Archives West Finding Aid

In the late summer of 1888, Emma Rosser and two traveling companions identified only as "Louise" and "Budd" went on a camping trip through Yellowstone National Park in a private spring wagon. The party left a location near Billings, Montana and proceeded up the Yellowstone River valley to Livingston, then turned south to enter the park near Gardiner. They traveled through Mammoth Hot Springs, the Norris Geyser Basin, the Firehole River, the Upper Geyser Basin, and along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone before returning to Billings by the same route. Through the journey Rosser describes the countryside with varying degrees of detail, and also mentions at least one other touring party, the Severns. Also mentioned in the diary are "Yankee Jim" (James George) and Dick Hunter, a soldier they met on duty at the Upper Geyser Basin. They stayed in no hotels or commercial establishments during their stay in the Park. The collection consists of Rosser's original diary composed in pencil and the original transcription prepared by Burlingame.