Collection Summary
Beck Family
Beck Family papers
1858-1992
10386
7.20 cubic ft. (17
boxes + oversize folder)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English, German, French
Family papers of G.W.T. Beck and his wife and
daughters, including correspondence and business records regarding the founding
of Cody, Wyoming, and the construction of the Cody Canal. Beck partnered with
Buffalo Bill Cody to form the Shoshone Irrigation Company, which undertook the
canal. In addition to records on this and other business ventures of G.W.T.
Beck, the collection contains personal correspondence and miscellaneous other
materials.
History of the Beck FamilyGeorge Washington Thornton Beck
(1856-1943) was the son of James B. Beck, a U.S. senator from Kentucky. George
Beck came to Wyoming in 1879 and settled near Sheridan where he engaged in
sheep ranching until 1889. He built a flour mill at the settlement of Beckton,
Wyoming, in 1884 and a second flour mill with electrical plant and water works
at Buffalo, Wyoming, in 1886. In 1895, in partnership with Horatio Alger and
William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Beck formed the Shoshone Land and Irrigation
Company, which undertook construction of the Cody Canal and the town of Cody,
Wyoming. Later the partnership was expanded to include four men from Buffalo,
New York: H.M. Gerrans, George Bleistein, Bronson Rumsey, and Nate Salsbury,
manager of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. The construction of the canal was
plagued by money shortages, and it was eventually completed by the government.
Beck also financed and managed the Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company,
which provided electricity to the town of Cody, and invested in various mining
and oil ventures in Wyoming and Georgia.
Beck, a Democrat, served as president of the last Wyoming Territorial
legislature in 1889. He returned to the Wyoming State legislature as a senator
in 1913 and 1915, and he campaigned unsuccessfully for the U.S. congress (1890)
and the Wyoming governorship (1902). On Dec. 1, 1897, Beck married Daisy M.
Sorenson of Marquette, Wyoming. They had three children, Betty (born 1898,
later Mrs. Doyle Joslin and Mrs. J.M. Roberson), Jane (born 1900, later Mrs.
Nelson T. Johnson), and George Thornton Beck Jr. (born 1908).
Scope and ContentThe Beck Family Papers, 1858-1992, contain
mainly the papers of George Thornton Beck, but there are substantial portions
of the correspondence of Betty Beck especially from the years 1918 to 1922, a
small amount of the correspondence of William F. Cody, and some correspondence
and other documents of the Goodloe family (collateral to the Beck family). Also
included is correspondence of the Traeger-Jensen family, much of it in German.
The Traeger family lived in Auburn, Washington, where Betty Beck Roberson also
lived, but the connection with the Beck family (if any) is not clear. There is
also a small amount of correspondence to and from persons who have no clear
connection to the Beck or Traeger families. Betty Beck Roberson enjoyed
philately, which probably accounts for the large number of postal covers
without letters in the collection.
The photographs are primarily scenic rather than personal. Many of them
are commercial souvenir prints. There are a few early pictures of Cody,
Wyoming. Most of the people are unidentified. The collection should prove
valuable in conjunction with the George T. Beck Papers, also housed at the
American Heritage Center.
Access Restrictions
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.
Related Materials
There are no known other archival collections created by the Beck Family
at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
The papers are available through the generous gift of Jack Rosenthal and
Michael Rosenthal.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by D.C. Thompson in September 1996.
Links to digitized items added by Ben Goldman in July 2010 and Jamie Greene in December 2013.
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Beck Family Papers, Collection
Number 10386, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at
https://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~34~34.
Access Terms
Buffalo Bill,
1846-1917
Beck, George T. (George
Thornton), 1856-1943
Roberson, Betty
Beck
Shoshone Irrigation
Company
Buffalo Bill's Wild West
Show
Water resources development -
Wyoming -- Park County.
Cody (Wyo.)
Park County
(Wyo.)
Wyoming -- Politics and
government
Wyoming -- History, To
1889
Wyoming -- History, 1890--1918
Wyoming -- History, 1919-1945
Wyoming -- History, 1946-
Business records
Maps
Photographs
Water and Water Rights
Social Life and Customs
City and Town Life
Science, Technology and Health
Wyoming
Container List
Series I.
Correspondence
1873-1982.
The correspondence of different individuals and families
are kept separate. Within these divisions the correspondence is
chronological.
1
1-12
Correspondence of G.W.T. Beck
1884-1901
Business and political; Shoshone Irrigation Company; mining
and settlement opportunities; Cody townsite; Cody Club; etc.
1
1
1884-1886
1
2
1887-1889
1
3
1890-1892
1
4
1895
1
5
January - March, 1896
1
6
April, 1896
1
7
May - June, 1896
1
8
July - November, 1896
1
9
1897-1899
1
10
1900
1
11
January - July, 1901
1
12
August - December, 1901
2
1-14
Correspondence of G.W.T. Beck
1902-1915
Lincoln Land Company; Shoshone Irrigation Company; Nate
Salsbury; Phoebe Hearst; electric lights; petroleum; D.C. Rumsey; hunting laws;
etc.
2
1
January - June, 1902
2
2
July - December, 1902
2
3
January - March, 1903
2
4
April - December, 1903
2
5
January - May, 1904
2
6
June - August, 1904
2
7
September - December, 1904
2
8
January - June, 1905
2
9
July - December, 1905
2
10
January, March, 1906
2
11
1909-1911
2
12
1912-1914
2
13
January - July, 1915
2
14
August - December, 1915
Correspondence of G.W.T. Beck
1916-1942
Findley Ridge Mining Company; Bronson Rumsey; death of
William F. Cody; Cody ditch construction; employment opportunities;
etc.
3
1
January - April, 1916
3
2
June - December, 1916
3
3
1918-1925 - Shoshone Electric Light and Power
3
4
1932, 1934, 1937
3
5
1941-1942 - Birthday Telegrams
3
6
undated
3
7
Correspondence of James B. Beck
1883-1889
Also includes correspondence of Jane Thornton (Mrs. James
B.) Beck; regarding post office route through Rock Creek, Wyoming, Cody canal,
personal matters, etc.
3
8
Correspondence of Daisy (Mrs. George T.) Beck
1897-1944
Also includes correspondence of George Thornton Beck Jr.,
Jane Beck Johnson, Mrs. D.H. Tinkcom (sister of Daisy Beck); regarding personal
matters.
3
9-11
Correspondence of Betty Beck
1913-1922
Includes letters from soldiers during WWI: Francis S.
Sutphin, Charles Jerusalem (Belgian, in French), Marcel Peleue (in French),
G.V. Medici de Solenni.
3
12
Correspondence of Betty Beck Joslin
1923-1924, 1931
Regarding University of Wyoming alumni, etc.
3
13
Correspondence of Betty Beck Roberson
1933-1982
Also includes correspondence of John M. Roberson; regarding
Buffalo Bill Monument, oil and mining, WWII, proposed legislation, personal
matters, etc.
3
14
Correspondence of William F. Cody
1895-1896
Shoshone Land and Irrigation Co., Cody City, settlement
opportunities, etc.
3
15
Correspondence of William F. Cody
1899-1902, undated
Shoshone Land and Irrigation Co., Cody City, settlement
opportunities, etc.
3
16-17
Correspondence of Goodloe Family
1909-1911
Includes letters to Betty Beck (Mrs. Green Clay) Goodloe
and Col. Green Clay Goodloe, and a short history of the Civil War Service of
Green Clay Goodloe; regarding personal matters, Navy Mutual Aid Association,
Daughters of the American Revolution, U.S. Marine Corps, Society of the Army of
the Cumberland, etc.
4
1
Correspondence of Olaf Edlund
1899
Swedish(?); Olaf Edlund was living at the Irma Hotel,
Cody.
4
2
Correspondence of Peter Siek
1885-1897
German; addressed to Elhi, Slaughter, and Auburn,
Washington. Correspondents are Johann and Christina Mumm, Deer Creek,
Minnesota.
4
3-17
Correspondence of Traeger Family
1885-1937
German and English; addressed to Gottlieb and Magdalena
Traeger, Puyallup and Auburn, Washington. Correspondents include Metta
(Traeger), Auburn, Washington; John Siek, Auburn, Washington and Cocolalla,
Idaho; Maria, Sumner, Washington; Chr. Hanigsen, Seattle, Washington; Emelia,
Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
4
18
Correspondence, Miscellaneous
1885-1954
William Porter, St. Louis, to Wallace W. Greene, Buffalo,
Wyoming; U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to C. Inhelder, Oelrichs, South Dakota; R.
Jenkinson to G.A. Jenkinson, Newcastle, Wyoming; Louisa K. Browne to Mrs.
Austin, Washington D.C.; Elice S. Deare to Alice Sawtelle, Washington D.C.;
Mary W. Stowell, Kansas City, to Dr. Lotte Uhl, Frankfurter, Germany; various
postcards.
Series II.
Picture Postcards
1904-1984.
Postcards which were addressed and sent through the mail
are arranged in the same manner as Series I. Postcards which were not mailed
are arranged alphabetically by subject.
Postcards of Beck Family
1904-1974
5
1
1904-1909
5
2-12
1910-1974
5
13
Postcards of Goodloe Family
1912
5
14
Postcards of Traeger Family
1906-1935
5
15
Postcards, Miscellaneous
1930-1984
6
1-24
Postcards by State
undated
6
25-37
Postcards by Country
undated
6
38-47
Postcards by Subject
undated
Series III.
Envelopes (Postal Covers)
1904-1984
These postal covers are not known to be associated with
any of the letters in Series I, although they are addressed to the same
persons. They are roughly sorted by addressee.
6
7
G.T. Beck and Business Associates
ca. 1880s-ca. 1940s
6
8
G.T. Beck and Beck Family Members
ca. 1880s-ca. 1980s
6
9
Goodloe Family and Others
ca. 1880s-ca. 1980s
Series IV.
Financial Records
1880-1933
These records are separated according to the individual
or family whom they concern. Within these divisions they are chronological. The
records consist of bills and receipts, payroll and tax records. Checks and bank
statements are not sorted.
Financial Records of G.T. Beck
1880-1933
Bills, receipts, etc., includes Shoshone Irrigation Co.
bills and monthly payrolls, Shoshone Electric Light and Power, Cody Club, Cody
Oil and Developing Company, etc.
10
1
1880-1885
10
2
1886-1887
10
3
1888-1889
10
4
1890-1895
10
5
1896-1899 - Shoshone Land and Irrigation
10
6
1900-1901
10
7
1902 - Shoshone Irrigation Company
10
8
1903 - Cody Oil and Developing Company
10
9
1904 - Shoshone Irrigation Company; Cody Club
10
10
1905 - Shoshone Electric Light and Power
10
11
1906, 1908-1909
10
12
1912, 1914-1916
10
13
1923-1925, 1933 - Shoshone Electric Light and Power
10
14
No Date
10
15
Financial Records of G.T. Beck - Tax Records
1886-1915
10
16
Financial Records of Betty Beck (Joslin)
1930
10
17
Financial Records of Goodloe Family
1899-1911
10
18
Financial Records - Miscellaneous
1890-1922
Bills and receipts of Chris Inhelder, Ira Waters, Violet
Stover.
11
Financial Records - Bank Records
1880-ca. 1945
Deposit slips, checks, and check stubs of G.T. Beck and
business associates, Beck Family, Goodloe Family.
Series V.
Business and Legal Records
1858-1929
These records are sorted alphabetically by the company
name to which they refer. They include agreements, land patents, leases, a
ledger, notices of location, promotional literature, minutes, and blank
forms.
12
1
Business and Legal Records of G.W.T. Beck
1895-1928
Land deed, subpoena, grazing permit, protest.
12
2-4
Business and Legal Records of G.W.T. Beck - Cody
Townsite
1896-1904
12
5
Business and Legal Records of G.W.T. Beck - Lincoln Land
Company
1905, 1915-1916
12
6
Business and Legal Records of G.W.T. Beck - Mining
Ventures
1887-1911
Quit-claim deed, location certificates, affidavits of
assessment, agreement.
12
7
Business and Legal records of G.W.T. Beck - Shoshone
Electric Light and Power Company
1905, 1918
12
8-10
Business and Legal Records of G.W.T. Beck - Shoshone
Irrigation Company
1895-1905
12
11
Business and Legal Records of G.W.T. Beck - Blank
Forms
undated
12
12
Business and Legal Records of James B. Beck
1889
Citizenship certificate.
12
13
Business and Legal Records of Goodloe Family
1870, 1898
Contract, surety bond.
12
14
Business and Legal Records of John M.
Roberson
1929
Pardon for operating distillery.
12
15
Business and Legal Records - Miscellaneous
1889
Bill of sale of team and wagon, Gregory to
Davis.
Series VI.
Legislative Documents
1877-1915
The folders are sorted alphabetically by subject. One
folder contains material which probably refers to James B. Beck's senate
career. The material includes typescript and printed versions of proposed laws,
many with handwritten notes.
12
16
Legislative Documents of G.W.T. Beck - 12th State
Legislature of Wyoming
1913
Rules of the Senate.
12
17
Legislative Documents of G.W.T. Beck - 13th State
Legislature of Wyoming
1915
Rules and membership directories.
12
18
Legislative Documents of G.W.T. Beck - Agricultural
Experts
1915
Bills in draft and printed forms.
12
19
Legislative Documents of G.W.T. Beck - Game
Laws
1909-1913
Printed laws, petition, bills in draft and printed
forms.
12
20
Legislative Documents of G.W.T. Beck - Public Lands
Withdrawal
1915
Memorial protesting, in draft and printed forms.
12
21
Legislative Documents of G.W.T. Beck - Roll Call
Forms
undated
12
22
Legislative Documents of G.W.T. Beck - Taxes
1915, undated
Petition, statement, suggested changes.
12
23
Legislative Documents of G.W.T. Beck - Wyoming State
Reformatory
1903
Bill, printed.
12
24
Legislative Documents of James B. Beck (?)
1877
Sherman Silver Purchase bill; printed, with hand-written
notations.
Series VII.
Photographs
1865-1932
The photographs are arranged alphabetically by
subject.
13
1
Boulder Dam, Nevada
undated
Commercial set of snapshots.
13
2
Buffalo Bill Memorial Dedication
February 26, 1932
Dedication of statue in Cody, Wyoming.
13
3
Buffalo Bill Wild West Show
undated
In Europe, Indians ambushing cowboys, buffalo
grazing.
13
4
Camp Foley
November, 1907
Hunting camp.
13
5
China
undated
Commercial set.
13
6
Civil War
1865, 1886
Portrait of Jack Schiff, Franklin, Tennessee; Grant and his
Generals.
13
7
Cody, William F.
undated
13
8
Cody Family (Louisa, Irma, Arta)
September, 1902
13
9
Cody, Wyoming
1897, 1909
Canal construction, etc.
13
10
Cooke City, Montana
undated
Commercial view.
13
11
Glacier National Park, Montana
undated
Commercial set.
13
12
Goodloe, Shreve
ca. 1880
Aged 13, in cadet uniform.
13
13
Indians
ca. 1920s-1930s
See also Wyoming: Miscellaneous.
13
14
Irma Hotel, Cody, Wyoming
undated
Postcard, enlargement of hotel stationery, architect's
drawing.
13
15
Jackson, (W.H.) Photographs of Beckton, Wyoming,
Area
undated
Includes bridge and Thomas Moran fishing.
13
16
Monaco
1871
Panoramic view.
13
17
Mount Vernon, Virginia
ca. 1890s
13
18
Northern Pacific Railroad Construction
undated
Grading in cut (W.R. Cross photograph); Darling's Engineer
Camp (F. Jay Haynes photograph). Stereocards.
13
19
Tetons
undated
Commercial set.
13
20
World War I
1919
Soldiers from Cody, Wyoming.
13
21
Wyoming - Miscellaneous
1902-1916
Pages from scrapbook showing TE Ranch, Chief Iron Tail,
scenery around TE, Yellowstone Canyon, "A Wyoming Homesteader"; Cedar Mountain
and Shoshone Reservoir.
13
22
Yellowstone National Park
undated
Commercial set.
13
23
Yellowstone National Park
undated
Hand-colored commercial sets (3).
13
24
Miscellaneous
1889-1924
Unidentifed people, places.
Series VIII.
Artifact
undated
Unidentified lock of hair.
13
25
Unidentified Lock of Hair
undated
In envelope addressed to James Beck.
Series IV.
Financial Records (Oversize)
1880-1933
14
1
Financial Records of G.W.T. Beck
April, 1896
Payroll and construction summary for Shoshone Irrigation
Co.
Series V.
Business and Legal Records (Oversize)
1858-1929
14
2-33
Business and Legal Records of G.W.T. Beck - Lincoln Land
Company
1902-1903
14
14-21
Business and Legal Records of James B. Beck
1858
Land patents issued to James B. Beck and John C.
Breckinridge for lands in the Springfield, Illinois, area.
Series VII.
Photographs (Oversize)
1865-1932
14
22
Buffalo Bill Cody
undated
Portrait by Harry Tuite.
14
23
Cody, Wyoming
1900
14
24
First Grand Jury of King County, Washington
undated
14
25
First Petty Jury of King County, Washington
undated
14
26
Irma Hotel, Cody, Wyoming
undated
Group in front includes G.T. Beck, W.F. Cody, Tom Foley,
Iron Tail, Mike Russel, John Davis.
14
27
Irma Hotel, Cody, Wyoming
undated
View of lobby, W.F. Cody at right.
14
28
L.L. Cos. Bridge 100 Ft High, American P.D. Co. Builders,
Hamilton, Washington
undated
14
29
Unidentified Group of Men in Formal Dress
ca. 1900
On lawn in front of building. Photographer: W. Bates,
Chertsey.
Series IX.
Printed Material
1886-1992
The printed material is arranged alphabetically by
subject. It includes advertisements, programs, newspapers clippings,
periodicals, promotional literature, biographical material, campaign
literature, and itineraries for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
15
1
Advertisements for Agricultural Machinery
1886-1904
15
2
Advertisements for Books, Magazines, Newspapers,
Pamphlets, Press Clipping Service
1890-1916
15
3-4
Advertisements for Electrical and Power
Equipment
1888-1925
15
5
Advertisements for Homesteads, Wyoming
1904, undated
15
6
Advertisements for Mining Machinery
ca. 1894-ca. 1904
15
7
Advertisement - Miscellaneous
1903-1932
15
8
Allison-Hugo Oil Syndicate Prospectus
ca. 1919
15
9
American Peace Society
1920-1922
15
10
Astrology and Graphology
1932-1933
15
11
Baseball Ticket - American League Baseball Club of New
York
undated
15
12
Big Horn County (Wyoming) Courthouse Bond
Issue
1906
15
13
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
1896, 1898, and undated
15
14
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show - Itineraries
1895-1911
15
15
Burlington Railroad: Cody Road to Yellowstone
1914
15
16
Campaign Literature - Democratic
ca. 1890-ca. 1930s
15
17
Cody Club: Constitution and Bylaws
1901
15
18
Cody, William F.
1904-1992
15
19
Cody, William F. - Enterprises
undated
15
20-21
Cody, Wyoming
1903-1937
15
22
Colonial Militia
1962
15
23
Crater Lake, Oregon
1925-1927
15
24
Cuba
undated
15
25
Democratic Party, Wyoming
1890-1910
15
26
Drilling: The Evolution of Drilling Rigs
1916
15
27
Episcopalian Church, Wyoming
1921
15
28
Flag Decal (United States)
undated
15
29
Fraternal Order of Eagles, Seattle,
Washington
1898
15
30
Galena Water Company
1886
15
31
Grand Coulee Dam
1937
15
32
Grand Teton National Park
1929
15
33
Indian Relic Collectors Association
February, 1935
16
1
Music Textbook for Elementary Schools
1952
16
2
National Gallery of Art Catalogue
1914
16
3
National Security League
1915
16
4
New York State Charities Aid Association
undated
16
5
Omaha Club
1896
16
6
Overseas Club
December, 1915
16
7
Passenger List: S.S. Malolo
1937
Includes Mrs. G.W.T. Beck
16
8
Pennsylvania Railroad Timetable
1903
16
9
Permanent Wild Life Protection Fund
1916
16
10
Pi Beta Phi
1917
16
11
Poetry
1910-1913, undated
16
12-18
Programs
1911-1940
City celebrations, dinners, concerts, horse races,
etc.
16
19
Programs for Wyoming Library Association
Meetings
1936-1937
16
20
Prohibition and Anti-Prohibition
1916, 1928
16
21
Pyrogene
ca. 1902
16
22
Railroad Ticket Stubs
undated
16
23
Railway Business Association
1916
16
24
Rocky Mountain Camp for Boys
undated
16
25
TE Ranch
1916
16
26
Telegram Blanks
undated
16
27
Thanksgiving Address
1932
16
28
Tribute to the Dog
undated
Reprint of speech by Senator Vest of Missouri
16
29
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Farmers'
Bulletins
1901, 1903
16
30
U.S. Forest Service
1907
16
31
University of Wyoming - Agricultural Experiment Station
Bulletins
1904-1905
16
32
Valley Ranch (Valley, Wyoming)
ca. 1916
16
33
Warren, Francis E.
1889, 1916, undated
Inauguration program; petition of Albert S. Connelly;
Warren's Answer to Collier's.
16
34
World War I
1916-1919
"The Duties of Americans in the Present War," address by
Josiah Royce; Army School of Nursing brochure.
16
35
World War II
1942-1945
Newspaper clippings, government mailings.
16
36-38
Wyoming
1903-1915
Wyoming Publicity Day; Wyoming State Fair; Rules of State
Land Board; report of Horticulture Board; irrigation investigations.
16
39-40
Yellowstone National Park
1915-1932
U.S. Dept. of the Interior brochures: general information
and regulations governing automobiles; tour companies publications.
16
41
Yosemite National Park
1957
16
42
Zinc
undated
Series II.
Picture Postcards (Oversize)
1904-1984
17
1
Wyoming - Boysen Dam, Big Horn Canyon
undated
Panoramic view.
Series IX.
Printed Material (Oversize)
1886-1992
17
2-10
Agricultural and Other Magazines, Wyoming and Other
Newspapers, Wyoming State Bank and Loan Report, etc.
1901-1958
Series X.
Maps
1881-1928
The maps are arranged alphabetically by subject.
17
11
Cody, Wyoming Townsite Plat
undated
17
12
Forest Reserves
1898
Black Hills Forest Reserve; Teton Forest
Reserve.
17
13
Mining
undated
Lumpkin County, Georgia; claim map for unidentified
location.
17
14
Wyoming Area
1859-1860
Showing topographical features.
18
1
Cody Canal
1896
18
2
North America
1924
18
3
Oregon Basin Oil Field, Park County, Wyoming
1928
18
4
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
1881
18
5
Wind River Reservation
1906
Portion to be opened for settlement.