LaRae Collett Robertson Collection

Archive

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Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum

Name/Title

LaRae Collett Robertson Collection

Entry/Object ID

MS.87

Scope and Content

LaRae Collett Robertson Collection MS 87 LaRae Collett Robertson Collection The LaRae Collett Robertson Collection contains the personal papers of her father, Karl Collett [March 29, 1898 - December 9, 1956], and mother, Dorcas Leah McBride Collett [January 25, 1904 - May 18, 1987]. Karl Collett was the Night Shift Superintendent of Construction and general foreman on the Boulder Canyon Project for four years. When Hoover Dam was completed, the Six Companies presented 80 of its executives and upper management employees specially minted medallions to honor their service—Collett's medallion is part of this collection. [see "Medallions Are Struck to Mark Dam Completion" in the Las Vegas Evening Review-Journal, Friday, January 24, 1936, 3:7-8.] After leaving Hoover Dam, Collett and his family followed a number of other construction projects around the North American continent, including Imperial and Shasta Dams, and the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway. Collett, tragically, was killed on December 9, 1956 in the crash of Air Canada Flight 810. The material in this collection includes Karl Collett's record of his LDS missionary activities in England in 1921-23; journals he kept for construction projects he worked on; a bound typescript autobiography of Collett's wife, Dorcas Leah; several articles, artifacts, and clippings; as well as a photograph collection, stored separately. * * *

Collection

Manuscripts

Acquisition

Notes

001.062

Archive Items Details

Notes

MS 87 LaRae Collett Robertson Collection inventory [2 boxes and 4 folders] Box 1 of 2 ff no. 1. Karl Collett's "Record of Missionary Labors" [1921-23] 2. Karl Collett's Elks Club membership receipts and carrying case [1934-47] 3. article: "Camp Life at Shasta" [in "Civil Engineering," v. 12:1 (January 1942), pp. 7-9] 4. Collett Family World War II ration books [1943] 5. article: "Canada's Coal Uncovered By Mannix Miners" [in "Em-Kayan," August 1948, pp. 3-4; includes Karl Collett photo and text] 6. Karl Collett's journal, re: Spray Lakes Dams, Alberta, Canda [1949] 7. Karl Collett's journal, re: Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway [1951] 8. article: "Personal Initiative Builds 360-mi Railroad to Quebec- Labrador Iron Ore Field" [in Iron Age, n. d. (c. January 1951) 9. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation news bulletin describing the crash of Air Canada Flight 810 on December 9, 1956, which killed Karl Collett 10. memorial tribute to Karl Collett [in "The Mannix Story," v. 5:1 (January 1957), pp. 1-9] 11. "Personal History [of] Dorcas Leah McBride Collett" [1983 (Boulder City, pp. 39-41)] 12. description of the death of Dorcas Leah McBride Collett on May 18, 1987 13. Christmas cards [n. d.] Box 2 of 2 [artifacts] 1. Karl Collett work badge [Pacific Constructors, Inc., Shasta Dam] 2. Karl Collett work [?] badge [Kenney Dam, ALCAN, May 10, 1952] 3. Karl Collett work badge [Morrison-Utah-Winston] 4. Karl Collett's Six Companies, Inc. silver medallion [Hoover Dam 1935] 5. Karl Collett's fishing license [California, 1946] with carrying case 6. Karl Collett work badge [C. M. M. K.] 7. Karl Collett work badge [Utah Construction Company, Nantahala Project, North Carolina] 8. Karl Collett's cuff links [gold with blue stones] 9. Karl Collett's cuff links [bulldozers] 10. two $8 "Elks Money" coins from Yuma, AZ [n. d.] 11. playing cards and case with a letter to Dorcas Leah McBride Collett from Canadian Industries Ltd. [April 23, 1948] Folder 1 of 4 Karl Collett's certificate of first-aid training, Boulder City, Nevada [1933] Folder 2 of 4 portrait of Karl Collett by Don Luce [print of a charcoal sketch, 11" x 14"] Folder 3 of 4 article: "Iron Empire: Start is Made on Railway Into Heart of Ungava," by Clyde Kennedy and Louis Jacques [from The Standard, January 6, 1951, pp. 6-12; describes construction of the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway] Folder 4 of 4 1. "17 Calgarians on Plane" [Calgary Herald, Monday, December 10, 1956] 2. "Climbers Tell of TCA Wreck Find" [Vancouver Sun, Monday, May 13, 1957] 3. "Plane Wreck Combed for $80,000 in Cash" [Province, Tuesday, May 14, 1957] 4. "Slides on Snow-Capped Peak Threaten Trek to Death Plane" [Vancouver Herald, Tuesday, May 14, 1957] 5. " 'They Passed Beyond Our Touch, Beyond Our Sight' " [Province, Tuesday, December 10, 1957] * * *

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

photograph collection no. 0089 [LaRae Collett Robertson Collection]

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

November 10, 2002

Updated By

bcmha.archives@gmail.com

Update Date

September 5, 2025