Nellie Tayloe Ross papers, 1880s-1998

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ross, Nellie Tayloe, 1876-1977
Title
Nellie Tayloe Ross papers
Dates
1880s-1998 (inclusive)
Quantity
22.50 cubic ft. (39 boxes and digital content)
Collection Number
00948
Summary
Papers of the first woman governor of Wyoming and of the United States, who served from 1924 to 1926. Includes Ross family material, campaign material from Nellie and her husband William B. Ross, speeches and writings, diaries, photographs, and material relating to Nellie Ross's tenure as director of the United States Mint.
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.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876-1977) was the first woman governor in the United States. Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, she married William Bradford Ross in 1902 and they lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming. William B. Ross, a Democrat, was elected Governor of Wyoming in 1922. Three weeks before election day in 1924, William B. Ross died and Nellie Tayloe Ross, a housewife of twenty-two years, was elected in his stead. Nellie Ross lost in her bid for reelection in 1926, but had gained national prominence as the first woman governor and began a national speaking tour. In the early 1930s she served as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee in charge of women’s activities. She was appointed Director of the U.S. Mint in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served in that capacity until her retirement in 1953. Ross lived in Washington D.C. until her death at age 101 in 1977.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection contains materials relating to Nellie Tayloe Ross’s professional and political career and the Ross family. Correspondence contains both personal and professional letters, including letters to and from family members. Several scrapbooks containing clippings, letters, and photographs document Ross’s time as governor and as director of the U.S. Mint. There are a number of speeches and manuscripts, some handwritten by Ross, about a variety of topics written and presented throughout her career. The collection also contains audio records and interviews documenting Ross’s life and career. Additionally there is legal and financial information largely related to real estate and properties owned by the Ross family. There is also information about the Ross family and several documents pertaining to Ross’s son, William Bradford Ross II. Biographical and general information can be found in clippings, an interview with son William Bradford Ross II, day planners, and publications on Ross. There are also a number of photographs documenting the Ross family, Ross’s term as governor and director of the U.S. Mint, and miscellaneous individuals.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

Family maintains copyright except for material in boxes 1-25 and Digital Content. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Alternative Forms Available

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at http://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu:8180/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~56~56.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection has been arranged primarily in chronological order within each series. This arrangement was changed to alphabetical arrangement in series I, II, and V in 2013. Previous series VIII and IX were absorbed into series I through VII.

Related Materials

Related Materials

Nellie Tayloe Ross Papers, Wyoming State Archives (Cheyenne, Wyo.)

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

Nellie Tayloe Ross donated parts of the collection circa 1960. Lewis Gould donated material in 1986. The Ross Family donated parts of the collection in 1996, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2015. Mrs. Norman Gray donated three letters in 2002. The DVD was purchased in 2005.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Monte G. Kniffen and Melanie Francis in 1997 and 2003 and updated by Laura Uglean Jackson in 2013.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I.:  Correspondence, 1902-1998Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 3
100th Birthday: Letters from school children and teachers, 1976
5 4-7
100th Birthday: notes and cards, 1976
6 1-2
100th Birthday: Responses to party invitations, 1976
1 4
Ambrose Ross, 1922-1923
7 8
Cards and Invitations, 1925-1982
27 7-10
Congratulatory
1922-1924, 1933, 1948
2 1
1 12
Copies of letters and transcripts from Kaye Tayloe Collins, 1924-1998
4 1
David Ross, 1957-1961
7 11
Documentary Film on Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1994
4 4
Dorothy Ross (notes and letters to her), 1970-1982
1 1
Family and Personal, 1902-1930
1 2
Family and Personal, 1918-1924
1 8
6 3
Financial and General, 1940-1977
1 5
George Ross, 1923
1 6
George Ross, 1923
1 7
George Ross, 1923
1 11
3 11
5 2
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, 1975
27 22
International Exposition in Madrid
1951-1952
27 13-21
Invitations
1924-1953
2 3
2 4
4 2
39
Miscellaneous Correspondence with Well-Known Individuals,1925-1953
Folder
27 11
1 3
Miscellaneous Early, 1905-1938
30 3
Miscellaneous
1919-1975
2 2
Miscellaneous, 1924-1929
30 1
Miscellaneous
1926-1944
2 6
Miscellaneous, 1930s
30 5
Miscellaneous
1931
2 11
Miscellaneous, 1940-1947
2 12
Miscellaneous, 1951-1970
3 3
3 5
3 13
Miscellaneous, 1960-1972
4 9
Miscellaneous and Christmas Greetings, 1964
4 10
Miscellaneous, 1970-1978
7 6
Miscellaneous, 1980s-1990s
7 12
Miscellaneous, undated
4 7
Nellie Tayloe Ross Business Matters, 1966-1967
7 7
Nellie Tayloe Ross Portrait
30 4
Nellie Tayloe Ross to Alma Gray
1965, 1970
3 6
3 7
Nellie Tayloe Ross to George and Nelle Ross, 1925, 1938-1948, 1951, undated
3 8
3 9
3 10
3 4
2 8
30 2
Nellie Tayloe Ross to Son, Bradford Ross
1929-1947
2 7
3 12
Orange Grove Property, 1960-1962
26 12
Personal
1922-1957
5 1
Personal (school children and teachers), 1970-1978
4 5
27 1-6
Professional
1922-1952
26 5-11
Professional
1928-1952
2 9
27 24
Retirement
1953
4 3
3 1
Spain Purchases, 1951
26 2-4
Sympathy and Get Well, Death of William Bradford Ross
1924
1 10
4 6
2 10
1 9
Digital Folder
Transcripts of correspondence with family, mostly from Nellie Tayloe Ross to George Tayloe (brother) and his wife Nelle,1905-1970
Box Folder
4 8
3 2
U.S. Mint, 1952-1956
27 12
William Bradford Ross I, Personal
1922-1924
6 4
William Bradford Ross II business matters, 1961-1964
2 5
6 5
William Bradford Ross II: Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Ross, 1960-1977
7 2-5
William Bradford Ross II: Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Ross, 1970-1980
6 6-7
William Bradford Ross II, Letters to, 1970-1994
7 1
William Bradford Ross II and Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1970s
7 9
William Bradford Ross II Mostly WBR II, 1972-1993
7 10
William Bradford Ross III, 1982-1992
27 23
Woman's World Fair
1925
Typed transcripts of correspondence with family, mostly from Nellie Tayloe Ross to George Tayloe (brother) and his wife Nelle.
1905-1970

Series II.:  Political and Professional, 1907-1994 Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
25 June 5, 1994
Folder
8 8
8 10
Articles on U.S. Mint, 1952, 1959, 1984
34
Folder
26 14
Bound Volumes
1926, 1953
26 13
Campaign Materials
circa 1923
35-36
Campaign Signs
circa 1926
34
Certificates- Director of U.S. Mint
1933-1948
34
Certificates- Gimbel Brothers Building Dedication
1926
34
Degrees
1937, 1950
21
Fortune Magazine, article titled, “The Wonder Boys in Washington” which includes a segment on Nellie Tayloe Ross as U.S. Mint Director, p. 19-23 1933
Folder
29 15
Governors' Conference
1926
29 12
Governors' Conference in Maine
1925
29 9
Governors' Trip to Spain
1951
29 8
Hatch Act
1933-1941
8 9
28 1
Manuscripts, 1920-1948
28 2-3
Manuscripts by Nellie Tayloe Ross
circa 1940 and undated
28 4
Manuscripts: "Has Woman a Right to Vote!"
undated
28 5
Manuscripts: "Progress and the Eternal Feminine"
undated
8 7
Miscellaneous, 1938-1941
25 ca. 1933
Folder
7 16
28 10
News Releases
1924-1942
28 14
Notes
undated
28 18
Pamphlets and Other Printed Material
1920-1937
Phonograph Recordings:
Box
37 February 25, 1938
25 1946
37
"Coffee in Washington" radio program, 3 records, Parts 1-6, (33 1/3 RPM; 32 minutes, 21 seconds)
1950
Box Folder
9 1
Political Information, miscellaneous, 1934-1969
9 2
8 1
29 11
Publicity
1931-1943
28 13
Reports
1921-1935
28 12
Resolutions and Proclamations
1924-1953
28 15
Schedules
circa 1935
24
Scrapbook, Family Photographs, political photographs, miscellaneous clippings 1907-1940
33
Scrapbook
1922-1924
22
Scrapbook (2), William Bradford Ross as Governor of Wyoming 1922-1924
32
Scrapbook, Miscellaneous
circa 1924
22
Scrapbook (3), Nellie Tayloe Ross as Governor of Wyoming 1924-1926
23
Scrapbook, Nellie Tayloe Ross as Governor of Wyoming 1925
33
Scrapbook
1925-1926
23
Scrapbook, Nellie Tayloe Ross as Governor, and re-election campaign 1926
23
Scrapbook, Miscellaneous clippings 1926-1931
23
Scrapbook, Nellie Tayloe Ross as Democratic Party Vice-Chairman 1927
23
Scrapbook, Clippings of Comments and Lectures of Nellie Tayloe Ross 1928
24
Scrapbook, Nellie Tayloe Ross as Vice-Chairmanship of Democratic Party 1931
24
Scrapbook, Nellie Tayloe Ross during President’s cabinet election 1932-1933
24
Scrapbook, Nellie Tayloe Ross as U.S. Mint Director 1933-1937
24
Scrapbook, mainly clippings of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's visit to U.S. 1939
31
Scrapbook
1940-1950
31
Scrapbook (compiled by Thelma Harold)
1945-1953
32
Scrapbook- International Medallic Art Exposition
1951
34
Signing Oath of Office to Governor [DVD]
1925
Folder
28 21-23
Social Events
1916-1952
7 13
29 1-2
Speeches and Speech Material
1920-1953
7 14
7 15
29 3-7
Speeches and Addresses (5 volumes)
1925-1952
28 6-9
Speeches and Addresses
1925-1960
8 2
Speeches and Addresses, 1931-1935, 1941
30 11
Speeches and Addresses
1933-1940
8 3
8 4
8 5
8 6
Speeches and Addresses, 1949-1952, 1960
29 13
Speeches by Others
1923
29 10
United States Mint
1937-1953
29 14
Wyoming Democrats
1920-1926
21 1
Wyoming Firsts, special edition of Wyoming Eagle and Wyoming State Tribune, Cheyenne, 1954, with Nellie Tayloe Ross on front cover

Series III.:  Legal and Financial, 1909-1981 Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
9 3
Estate Papers and Death Certificate of William Bradford Ross I, 1909-1956
9 4
Warranty Deed, Contrast, Old Nellie Tayloe Ross Will, 1912-1932
28 17
Financial Records
1926-1928
28 16
Legal Documents
1934
29 16
Virginia Farm
1941-1947
9 5
Maryland Farm, 1951-1953
9 6
Nellie Tayloe Ross Passports
1951, 1953, 1961
9 7
Deeds, Correspondence, Tax Issues, 1958-1979
9 8
Correspondence, Indenture of Trust, Nellie Tayloe Ross Will, 1958-1960
10 1
Legal Correspondence, 1962-1971
9 9
Tayloe Paper Company, Stockholders Papers, 1962-1964, 1976
9 10
Legal Correspondence, 1965-1971
11 5
Financial Miscellaneous, 1969-1977
10 2
Nellie Tayloe Ross Estate, 1971-1981
10 3
Estate Papers and Appraisals, 1971-1979
10 4-5
Dresden Apartment Information, 1973-1978
11 1
Dresden Apartment Information, 1973-1978
9 11
Murdina Brown and Gwendolyn Bernard, maids to Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1975-1977
11 2-4
Dresden Apartment Correspondence, 1976-1979
11 6
Nellie Tayloe Ross Estate Information, Last Will and Testament, 1977-1978

Series IV.:  Clippings, 1907-1994 Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
11 7-8
WBR political, 1907-1924
12 1
Miscellaneous, 1924-1925
28 19-20
Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings
1925-1972
12 2
Political, 1926
12 3
Miscellaneous, 1927
12 4-7
Political, 1928-1937
12 8-10
Miscellaneous, 1938-1979
12 11
Nellie Tayloe Ross’s 100th Birthday, 1976
12 12
Death of Nellie Tayloe Ross
1977
12 13
Miscellaneous
1980-1994
12 14
Miscellaneous
undated

Series V.:  Genealogy/Family History, 1912-1992 Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
13 4
Architectural History, undated
30 13
Bradford Ross II (son), Cheyenne House
c. 1944
30 16
Bradford Ross II (son), Correspondence
1944-1945
30 15
Bradford Ross II (son), Correspondence - Political
1945
30 14
Bradford Ross II (son), Military Life Insurance
1942-1944
30 19-20
Bradford Ross II (son), Military Papers
1939-1946
30 12, 17
Bradford Ross II (son), Miscellaneous
1940-1945 and undated
30 18
Bradford Ross II (son), Themes and Lessons
1930-1935
14 7-8
Compiled by William Bradford Ross III, 1974-1992
13 6
David Tayloe Ross
1963
13 9
Davis Family, oral history transcripts
undated
13 1-3
Family History, including book titled Ross Family Heritage, 1912-1990
14 5-6
Genealogy and Family History Correspondence, 1923-1978
13 7
George Ross, 1980-1985
14 1
Green Family, oral history transcripts, and family lineage
undated
13 5
Marjorie Tayloe
1961-1976
13 8
Mary Steele Ross, 1982-1983
14 2
Reid, Reed, and Ross Families
1968-1977
14 4
Society of the Cincinnati/Breckinridge Family, 1980-1981
14 3
Tayloe Family, 1980-1981

Series VI.:  Personal/Miscellaneous, 1920-1995 Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
38
100th Birthday Broadcast on Good Morning America [VHS Tape]
1976
16
Address Books (7), undated
Folder
26 1
Biographical Information
1920-1948
15 2
Biographical Information--articles written about Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1933-1992
15 4
Biographical Information--article, “The Governor Lady,” by Nellie Tayloe Ross in Good Housekeeping
14 11
Biographical Information--Interview with WBR II, 1994
15 1
Biographical Information--Interview with WBR III, 1994
30 10
Biographical Information - Oral History Interview, William Bradford Ross II with Rick Ewig (Transcript)
July 26, 27, 1995
38
Biographical Information - Oral History Interview, William Bradford Ross II with Rick Ewig (cassette tapes)
July 26, 1995
Folder
15 5
Biographical Information--thesis written about Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1960
15 6
Diary and Day book, 1929, 1956
15
Day books, Notebooks, Calendars, etc. 1934, 1951, 1955, 1958-1966, 1969
16
Day books, Notebooks, Calendars, etc. 1970-1978
Folder
14 9
Memorabilia
1966-1976
16
Nellie Tayloe Ross’s Bible, King James version, inscribed by William Bradford Ross II, no date
Folder
14 10
Nellie Tayloe Ross’s Funeral Information, 1977
17 2
Nellie Tayloe Ross Book—Levine, Thall, and Plotkin
1965
28 11
Periodicals
1920-1924
17 3
Presidential Inaugural Program
1965
15 3
Queen of Romania Dinner
1926
17 4
Spain Trip—notes and cards, 1969
17 1
The Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania--book, pamphlets
1956-1960

Series VII.:  Photographs, 1880-1993 Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
17 5 1880s-1930s
18 6 1880s-1930s
20 1880s-1977
Folder
18 1 early 1920s
21
6 Framed photographs: Ambrose Ross; Invitations to Fiesta San Jacinto, San Antonio, Texas; Nellie Tayloe Ross, inauguration day as Governor; John W. Snyder, Secretary of the Treasury under President Truman; Nellie Tayloe Ross and WBR; Nellie Tayloe Ross, later years; early 1920s-1949
Folder
18 2 1924-1926
18 3 1924-1926
34
Nellie Tayloe Ross
circa 1926 and 1951
34
Presentation of Cups to CMTC
1925
Folder
18 4 1927-1930, undated
18 5 1933-1953
19 1 1930s-1960
30 8
Ross/Mint Coin
circa 1933
22
Rolled oversize photograph, Dinner for Eleanor Roosevelt, 1941
22
Rolled register of guests for farewell dinner for Nellie Tayloe Ross as Director of U.S. Mint, 1952
Folder
30 7
Political Figures
circa 1959
19 2 1960-1977
19 3
Personal Miscellaneous, undated
19 4
Slides of Ross Family and Ross Family Farm
1972
19 5
Grave site of WBR and Nellie Tayloe Ross, 1977
19 6
Copies of family photographs collected by WBR II
1993
19 7
Interiors of homes (unidentified), undated
22
Rolled oversize photograph, II Exposicion National de Numismatica e Internacional de Medallas, and decorative tube in which the photograph was presented, undated
Folder
30 6
Family
undated
34
Political Figures
undated
Folder
30 9
Miscellaneous
undated
34
William Bradford Ross
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Governors -- Wyoming
  • Politics, Practical -- Wyoming
  • Women -- Political activity
  • Women chief executive officers -- United States

Corporate Names

  • United States Mint
  • United States Mint -- Officials and employees

Geographical Names

  • Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1946-
  • Wyoming -- Politics and government.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Artifacts
  • Diaries
  • Phonograph records
  • Scrapbooks

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Ross, William Bradford