Outdoor Recreation Archive Receives Skip Yowell Papers, Documenting Outdoor Industry Trailblazer

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State University's Outdoor Recreation Archive has opened a new collection documenting the life and career of the late Skip Yowell (1946-2015), co-founder of JanSport and a visionary in the outdoor industry.

Donated by his wife, Winnie Kingsbury, the Skip Yowell papers preserve decades of innovation, creativity and community-building that helped shape one of the world's most recognizable outdoor brands.

Yowell co-founded JanSport in the late 1960s, helping transform a small backpacking venture into a global company known for its functional design and cultural impact. Widely recognized for his energy, humor and unconventional leadership style, Yowell played a central role in fostering a company culture rooted in storytelling, exploration and personal connection, values that continue to influence the outdoor industry today.

The Skip Yowell papers span roughly four decades and offer a rich, multifaceted view of his professional and personal pursuits. The collection includes correspondence, internal communications, product development files, advertising and branding materials, photographs, and ephemera. Together, these materials document JanSport's evolution, from early design concepts and field testing to marketing strategies and large-scale events that helped define the company's identity.

In addition to business records, the collection reflects Yowell's wide-ranging interests and creative endeavors. Researchers will find materials related to his writing, including his book The Hippie Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder & Other Mountains, as well as documentation of ventures such as "Skip's Popcorn" and his philanthropic activities. The papers also capture Yowell's deep engagement with the outdoor community, including his involvement in events, expeditions, and industry initiatives that fostered collaboration and innovation.

The collection is significant for scholars of outdoor recreation, business history, marketing and design. It provides rare insight into the human side of entrepreneurship and illustrates how personal values and relationships can influence the growth of a global brand. More broadly, the papers help document the cultural and social dimensions of the outdoor industry during a period of rapid expansion and change.

The Skip Yowell papers are now open for research. The collection's finding aid is available online at https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv865895.