Collection Summary
Penrose, Charles B. (Charles Bingham), 1862-1925
Charles B. Penrose papers
1890-1936 (bulk 1913-1916)
09626
1.17 cubic
ft. (2 boxes)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
Papers written and collected by Penrose reflecting the Wyoming Stock Growers' position during the Johnson County War of 1892.
Arrangement of the Collection
Biography of Charles B. Penrose
Charles B. Penrose (1862-1925), a doctor from Philadelphia, came to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1891 to try to recover his health. He was invited to accompany a group of stockgrowers in a raid on suspected cattle rustlers in Johnson County, Wyoming, in April 1892, which later became known as the Johnson County War. Penrose fell behind the main group and did not participate in the actual raid on the KC Ranch but was arrested near Douglas, Wyoming, for being a member of the party. He corresponded with his brother Senator Boies Penrose, Wyoming Supreme Court Clerk Richard H. Repath, U.S. Attorney Bob Ralston and writer Owen Wister in the days following his release, explaining the circumstances of his arrest.
After his release from jail, Penrose returned to private practice in Philadelphia. Around 1913, he wrote an account of the Johnson County Invasion and corresponded with others regarding the Johnson County War, including Owen Wister, historian Grace Hebard, doctor Amos W. Barber, who was also governor of Wyoming from 1890-1893, and William C. Irvine, a stockgrower and one of the leaders of the raid into Johnson County.
Scope and ContentThe collection contains the manuscript for The Johnson County War: The Narrative of Dr. Charles Bingham Penrose (ca. 1914); miscellaneous telegrams and newspaper clippings regarding the Johnson County War; and Charles Penrose's correspondence with Boies Penrose, Bob Ralston, Amos Barber, Owen Wister, William C. Irvine, and Grace Raymond Hebard regarding the invasion (1913-1915).
Additional items includes two photographs of the invading party; a map of the KC Ranch (probably drawn by Irvine) and a list of places connected with the invasion; a list of names of those prosecuted by the State of Wyoming for participating in the raid; and 1 letter from Wister to Charles' son Boies Penrose (1936).
Access Restrictions
Photocopies are provided for research use. 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.
Related Materials
There are no known other archival collections created by Charles B. Penrose at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
The material was primarily received from Boies Penrose in 1936. One oversize photograph was received from Mrs. Francis Penrose Haythe in 2007.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Elain Heim in June 1994 and updated by D. Claudia Thompson in May 2010.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection
Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital reproductions of this entire collection are available at
http://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu:8180/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~31~31.
Access Terms
Ralston, Robert, 1863-1916
Penrose, Boies, 1860-1921
Penrose, Boies, 1902-1976
Wister, Owen, 1860-1938
Barber, Amos W. (Amos Walker), 1861-1915
Hebard, Grace Raymond, 1861-1936
Irvine, William C., 1852-1924
Johnson County War, 1892
Ranching.
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
KC Ranch (Wyo.)
Johnson County (Wyo.)
Wyoming -- History, 1890-1918
Wyoming -- History, 1919-1945
Maps
Photographs
Narrative
Reminiscences
Physicians
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Container List
Series I. Events of Johnson County War
Most originals are restricted access. Photocopies are provided for research use.
1
1
Telegrams (19) to and from Charles B. Penrose, Boies Penrose (brother) and Richard H. Repath
April 14-18, 1892
1
2
Letter: Charles B. Penrose to Boies Penrose (original + transcript)
April 17, 1892
1
3
Letters: 3 letters, Charles B. Penrose to Boies Penrose, Bob [Ralston] and Owen [Wister] (transcripts)
April 18-May 11, 1892
1
4
Letter: Richard H. Repath to Charles B. Penrose (original)
June 9, 1892
1
5
Gentlemen's Calling Cards (9)
[1892]
1
6
Newspaper Clippings
April 15-June, 1892; undated
Series II. Reminiscences and other materials about Johnson County War
1
7
Letter: William C. Irvine to Charles B. Penrose (original + transcript)
Nov. 2, 1913
1
8
Letters: to and from C.B. Penrose, Amos Barber, W.C. Irvine, and Owen Wister (originals + transcripts)
June-Dec., 1913
1
9
Map (Hand-Drawn) and List of Place Names: KC Ranch and Environs
[Dec 6-10, 1913?]
1
10
Letters (14): to and from C.B. Penrose, W.C. Irvine, R.S. Van Tassell, Grace Hebard and Owen Wister (originals + transcripts)
1914; undated
1
11-12
Manuscript: 2 typescript copies of "The Johnson County War: The Narrative of Dr. Charles Bingham Penrose," individually annotated
1914
1
13
Letters and News Clippings: 7 letters, 1 telegram from Dr. Amos W. Barber and Amelia Barber to C.B. Penrose, re: illness and death of Dr. Barber; 3 newsclippings (originals)
1915-[1916?]
1
14
Photographs and Lists: 2 group photographs of cattlemen at Fort Russell, and 2 post-facto lists identifying the men (originals + transcript)
[1892, 1916, and 1936]
2
Photograph: group photograph of cattlemen at Fort Russell (oversize)
1892
1
15
District Court Case Titles, in Connection with the Cattle War of 1892 ("Found in Dr. Barber's desk after his death")
Aug. 2, 1892; circa 1913, 1916
1
16
Letters (3): from Owen Wister, Lathrop C. Harper, and Boise Penrose (son of C.B. Penrose) re: publication and donation of C.B. Penrose's work (originals)
1936; undated