David Lavender

Western historian David Lavender, twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, died at home on April 26 after a long illness. He was 93. Although he is known as the author of more than two dozen Western histories—many of them the definitive works on their subjects—we riverfolk remember him best for his River Runners of the Grand Canyon. Lavender was an avid boater and was the logical choice when, after Dock Marston’s death, the Grand Canyon Natural History Association wanted a writer to pen a popular history from Marston’s vast collection at the Huntington Library. It was a daunting task.
Although the Marston Collection is unarguably the world’s greatest treasury of Colorado River history, Lavender found its peculiar organization, sheer magnitude, and ingrown biases made synopsis a formidable goal. Worse, the collection was riddled with mildew, and the technicians who fumigated it miscalculated the proportions of formaldehyde and other toxins.

As a result the collection was billowing noxious fumes—as, to a lesser extent, it does to this day. Lavender was the first researcher to delve into the more than four hundred green file boxes of manuscripts, letters, notes, miscellany, and poison gas. It was excruciating. After an hour or so of reading he would stagger, eyes streaming, temples throbbing, head spinning, into the gardens to recuperate.
Although some river obsessives have found nits to pick with a few of Lavender’s details, those who have assaulted the Marston Collection agree that Lavender’s ability to capture the character of the collection, single out the significant tales from the mass of tangential information, and tell them in such an entertaining, engaging, and overall accurate manner, is more than remarkable. It is genius. Sadly, the budget would not allow him to create the massive history he felt the material deserved. Sadder yet, the book—a bible for history-oriented guides—has long been out of print. A new edition would be a fitting homage for his contribution to the history of river running.

Brad Dimock