Back to Homepage of Horace Kephart: Revealing an Enigma

Online Exhibit: Outdoor Life

Outdoor life photograph showing Horace Kpehart sitting at table in his camp.

While still a librarian in the bustling city of St. Louis, Horace Kephart developed a passion for outdoor sports as a chance to escape urban life. Soon his professional publications mingled with avocational writings on outdoor subjects. When Kephart moved to western North Carolina he committed himself to writing full time. Continuing to write magazine articles, Kephart's first full length book Camping and Woodcraft in 1906 focused on the outdoor lifestyle and sports. He ultimately became an international authority on the topic, particularly in the area of camp cookery.

Camping and Woodcraft

Very few pages of Kephart's writing drafts remain available to show this part of this writing process. The subject of moccasins provides a unique glimpse into Kephart's writing process since documents remain showing changes in his treatment of the subject through research, drafts, two publications and personal correspondence.

Hunting

While Kephart was certainly capable of hunting for the basic needs of the table, he was primarily a sport hunter, seeking a wide variety of game as part of his search for the frontier experience and a better challenge for his marksmanship. His quest to perfect hunting methods led to his role in developing some equipment including the Kephart Sheath Knife.

Fishing

Fly fishing offered the outdoors enthusiast an almost enchanting appeal. As all fishermen, Kephart collected a variety of lures and favorite fishing spots.

Camping

Kephart was well acquainted with a variety of camping techniques from simply bedding down in the open for a single night to building a "fixed-camp" to be comfortably used for months at a time.

Original spelling and syntax retained in all quotations within this exhibit.

Horace Kephart: Revealing an Enigma is presented by Hunter Library Special Collections and the Mountain Heritage Center. This project was supported in whole or in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the federal Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.

Disclaimer: These items are presented as part of the historical record and not meant to be advisory in “how-to” methods of camping, or other activities. This site includes historical materials that may contain negative stereotypes or language reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place including terminology that may not be deemed appropriate today.