John Roberts papers, 1882-1963

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Roberts, John, 1853-1949
Title
John Roberts papers
Dates
1882-1963 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 cubic ft. (6 boxes)
Collection Number
00037
Summary
The collection contains material regarding John Robert’s mission work on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.
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, , Arapaho, and , Shoshoni

Historical NoteReturn to Top

John Roberts was an Episcopalian missionary who worked among the Arapaho and Shoshone peoples on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. He was born in 1853 at Rhuddlan in North Wales. He was educated in Wales and later received an M.A. from Oxford University in England. He was ordained a deacon in 1878. In 1883, John Roberts was sent to the Shoshone Indian Reservation in Wyoming to work among the Indians and to organize missions among the white settlers in the adjacent territory. While there, he established St. Michael’s Mission for the Arapahos as well as the United States Government Indian Boarding Industrial School for the Shoshones and Arapahos. He translated Biblical texts and church material into the Arapaho and Shoshone languages with assistance from Fremont Arthur, Michael White Hawk, and Charles Lajoe. He died in June of 1949 at his home on the Wind River Indian Reservation.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

There are numerous notes and drafts as well as printed versions of Robert’s translations of church literature into the Arapaho and Shoshone languages. Other material includes history of the region and biographical information about Roberts and his family, friends and prominent citizens of the area including Sacagawea.

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.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box 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~36~36.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created John Roberts by at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

The John Roberts Papers were given to the University of Wyoming by Elinor and Charles Markley between 1946 and 1954. Further material was received from Edward N. Roberts in 1967 and 1968 and from Beatrice Crofts in 1978 and 1980.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Elizabeth Hokanson in August 1992. It was revised by D. Claudia Thompson in February 2002 and August 2015.

Links to digitized folders were added in August 2010 by Ben Goldman.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I.:  TranslationsReturn to Top

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Contains manuscripts, working notes and printed versions of John Roberts’s translations into Arapaho and Shoshone of Christian and Episcopalian texts.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 undated
1 2 circa 1899
1 3 1900-1905, undated
1 4 1902-circa 1915
1 5 1905-1931
1 6 1912-1915
1 7 undated
1 8 circa 1895
1 9 1901
1 10 undated
1 11 1903
1 12 1912
1 13 undated
1 14 undated
1 15 1927, undated
1 16 undated
1 17 undated
2 1 undated
2 2 1899
2 3 1899-1900
2 4 1895
2 5 undated
2 6 undated
2 7 circa 1899
2 8 undated
2 9 undated

Series II.:  Personal Papers Return to Top

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Contains biographical information on John Roberts, notes and manuscripts primarily by John Roberts on Lander and Wind River area history and on the Arapaho and Shoshone people, correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, and a notebook.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 10 1884-1933
2 11 1884-1941, undated
2 12 1922-1923
2 13 1933-1934
2 14
Biographical - Wyoming State Journal Tribute Issue (photocopy)
Feb. 8, 1933
2 15
Clippings – “Pioneer Landerites”
1911-1955
2 16
Clippings – Sacajawea
1904-1963
2 17
Clippings – Washakie
1900-1960
2 18 1892-1899
5 1885-1941
5
Correspondence to and from John Roberts
1882-1945
5
Correspondence to and from John Roberts regarding Sacajawea
1905-1937
Folder
2 20
Financial Documents: bills, invoices, checks
1884-1912
2 21 undated
2 22 undated
2 23 1914, undated
2 24 undated
5
Historical Notes and Manuscripts - Sacajawea
undated
Folder
2 25 1926, undated
2 26 1899, undated
2 27 undated
2 28 undated
2 29 undated
2 30 undated
2 31 1939
2 32 1901
2 33
Notebook of John Roberts Contains list of Lander residents, expenses, sermon texts, translations, etc.
1883-1888

Series IV.:  Manuscript Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 11-13
"Sixty Six Years on the Wind River Indian Reservation: A Ministry", typed manuscript biography of John Roberts by Elinor Roberts Markley
undated

Series V.:  Oversize material and Artifacts Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
4
Wyoming State Journal, Lander, Wyoming, Pages 1-2, 5-6 of newspaper containing information about John Roberts
1933
4
Fort Washakie, Shoshone Mission School, unidentified school, group portrait
1892-1901, undated
6
Buffalo Robe
undated

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

  • Episcopalians -- Wyoming
  • Indians -- North American -- Missions
  • Indians -- Wyoming
  • Wind River Indian Reservation (Wyo.)
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1890-1918
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945
  • Wyoming -- History -- To 1899

Personal Names

  • Sacajawea

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries