AHJ_ah00075 Inventory of the N. E. Corthell family papers, circa 1868-1973 Corthell (Nellis E.) 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 May 2006 Finding aid is in English N. E. Corthell family papers, 1868-1973 Collection number: 00075 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/ October 2001

"©" 2006 University of Wyoming

 Collection Summary Corthell, N. E. (Nellis E.) N. E. Corthell family papers 1868-1973 1890-1918 00075 6.95 cubic ft. (14 boxes) + 648 MB University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English The collection contains records of the businesses that Nellis E. Corthell held interest in including: the Laramie "Boomerang," Buffalo Basin Land Company, Laramie Board and Trade, Laramie Ice and Coal Company, Laramie Water Company, Meyer & Raife (a hardware store), Southern Wyoming Telephone Company, Van Dyke Coal and Milling Company, and the Wyoming Central Land and Improvement Company. Family and personal items include photographs, correspondence, and pamphlets and manuscripts written by Eleanor Corthell. History of the N. E. Corthell family

Nellis E. Corthell (1861-1938) was born in Cattaraugus County, New York, and came to Wyoming circa 1880. After working briefly on a ranch, he began studying law in the office of Laramie, Wyoming, attorney Stephen W. Downey and was admitted to the bar in 1883. Corthell first joined Downey’s law firm, establishing his own practice in 1887. In 1914 the firm of Corthell, McCollough, and Corthell was formed, with the other partners being his son Morris E. Corthell and A.W. McCollough. N.E. Corthell was an authority on water rights and held business interests in several Laramie companies, including the Laramie Boomerang, a newspaper which he owned from 1890 to 1911. He married Eleanor (Nellie) Quackenbush in 1885. She died in 1922. The couple’s children were: Evelyn (b. 1886, m. John A. Hill), Morris Eliot (b. 1887), Miriam (Mim, b. 1889, m. Thayer Burgess and Hugh Moreland), Gladys (1890-1925, m. Wilbur Hitchcock), Robert Clinton (Robin, b. 1891), Huron DeWitt (b. 1893), and Irving Eugene (1894-1957).

 Scope and Content

The collection mainly contains records of the businesses that Corthell held interest in along with some family and personal items. The collection includes account books and miscellaneous correspondence for the following businesses: the Laramie Boomerang (1881-1909); the Buffalo Basin Land Company (1881-1901); the Laramie Ice and Coal Company (1885-1893); the Laramie Water Company (1911-1914); Meyer & Raife (a Laramie dry goods store); the Southern Wyoming Telephone Company (1910-1914); the Van Dyke Coal and Milling Company (1890-1894); and the Wyoming Central Land and Improvement Company (1884). The collection also includes minutes and correspondence for the Laramie Board of Trade (1889-1905); a court transcript regarding the Wyoming Development Company and water rights in the Big Laramie valley; and photographs, correspondence, and miscellaneous documents pertaining to the Corthell family. There are also some pamphlets and manuscripts, most of which were written by Eleanor Corthell.

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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There are no other known archival collections created by the N. E. Corthell family at the date of processing.

The N.E. Corthell family papers, 1868-1973, were received in numerous increments between 1947 and 2021. The donors were: Morris E. Corthell, Irwin E. Corthell, Mrs. John A. Hill, Lydia Corthell, Mrs. Hugh Moreland, Elinor Mullens, and Ann Boelter. The donations were sometimes received mixed with materials from other early Laramie families.

The collection was processed by D.C. Thompson in October 2001 and updated by Jamie Greene in May 2020 and October 2023. The donations were sometimes received mixed with materials from other early Laramie families. The processors have used their judgment in dividing these materials. These separated materials may be found in the Robert H. Homer papers, the John A. Hill papers, the Robert H. Burns papers, and the Downey family papers.

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, N. E. Corthell family papers, 1868-1973, Collection Number 00075, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

 Access Terms Corthell family. Laramie (Wyo.)--History. Wyoming--History--To 1889. Wyoming--History--1890-1918. Wyoming--History--1919-1945. Wyoming--History--1946- Artifacts. Photographs. Business records. Lawyers. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Laramie Board of Trade. Laramie Water Company. Laramie Coal and Ice Company. Wyoming Development Company. Wyoming Central Land and Improvement Co. Buffalo Basin Land Company. Meyer & Raife (firm). Southern Wyoming Telephone Company. Van Dyke Coal and Milling Company. Laramie boomerang (Laramie, Wyo.) Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce Politics, Government, and Law Social Life and Customs City and Town Life Laws and Legislation Pioneers Wyoming Container List Series I. Business Records 1881-1926 2 cubic ft. (4 document boxes, 1 oversize folder)

Arranged alphabetically by business name. Includes account books, stock certificates, contracts, and correspondence of businesses with which N.E. Corthell was associated. Also includes minutes of the Laramie Board of Trade.

 1 1 Albany Motor Company – Stock certificates circa 1910 1 2 Boomerang – Account book 1881-1909 1 3-4 Buffalo Basin Land Company – Account books 1882-1885, 1884-1888 1 5 Citizens Coal Company – Stock certificates 1907 1 6 Del Norte (Colorado) Vegetable Growers Cooperative Association – Agreement 1926 2 1 Laramie Board of Trade – Correspondence 1901-1904 2 2-3 Laramie Board of Trade – Minute books 1889-1908 2 4 Laramie Coal and Ice Company – Daybook 1885-1888 7 1 Laramie Coal and Ice Company – Daybook 1892-1893 2 5 Laramie Cooperative Marketing Association – Stock certificate and contract 1924 2 6 Laramie Water Company – Agreements and contracts 1911-1914 2 7 Laramie Water Company – Correspondence 1912-1913 2 8 Meyer & Raife – Account book 1911-1913 3 1 Meyer & Raife – Account book 1911-1913 3 2 R.L.S. Company – Account book 1906-1908 3 3 Sarver, D.E.(?) – Account book 1893 3 4 Southern Wyoming Telephone Company – Account book 1910 3 5 Southern Wyoming Telephone Company – Correspondence 1910-1914 3 6 Southern Wyoming Telephone Company – Miscellaneous 1910-1914 4 1-2 Southern Wyoming Telephone Company – Stock certificates 1910-1913 4 3 Strong Copper Mining Company – Stock certificates 1906 4 4 Van Dyke Coal and Milling Company – Account book 1890-1895 4 5 Wyoming Central Land & Improvement Company – Prospectus 1884 Series II. Legal Documents 1896, 1936-1937 (4 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Contains documents reflecting Nellis Corthell’s work as an attorney, including court transcripts regarding water rights in the Big Laramie valley.

 5 1 Court Calendars; Second Judicial District, Albany County, Wyoming September 1936, March 1937 5 2 Powell, Mary Nora – Will 1896 5 3-4 Wyoming Development Company 1936 Series III. Family and Personal Papers 1879-1973

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Contains mainly correspondence, manuscripts, and pamphlets. Includes two drafts of a Utopian novel, In Quest of the Superman. Most manuscripts are probably by Eleanor Corthell.

 14Air Force Association (AFA) records, John M. Hill (JMH) 1946-1948 14Artifacts: Jacket Patches - John Hillundated 5 5 Bryan, William Jennings: songbook; photograph of dinner at Holliday home (Laramie) 1896, undated 10Christmas Cards1925-1937 5 6 Christmas Token: pamphlet from C.P. Arnold of poetry and photographs 1934 5 7 Correspondence and Miscellaneous 1884-1960 14Correspondence1900-1964 11-12 and DigitalCorrespondence, family - with typed transcripts and digital copies1882-1961 12Correspondence catalogundated 7 2 Corthell Farm: plan to remodel West Laramie residence 1958 7 3 Corthell, Nellis E. – Diploma 1879 12Eugenics Committee of the United States1925 5 8 Family Trek to the Yellowstone: pamphlet by Eleanor Corthell and Evelyn Hill 1928 10Graduation announcement1910 5 9 Hat Making: manuscript by Eleanor Corthell circa 1920 12Hugh Moreland: Soldier's Individual Pay Record book and Ration book1918 5 10-11 In Quest of the Superman: manuscript of Utopian novel, probably by Eleanor Corthell circa 1914 10Instructions for making military uniformsundated 5 12 Laramie Womans Club: manuscript probably by Eleanor Corthell undated 14Law School publications1914-1998 14Newspaper clippings1925-1937 10Pamphlets - miscellaneous1910-1940 14Printed material: pamphlets and magazines1943-1971 14School binder - John Hill 1922-1923 14School binder - Ross Hill1922-1923 14University of Wyoming, Family and Consumer Science1942-1958 10Wedding invitations1910-1940 5 13 Wickersham Commission: manuscript regarding prohibition undated 5 14 Winter Picnic: poem, invitations, photographs regarding birthday parties of C.P. Arnold 1923-1925 Women's Suffrage materials: 12S.J. Res. 15 letters to Wyoming Representatives1950-1955 12Wyoming Federation of Women's Clubs - correspondence1928-1932 12Women's Rights - correspondence, newsletters, leaflets, and legislation1920-1958 12National Women's Party1945-1958 13Newspapers: 13Laramie Daily Boomerang1912-1973 13Laramie Boomerang, Women's Edition1900 13The Denver Post1933 Nellis E. Corthell (NEC):1890-1899 14Financial records - Ledgers and check stubs1890-1899 14Insurance claims - Death of Nellis E. Corthell1938-1940 14Notes - address, sermon "The Inner Life", reflective, devotional, professional1900-1938 Series IV. Photographs circa 1868-circa 1930 0.25 cubic ft. (1 slim document box, 4 folders, 1 oversize folder)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Photographs of Corthell family and friends and Corthell residences. Also includes printing block for A Family Trek to the Yellowstone.

 7 4 Albany County Bar Association circa 1900 5 15 Burgess, Thayer and Miriam circa 1920s, undated 5 16 Corthell Family - Lathrop, Phoebe, & Children circa 1868 5 17-18 Corthell Family - Nellis, Eleanor & Children 1885-circa 1930, undated 7 4 Corthell Family – Nellis, Eleanor, and Children circa 1910 14Corthell family portraits1870-1940 6 1 Corthell Farm - West Laramie 1918-circa 1930 6 2 Corthell Residence - 815 Grand, Laramie undated 6 3 Courtroom Scene – Judge Blair undated 6 4 Friends and Miscellaneous undated 13Panorama of Santa Cruz, Mexico, Fort Brown U.S.A., and U.S. troops1916 6 5 Quackenbush Family undated 6 6 Unidentified tintypes circa 1870s 6 7 University of Wyoming – Fraternities and Groups circa 1907-circa 1912 7 4 Wyoming Press Association circa 1900 Series V. Artifacts circa 1895-circa 1910 (2 items)

No arrangement. Business seal of Southern Wyoming Telephone Company and woven bag from Ft. Washakie.

 9Artifact Storage Business Seal of Southern Wyoming Telephone Company circa 1910 8Artifact Storage Shoshone Indian bag from Ft. Washakie (woven) circa 1895