Teton Dam Disaster Collection 1976–1978, 2016
The Teton Dam Disaster Collection is a compilation of newspaper articles, oral histories, and published materials including government reports on the failure of the dam.
Newspapers from Idaho Falls and Rexburg reported on the Teton Dam disaster and aftermath between 1976 and 1977. The Rexburg Standard and the Post Register (Idaho Falls) contain comprehensive coverage of the event up through the following year (Box 16).
The Teton Oral History Program is a joint oral history program of the History Departments of Utah State University, Ricks College, and the Idaho State Historical Society. W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Idaho State Legislature, Idaho State Historical Society, and the National Endowment of the Humanities funded the Teton Oral History Program. The purpose was to gather and preserve information for historical and scholarly use concerning the Teton Dam Disaster.
As the Teton Reservoir filled behind the recently completed Teton Dam, problems began to appear near its base on June 3, 1976. As leaks and holes formed over the next couple days, dam engineers feverishly worked to fill them, but on June 5, the dam finally gave way, flooding several communities downstream. Around 270 feet of water drained in just six hours, damaging thousands of homes, killing livestock, ruining roads and bridges, and leaving 25,000 homeless. The water wiped out the communities of Wilford and Sugar City, and destroying parts of Rexburg and other surrounding communities. Eleven people were killed as a result of the catastrophe with six drowned. The Rexburg Standard and the Post Register (Idaho Falls) reported on the event and the aftermath (Box 16).
16 Document Boxes; 5.4 Linear Feet Ricks College (Rexburg, Idaho)Idaho State Historical SocietyUtah State University (Logan, Utah) MSSI 0002
This is a compilation of material gathered by the History Departments of Utah State University, Ricks College, and the Idaho State Historical Society. The Teton Flood Newspapers (Box 16) located in the holdings of the Special Collections were gathered from unprocessed materials in Special Collections and added in 2012.
The collection is open for research use.
Materials entirely in English.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the records must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Initial Citation: <item, folder no., or box no.,>; MSSI 0002; Teton Dam Disaster Collection; Special Collections, David O. McKay Library, Brigham Young University-Idaho
Following Citations: <item, folder no., or box no.,>; MSSI 0002; BYUISC.
MSSI 0015: David L. Crowder Collection, MSSI 0030: Ray Willis Walker Papers, File MS 0640: Teton Dam Conference Talks; Teton waters: a photographic portfolio by Robert Bower, Douglas A. Brown., The Day the Teton Dam Broke_1, The Day the Teton Dam Broke_2, File MS 0546: Failure of the Teton Dam News Scripts for KSL News, File MS 0535: St. Anthony 1st Ward Involvement in the Teton Dam Disaster, UA 0108: Clark Whitehead Papers
More information on the Teton Dam Disaster can be found in MSSI 0015: David L. Crowder Papers.
Teton Dam (Idaho); Teton Dam Failure, Idaho, 1976; Teton Dam Disaster Oral History Project
Minutes, Photographs, Newspapers, Slides, Camera Films
Arranged by type of documentation. Newspaper clippings, oral history reports, photographs and newspapers that have been organized by title and sub organized chronologically.
Series I: Teton Dam Flood; Newspaper Clippings, Survey Cards
Box 1 of 16
1976–1978
1. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 1
2. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 2
3. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 3
4. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 4
5. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 5
6. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 6
7. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 7
8. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 8
9. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 9
10. Teton Dam Newspaper Clippings # 10
11. Ricks College Employee Flood Survey
Series II: Teton Flood Oral History Collection Vol. 1-3
Box 2 of 16
1976–1977
1. Teton Flood Oral History Collection Volume 1
2. Teton Flood Oral History Collection Volume 2
3. Teton Flood Oral History Collection Volume 3
Series I: Teton Dam Flood; Newspaper Clippings, Magazines, Books, Notes
Box 3 of 16
1976–1978
1. Henry B. Eyring Newspapers Various Advertisements
2. Potato Grower of Idaho – July 1976
3. Time – Our Next President – June 21, 1976
4. News Release – Federal Disaster Assistance Administration
5. News – Small Business Administration
6. County Commissioners Civil Defense Staff Stake Presidents and Staff
7. Cultivator – Sept. 8, 1976
8. Readers Digest – Jan. 3, 1977, Send out list to the Wards – July. 14, 1976
9. MDS Work Assignment Cards
10. Various Ward Documents – Bishops Store House Church Clean Ups Summary of Teton Flood Cost Estimates
11. Chain Saw Checkout
12. Volunteer Help Assignments
Series III: Ward Information
Box 4 of 16
1976–1977
1. Ward Help Information
2. Ward Farms
3. Wards: Egin, Bench, Wilford, Salem, Sugar, Roberts
4. Misc. Buildings; Seminaries, R.S. Dist. Center-Rexburg, Tabernacle
5. Rexburg Stake; Wards: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12
Series IV: Oral History Reports; Teton Dam Disaster
Box 5 of 16
1977–1977
1. Anderson, Clyde W.
2. Anderson, Stephanie S.
3. Andrus, Gaylon Rich
4. Andrus, Gloria G.
5. Andrus, Alyn B.
6. Archibald, David W.
7. Ard, Myrtle W.
8. Ard, William
9. Bagley, Gaylen W
10. Bagley, Gaylen W
11. Bagley, Layle
12. Bake, Margaret
13. Barrus, Ruth H.
14. Bates, Orrin Raymon
15. Bean, Harold
16. Beck, Mary Ann
17. Bennion, Rex
18. Birch, Paul
19. Bird, Verl
20. Bischoff, Harold Mr. And Mrs.
21. Boice, Robert
22. Boyle, Nile Leroy
23. Bonner, John
24. Brewster, Sam F.
25. Brown, Hettie Burke
26. Brown, Max
27. Browning, Clarie
28. Calderwood, Jay
29. Camp, Irma R.
30. Carlson, Roxanne Lorie
31. Carter, William P.
32. Case, Garrett E.
33. Christensen, Jeff
34. Clements, Trudy
35. Coates, Lawrence
36. Cole, Veion Brown
Box 6 of 16
1976–1977
1. Congdon, Andrea
2. Cureton, Matt
3. Davenport, Ann
4. Eld, Marvin
5. Ellis, Don
6. Fife, Ronald K.
7. Forbush, Jack
8. Forsyth, Grace
9. Fowler, Don
10. Fowler, Janele
11. Fransen, Mr. And Mrs. George
12. Frederiksen, Mary L.
13. Fronk, Ted L.
14. Frost, Charles I.
15. Fuller, Kendell
16. Fullmer, Bettie Francine
17. Fullmer, Fremont and Golda
18. Fullmer, Theo Charles
19. Gage, Norman J
20. Galbraith, John
21. Gee, Clendon
22. Gee, James R.
23. Genta, Ellen
24. Gibson, Ruth
25. Gifford, Carolyn
26. Godfrey, Diana
27. Griffeth, Rama Drury
28. Grigg, Daryl Wayne
29. Hall, Garth Victor
30. Hansen, Keith L.
31. Harmon, Philip M.
32. Hart, Eldon C.
33. Hilterbrand, Vernel
34. Hoglund, Iris
35. Hoglund, Raymond Walter
36. Holman, Lora Hadlock
Box 7 of 16
1976–1977
1. Hostetter, C. Nelson
2. Howell, Kenneth
3. Hubscher, Arthur
4. Huskinson, Ralph
5. Hybels, Marilyn
6. Jenkins, Vernon Adrian
7. Jensen, Donald Niels
8. Jenson, L. Sid
9. Johnson, Carl J.
10. Kauer, Douglas S.
11. Kennedy, Michael B
12. Kinghorn, Brent
13. Klinger, Dell
14. Kriz, Lottie
15. Laird, McKean O.
16. Leonard, Jenni
17. Lowe, Gerald Jay
18. Manwaring, O. Elwood
19. Marlor, J. Kent
20. Mason, Carole
21. Meservy, Oliver K.
22. Miller, Wood
23. Moon, Zeruah
24. Morris, Barbara
25. Mortensen, Paul R.
26. Moss, Ronnie E.
27. Muir, Lynette
28. Nelson, Henry
29. Nelson, Judy
30. Nicholls, Dale Darnell
31. Niederer, Sharyn
32. Niederer, William
33. Nielson, John D.
34. Nyborg, Alan J. Mr. And Mrs.
35. Peterson, Lester J.
36. Peterson, Lola A.
37. Peterson, Floett G.
38. Pieper, Albert A.
39. Porter, Arthur C.
40. Price, Carol Ann
41. Price, Sandra
Box 8 of 16
1976–1977
1. Prows, Bernard
2. Reed, Sandra Armitta Isaacson
3. Remington, Tom E.
4. Ricks, Berniece W.
5. Ricks, Mark G.
6. Ricks, Shanna
7. Ricks, Norman E.
8. Risenmay, Jay
9. Robinson, Elaine
10. Rogers, Stephen William
11. Rogers, William Henry
12. Romrell, Brent and Arlene
13. Romrell, Lynn
14. Rydalch, Donald
15. Saunders, Larry
16. Saurey, Gwili
17. Schofield, Marilyn
18. Scoresby, Fred L.
19. Scoresby, Wanda
20. Shaw, Michael A.
21. Shirley, Leslie and Ethellynn
22. Shirley, Mack
23. Shirley, Rodney
24. Shirley, Ross
25. Shirley, Shanna
26. Smead, Mada W.
27. Smith, Eric
28. Sonderegger, Ferron W.
29. Sonderegger, Ferron
30. Sonderegger, Marilyn Hansen
31. Stevens, David
32. Stevenson, Afton
33. Stoddard, Norma
34. Stone, George
35. Stucki, J. Wendall
36. Swensen, Laren
Box 9 of 16
1976–1977
1. Thompson, Carolyn
2. Thompson, Larry G.
3. Thompson, Lora
4. Thompson, Robert
5. Vance, Nola Browning Thomas
6. Walker, Lola
7. Ward, Rueland
8. Weick, Dawn
9. Wescott, David
10. Widdison, Garr
11. Widdison, Lillie D.
12. Wilding, David
13. Wilding, David Dewayne
14. Williams, H. Lynn
15. Willmore, George
16. Wood, Walters Hendry
17. Worrell, Robert
18. Yorgason, Blaine M.
19. Zirker, John
Series V: Clippings and Publications after the Dam Broke
Box 10 of 16
1976–1977
1. Teton Flood Disaster, Clippings and Publications
2. Civic and community correspondence
3. Finance materials
4. Interviews with Bishops and First Presidency Message
5. Ricks College; News Release
6. Civic Defense Command Post Record of Events (June 7 – 12, 1976)
7. Lori Ann Wilkins
8. Jim McClure
9. Ricks College
10. William and Mary Walker
11. John Clarke
12. C.H. Brownings
13. Larry Hibbert and Brent Hall
14. Jerry Glenn
15. Clem J. Thompson
16. M.D. Morrell
17. Blackfoot News. Tragedy: a chronology of the Teton Dam disaster
18. Nelson, Flint
19. Nelson, Crystal
20. 1978 Post Register
21. 1978 Rexburg Standard Journal
22. 1979 Post Register
23. 1979 Rexburg Standard Journal
24. 1980 Rexburg Standard Journal
25. 1980 Post Register
26. 1983 Rexburg Standard Journal
27. 1986 Post Register
28. 1986 Rexburg Standard Journal
29. 1977 Idaho East Magazine
Series VI: Department of the Interior Geological Survey
Box 11 of 16
1976–1976
1. Newdale (by Herman A. Ray, Howard F. Matthai, and Cecil A. Thomas), 2 copies
2. St. Anthony (by Cecil A. Thomas, Herman A. Ray, and Howard F. Matthai), 2 copies
3. Parker (by Cecil A. Thomas and Herman A. Ray), 2 copies
4. Moody (by William A. Harenberg and Bruce B. Bigelow), 2 copies
5. Rexburg (by William A. Harenberg and Bruce B. Bigelow), 2 copies
6. Menan Buttes (by Cecil A. Thomas, Herman A. Ray, and William A. Harenberg), 2 copies
7. Deer Parks (by Herman A. Ray, C. Michael Bennett, and Andrew W. Records), 2 copies
8. Rigby (by Herman A. Ray and Bruce B. Bigelow), 2 copies
9. Lewisville (by Herman A. Ray and Bruce B. Bigelow), 2 copies
10. Idaho Falls North (by Herman A. Ray and Howard F. Matthai), 2 copies
11. Idaho Falls South (by Herman A. Ray and Howard F. Matthai), 2 copies
12. Woodville (by Howard F. Matthai and Herman A. Ray), 2 copies
13. Firth (by Larry L. Hubbard and John H. Bartells), 2 copies
14. Rose (by John H. Bartells and Larry L. Hubbard), 2 copies
15. Blackfoot (by John H. Bartells and Larry L. Hubbard)
16. Moreland (by Larry L. Hubbard and John H. Bartells), 2 copies
17. Pingree (by Larry L. Hubbard and John H. Bartells), 3 copies
Series VII: Photographs of Teton Dam Disaster
Box 12 of 16
1976–1976
1. Photographs by Eldon Linschoten
2. 4th of July Parade, Rexburg
3. Photographs by K. Baker Before Teton Dam Flood (Area of Teton River and Teton Dam)
4. Photographs by Eldon Linschoten and Mike Lewis (Area of Down Stream Side)
5. Historical Photographs
6. Random Photographs (Unknown Source)
Series VIII: Damaged Books
Box 13 of 16
1888–1917
1. Life of Joseph Smith by George Q. Cannon (1888)
2. Wilford Woodruff by Matthias F. Cowley (1916)
3. John St. John (A Story of Missouri and Illinois) by Nephi Anderson (1917)
Series IX: Rick Davis Collection of Teton Dam Flood
Box 14 of 16
1976–1976
1. Slides of Teton Dam Flood
2. Photographs of the Sugar City Area
3. Photographs of the Rexburg Area
4. Camera Film of Teton Dam Flood
Series X: Teton Flood Photo Slides
Box 15 of 16
1976–1976
1. Thomson, Lynn P. Teton Dam Disaster 1
2. Thomson, Lynn P. Teton Dam Disaster 2
3. Script to Accompany Slide Set Number Two – 2 copies / Teton Dam Flood Data
Series XI: Newspaper Collection of Teton Dam Flood
Box 16 of 16
1976–1977, 2016
The Standard Journal (Rexburg)
1. November 11, 1976
2. November 16, 1976
3. December 14, 1976
4. January 6, 1977
5. February 22, 1977
6. February 24, 1977
7. April 12, 1977
8. May 12, 1977
9. May 17, 1977
10. May 31, 1977
11. June 2, 1977
12. June 7, 1977
13. June 16, 1977
14. June 21, 1977
15. June 3, 2016
The Post Register (Idaho Falls)
16. January 5, 1977
17. January 7, 1977
The Teton Dam Disaster Collection is a compilation of newspaper articles oral histories, accounts received, and published materials. Newspapers from Idaho Falls and Rexburg that reported on the Teton Dam Disaster and aftermath between 1976 and 1977. The Standard (Rexburg) and the Post Register (Idaho Falls) contain comprehensive coverage of the event and the following year (Box 16).