©2003 Brigham Young University-Idaho. All rights reserved.
This collection was donated by Harold Chambers, the son of Elwood Walker Chambers. Harold Chambers transcribed his father's manuscripts and scanned the photographs in order to have this collection in an electronic format. The collection was donated to BYU-I on November 8, 2003 and received by Blaine Bake of the university archives.
This collection is open to the public.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from Elwood Walker Chambers Papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the Special Collections Board of Curators.
(This biographical sketch was submitted by Harold Chambers, Elwwod Walker Chamber's son)
Elwood Walker Chambers was born September 12, 1916, in Marysville, Idaho as the son of Hugh and Coral (Walker) Chambers. The family shortly moved to Dillon, Montana where he spent his early years. In Dillon, his parents separated and eventually divorced. His mother married Marion Whittle of Marysville, Idaho in 1929. Elwood attended school in Marysville and Ashton, and the family later moved to Idaho Falls. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1936. Elwood married Barbara Allen of Swan Lake, Idaho, September 7, 1940 in Idaho Falls. They had four children, Harold Lee, Elwood Walker, Jr. (deceased), Lorna (deceased) and Joel Allen.
He served during World War II in the Aleutian Islands and in the South Pacific. After the war, he worked a small farm in the Ashton, Idaho area. When farming proved unprofitable, he sold the farm and enlisted in the United States Army again in 1948.
Elwood was assigned to operate boats for the Army. He was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone, in Seattle Washington, at Fort Eustis and Fort Story, and in Korea. He ended his military career as an information officer. He retired after 20 years of service with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer.
After retiring from military service in 1960, he lived in Idaho Falls and Blackfoot, Idaho; Clearfield and Sunset, Utah; and Portland, Troutdale, and Prineville, Oregon. In 1978 Elwood and Barbara moved from Prineville, Oregon to Shoshone, Idaho.
Elwood has been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for most of his adult years and has served in various callings. Elwood served on the Carey Idaho Stake high council for several years. In addition, he was very involved in family history work. He spent fourteen years compiling the biographies of his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. He also served for two years as President of John Walker Family Organization.
Elwood loved to travel and with his wife he traveled all across the United States, visiting old friends and taking in historical sites along the way.
Later in his life, Elwood developed glaucoma which caused him to go nearly blind. He still has a little sight in his right eye. This had necessitated that to cease traveling and writing stories. He has written some 80 stories about the people he has known, events he has observed, and family situations he has enjoyed. He still dictates stories when family members find time to type for him.
In 2001, Elwood and Barbara sold their home in Shoshone in order to live with their son Harold and daughter-in-law Jeanette in Dietrich, Idaho. They now have 13 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
This collections consists of several personal histories compiled by Elwood Walker Chambers about his immediate ancestry. The personal histories included many interesting and relevant photos of Chambers' ancestors. Harold Chambers, Elwood Walker Chambers' son transcribed these personal histories and scanned the included photographs. He donated the collection in a CD form, and the BYU-I Special Collections and Archives printed out a hard copy for this manuscript collection.
This collection was arranged alphabetically by name.