Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Clara and Frederick Toppan Papers, 1890-2002
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Toppan, Clara and Frederick
- Title
- Clara and Frederick Toppan Papers
- Dates
- 1890-2002 (inclusive)Date of CollectionDate of Collection
- Quantity
- 7.20 cubic ft. (6 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 06802
- Summary
- The collection contains biographical information, photographs, and scrapbooks about Frederick and Clara Toppan and their families. Also contained in the collection are photographs and news clippings about Laramie, Wyoming, where Clara (Raab) Toppan was raised. There is a small amount of information about the Jackson Hole area where Clara and Fred Toppan were married and lived, and there is some historical information about the University of Wyoming including the formation of the Toppan Rare Books Library.
- 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
Frederick and Clara Toppan were married at the Episcopal Chapel of the Transfiguration in Grand Teton National Park on July 23, 1949. They lived on Toppan's family property, the Lodgepole Ranch, just outside of Grand Teton National Park. Mr. Toppan was born in Massachusetts on April 29, 1902. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in geology from Union College in 1932. He served in World War II. He settled on the family property with his mother in 1941, and became very active in the nearby community of Jackson. He was instrumental in the construction of the first ski lift in Jackson at Snow King. He was an avid outdoorsman and was considered an expert hunter and fisherman. He also was an avid collector of hunting, fishing, outdoors, and natural history books and built an extensive library. He passed away on November 20, 1966, in Laramie. Mrs. Toppan was born Clara Anna Raab on November 9, 1910, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was raised in Laramie and graduated from Laramie High School in 1927 and from the University of Wyoming in 1931 with an accounting degree. In 1937 she became a certified public accountant for the federal government and was hired on as a clerk for the National Park Service at Grand Teton National Park. She became Wyoming's first female certified public accountant when she received her Wyoming State Board of Accountancy certification on June 1, 1945. She formed a private practice in Jackson that same year. Wyoming Governor Mike Sullivan declared June 22, 1990, as Clara Raab Toppan Day. She was honored as a distinguished alumna of the University of Wyoming in 1995, and she was instrumental in establishing the Toppan Rare Books Library at the University of Wyoming. Mrs. Toppan passed away on October 2, 2001.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Clara and Frederick Toppan Collection consists of photographs, newspaper clippings, biographical information, and scrapbooks and photo albums about Frederick and Clara Toppan including their hobbies and vacations. Also included is family history and genealogical information about the Toppan and Raab families. This includes early family photos that date from the late 1800s and early 1900s. There is a small amount of information including photographs of Laramie from the period of 1910 to 1950. This includes information about the 1948 fire in downtown Laramie that destroyed the Raab Automotive Shop and other businesses. There is material related to the University of Wyoming including yearbooks and ephemera from 1928-1931 when Clara attended college, photographs of Mrs. Toppan's 1995 distinguished alumna award, and photographs and information about the Toppan Rare Books Library. There is a small amount of information including photographs of the Jackson area including Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Also included is material related to the Sun Valley, Idaho Ski Area including event posters.
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, Clara and Frederick Toppan Papers, Collection Number 6802, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title within two series.
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by Clara and Frederick Toppan at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThe Frederick and Clara Toppan papers were donated between 1974 and 2007, mostly by Clara Toppan and Hilary Raab, and also by Thomas Jalkut and Jacque Buchanan.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe collection was processed by John R. Waggener during August, 2007.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Alphabetical FilesReturn to Top
This series contains files related to Clara and Frederick Toppan and their families. Included are loose photographs.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Casper, Wyoming, Telephone Directory |
1942 |
1 | 2-3 | Diaries and Journals (possibly of Eliza Toppan and Clara Raab Toppan) |
1930-1946 |
1 | 4-8 | Genealogy and Family History |
1897-1978 |
1 | 9 | Laramie Fire - Newspaper articles and photographs of the 1948 downtown fire (also includes information about the Raab Garage) |
1946-1948 |
1 | 10 | Laramie High School Yearbooks ("The Plainsman") |
1926-1927 |
1 | 11 | Miscellaneous Information (postcards, pamphlets, etc.) |
1909-1986 |
1 | 12 | Outland, Kit Klein (Olympic Speed Skater in 1930s) - Correspondence and Newspaper Clippings |
1984-1985 |
1 | 13 | Photographs - Family Photos and Events and Vacations |
1900s-1950s |
1 | 14-15 | Photographs - Family Portraits |
circa 1890-1940 |
1 | 16 | Photographs - Horseback (Hunting) Trip in Jackson Hole (Includes photo of Grafton's Mercantile where the movie "Shane" was filmed) |
1951 |
1 | 17 | Photographs - Jackson Area Scenes and People (Includes Grand Teton National Park) |
1972 |
1 | 18 | Photographs - Miscellaneous Images (vacations, events, etc.) |
1950s-1990s |
1 | 19 | Photographs - Raab Family (includes Clara Raab, Laramie scenes, and Wyoming scenes taken during family vacations) |
1920s-1950s |
2 | 1 | Photographs - Toppan, Clara (University of Wyoming College of Business Distinguished Alumna Award Event) |
1995 |
2 | 2 | Photographs - Toppan, Clara Raab |
1920s-1990s |
2 | 3 | Photographs - Toppan, Frederick |
1902-1960s |
2 | 4 | Photographs - Toppan, Frederick and Clara |
1950s-1960s |
2 | 5 | Photographs - Toppan Home (Lodgepole Ranch) |
1950s-1960s |
2 | 6 | Photographs - Toppan Vacations (international trips - mostly cruises) |
1950s-1960s |
2 | 7 | Photographs - Trap Shooting Competitions and Events |
1950s-1960s |
2 | 8 | Snow King Mountain Ski Pass Information and Wort Hotel Information Card (Jackson) |
1948 |
2 | 9 | Sun Valley (Idaho) Figure Skating Publication |
1940 |
2 | 10 | Toppan, Clara - Biographical File (includes University of Wyoming information) |
1910-2002 |
2 | 11 | Toppan, Clara - "Clara Raab Toppan Day" Certificate (May 24, 1990) (signed by Governor Mike Sullivan) |
1990 |
2 | 12 | Toppan, Clara - Interview of Clara Toppan by Jacque Buchanan (DVD) |
circa 1996 |
2 | 13 | Toppan, Clara - Newspaper Articles About |
1937-2000 |
2 | 14 | Toppan, Clara - University of Wyoming Senior Thesis ("Forecasting the Monthly Movements of the Stock Market) |
1931 |
2 | 15 | Toppan, Frederick - Biographical File |
1927-1966 |
2 | 16 | Toppan, Frederick - Books and Personal Library Information (includes Toppan Rare Books Library information) |
1957-1975 |
2 | 17 | Toppan, Frederick - Firearms and Hunting Information |
1940-1972 |
2 | 18 | Toppan, Frederick - Geology Master's Thesis ("The Geology of Maine") from Union College |
1932 |
2 | 19 | Toppan, Frederick - Geology Publications (mostly about Maine and authored by Frederick Toppan) |
1935-1956 |
2 | 20 | Toppan Wedding Information (includes photos of July 23, 1949 wedding) |
1949 |
2 | 21 | Vacation Information (mostly Cunard cruise line information) |
1957-1976 |
2 | 22 | Vacations to India |
1970, 1972 |
3 | 1 | University of Wyoming Yearbooks (The Wyo) (includes personal notes and inscriptions from Clara Raab and her classmates) |
1928, 1929, 1931 |
Series II. Artifacts, Scrapbooks, Photo Albums and Oversized MaterialReturn to Top
This series contains the scrapbooks and photo albums of Frederick and Clara Toppan as well as artifacts and oversized material.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
3 | 2-7 | Photo Albums of Clara Toppan at American Heritage Center |
1994-1996 |
3 | 8 | Photo Album - Clara Toppan in Phoenix (wedding event) |
1994 |
3 | 9 | Photo Album - Clara Toppan |
1950s-1990s |
3 | 10-14 | Photo Albums - Frederick and Clara Toppan Vacations and Shooting Competitions |
1957-1960 |
4 | 1 | Photo Album - Yellowstone National Park Trip |
1934 |
4 | 2 | Photo Album - Florida Trip |
1970s |
4 | 3 | Scrapbook - Clara Toppan and American Heritage Center Events |
1993 |
4 | 4 | Scrapbook - Clara Toppan |
1969-1986 |
4 | 5 | Scrapbook - Clara's Africa Trip |
1971 |
4 | 6 | Photo Album - Clara Toppan (includes trip to India, Snow King Ski Area, Grand Teton National Park) |
1970s |
5 | University of Wyoming Bronze (Robert Russin sculpture of "The Family") (gift to Clara Toppan from UW) |
no date | |
5 | Clara Raab Book Ends |
no date | |
6 | Clara Toppan - University of Wyoming Distinguished Alumna Award (plaque) |
1995 | |
6 | Clara Toppan - Accounting Certificates |
1945, 1985 | |
6 | Clara Raab Toppan CPA Office Sign (wooden) |
circa 1945 | |
6 | Frederick Toppan Certificate and Diploma |
1926, 1929 | |
6 | Toppan Family Tree and Coat of Arms |
no date | |
6 | Photograph - panorama view of group of people in formal attire (no information) |
no date | |
6 | Map - Stikine River, British Columbia (2 maps) |
1929 | |
6 | Map - Rocky Mountain Trapper's Area (modern map showing fur trading activity in the West) |
1961 | |
6 | Poster - Sun Valley (Idaho) Ski Area Poster Featuring Gretchen Fraser, 1948 Olympics Ski Champion (2 posters) |
1948 |
Additional Container ListsReturn to Top
The American Heritage Center is in the process of converting its older container lists to a more accessible format. This link is to an older version of a container list.
Container(s) | Description |
---|---|
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Book collectors - United States
- Women accountants - Wyoming
Personal Names
- Toppan, Frederick
Corporate Names
- University of Wyoming - History
Geographical Names
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyo.) - Description and travel
- Laramie (Wyo.) - History
- Wyoming - History - 1919-1945
- Wyoming - History - 1946
- Yellowstone National Park (Wyo.) - Description and travel
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks