C. Gregory Crampton
Historian – Author – Educator
1912-1995
In 1956, Dr. C. Gregory Crampton, Professor of History at the University of Utah, was awarded a Federal contract to research and document the history of the canyons that would be covered by the waters of Lake Powell. With a novel combination of field research, documentary investigation, and interviews conducted during the years from 1957 to 1963, Crampton produced a number of monographs that have proved immensely valuable to historians.
Of all Crampton’s career-decades as a university professor and author-he took most pride in his Glen Canyon research. Throughout the remainder of his life, he was renowned as the preeminent Glen Canyon expert.
He later wrote the award-winning book, Standing Up Country, an overview of the history of canyonlands in Utah and Arizona, and Land of Living Rock, a history of the Grand Canyon region. He followed these with the popular Ghosts of Glen Canyon, a recounting of historical episodes in Glen Canyon before Lake Powell. Dr. Crampton also wrote books about the Old Spanish Trail, the Pueblo of Zuni, and the Arizona Strip.
To his friends, “Greg” was known as a generous, witty, and affable companion. He enlivened many evenings with his good humor and stories from the past.
Gregory Crampton died in May 1995 and his ashes were scattered at Lee’s Ferry.
Marker located at Lee’s Ferry, Arizona and placed 1998 by friends of C. Gregory Crampton.
