AHJ_ah03470 Inventory of the Mildred Stead Capron papers, 1931-1972 Capron (Mildred Stead) papers Processed by John Waggener 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/

2010

University of Wyoming

Finding aid encoded by Shaun Hayes December 2010 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Capron, Mildred Stead Mildred Stead Capron papers 1931-1972 03470 8.41 cubic ft. (19 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English The Mildred Stead Capron Papers contain the adventure documentary films she created. Included are related materials including production files, research notes, publicity, and photographs. Biography of Mildred Stead Capron

Mildred Stead Capron (1899-1978) was a photographer, author, and member of the Society of Women Geographers, 1955-1978. Her publications included: "Wyoming Indians, Describing the Work of the Episcopal Church in Wyoming amongst the Shoshone and Arapaho Tribes" (1944) and "Prayers at Christmas" (1944). After arriving in Wyoming in 1935, she lived on the Arapaho Reservation. She lived in Moose, Wyoming in Teton County where she operated Capron Film Productions on the Murie Ranch. She corresponded with the noted photographer, Maragaret Bourke-White, 1963-1971. She was a friend of Mardy and Olaus Murie, noted Wyoming conservationists whose views she shared.

Scope and Content

The Mildred Stead Capron Papers consist of the 16mm adventure documentary films she made during the 1950s and 1960s. The areas she documented in the United States include Wyoming, Alaska, and the Chesapeake Bay. International sites include Ireland, Brittany in northwest France, Portugal, the islands of Azores and Madeira, Spain, and South Africa. Also included are the film production files. These include scripts, research notes, subject files, photographs and negatives, and advertising for her documentaries. The collection also includes a small amount of biographical material and some of her personal photographs. Most of the photographs relate to Wyoming landscapes and wildlife in the areas of the Snowy Range, the Wind River Range, Jackson Hole, the National Elk Refuge, the Teton Mountains, and wild horse roundups in the Red Desert. Other photographs relate to sheep shearing, a pow wow on the Wind River Indian Reservation, and outdoor recreation scenes.

Access Restrictions

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

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 Mildred Stead Capron at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Mildred Capron (1970-1971), Donald Murie (1978), and the Murie Center of Moose, Wyoming (2004, 2006).

Processing Information

The collection was processed by John Waggener in November of 2010. New material was added by D. Claudia Thompson in April 2017

Portions of the collection were digitized by Halena Bagdonas in February 2012, Rick Walters in February 2012, and Kathy Gerlach in April 2013.

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 select material from this collection are available at http://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu:8180/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~95~95.

Access Terms Capron Film Productions. Women photographers-- United States-- 20th century. Arapaho Indians-- Missions-- Wyoming. Shoshoni Indians-- Missions-- Wyoming. Travelogues (Motion pictures, television, etc.) Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Native Americans Expeditions and Adventure Social Life and Customs Wyoming Moving Images Container List Series I. Biographical Information and Personal Notes

This series includes biographical material, personal notes, and photographs of Mildred Capron. The material is contained in one folder.

1 1 Biographical Material and Personal Notes undated, 1936-1972 Series II. Production Files

This series contains the production files for Capron’s 16mm films. Included are script notes, technical data, research notes, subject files, advertising and publicity, and photographs and negatives of the sites she visited. The files are arranged alphabetically by title of film.

1 2-4 Alaskan Summer undated, 1967 1 5-6 Deep Roots in the Chesapeake undated, 1954-1955 2 1-2 Deep Roots in the Chesapeake undated, 1954-1955 2 3-5 Ireland: A Living Tapestry undated, 1964-1970 3 1-2 Ireland: A Living Tapestry undated, 1964 3 3 Sky High in Wyoming undated, 1951 3 4-6 Solo Safari to South Africa 1951-1971 4 1-2 Solo Safari to South Africa undated 4 3-5 Spell of Brittany undated, 1961 5 1-3 Spell of Brittany undated, 1961 5 4-5 Ten Islands of Lost Legends: Madeira and the Azores undated, 1968-1971 6 1 Ten Islands of Lost Legends: Madeira and the Azores undated, 1957 6 2-3 This Is Portugal undated, 1957-1961 Series III. Photographs

This series contains photographs taken by Mildred Capron. Most of the photographs are of Wyoming landscapes, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. Some images are of her world travels.

6 4 Photographs – Kleiber, Hans 1951 6 5 Photographs – Wyoming – Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park undated 6 6 Photographs – Wyoming – Outdoor Recreation Scenes undated 6 7 Photographs – Wyoming – Sheep Shearing Operations undated 6 8 Photographs – Wyoming – Slides of Various Scenes (including coal mining, the Medicine Wheel, Green River Lakes, sheep wagons, snow plows, and Oregon Trail ruts.) undated 6 9 Photographs –Wyoming – Wild Horse Roundup in the Red Desert undated 6 10 Photographs – Wyoming – Wildlife and Landscapes undated 6 11 Photographs – Wyoming – Wind River Indian Reservation Pow Wow undated 6 12 Photographs – Wyoming – Wind River Range (includes images of pack horses) undated 7 Photo Scrapbook (includes Laramie, winter scenes in Jackson Hole, and international scenes) undated 8 Photo Scrapbook of 1931 trip to Japan and China undated, 1931, 1934 9 Photo Scrapbook (includes wild horse roundup in Red Desert, Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park, Yosemite, Glacier National Park, and international scenes) undated 10 1 Oversize Photographs – Wyoming Wildlife and Landscapes undated 10 2 Oversize Photograph – Miscellaneous Scenes (U.S. and International scenes) undated 11 Negatives of Madeira and South Africa undated 12 Negatives of Portugal undated 13 Negatives of Cape Cod undated 14 Negatives of Ireland undated Series IV. Motion Picture Films and Audiotapes

This series contains the full-length feature films produced by Capron. Additionally, film clips, short takes, and audio reel-to-reel tapes used in the making of her films are included. Some audio relates to music on the Wind River Indian Reservation.

15 16mm motion picture film (short-takes, and film clips for her productions) undated 15 Reel to Reel Audiotape used for her productions (includes material for Sky High in Wyoming including Wolf Dance and Sun Dance drumming and Indian chanting.) undated 16 Deep Roots in the Chesapeake (full length film) undated 16 Ireland: A Living Tapestry (full length film) undated 17 Sky High in Wyoming (full length film) undated 17 Solo Safari to South Africa (full length film) undated 18 Spell of Brittany (full length film) undated 18 Ten Islands of Lost Legends: Madeira and Azores (full length film) undated 19 Spell of Brittany (film) undated