AHJ_ah00262 Inventory of the Elsa Spear papers, circa 1880s-1986 Spear (Elsa) papers Processed by D.C. Thompson The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2006

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort July 2006 Finding aid is in English Elsa Spear papers, circa 1880s-1986 Collection number: 00262 University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. Publication date: 2006 Contact Information American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/ April 2000

"©" 2006 University of Wyoming

 Collection Summary Spear, Elsa, 1896- Elsa Spear papers circa 1880s-1986 00262 0.70 cubic ft. + paintings (1 document box, 1 slim document box, 6 paintings) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Collection contains correspondence, articles, manuscripts, photographs, audio cassette tapes, and paintings created and collected by this Wyoming professional photographer and historian. Biography of Elsa Spear

Elsa Spear Edwards Byron was a professional photographer and a historian of the Sheridan County, Wyoming, area. She was born January 21, 1896, on a ranch near Big Horn, Wyoming. Her father, Willis Spear, was a cattleman and dude rancher and a state senator from 1914 to 1931. He founded the Spear Brothers Cattle Company with his brother William “Doc” Spear and the Spear-O-Wigwam dude resort in the Big Horn Mountains. Her mother was Virginia Benton Spear, whose family homesteaded near Big Horn, Wyoming, in 1881. Elsa acted as a guide for the dudes who came to visit the Spear-O-Wigwam (including Ernest Hemingway) and used the opportunity of these trips into the Big Horn mountains to take photographs. She began selling the images in 1923 to the Burlington and Great Northern railroads, and she soon established a reputation as a photographer. Her photographs were often accompanied by explanatory text; and her interest in the history of her family and of the area led her into further writing and historical research. She served on the State Geographical Board (1928-1932) and was responsible for recording names of geographical sites in the Big Horn Mountains and in Sheridan County.

In 1916 she married Harold C. Edwards with whom she had five daughters. On May 29, 1938, she married Earl Byron. He died in 1963. Elsa Spear Byron died on January 1, 1992.

 Scope and Content

The collection primarily consists of material received casually in the mail in the course of a long correspondence with the director of the American Heritage Center. Clippings and other material were offered for their historical interest. The audio tapes in series III preserve Virginia Benton Spear’s diaries as read by her daughter, Elsa Spear Byron. Some words of the diaries are obscured or lost at the end of each tape, however. The paintings are early works by noted western artist E.W. “Bill” Gollings.

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

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

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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.

To access other archival materials by Elsa Spear, see:

Elsa Spear Byron interview, 1983 Mar. 10, Call Number OH 517, Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives Dept. (Helena)

Elsa Spear Byron, Bill Gollings paintings, University of Wyoming, Art Museum.

The Elsa Spear papers were received from Elsa Spear (Byron) in increments between 1952 and 1986. The six Bill Gollings paintings were purchased from Mrs. Byron in 1980-1981. The audio cassette tapes of Mrs. Byron reading her mother’s diaries were received in 1985. The other material was received in the mail at various times during the course of a thirty-five year correspondence with the American Heritage Center.

The collection was processed by D.C. Thompson in April 2000. Since the materials had no original order, they have been arranged as seemed most useful for research.

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Elsa Spear papers, circa 1880s-1986, Collection Number 00262, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms Brisbin, James S. (James Sank), 1837-1892. Carrington, Henry BeeBee, 1824-1912. Goff, O. S. (Orlando Scott), 1843-1917. Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961. Kendrick, John B. (John Benjamin), 1857-1933. Rainford, W. S. (William Stephen), 1850-1933. Thayer, John M. (John Milton), 1820-1906. Throssel, Richard, d. 1933. Williamson, J. T. Spear, Virginia Benton. Belden, Charles J., 1887-1966. Hurlbut Family. Indians of North America. Johnson County War, 1892. Dude ranching--Wyoming--Big Horn. Trails--Monuments--Wyoming. Ranching--Wyoming. Sheridan County (Wyo.) Bighorn Mountains (Wyo. and Mont.) Sheridan (Wyo.) Cheyenne (Wyo.) Dayton (Wyo.) Fort Fetterman (Wyo.) Big Horn (Wyo.) Wyoming--History--To 1889. Wyoming--History--1919-1945. Wyoming--History--1890-1918. Wyoming--History--1946- Diaries. Scrapbooks. Photographs. Art. Audio cassettes. Photographers. Historians. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Gollings, Elling William, 1878-1932. Gressley, Gene M., 1931- Agriculture and Natural Resources Ranching Politics, Government, and Law Social Life and Customs Immigration and American Expansion Pioneers Wyoming Container List Series I: Documents 1881-1986

Contains newspaper and magazine articles, pamphlets, correspondence, transcripts, notes, manuscripts, etc. regarding Elsa Spear, the Spear family, and people and places important in Sheridan County and Wyoming history. Some publications include photographs taken by Elsa Spear. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 1 1 Belden, Charles: “Shooting the Rapids of the Big Horn River” (news clipping) 1931

1 2 Big Horn Mountains: pamphlets; article circa 1932, 1947

1 3 Bozeman Trail Scrapbook: pamphlet by Elsa Spear; correspondence; flyer 1964-1967

1 4 Brisbin, James S. (Gen.): obituary; notes 1892, undated

1 5 Byron, Elsa Spear: news clippings; program 1968-1983

1 6 Byron, Elsa Spear: calendar and other print reproductions of her work 1984-1986

1 7 Carrington, Henry B. (Gen.): transcripts of letters (1889-1908), news clippings, and pamphlets undated

1 8 Goff, O.S.: biographical article 1965

1 9 Gollings, Bill: news clipping; list of works 1986, undated

1 10 Hemingway, Ernest: news clippings 1970

1 11 Henderson, Harry: news clipping 1917

1 12 Hurlbut Family: manuscript by Vie Willits, “The Pioneer of Hurlbut Creek” 1906

1 13 Kendrick, John B.: news clippings; postcard 1917, undated

1 14 Medicine Wheel: news clipping; articles by George Bird Grinnell, Thomas Wilson Cultra, Don Grey 1922-1970

1 15 Platt Family: transcripts of letters from Helen and Henry R. Platt to their children from “Big Red” Ranch near Clearmont, Wyoming (1905) 1975

1 16 Procter, A.P.: transcript from Elsa Spear diary of 1914 undated

1 17 Rainsford, W.S.: article, “Camping and Hunting in the Shoshone” 1897

1 18 Sheridan (Wyoming): program for Old Settlers’ Club; notes 1907, undated

1 19 Sheridan Inn: news clippings; notes 1965, 1969

1 20 Spear, Willis: transcript of letter of April 12, 1892, regarding events of Johnson County War; transcript from account book of 1892-1893; news clippings 1934-1975

1 21 Spear Family: news clippings; article: “The Spears of Sheridan County,” includes transcripts of 1881 and 1883 diaries 1934-1942

1 22 Thayer, John: letter (photocopy) from Thayer to G.M. Benton 1881

1 23 Throssel, Richard: pamphlet (photocopy); obituary 1925-1933

1 24 Williamson, J.T.: articles by J.T. Williamson, “An Outing in the Big Horn Mountains” and “Lost Again” 1926-circa 1927

1 25 Yellowstone River Valley: transcript of 1880 pamphlet; transcript of 1941 article by Elsa Spear undated

Series II: Photographs circa 1880s-1974

Contains photographs primarily by or of Elsa Spear. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 1 26 Big Horn (Wyoming): street scenes; Spear home; Moncreiffe home; Johnson County Fair 1884-1926

1 27 Big Horn Mountains: Black Tooth; Tongue River Canyon; Tensleep Canyon; Black Canyon; Lodge Grass Canyon on fire; Geddes Lake; Crazy Woman Creek (Carrington campground); etc. circa 1890s-1957

1 28 Byron, Elsa Spear: with family and friends; exhibitions 1931-circa 1986

1 29 Cheyenne (Wyoming): the Gables (Edith K.O. Clark home); 60th anniversary of 1st train 1927-1928

1 30 Crow Indians: man and boy in dance costume; tipis; camps; parades; etc. 1901-1966

1 31 Dayton (Wyoming): street scene; 1st woman mayor sign circa 1880s, undated

1 32 Dull Knife Battle Site 1935 1 33 Fort Fetterman (Reconstruction): interiors and exteriors; exhibits; drawing undated

1 34 Gollings, Bill: portrait; paintings owned by Spear Family 1911, undated

1 35 Hemingway, Ernest: with wife Pauline in Wolf Mountains, Montana 1928

1 36 Hole in the Wall: site of cabins undated

1 37 Petrified Trees: near Buffalo (Wyoming) 1940

1 38 Pictograph Cave: exterior view 1965

1 39 Pratt-Ferris Ranch House (Big Red): abandoned house 1974

1 40 Sheridan (Wyoming): group shot of Indians and early residents; Main Street 1903, 1960s

1 41 Sherman Hill Trees 1927

1 42 Snowy Range: Lake Marie; Mirror Lake 1927

1 43 South Pass and Oregon Trail: Burnt Ranch; South Pass City; Atlantic City; Miner's Delight 1965-1966

1 44 Spear Family/Sheridan Street Scene: double exposure from glass plate circa 1901

1 45 Stone Circles and Wheels: archaeological sites near Sheridan and Lake DeSmet 1965

1 46 Trail Markers and Monuments: Grace Hebard at Fort Phil Kearney site; Massacre Hill; Fort Stambaugh site; South Pass; Willie’s Handcart Company plaque; Parting of the Ways 1924-1966

1 47 University of Wyoming Band 1931 1 48 Wyoming Post Marks and Covers of 1880s to 1926 undated

Series III: Audio Cassette Tapes circa 1985

Fourteen cassettes of Elsa Spear Byron reading the diaries of her mother, Virginia Benton Spear. Arranged chronologically.

Recording and Reproduction Characteristics

Virginia Spears diaries audio cassette tapes.

 2 1-13 Virginia Benton Spear Diaries, 1881-1886 circa 1985 2 14 Virginia Benton Spear Diaries, 1886, 1889; List of Weddings and Births Recorded by Rev. G.W. Benton, 1884-1886 circa 1985 Series IV: Paintings 1915-1917

Artwork by Bill Gollings of scenes on the Spear Family ranches in Wyoming and Montana. Arranged alphabetically by title. Paintings are located at the University of Wyoming, Art Museum.

 Art Museum 1 At Spear Roundup Wagon: “Wrangler Dean Johnson chopping wood at Spear Bros. roundup wagon” 1917

Art Museum 2 At the Bar V Ranch, Wolf Mountains, Montana (landscape) 1917

Art Museum 3 Evening in Spring (three horses on marshy ground in front of tipis) 1917

Art Museum 4 Glory Days of the Indian (scene of buffalo hunt, monochrome) 1915

Art Museum 5 Study of Autumn Trees, Goose Creek on Wrench Ranch 1917 Art Museum 6 Willis and Doc Spear Cutting Out WM Steer undated