Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Merrill J. Mattes papers, 1935-1964
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Mattes, Merrill J.
- Title
- Merrill J. Mattes papers
- Dates
- 1935-1964 (inclusive)19351964
- Quantity
- 7.45 cubic feet (16 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 00120
- Summary
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
Additional Information
Finding aid available in repository.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Merrill John Mattes (1910- ), a historian, worked for the National Park Service (NPS) for 30 years, beginning as a ranger at Yellowstone National Park in 1935. He was superintendent of Scotts Bluff National Monument from 1935-1946, acting custodian of Fort Laramie National Monument (later Fort Laramie National Historic Site) beginning in 1938, and was acting historian for Fort Laramie from 1939-1946. Mattes was regional historian at the NPS Region 2 office in Omaha, Nebraska from 1946-1966, chief of history and historic architecture in San Francisco, California from 1966-1971, and manager of the historic preservation team at the NPS Denver Service Center from 1971-1975. He became an independent historical consultant in 1976. In 1944, Mattes testified as an expert witness against the state of Wyoming's lawsuit challenging the creation of the Jackson Hole National Monument.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection is chiefly materials on Wyoming including copies of Mattes' National Park Service files of correspondence, memorandums, maps, reports, photographs, negatives, legal documents, and printed materials related to Fort Laramie, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole National Monument, Fort Phil Kearny, Fort Caspar, Fort Bridger and the Oregon Trail. Collection also includes two boxes of note cards containing bibliographic citations and research notes on the history of Jackson Hole and the fur trade.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by Merrill J. Mattes at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThe collection was received from Merrill J. Mattes in 1949 and 1977.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe finding aid was encoded by Katelyn Wittenborn and D. Claudia Thompson in September 2020.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
"Sutler's Store at Fort Laramie"Return to Top
Container(s): Folder F775-L
"Jackson Hole, Crossroads of the West Fur Trade, 1807-1840Return to Top
Container(s): Folder W994-jh
"Fort Laramie and the Forty-Niners"Return to Top
Container(s): Folder F775-L
File Folders: Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | Grand Teton - Articles about Park. 6 pieces |
|
1 | Grand Teton - Congressional Reports. 2 pieces |
|
1 | Grand Teton - History - General. 23 pieces |
|
1 | Grand Teton - History - Fur Trade. 29 pieces |
|
1 | Grand Teton - Jackson Hole National Monument Articles. 8 pieces |
|
1 | Grand Teton - Menor's Ferry. 7 pieces |
|
1 | Grand Teton - "Nature Notes." 2 pieces |
|
1 | Grand Teton - Pamphlets. 18 pieces |
|
2 | Grand Teton - "Photographs." 80 pieces |
|
2 | Grand Teton - Jackson Hole - Correspondence. 26 pieces |
|
2 | Wyoming - Fort Bridger. 5 pieces |
|
2 | Wyoming - Fort Casper. 1 piece |
|
2 | Wyoming - Fort Phil Kearney. 9 pieces |
|
2 | Wyoming - General. 47 pieces |
|
2 | Wyoming - General Literature, Misc. data, correspondence 16 pieces. |
|
3 | Wyoming - Jackson County. 2 pieces |
|
3 | Wyoming - Photographs - Grand Tetons. 4 pieces |
|
3 | Yellowstone - Articles. 6 pieces |
|
3 | Yellowstone - Diamond Jubilee Material. 4 pieces |
|
3 | Yellowstone - History. 21 pieces |
|
3 | Yellowstone - Maps. 11 pieces |
|
3 | Yellowstone - "Nature Notes." 7 pieces |
|
3 | Yellowstone - Pamphlets. 6 pieces |
Photographs: Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
3 | Idaho - Blackfoot. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 2. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
3 | Idaho - Drummond. No. of Packets: 6. No. of Photos: 17. No. of Negs.: 6 |
|
3 | Idaho - Fort Hall. No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 6. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
3 | Idaho - Fort Henry. No. of Packets: 5. No. of Photos: 5. No. of Negs.: 5 |
|
3 | Idaho - Spalding. No. of Packets: 3. No. of Photos: 3. No. of Negs.: 3 |
|
3 | Kansas - El Quartelejo. No. of Packets: 1. No. of Photos: 1 No. of Negs.: 1 |
|
3 | Montana - Bighorn Canyon. No. of Packets: 1. No. of Photos: 1. No. of Negs.: 0 |
|
3 | Montana - Buffalo Jump-off, Browning. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 7. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
3 | Nebraska - Chadron. No. of Packets: 6. No. of Photos: 6. No. of Negs.: 6 |
|
3 | North Dakota - Fort Union. No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 6. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
4 | Oregon - Fort Dalles. No. of Packets: 2. No of Photos: 3. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
4 | Oregon - Oregon City. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 3. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
4 | Oregon - Oregon Trail, Columbia River. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 4 No. of Negs.: 2. |
|
4 | Oregon - Seaside. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 2. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
4 | South Dakota - Spearfish. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 2. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
4 | Washington - Fort Columbia. No. of Packets: 1. No. of Photos: 1. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
4 | Washington - Fort Vancouver. No. of Packets: 1. No. of Photos: 1. No. of Negs.: 1 |
|
4 | Washington - Fort Walla Walla. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 3. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
4 | Wyoming - Activities. No. of Packets: 3. No. of Photos: 5. No. of Negs.: 3 |
|
4 | Wyoming - Alcova Resevoir. No. of Packets: 16. No. of Photos: 10. No. of Negs.: 16 |
|
4 | Wyoming - Anchor Resevoir. No. of Packets: 37. No. of Photos: 0. No. of Negs.: 37 |
|
4 | Wyoming - Arvada. No. of Packets: 1. No. of Photos: 1. No. of Negs.: 1 |
|
4 | Wyoming - Bennett Buttes. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 3. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
4 | Wyoming - Big Horn River Basin. No. of Packets: 12. No. of Photos: 24. No. of Negs.: 11 |
|
4 | Wyoming - Big Sandy Resevoir. No. of Packets: 5. No. of Photos: 14. No. of Negs.: 5 |
|
4 | Wyoming - Boysen Resevoir. No. of Packets: 23. No. of Photos: 11. No. of Negs.: 23 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Buffalo. No. of Packets: 3. No. of Photos: 6. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
5 | Wyoming - "Buffalo Bill." No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 7. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Casper. No. of Packets: 5. No. of Photos: 6. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Castle Gardens. No. of Packets: 7. No. of Photos: 9. No. of Negs.: 9 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Camp Connor (Fort Connor). No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 2. No. of Negs.: 3 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Camp Stambaugh. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 2. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Charts, Maps, Plans. No. of Packets: 1. No. of Photos: 1. No. of Negs.: 1 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Cheyene. No. of Packets: 7. No. of Photos: 9. No. of Negs.: 10 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Chugwater. No. of Packets: 5. No. of Photos: 10. No. of Negs.: 8 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Church Butte. No. of Packets: 6. No. of Photos: 6. No. of Neg.: 6 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Cody-Shoshone River. No. of Packets: 5. No. of Photos: 0. No. of Negs.: 5 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Colter's Hell. No. of Packets: 23. No. of Photos: 25. No. of Negs.: 23 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Connor Battlefield. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 5. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Crowheart Butte. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 5. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Daniel. No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 6. No. of Negs.: 6 |
|
5 | Wyoming - DeGerling Quarry. No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 8. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Devil's Gate. No. of Packets: 6. No. of Photos: 8. No. of Negs.: 5 |
|
5 | Wyoming - Dinwoody. No. of Packets: 11. No. of Photos: 116. No. of Negs.: 11 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Dullknife Battlefield. No. of Packets: 11. No. of Photos: 37. No. of Negs.: 11 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort Fetterman. No. of Packets: 17. No. of Photos: 24. No. of Negs.: 18 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort Bridger. No. of Packets: 23. No. of Photos: 39. No. of Negs.: 30 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort Brown. No. of Packets: 1. No. of Photos: 1. No. of Negs.: 1 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort Fred Steele. No. of Packets: 7. No. of Photos: 7. No. of Negs.: 8 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort Halleck. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 2. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort Laramie. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 3. No. of Negs.: 3 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort McKenzie. No. of Packets: 3. No. of Photos: 4. No. of Negs.: 3 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort Phil Kearney. No. of Packets: 49. No. of Photos: 51. No. of Negs.: 11 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort Platte. No. of Packets: 1. No. of Photos: 1. No. of Negs.: 1 |
|
6 | Wyoming - Fort Reno. No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 4. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Fort Washakie. No. of Packets: 21. No. of Photos: 39. No. of Negs.: 26 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Glendo. No. of Packets: 8. No. of Photos: 8. No. of Negs.: 8 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. General. No. of Packets: 44. No. of Photos: 66. No. of Negs.: 49 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Battle of Pierre's Hole. No. of Packets: 9. No. of Photos: 9. No. of Negs.: 9 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Colter Bay. No. of Packets: 9. No. of Photos: 15. No. of Negs.: 9 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Colter Pageant. No. of Packets: 3. No. of Photos: 3. No. of Negs.: 3 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Colter Rock (Stone). No. of Packets: 13. No. of Photos: 14. No. of Negs.: 13 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Cunningham Ranch. No. of Packets: 13. No. of Photos: 14. No. of Negs.: 13 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Feuz Ranch. No. of Packets: 18. No. of Photos: 18. No. of Negs.:18 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Fort Bonneville. No. of Packets: 8. No. of Photos: 9. No. of Negs.: 8 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Cros Ventre Area. No. of Packets: 11. No. of Photos: 11. No. of Negs.: 11 |
|
7 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Hoback River. No. of Packets: 12. No. of Photos: 14. No. of Negs.: 13 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Jackson Hole Highway. No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 4. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Menor's Ferry. No. of Packets: 25. No. of Photos: 28. No. of Negs.: 23 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Mormon Row. No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 4. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Museum Exhibits. No. of Packets: 16. No. of Photos: 21. No. of Negs.: 17 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Owen Wister's Cabin, R Lazy S Ranch. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 4. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Shoshone Canyon. No. of Packets: 3. No. of Photos: 3. No. of Negs.: 3 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Teton Range. No. of Packets: 33. No. of Photos: 34. No. of Negs.: 33 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Grand Teton National Park. Wyoming Historical Society at Cody, Annual Meeting. No. of Packets: 5. No. of Photos: 5. No. of Negs.: 5 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Green River Rendezvous Site. No. of Packets: 25. No. of Photos: 25. No. of Negs.: 25 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Guernsey Reservoir. No. of Packets: 5. No. of Photos: 5. No. of Negs.: 5 |
|
8 | Wyoming - Hells Half Acre. No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 11. No. of Negs.: 5 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Indian Medicine Wheel. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 2. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Jackson Collection. No. of Packets: 1. No. of Photos: 1. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Lake DeSmet. No. of Packets: 8. No. of Photos: 23. No. of Negs.: 8 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Lander. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 2. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Laramie. No. of Packets: 11. No. of Photos: 14. No. of Negs.: 13 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Mayoworth Village. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 6. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
9 | Wyoming - North Platte River Basin. No. of Packets: 46. No. of Photos: 61. No. of Negs.: 54 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Oregon Trail. General. No. of Packets: 21. No. of Photos: 47. No. of Negs.: 38 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Oregon Trail. Independence Rock. No. of Packets: 4. No. of Photos: 6. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Oregon Trail. Register Cliff. No. of Packets: 24. No. of Photos: 31. No. of Negs.: 24 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Oregon Trail. South Pass. No. of Packets: 10. No. of Photos: 22. No. of Negs.: 18 |
|
9 | Wyoming - Portraits. No. of Packets: 16. No. of Photos: 18. No. of Negs.: 16 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Powder River Division (with Captions Sheet). No. of Packets: 96. No. of Photos: 1. No. of Negs.: 104 |
|
10 | Wyoming - South Pass City. No. of Packets: 13. No. of Photos: 29. No. of Negs.: 13 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Spanish Diggings. No. of Packets: 11. No. of Photos: 11. No. of Negs.: 11 |
|
10 | Wyoming - State Park at Ranchester. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 3. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Thermopolis. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 0. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Tongue River, South Fork. No. of Packets: 19. No. of Photos: 16. No. of Negs.: 22 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Torrington. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 4. No. of Negs.: 2 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Upper Platte Sub-Basin. No. of Packets: 7. No. of Photos: 7. No. of Negs.: 7 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Wagon Box Fight Site. No. of Packets: 5. No. of Photos: 9. No. of Negs.: 11 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Wapiti Ranger Station. No. of Packets: 2. No. of Photos: 4. No. of Negs.: 4 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Wind River Basin (with captions Sheet). No. of Packets: 98. No. of Photos: 98. No. of Negs.: 107 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Yellowstone National Park. No. of Packets: 35. No. of Photos: 49. No. of Negs.: 38 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Yellowstone National Park. Clarks Fork. No. of Packets: 55. No. of Photos: 55. No. of Negs.: 55 |
|
10 | Wyoming - Miscellaneous Wyoming. No. of Packets: 24. No. of Photos: 28. No. of Negs.: 26 |
Research Note Cards: Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. A. 10 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. B. 25 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. C. 19 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. D. 16 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. E. 10 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. F. 7 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. G. 15 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. H. 24 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. I. 6 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. J. 4 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. K. 3 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. L. 8 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. M. 15 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. Mc. 1 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. N. 5 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. O. 5 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. P. 8 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. Q. - cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. R. 12 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. S. 14 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. T. 7 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. U. - cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. V. 5 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. W. 23 cards |
|
11 | Bibliography - Jackson Hole. XYZ. 13 cards |
|
12 | Maps. 27 cards |
|
12 | Fur Trade. 33 cards |
|
12 | Jackson Hole. 18 cards |
|
12 | Biography. 31 cards |
|
12 | 1807 Colter. 34 cards |
1807 |
12 | 1811 Hoback. 8 cards |
1811 |
12 | 1811 Hunt. 18 cards |
1811 |
12 | 1812 Stuart. 4 cards |
1812 |
12 | 1818 McKenzie. 10 cards |
1818 |
12 | 1824 Smith. 27 cards |
1824 |
12 | 1825 Bridger. 6 cards |
1825 |
12 | 1827. 15 cards |
1827 |
12 | 1829 Jackson. 14 cards |
1829 |
12 | 1830 Jackson. 11 cards |
1830 |
12 | 1831 Fitzpatrick. 10 cards |
1831 |
12 | 1832 Sublette. 31 cards |
1832 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Fur trade -- Wyoming -- Jackson Hole.
- Historic buildings -- Wyoming -- Conservation and restoration.
- Historic sites -- Wyoming -- Conservation and restoration.
- National monuments -- Wyoming.
- National parks and reserves -- Wyoming.
- Trails -- West (U.S.)
- Trails -- Wyoming.
Corporate Names
- United States. National Park Service. Region Two.
Geographical Names
- Fort Bridger (Wyo.)
- Fort Caspar (Wyo.)
- Fort Laramie (Wyo. : Fort)
- Fort Laramie National Historic Site (Wyo.)
- Fort Phil Kearny (Wyo.)
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyo.)
- Jackson Hole (Wyo.)
- Jackson Hole National Monument.
- Oregon National Historic Trail.
- Yellowstone National Park.
Form or Genre Terms
- Bibliographies.
- Legal documents.
- Memorandums.
- Negatives.
- Notes.
- Photographs.
Occupations
- Historians.