The University of Utah's J. Willard Marriott Library has released a digitized interview with Alan Engen, the son of legendary skier Alf Engen, offering a detailed look at the Engen family's history and the development of the Alta ski area in Salt Lake City. The interview, conducted by Joseph Arave, provides a personal perspective on the evolution of Utah's ski industry and the family's connection to the U.S. Forest Service.
Engen Family History and Roots
In the interview, which was recorded during several sessions in 1996, Alan Engen discussed his family's transition from Norway to the United States. He noted that his father, Alf Engen, was born in Mjondalen, Norway, a town located approximately 70 miles from Oslo. According to the transcript, Alf's family faced significant hardships when his grandmother and other family members died of the flu within a single week, leaving the family to fend for themselves.
Family Life in Utah
Alan Engen provided details regarding his upbringing in the Salt Lake City area. He was born in 1940 in a hospital in Salt Lake City and was raised in Farmington with his mother, Evelyn Pack. The family's history in the region is deeply tied to agriculture; the Pack family had lived on various pieces of land in the Centerville and Farmington areas, which were eventually sold for residential development.
Forest Service and Alta Development
The interview highlights the significant role the U.S. Forest Service played in the development of Utah's winter sports. The Engen family maintained a long-standing relationship with the agency, particularly through Alf Engen's employment with the Forest Service. This connection was instrumental in the early development of local ski areas, including Alta.
The Rise of Alta Ski Resort
The historical development of the Alta ski area is a central theme in the region's skiing history. Originally established in 1871 due to mining operations in Little Cottonwood Canyon, the town of Alta declined as mining ceased. During the 1930s, the U.S. Forest Service proposed converting the area into a ski area and hired Alf Engen to conduct a survey. In 1937, Joe Quinney and other local businessmen formed the Utah Winter Sports Association to oversee the creation of the resort, which officially opened to skiers in January 1939.
Legacy in the Ski Industry
The Engen family's influence extended through various aspects of the ski industry, from instruction to business management. Alan Engen's records include extensive documentation of the Alf Engen Ski School, the Alta Ski Lift Company, and the genesis of the Alf Engen Ski Museum. His personal archives also contain materials related to the U.S. Ski Team, the University of Utah ski team, and various technical publications regarding ski equipment and racing.
Archival Visual Records
The archival collections held at the University of Utah provide a broader view of the era's social and sporting landscape. These include photographs from the early 1970s featuring Wayne Nichol, Alf Engen, and Sverre Engen at Alta. Such records capture the intersection of the Engen family's personal lives and their professional contributions to the Utah ski scene.
Preserving Utah's Skiing History
The digitized records from the Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project, which include the Alan Engen interview, serve as a vital resource for understanding the history of skiing in the Intermountain Region. These documents preserve the narratives of the individuals who were foundational to the growth of Utah's winter recreation industry.
