Guide to the Dude Ranchers' Association Records

Guide to the Dude Ranchers' Association Records, 1926-2002

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Dude Ranchers' Association
Title: Guide to the Dude Ranchers' Association Records
Dates: 1926-2002 (inclusive)
Date of CollectionDate of Collection
Quantity: 8.25 cubic ft. (21 boxes)
Collection Number: 04264
Summary: The Dude Ranchers' Association was an organization of dude ranchers who promoted their ranches and tourism.
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

The Dude Ranchers' Association was formed in Billings, Montana in 1926 when the Northern Pacific Railway met with a group of dude ranchers to work together to promote the ranches and tourism. Since its founding, the association has studied mutual problems concerned with running a dude ranch, such as taxation, insurance, legislation affecting the administration of public lands, and fish and wildlife conservation. The association works to preserve the qualities of isolation, remoteness, and unmodified nature in wilderness areas and national forests to sell the dude ranch vacation as the only true American vacation where guests can experience a working ranch in conditions that simulate the American frontier experience.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection contains correspondence regarding annual conventions and the organization's publication, "The Dude Rancher" (1932-1981); correspondence, programs, minutes of meetings, press releases and newspaper clippings on annual conventions (1926-1986); applications, correspondence, brochures, and photographs of various ranches applying for membership (1941-1978); issues of "The Dude Rancher" (1932-1991); correspondence, photographs, research materials and an incomplete manuscript by author Joel Bernstein for his book "Families That Take in Friends: An Informal History of Dude Ranching" (1932-1980).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Dude Ranchers' Association Records, Accession Number 04264, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by the Dude Ranchers' Association at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

The Dude Ranchers' Association Records were donated to the American Heritage Center from 1972 to 2002.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Loreley Moore in March 1994.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. CorrespondenceReturn to Top

This series contains correspondence between officers of the Dude Ranchers' Association, associate members and dude ranchers regarding conventions, conservation legislation and the association's magazine, "The Dude Rancher".

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	American Horse Council	1975-1976
1	2	Associate Members	1970-1976
1	3	Benson, Vic - Executive Secretary	1958
1	4-6	Board of Directors	1946-1977
1	7	Bragg, Bill - Executive Secretary	1959-1961
1	8	Brands	1956, 1961
1	9	Charles Cornell Moore Memorial Collection - Denver Public Library	1974
1	10-11	Christian, Paul - Board of Directors	1949-1952
2	1	Christian, Paul - President	1955-1960
2	2	Domnick, Dewey - President	1965-1970
2	3	The Dude Rancher Magazine Advertising	1955-1956
2	4	48 States News Distributing	1959, 1969
2	5	Frontier Airlines	1959, 1978
2	6	Garnick, Billie - Lion Head Ranch	1960-1975
2	7	Kelsey, Howard - Nine Quarter-Circle, Ranch	1953, 1958
2	8	Larom, I.H. - Chairman of Public Relations and National Legislative Committee	1953-1958
2	9	McCracken, Harold - Whitney Gallery of American Art	1959-1961
2	10	Mansfield, Mike - Montana Representative	1945-1957
2	11	May, Conna - Executive Secretary	1961-1967
2	12-13	Montana Highway Commission - Advertising Department	1953-1969
2	14	Montana Legislative	1963-1971
2	15	Montana Outfitters	1946-1977
3	1-3	Moore, Charles - President	1944-1949
3	4-5	Nye, Walter - Executive Secretary	1937-1964
3	6	Public Land Law Review Commission	1966-1967
3	7-8	Sanitation Boards and Problems	1951-1965
4	1	Schaffer, Peggy - Executive Secretary	1971-1977
4	2	Shoemaker, Leslie - President	1960-1962
4	3	Shultz, Holly - Office Clerk	1976
4	4	Siggins, Don - President	1963-1966
4	5	Simpson, Milward - Wyoming Governor	1954-1966
4	6	Smith, Traver - President	1957-1959
4	7	Snyder, Donald - President	1953-1956
4	8	Surveys	1952-1973
4	9	U.S. Dept. of Agriculture - Forest Service - Rocky Mtn. Region	1932, 1946
4	10-11	Van Cleve, Paul - President	1948-1955
4	12	Van Cleve, Tack - President	1980-1981
4	13	Wyoming Legislative	1955-1973

Series II. Annual ConventionsReturn to Top

This series contains correspondence, programs, minutes, newspaper clippings, and press releases regarding the Dude Ranchers' Association annual conventions.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
5	1	Bozeman, Montana - Organization Meeting Sponsored by the Northern Pacific Railway	1926
5	2	Billings, Montana	1927
5	3	Sheridan, Wyoming	1928
5	4	Missoula, Montana	1935
5	5	Billings, Montana	1940
5	6	Sheridan, Wyoming	1941
5	7	Billings, Montana	1942
5	8	Billings, Montana	1943
5	9	Billings, Montana	1944
5	10	Missoula, Montana	1945
6	1-2	Casper, Wyoming	1946
6	3-4	Bozeman, Montana	1947
6	5-6	Sun Valley, Idaho	1948
7	1	Yellowstone Park, Wyoming	1949
7	2	Livingston, Montana	1950
7	3	Jackson, Wyoming	1951
7	4	Billings, Montana	1952
7	5	Spokane, Washington	1953
7	6	Cody, Wyoming	1954
8	1	Sun Valley, Idaho	1955
8	2-3	Billings, Montana	1956
8	4	Sheridan, Wyoming	1957
8	5-6	Sun Valley, Idaho	1959
8	7	Jackson, Wyoming	1960
8	8	Livingston, Montana	1961
8	9	Billings, Montana	1962
9	1-2	Laramie, Wyoming	1963
9	3-4	Helena, Montana	1964
9	5	Cody, Wyoming	1965
9	6	Billings, Montana	1966
9	7	Denver, Colorado	1967
9	8	Sheridan, Wyoming	1968
9	9	Cheyenne, Wyoming	1972
9	10	Billings, Montana	1973
9	11	Jackson, Wyoming	1974
9	12	Coeur d'Alene, Idaho	1975
9	13	Bozeman, Montana	1976
9	14	Cheyenne, Wyoming	1977
9	15	Cody, Wyoming	1979
9	16	Billings, Montana	1982
9	17	Colorado Springs, Colorado	1983
9	18	Tucson, Arizona	1986

Series III. History CommitteeReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Sub-series 1. Correspondence This subseries contains correspondence between members of the History Committee, dude ranchers, and author Joel Bernstein regarding writing a history of dude ranching and the 50th anniversary of the Dude Ranchers' Association.
Box	Folder
10	1	Forester, Roger and Mary - Executive Secretaries	1978-1980
10	2	Goodsill, Max - Northern Pacific Railway	1977
10	3	Indian Art	1974-1977
10	4	Minnesota Historical Society	1977
10	5-6	Officers	1973-1980
		Sub-series 2. Research Materials This subseries contains History Committee correspondence, DRA bulletins, catalogs, notes, magazine clippings, photographs, and pamphlets.
Box	Folder
11	1-2	Catalogs	1938-1942
11	3	Dude Ranchers' Association Bulletins	1974-1976
11	4	Dude Ranches: A2Z and Valley - Valley, Wyoming	1978
11	5	Dude Ranches: Circle 8 - Choteau, Montana	1978
11	6	Dude Ranches: Circle Z - Patagonia, Arizona	1978
11	7	Dude Ranches: CM - Dubois, Wyoming	1978
11	8	Dude Ranches: Colorado Trails - Durango, Colorado	1971-1978
11	9	Dude Ranches: Crossed Sabres - Wapiti, Wyoming	1977-1978
11	10	Dude Ranches: Darwin - Jackson, Wyoming	1969-1977
11	11	Dude Ranches: Elkhorn - Tucson, Arizona	1969-1979
11	12	JDude Ranches: VL Lost Valley - Deckers, Colorado	1978
11	13	Dude Ranches: Lazy K Bar - Big Timber, Montana	1977
11	14	Dude Ranches: Nine Quarter-Circle - Gallatin Gateway, Montana	1977
12	1-4	Dude Ranches: OTO and Triangle 7 - Gardiner, Montana	1930s-1978
12	5	Dude Ranches: Rahwah - Glendevey, Colorado	1978
12	6	Dude Ranches: Seven Lazy P - Choteau, Montana	1977
12	7	Dude Ranches: Sixty-Three - Livingston, Montana	1977-1978
12	8	Dude Ranches: Trail Creek - Wilson, Wyoming	1978
12	9	Dude Ranches: Magazine Clippings	1955-1978
12	10	Dude Ranches: Notes	1977-1979
12	11	Dude Ranches: Pamphlets	1930s-1970s
		Sub-series 3. Manuscript This subseries contains an early incomplete draft of Joel Bernstein's book "Families That Take in Friends: A History of Dude Ranching".
Box	Folder
12	12	"Families That Take in Friends: A History of Dude Ranching" - Incomplete Draft	1978

Series IV. Dude RanchesReturn to Top

This series contains applications for membership in the Dude Ranchers' Association by individual ranches, correspondence, brochures, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
14	1	Bar-B-Q - Harrison, Idaho	1953-1965
14	2	Bar Lazy J - Parshall, Colorado	1973-1974
14	3	Bar M - Gibbon, Oregon	1947-1964
14	4	Bar X Bar - Crawford, Colorado	1973-1974
14	5	Beartooth - Nye, Montana	1975
14	6	Beavers - Winter Park, Colorado	1965-1966
14	7	Bitterfoot - Dubois, Wyoming	1973
14	8	Boulder River - Big Timber, Montana	1960-1961
14	9	Box Y - Jackson Hole, Wyoming	1971
14	10	Broken Arrow - Jackson Hole, Wyoming	1949, 1970
14	11	C-B - Cameron, Montana	1973
14	12	Cheff - Charlo, Montana	1969
14	13	Chief Mountain - Babb, Montana	1945, 1971
14	14	Circle 8 - Choteau, Montana	1941-1978
14	15	Circle H - Wapiti, Wyoming	1947
14	16	Circle Z - Patagonia, Arizona	1962
14	17	C Lazy U - Granby, Colorado	1963-1964
14	18	CM - Kalispell, Montana	1950s
14	19	Colorado Trails - Durango, Colorado	1963-1964
14	20	Covered Wagon - Gallatin Gateway, Montana	1953-1973
14	21	Crestview Spring - Ione, Washington	1971
14	22	Cross Mill Iron - Burris, Wyoming	1967
14	23	Cross Sabres - Cody, Wyoming	1975
14	24	Darwin - Jackson, Wyoming	1967
14	25	Dead Indian - Cody, Wyoming	1970
14	26	Diamond J - Ennis, Montana	1976
14	27	Diamond L Bar - Seeley Lake, Montana	1970s
14	28	Double J - Rothbury, Michigan	1976
14	29	Drowsy Water - Granby, Colorado	1973
14	30	Eatons' - Wolf, Wyoming	1965-1975
14	31	Elkhorn - Tucson, Arizona	1949-1972
14	32	Fish Creek - Jackson Hole, Wyoming	1961
14	33	Flathead Lake Lodge - Big Fork, Montana	1956
14	34	Flying V - Kelly, Wyoming	1968
14	35	Focus - Columbine, Colorado	1947
14	36	4K - Dean, Montana	1961
14	37	Futurity - Nathrop, Colorado	1972-1973
14	38	Gascon - Rociada, New Mexico	1972
14	39	G-Bar-M - Livingston, Montana	1961
15	1	Grizzly - Cody, Wyoming	1977
15	2	Haggin Y/P - Drummond, Montana	1941
15	3	Hawley Mountain - McLeod, Montana	1973
15	4	Heart Six - Moran, Wyoming	1963-1974
15	5	Hidden Valley - Cody, Wyoming	1970s
15	6	Hunewill Circle H - Bridgeport, California	1956-1963
15	7	JXL - Nye, Montana	1976-1977
15	8	La Marche Creek - Wise River, Montana	1962
15	9	Lake Mancos - Mancos, Colorado	1966
15	10	Lazy K Bar - Big Montana	1962-1973
15	11	Lion Head - Big Timber, Montana	1969
15	12	Lost Valley - Deckers, Colorado	1962-1963
15	13	Middle Butte - Cora, Wyoming	1973
15	14	Neversummer - Grand Lake, Colorado	1967
15	15	Ox Yoke - Emigrant, Montana	1961
15	16	Parade Rest - West Yellowstone, Montana	1957-1958
15	17	Paradise - Buffalo, Wyoming	1968
15	18	Peacefully Valley - Lyons, Colorado	1972-1973
15	19	Rainbow - Gallatin Gateway, Montana	1947
15	20	Rawah - Glendevey, Colorado	1962, 1972
15	21	Rex - Amado, Arizona	1968
15	22	Rimrock - Cody, Wyoming	1959
15	23	Rimrock - Jackson Hole, Wyoming	1972
15	24	R Lazy S - Jackson Hole, Wyoming	1948-1965
15	25	Santa Cruz - Tumacacori, New Mexico	1973-1977
15	26	Scott Valley - Mountain Home, Arkansas	1967
15	27	7D - Cody, Wyoming	1959, 1973
15	28	Seven Lazy P - Choteau, Montana	1961
15	29	Seven W - Gypsum, Colorado	1964
15	30	Siggins Brothers Triangle X - Cody, Wyoming	1957-1964
15	31	Silver Spur - Roundup, Montana	1968-1971
15	32	Sitzmark - Winter Park, Colorado	1973
15	33	Sixty-Three - Livingston, Montana	1978
15	34	Sky Corral - Bellevue, Colorado	1960-1962
15	35	Star Meadows - Whitefish, Montana	1971-1972
15	36	Sun Valley - Grand Lake, Colorado	1973
15	37	Sweet Grass - Big Timber, Montana	1965-1973
15	38	Tarryall River - Lake George, Colorado	1964
15	39	T Cross - Dubois, Wyoming	1961
15	40	33 - Seeley Lake, Montana	1970s
15	41	320 - Gallatin Gateway, Montana	1951
15	42	Timberline Lodge - Silvergate, Montana	1948
15	43	Tobacco Root - Sheridan, Montana	1970
15	44	Trail Creek - Wilson, Wyoming	1950
15	45	Triangle C - Dubois, Wyoming	1972-1973
15	46	Triangle X - Moose, Wyoming	1963
15	47	Tumbling River - Grant, Colorado	1948, 1966
16	1	Two Bars Seven - Virginia Dale, Colorado	1953-1972
16	2	TX - Lovell, Wyoming	1977
16	3	U.T. Bar - Glendevey, Colorado	1961
16	4	Valley - Valley, Wyoming	1944, 1965-1968
16	5	Vista Verde - Steamboat Springs, Colorado	1976-1977
16	6	Wagons Ho, Inc. - Quinter, Kansas	1972-1977
16	7	Watkins Creek - West Yellowstone, Montana	1948-1968
16	8	Whistle Creek - Lovell, Wyoming	1976
16	9	White Grass - Jackson Hole, Wyoming	1965-1970
16	10	White Tail - Ovanda, Montana	1953-1971

Series V. The Dude RancherReturn to Top

This series contains issues of the Dude Ranchers' Association magazine "The Dude Rancher", which included articles regarding association conventions, the recreation industry, western history, and dude ranches.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
16	11-16	The Dude Rancher	1932-1944
17-19		The Dude Rancher	1945-1991

Series VI. MiscellaneousReturn to Top

This series contains miscellaneous items, including meeting minutes, membership lists, miscellaneous artifacts, brochures, an untitled videotape, posters, a copy of the newspaper "Chronicle of the Old West", a copy of the newsletter "The DRA Ranch Ramblings", and pamphlets.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
20	Association Information - Meeting Minutes	Various
20	Association Information - Membership Lists	Various
20	Cup	undated
20	Calculator	undated
20	Leather Coasters With Holder	undated
20	Brochures	Various
20	Video Tape (VHS)	undated
21	Posters	undated
22	Newspaper - "Chronicle of the Old West"	2001
22	Newsletter - "The DRA Ranch Ramblings"	2001
22	Pamphlet - "Animal Welfare"	undated
22	Pamphlet - Dude Ranchers Association 2002 Directory (5)	2002

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Dude ranches -- Periodicals
Dude ranches -- West (U.S.)

Geographical Names

West (U.S.) -- History
Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945
Wyoming -- History -- 1946-

Form or Genre Terms

Photographs.

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents