Philip M. Hamer–Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award: Clint Pumphrey and Chase Anderson

Clint Pumphrey and Chase Anderson, creators of the Outdoor Recreation Archive (ORA), Utah State University, are the 2026 recipients of the Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award given by the Society of American Archivists (SAA). The award recognizes individuals or institutions that have increased public awareness of a specific body of documents through compilation, transcription, exhibition, or public presentation of archives or manuscript materials for educational, instructional, or other public purpose.

The Outdoor Recreation Archive (ORA), partnering with academic institutions, industry leaders, students, and researchers, has significantly expanded public awareness of a vast and previously under-documented body of materials chronicling the history of outdoor gear and brands. Begun in 2017, ORA is now the world’s largest collection of outdoor gear catalogs, in addition to extensive documentary, photographic, periodical, and audiovisual materials representing more than a century of the history of the outdoor industry. Pumphrey and Anderson have increased the visibility of this collection through exhibitions held at outdoor trade shows, retail outlets, and universities. Industry partners have sponsored ORA to develop and install exhibits in such places as Paris, Tokyo, London, Munich, New York City, Nashville, and Portland, Oregon. Just as significant as this international expansion is the use of ORA by students at their home institution. At Utah State University, the Archive is embedded in the curriculum of the Outdoor Product Design & Development (OPDD) program.

ORA, with its wide appeal, demonstrates the historic value of these records. In addition to academic research, the collection is also valued and used by those in the outdoor gear industry. For example, in 2025 ORA hosted eleven design teams seeking inspiration or historical grounding for new products. The Archive’s public profile has been further amplified through substantial media coverage. Also in 2025, ORA received international attention across twenty-seven media outlets, including major publications such as Monocle and Japanese fashion magazines 2nd and Popeye. Some of this attention came after the 2025 publication of Pumphrey and Anderson’s book The Outdoor Archive, a compendium catalog that they were invited to author by UK publisher Thames & Hudson. The primary paper of record for the state of Utah, the Salt Lake Tribune, published a feature story on the Archive, which brought the story of this work home to the people of Utah. This widespread visibility demonstrates the Archive’s broad cultural relevance and its success in reaching audiences beyond typical archival communities.

Pumphrey and Anderson’s efforts to build the collection and promote its use highlights how the materials in ORA serve as cultural, historical, and creative resources to many different constituencies from researchers, students, and brand and industry leaders. Historian Rachel Gross describes the Archive as “an unmatched resource” for academic research on outdoor recreation and outdoor gear history. Liz Woolcott, associate dean/department head of Library Collections and Discovery, Utah State University Libraries, wrote in support of the nomination, “It represents a remarkable achievement in archival innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public engagement; an achievement that has significantly expanded both the reach and relevance of archival work within and beyond the academy.”

The award will be presented during the SAA Annual Meeting, taking place July 29–August 1 in New Orleans, LA. Previous recipients of this award include the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library Archives Research Center, Dr. William Fliss, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, and the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project.