Mike Foster papers, 1853-2021

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Foster, Mike, 1935-
Title
Mike Foster papers
Dates
1853-2021 (inclusive)
Quantity
24.87 cubic ft. (41 boxes) + 8.64 MB
Collection Number
10541
Summary
Manuscripts and research material of a biographer of Ferdinand V. Hayden and other 19th century explorers of the American West.
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

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

Mike Foster (1935-) was an author and adjunct history professor at the University of Colorado-Denver. He authored books and articles on explorers and naturalists of the American West during the 19th century, including Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden and Franklin Rhoda.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection contains manuscripts of Mike Foster’s book "Strange Genius: A Life of Ferdinand Hayden", as well as research material assembled in the course of writing, including photocopies and microfilm of primary materials. The collection also contains Foster’s research and manuscripts for his book "Summits to Reach: An Annotated Edition of Franklin Rhoda’s Report on the Topography of the San Juan Country" and "The Ties that Bind: Birds, Nature and Us". Additionally there are materials from Foster’s teaching career and some unpublished manuscripts.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

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

Restrictions on Use

Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections

The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.

Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.

Preferred Citation

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There is one other known Mike Foster Collection preserved at the University of California-Berkeley’s Bancroft Library.

Acquisition Information

Mike Foster donated this collection to the American Heritage Center from 1997-2021.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Andrea Gietzen in May 2008, updated by Jamie Greene in February 2017 and June 2018, and Alexandra Cardin in June 2022.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. F.V. Hayden Research MaterialReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Sub-series 1. Research Index File
Research index file contains annotated bibliographic citations for research articles and correspondence regarding F.V. Hayden and his contemporaries
Box
4
Alphabetical, K-Z
 undated
8
Articles on Science & Western exploration, A-L
 undated
9
Articles on Science & Western exploration, Mc-XYZ
 undated
2
Author file
 undated
5
Index to author's correspondence
 undated
7
Index to F.V. Hayden chronology, general files regarding F.V. Hayden and his activities
 undated
6
Index to F.V. Hayden correspondence and catalogues
 undated
3
Reviews of Hayden publications, Hayden sources and Alphabetical A-J
 undated
1
Subject file
 undated
Sub-series 2. Research Notes and Articles
Box
14
35mm slides, negatives and transparencies of F.V. Hayden, Mrs. Hayden and with hand colored maps showing area explored during Hayden Survey
 1865-1882
13
Articles by F.V. Hayden and Fielding B. Meek
 1853-1886
11
Articles authored by F.V. Hayden, articles regarding Hayden directed United States Geological Survey, Ethnography and Philology of the Indian Tribes
 1858-1883
13
Notes on archives, libraries and completed research tasks regarding F.V. Hayden material
10
Notes on material and articles regarding F.V. Hayden and his contributions, his obituaries, and publications regarding his survey
 1873-1987
10
Photocopies of finding aids for J.V. Howell and F.M. Fryxell archival collections
 1965-1968
12
Research material related to F.V. Hayden's contemporaries, A-P
13
Research material related to F.V. Hayden's contemporaries, R-Z
Sub-series 3. Correspondence
 1854-1884
Box
16
Correspondence, corrections and reviews regarding F.V. Hayden biography and notes on F.V. Hayden survey lecture
 1981-1996
16
Correspondence regarding F.V. Hayden research
 1981-1996
15
Photocopies of letters authored by F.V. Hayden to Fielding B. Meek, Spencer F. Baird, George Engleman and James Hall
 1854-1884
15
Photocopies of letters authored by F.V. Hayden to his contemporaries
 1854-1885
16
Photocopies of letters authored by F.V. Hayden to Professor Leidy
 1854-1884
Sub-series 4. Microfilm
Microfilm contains papers from various archival collections.
Box
17
Alexander Winchell Diary
 1878-1879
17
Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden papers
 1846-1865
17
Letters received by the United States Geographical Survey
 1879, 1880-1885 (index)
17
Letters received by the United States Geographical Survey
 January 13 - December 9, 1879
17
Letters sent by United States Geographical Survey
 1881, January 3 - December 31, 1881 (index)
17
Letters sent by the United States Geographical Survey
 1879 - 1880, July 7, 1879 - December 31, 1880 (index)
17
Register of letters received by the United States Geographical Survey
 January 8, 1879 - December 31, 1880
17
Registers of Letters received by Topographical Bureau of War Department
 1850s
Sub-series 5. Audio-Visual Material
Box
18
35 mm slides lecture: "In the Tracks of Hayden"
 1982
18
35 mm slides of Mike Foster
 1982
18
35 mm slides used in lecture given on F.V. Hayden's survey
 1982
18
35 mm slides used in various lectures on F.V. Hayden, 35 mm slides of Yellowstone National Park
1982
18
Microcassettes containing field notes of climb up North Maroon Peak
 1982
18
Microcassettes containing field notes from "In the Tracks of Hayden" trip
 1982
18
Photographs of San Juan Mountains
 1982
Sub-series 6. Maps
Box
19
Annotated maps pertaining to F.V. Hayden exploration routes
 1853-1874

Series II. Personal PapersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
36
"Outstanding Program Naturalist" for Jefferson County Open Space
 2016
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_005
"With Fresh Air Comes a Free Heart", Niobrara (DVD)
 2010
32
58…and for Yale! Yale Class of 1958, 50th Reunion Class Book
 2008
28
70th birthday Odyessey, parts 1 and 2
 2005-2006
37
A Bibliography on Birds and Related Subjects
 undated
32
Alaska Trip Photo Album
 1980
20
Annotated copy of "Guide to Colorado Mountains" noting various climbs
 1980
33
Architecture in Rural Colorado Photo Album
 1970-1980
36
Audubon Society of Greater Denver, Naturalist Training Course
 2016-2017
36
Awards, Degrees, Certificates
 1958-2017
36
BA Yale University
 1958
33
Bathurst Inlet, Canadian Arctic Photo Album
 1993
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Biographical Information (resumes, biography notes)
 1998-2017
Box
32
Bosque del Apache
 2004-2007
32
Career Records
 1950-2011
33
Chicago Vacation Photo Album
 2003
32
Climbs
 1975-1991
36
Colorado Mountain Club, 40 years of Membership
 2014
36
Colorado Mountain Club, Certificate of Appreciation
 2000
31
Columbine Universal Church
 2014-2016
36
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
 2012
32
Correspondence
 2017-2019
Folder
31 and Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Correspondence
 1989-2017
31
Correspondence, pictures, and cards
 2012-2016
31
Denver Museum of Natural Science (Correspondence Relating to Foster's Donation to the Museum and his Volunteering)
 2014
32
Ecuador and Galapagos Islands Slides
 1988 February-March
23
Ephemera and diaries from travels to England, Alaska, Ecuador, Galapogos Islands, Yampa River, and the Arctic
 1956-2006
36
Essay - "Restless Curiosity: Reflections on Three Careers as a Scholar"
 2021 October
32
Galapagos Islands
 1988
31
Jefferson Unitarian Church: Convenent Groups
 2010
20
Log of mountain climbs
 1974-1999
36
MA, Columbia University
 1963
32
Memories of Mike
 2015
31
Mike Foster: Personal (Biographical Information)
 1974-2017
32
Mike Freeman Foster: The Man, The Myth, the Legend
 2015
36
Mountaineering Trips Scrapbook
 1975-78
32
Niobrara River trip
 2010
21
Personal, business and professional correspondence
 1968-1996
22
Personal, business and professional correspondence
 1997-2006
28
Personal, business and professional correspondence
 2007-2011
20
Personal diary written while following the branch of Hayden's survey
 1982
36
PhD, Columbia University
 1968
33
Photos of all Colorado County Courthouses
 1970-1980
36
Review of "Strange Genius" in Publishers Weekly
 1994
33
Road Atlas of Great Britain 3 miles to 1 inch
 1956
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_006
Sandhill Cranes Monte Vista
 2016
36
Scrapbook - Artistry in Manuscripts. Copies of Manuscripts from 1600s Part of Research Done for his Book , The politics of stability : a portrait of the rulers in Elizabethan London
 1960s-1970s
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_002
Select Letters and Files (Flashdrive)
 2008-2020
Digital ahcdm_10541_003
Sermon at Jefferson Unitarian Church "Standing Up, Speaking out", Mike Foster (DVD)
 2011 July 10
33
Slides and Prints from Various Trips
 1957-2008
38
USGS Montrose Colorado Map
1984
33
Various Mountaineering Trips Photo Album
 1979-1985
32
Yale Class Book
 1958
32
Yale College: 25 years
 1983
32
Yale Colorado: Directory of Alumni
 2004
36
Yale Graduation Tassle
 1958
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Yale Reunions
 1998-2004

Series III. Teaching MaterialReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Biography course proposal
 2012
Box
23
Courses taught at Stanford University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Colorado, University of Denver
 1967-1999
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Osher Life-Long Learning Institute (OLLI) - facilitated course for "Write That Novel"
 2017
Box
32
Racism and Prejudice: Lecture Stanford
 1968-1969

Series IV. Research, Book drafts, and Publication MaterialReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_004
"In the Tracks of F. V. Hayden" - Photographs of Retracing San Juan Division of the Hayden Survey of 1874 (CD)
 2012
35
Agriculture
 2000-2020
35
Altitudes
 2000-2020
35
Animals
 2000-2020
35
Arapahoe County
 2000-2020
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_007
"A Roving Naturalist: Revealing Nature's Secrets in Nearby Places"
 2020 June
34
ASGD: Naturalist Training
 2016-2017
34
Bacteria, Microbes
 2007-2016
34
Biodiversity
 2009-2012
35
Biodiversity
 2000-2020
34
Bird Business Card
 2001
34
Bird Conservation Watchlist
 1992-2002
34
Birding, Scoops, Resources Websites
 2000-2001
34
Birds
 2004-2019
34
Birds Articles
 2003-2010
Birds and Birding:
Box
30
B in B (Birds in Balance, Evergreen Audubon Society program)
 1995-2004
30
Birds in Balance O'Fallon Park, 2001-2005
 2001-2005
30
BCLP Survey (Bear Creek Lake Park Avian species survey and related materials)
 1995-2008
30
Evergreen Lake 2003-10, Beaver Brook 2005 (Surveys and Study of avian species in foresaid locations)
 2003-2010
30
Bear Creek Atlas: field notes (Correspondence, notes, records on Bear Creek atlas)
 2007-2012
30
Bear Creek Atlas- Instructional Materials
 2007-2009
30
BCWBBA: Maps (Maps related to creation of Bear Creek Watershed Atlas
 2005-2012
30
Colorado Bird Atlas (Fosters material relating to his contribution to the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas)
 1988-1991
30
Colorado Bird Atlas II (Foster's work relating to 2nd Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas)
 2007-2009
30
My Data R+W (Records relating to Foster's re-creation of Robert B Rockwell and Alex Wetmore's 1909 project Colorado birds)
 undated
30
Rockwell + Wetmore Redux - 2004 ( Reports and surveys related to previously mentioned project re-creation)
30
Birds misc., Historical Articles
 undated
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Bear Creek Watershed Breeding Bird Atlas (research results, project data, maps, routes)
 2008-2017
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Adventures and trips, classes, conservation, stamp collection, locations, general notes, atlases
 2002-2017
Box
South Table Mountain birds:
Box
30
Avian Diversity, Community Structures (Surveys on avian Species for EPOB project)
 2000-2002
30
Ecology Chart 2001 (Correspondence, material on Colorado and South Table Mountain bird species)
 2000-2001
30
EPOB 4750/5750: Project Paper background material (Background material for bound report)
 2000-2002
30
Project Report- April 30, 2002 (Bound report on avian research)
 2001-2002
30
Research 2000-2005 (General research on avian species of Colorado, specifically South Table Mountain area)
 2000-2005
30
STM Avian Study 2nd year (data and surveys on Avian species of South Table Mountain, Colorado)
 2003-2004
30
STM 2003 and 2006 comparison (comparison between data on South Table Mountain avian species in years 2003 and 2006)
 2003-2006
30
STM and NTM (North and South Table mountain avian surveys and reports)
 2005-2006
30
STM 2012 and 2014 (Survey of, Notes on Avian Species of STM)
 2012-2014
31
Talks on Birds
 2011-2012
31
Birding Courses Critiques
 undated
34
Birds Songs and Images
 undated
29
Book: Corrected copy of "Strange Genius: the Life of Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden"
 1994
28
Book: "The Ties that Bind: Birds, Nature and Us" by Mike F. Foster
 2010
35
Boulder County Open Space
 2000-2020
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - Upper Arkansas and South Platte Project (UASPP) wilderness surveys:
 2001-2002
Box
30
Birds in the Canyon Lands (records of bird counts and sightings)
 1999-2002
30
BLM 2002 (materials and maps related to Foster's work on the Upper Arkansas and South Platte Project)
 2001-2002
30
BLM Unfinished (Misc. materials)
 1999-2002
30
Canyon Country Mapping
30
Canyon Country Mapping, 1999 BLM (Correspondence, photographs, informational materials, photo impact forms)
 1999
30
Pole Creek Area Survey UASPP (Maps, Correspondence, photo log)
 2001
30
Roubideau Birds
 2000-2001
30
Square Top Mtn Roundlers Area 1999 and 2002 (Photographs, field journal, maps, guidance information)
 1999-2002
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
BLM wilderness projects (photo logs, photographs, reports, correspondence)
 1999-2012
Box
35
Cars, Transportation
 2000-2020
34
Cell Biology
 2000-2010
34
Checklists-Blank
 1989-2018
34
Checklists-Specific Trips or Pamphlets for Areas
 1990-2000
34
Chemical Biology
 2000-2001
35
Clear Creek County
 2000-2020
34
Climate
 2003-2010
35
Climate
 2000-2020
34
Colorado Ecology, Natural History
 1996-2000
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Colorado Mountain Club (correspondence, records)
 2012-2017
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Colorado Mountains Database (spreadsheet of information on 68 Colorado peaks)
 2010-2012
Box
34
Colorado Particular Birds or Places Info
 2013
34
Conservation
 2012
35
Consumerism
 2000-2020
35
Contacts-Connections
 2000-2020
35
Corporations
 2000-2020
34
Cosmology
 2005-2010
35
CU Science Sampler
 2010
35
Denver Mtn. Parks
 2000-2020
34
Disease
 2008
34
DMNS: Biological Classification and Systematics Spring 2001 (incl. notebook)
 2001
34
DMNS: Ecology-Fall 2001
 2001
34
DMNS: Paleobotany (incl. notebook)
 2006
24
Drafts, Bibliography, Reviews and Page proof for "Strange Genius: A Life of Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden"
 1992-1994
24
Drafts of articles regarding F.V Hayden and his contemporaries
 1981-1995
23
Early essays, stories,articles, poems, and plays authored by Foster
 1958-1965
35
Eco-Friendly
 2000-2020
35
Economics
 2000-2020
34
Ecosystems
 1996-2005
35
Energy
 2000-2020
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Environment (clippings, notes, ideas, readings, and research on environmental issues)
 2008-2017
Box
35
Environment General
 2000-2020
34
Environment: Colorado
 2000-2010
34
EPOB 4750/5750: Ornithology (incl. notebook)
 2002
35
Ethics
 2000-2020
35
Events
 2000-2020
34
Evolution
 1999-2004
35
Evolution
 2000-2020
35
Evolutionary Plant Biology Class
 2004
35
Food
 2000-2020
35
General
 2000-2020
34
Genes
 2002-2009
34
Geology
 2000-2012
35
Global Warming
 2000-2020
35
Good Deeds
 2000-2020
35
Good Views
 2000-2020
35
Government Resolution
 2000-2020
34
Grasses
 2004
35
Health, Human
 2000-2020
34
Human Footprint
 2007
37
Identification Guide to Bird Species
 undated
35
II Miscellaneous. Subjects and Loves
 1970-1990
34
Important Bird Areas
 2002
27-27A
Index to research on Western Europe history
 undated
34
Insects
 1996-2011
34
IPod Birdjam
 2008
34
Land Use
 2007
34
Lichen
 2002
Folder
36
List - Mike Foster's Publications, 1969-2021
 2021
35
Long Term Impacts
 2000-2020
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Lookout Mountain Nature Center (LMNC) - trip information, documents
 2015-2016
Box
34
Mammals/Rodents
 2004-2007
25
Manuscript material for "Strange Genius: A Life of Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden"
 1992-1994
35
More Miscellaneous I
 1970-1990
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Natural History (notes, index of books)
 2009-2013
Box
37
Note Card Box
 undated
35
Notes and Photo albums on BLM Wilderness Qualities
 1999-2009
35
Notes: Books + Articles on Subjects Related to Science, Hayden or Surrey Indirectley
 1970-1990
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Novel ideas (notes, manuscripts, drafts)
 2012-2017
Box
34
Oceans
 2001-2007
35
Open Space Book
 2000-2020
35
Open Space Book: Miscellaneous
 2000-2020
34
Ornithology Lab (incl. notebook)
 2002
34
Plants
 2004-2009
34
Pollution
 2007-2008
31
Publications and articles
 1969-2008
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Publications (books, articles, correspondence)
 2008-2017
Box
28
Publications for Wyoming (copies)
 2007
34
Raptors
 2004-2007
35
Recycling
 2000-2020
35
Religion
 2000-2020
24
Reprints of articles and book on Franklin Rhoda
 1984-1986
34
Reptiles
 1984-2003
35
Research Files on Latest Three Books
 2000-2020
26-26A
Research notebooks on Western Europe history
 undated
35
Resources
 2000-2020
35
Science General
 2000-2020
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Talks (video, notes)
 2011-2013
Box
34
Taxonomy
 2010
35
Technology
 2000-2020
34
The State of the Birds Annually
 2004-2011
31
"The Ties that Bind":
 2008-2009
Box
31
Exploring publication
 2008-2009
31
Editorial work
 2009-2010
31
Miscellaneous
 2010-2015
31
Working with Author House
 2011-2017
35
Third World
 2000-2020
31
"This Above All" (Material related to the creation and distribution of Foster's novel "This Above All")
 1999-2017
37
Topics of Interest-History and Historians
 undated
35
Violence
 2000-2020
34
Viruses
 2009
35
Water
 2000-2020
34
Winter
 2004-2009
Folder
Digital ahcdm_10541_001
Writing in Progress (essays, article manuscripts, research notes)
 2008-2017

Processed by Andrea Gietzen
2008

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