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William Sturgis papers, 1860-1942

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sturgis, William, 1842-1936
Title
William Sturgis papers
Dates
1860-1942 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.93 cubic feet (6 boxes)
Collection Number
00774
Summary
Personal papers of a 19th century Wyoming cattle rancher who served on the Union side in the Civil War.
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.

Additional Reference Guides
Additional Information

Finding aid available in repository.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

William Sturgis (1842-1936) served with the Union forces of the Civil War and along with his brother Thomas, managed several farms near Neosho, Missouri from 1868-1872. In 1872 William and Thomas Sturgis along with Gorhham B. Goodell formed Sturgis, Goodell & Co., which raised cattle in Laramie County, Wyoming. William and Thomas both helped to organize the Wyoming Stock Growers Association in 1873 and William served as an assistant secretary. William Sturgis remained in Wyoming until 1901 and then returned east to pursue other business interests.

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Content Description

Collection contains mostly diaries (1861-1936) along with a partial transcript for the diaries from 1861-1890; 3 notebooks; 4 photographs of Sturgis and his home in Cheyenne; programs and playbills for various theaters and operas in Cheyenne (1872-1901); and miscellaneous other materials.

The collection also includes a 23-page manuscript written by Sturgis in 1875 entitled "The Nation's Ward," and the rejection letter from "Old and New" magazine editor Edward Everett Hale. The manuscript comments on the federal government's relationship with Indians in the West.

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Use of the Collection

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

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by William Sturgis at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

The William Sturgis papers were donated to the American Heritage Center by Sturgis' daughter, Elizabeth Sturgis Paine in 1960 and 1981, Margaret Hasselman in 1987, and purchased from Between the Covers in 2016.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Irina A. Peris in June 1997, and updated by D. Claudia Thompson in May 2015 and by Michael W. Harris in June 2017.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

  • Series I. Papers

  • Series II. Photographs

    Contains two portraits of William Sturgis and two pictures of the interior of his house in Cheyenne.

    • Description: Photographs: Portraits of William Sturgis and wife; interior of his house in Cheyenne (6 items)
      Dates: 1888-1903
      Container: Box 3, Folder 8
      Location: Series II. Photographs

  • Series III. Theater Programs

    Arranged alphabetically by title. Within this division items are kept in chronological order.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Bituminous coal industry--West Virginia--History.
  • Cattle trade -- Wyoming.
  • Coal trade.
  • Indians of North America -- Government relations.
  • Opera -- Wyoming -- Cheyenne.
  • Ranches -- Wyoming.
  • Theater -- Wyoming -- Cheyenne.

Corporate Names

  • Sturgis, Goodell & Co.

Geographical Names

  • Cheyenne (Wyo.)
  • Laramie County (Wyo.)
  • Neosho (Mo.)
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
  • Wyoming -- History -- 1890-1918.
  • Wyoming -- History -- To 1889.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries.
  • Photographs.
  • Programs.

Titles within the Collection

  • Old and new.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Hale, Edward Everett, 1822-1909.

Processed by D. Claudia Thompson
2013; 2015; 2017

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

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