Knife has a bright, single-edged blade with short, narrow fuller. Manker's mark on right ricasso. Brass, rectangular crossguard with rounded ends. Hard leather[?] grip in segments. Bright aluminum bird's head pommel with a hole in it for a lanyard. Sheath is dark brown leather, stitched and riveted in construction. A long piece of black tape is wrapped around the throat of the sheath for reinforcement. Upper tab of sheath has double vertical slits to serve as belt loop. There is a leather band with a snap to keep the knife secured. A leather thong has been tied off at the tip of the sheath. It has a brass shank Japanese uniform button with a chrysanthemum and anchor on it. The ends of the lanyard have two long Japanese Arisaka .25 caliber bullets.
PISTOL: German Luger P08 (Parabellum). Semi-automatic, magazine loaded pistol with fixed sight. 9mm caliber. 2-piece checkered wood grips. Black metal finish. Missing ammunition clip.
HOLSTER: Triangular shaped, black leather holster with flap. Heavy duty white stitching. Much of the black finish is worn off, making it look brown in appearance. Flap has strap and roller buckle closure. Another strap strung from inside the holster serves as a mechanism to raise the gun upwards when it is holstered so the user can grab it. A spare magazine sleeve is sewn in the front of the holster. Two vertical straps are stitched on the back for attachment to a belt for a right hand carrying position..
Fencing epee with triangular blade, each face of the blade having a fuller that extends its length. The tip of the blade is blunted with a small metal pad. The basket is solid metal, possibly nickel, and stipple engraved with a presentation that includes the name of Benito Mussolini. The inside of the basket guard is lined with rough, salmon-colored velvet. At the base of the blade, a crossguard runs the diameter of the basket and joins it. The grip is checkered wood. A shiny metal ferrule is at the bottom of the grip just above the pommel, which is faceted. The pommel has a hole in it, through which is strung a braided loop of light green cord.
Bracelet composed of a silver, concave, rectangular identification band with a short length of chain links attached to both ends. The chain is missing its clasp. Engraved with owner's name, "F.W. Lovett," his military serial number[?], and hometown.
Light blue satin pillow cover with peach-colored yarn fringe. Front has different vignette scenes done in dark blue with brown, pink, green, and blue highlights. In the upper center in large block letters is "CAMP HALE" with a US military eagle above and a poem entitled "Sweetheart" below, transcribed as "I thought that you / would like to know / That someone's thoughts / go where you go, / That someone / never can forget / The hours we spent / since first we met. / That life is richer / sweeter far, / for such a sweetheart / as you are. / And now my constant prayer / will be / That God may keep you / safe for me." Below the poem is a pine cone on its branch and a banner printed with "COLORADO," under which is "In The Heart of the Rockies". The vignette scenes on the left, from top to bottom, are soldiers firing a howitzer; a skier jumping a slope; and an army jeep. Vignette scenes on the right, from top to bottom, are soldiers firing a machine gun; and a single skier with mountains in
Goggle has slits in the top and bottom of eye cup to reduce fogging and polished green glass lenses to filter out ultra violet and infared light rays. The eye cups have chenile edging on the edges where they fit arround the eyes. Goggles are held in place with an adjustabe woven canvas and brown elastic strap. Goggles were used on snow surfaces to prevent snow blindness.
Japanese flag. Off-white, rectangular cotton flag with a round red cotton cloth sewn in the middle. Reinforced corners on one end to fasten to a pole. Flag is very dirty and shows significant wear.
Argus v4.4.0.47 - History Colorado. LucideaCore ARGUS.net