William Lowell Putnam III

Who is William Lowell Putnam III?

William Lowell Putnam III is an alpinist, author and retired broadcasting executive. He is Trustee Emeritus of the Lowell Observatory, a private astronomical research facility. He is the son of Roger Putnam and a member of the once-prominent Lowell family of Massachusetts.

Over several decades beginning in the 1940s, Putnam made many first ascents and difficult exploratory expeditions centered in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia.

After serving as the American Alpine Club guidebook editor for western Canada beginning in 1957 and subsequently in other capacities, Putnam was the club's president from 1971-73. Related to these activities, Putnam was U.S delegate to the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation for 30 years, and for much of this period also represented Canada.

The construction of three mountain cabins in western Canada now operated for the public by the Alpine Club of Canada was spearheaded and completed by Putnam. One of these accommodations, in the northern Columbia, or Selkirk Mountains, was renamed the Bill Putnam Hut in 2002 by the Alpine Club of Canada to recognize his contribution to Canadian mountaineering.