AHJ_ah10575 Inventory of the Blanche M. Schroer papers, 1812-1998 Schroer, Blanche M. Processed by Melanie Francis 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 April 2006 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Schroer, Blanche M., 1907-1998 Blanche M. Schroer papers 1812-1998 10575 7.30 cubic ft. (17 boxes, 1 F24 shares folder) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Papers of this writer of history on her theories on the identity of Sacajawea, or Porivo, addressing the controversy between those who maintained that the Indian guide for Lewis and Clark was buried in Lander, Wyoming, versus a site in South Dakota. Includes personal research notes, correspondence, photographs, articles, journals, and books for reference. Biography of Blanche M. Schroer

Blanche M. Carlson (Schroer) was born December 23, 1907, in Gilbertville, Iowa, the daughter of Dudley and Mable Alma (Moore) Carlson. Blanche Schroer lived most of her life in the Lander Valley and the Fort Washakie area of Wyoming, working for Matt McGuire at the Post Trading Company for many years.

Blanche M. Schroer was a historian of the American West and was a recognized, though controversial, authority on the history of Sacajawea and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. She challenged the beliefs of Grace Raymond Hebard and the native Shoshone tribe that Sacajawea lived into old age and was buried in Wyoming. Schroer claimed that a woman, who lived to old age, named Porivo, took on the false identity of Sacajawea in Lander, Wyoming. Schroer favored the theory that Sacajawea died at Fort Manuel Lisa, South Dakota, in her mid-twenties and was buried there. A prolific writer, Blanche M. Schroer received a Western Writers of America Spur Award and also did research on the life of Butch Cassidy and Josephine Baldwin. She died July 4, 1998, in Riverton, Wyoming.

 Scope and Content

The Blanche M. Schroer papers, 1812-1998, include her research files for her historical writing on the identity of Sacajawea and doubts about the authenticity of the gravesite in Lander, Wyoming. Research files consist of photocopied 19th century documents; her extensive notes and cross-references; correspondence with other historians; and photographs of Native Americans, fort and monument sites in Wyoming and South Dakota, plus friends and fellow historians. Her notes and formal writing in debate with Grace Raymond Hebard’s theories on Sacajawea are of particular note. Schroer’s files contain extensive correspondence to and from Irwin Anderson and Harry Webb, other writers on the Sacajawea topic. The collection also includes extensive printed material related to Sacajawea, Chief Washakie, and the Shoshone tribe: journals and magazines, newspaper clippings, and books, all annotated with page references and cross references by Schroer.

 Access Restrictions

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

 Copyright Information

The Estate of Blanche M. Schroer holds exclusive copyright. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

There are no other known archival collections created by Blanche M. Schroer at the date of processing.

Charles D. Moore, representative for the Estate of Blanche M. Schroer, donated the papers in 1998.

The collection was processed by Melanie Francis in January 2003.

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Blanche M. Schroer papers, 1812-1998, Collection Number 10575, 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~186~186.

 Access Terms Hebard, Grace Raymond, 1861-1936. Sacagawea. Washakie, ca. 1804-1900. Webb, Harry Edward, 1888- Western Writers of America. Shoshoni Indians. Lander (Wyo.) Fort Manuel (S.D.) Photographs. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> People, Ethnicity, and Culture Native Americans Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Social Life and Customs Container List Series I. Personal Research Files

(Notes, correspondence, and photographs; arranged alphabetically)

 1 1 Addresses 1970s 1 2 Anderson, Irving 1970-1997 1 3 Anderson, Irving (folios) 1996-1997 1 4 Annals of Wyoming article and notes (Halverson, Katherine) 1979 1 5 Attack on Schroer 1989 1 6 Bakeless, Mr. And Mrs. John 1976-1979 1 7 Bazeel and Bat undated 1 8 Bell, Toni 1924-1997 1 9 Bragg, William F., Thesis on Sacajawea 1953 1 10 Brown Errors undated 1 11 Brown Manuscript—errors corrected by Schroer undated 1 12 Brown Manuscript—suggested corrections undated 1 13 Brown, Marian Marsh notes and correspondence 1987-1989 1 14 Brown, Mark H. 1986 1 15 Burnett, Finn 1929-1933 2 1 California undated 2 2 Celts undated 2 3 Charbonneau, John Baptiste 1937-1985 2 4 Children’s Press 1987 2 5 Clark-Edmonds 1980 2 6 Commanche 1967 2 7 Cutright, Paul R. 1978 2 8 DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) 1963-1986 2 9 Documents (Sacajawea) 1812-1976 2 10 Dye, Eva Emory 1902-1992 2 11 Eastman, Dr. Charles A. 1925 2 12 English, writing tips undated 2 13 Explorers 1979 2 14 Farlow, Ed. J. 1983 2 15 Farlow, Henry and Ed 1985-1986 2 16 Fenwick, Red 1956 2 17 Flowery Sacajawea 1930-1992 2 18 Fontelle, Lucien 1986-1988 2 19 Foundation Business (Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage) 1978-1992 2 20 Fur Trade 1976-1992 2 21 Geographic Names 1988 2 22 Germany (Sacajawea and boys) 1977-1986 2 23 Government Pamphlets 1954, 1976 2 24 Graff, Everett D. (Clark entry on Sacajawea death) 1963-1982 2 25 Greene, A.F.C. 1972-1980 2 26 Groves, Grace 1978 3 1 Hebard, Grace Raymond (Her Dishonesty!) 1935 3 2 Hebard Personality and Biography 1926-1991 3 3 Hebard Researchers—Edith Connely Ross Clift 1925-1929 3 4 Hebard and Women’s Suffrage 1974-1980 3 5 Hereford, Jennie, Record Interview 1954 3 6 Hidatsa (Crow) undated 3 7 Horan, James D. 1979 3 8 Hunt, Lester C. 1936-1987 3 9 Indian Heritage Center 1986 3 10 Indians of the Southwest 1965 3 11 Indexed note cards (alphabetical order) undated 3 12 Inquiries 1984-1990 3 13 “In Wyo” follow-up (wrong Porivo identity by Twitchell) 3 14 “In Wyo” Sacajawea letters 1978-1979 3 15 Irwin File 1925 3 16 Irwin, Nicholas 1870-1968 4 1 Jefferson, Thomas 1977-1983 4 2 Johnson, Tom 1980-1998 4 3 Kubic, Barbara 1998 4 4 Lahoe, Joe 1977 4 5 Larson, T.A. 1975-1980 4 6 Le Clair, Edmo and relatives 1976-1985 4 7-8 Lemhi (Idaho) 1918-1977, 1938-1980 4 9-10 Lewis and Clark Information 1968-1992 4 11 Lewis and Clark Pamphlets 1984-1993 4 12 Literature to Order 1982 4 13 Long, Robert E. 1980

(Editor, “We Proceeded On”)

 5 1 Maps undated 5 2 Martinez, Jennie 1931-1955 5 3 McAdams, Jodi (Genealogy) 1983-1993 5 4 Mathison, Mrs. J.R.D. 1976-1980 5 5 Montana 1977-1988 5 6 Mormon History 1951-1997 5 7 Moulton, Gary 1988-1992 5 8 Mueller, George 1949-1986 5 9 Naya Nuki undated 5 10 Naya Nuki (Robert Redford) 1989 5 11 Nell, Don 1989 5 12 Notables on Upper Missouri 1970 5 13 North Dakota Historical Society 1955 5 14 Ober, Nelson R. (Berkley, California) 1992-1993 5 15 Patten, James I. 1978-1990 5 16 Peace Medal 1954-1994 5 17 Personal/Biographical (Schroer) undated 5 18 Personal/Biographical, interview tapes (reel to reel) undated 6 1 Photographs undated

(Native Americans, friends, fellow historians)

 6 2 Photographs undated

(Fort and monuments sites)

 6 3 Plagiarism, Copyright, Credit 1978 6 4 Porivo Biography 1928-1968 6 5 Porivo Discrepancies undated 6 6 Porivo—Fort Bridger 1925-1976 6 7 Porivo not Sacajawea 1985 6 8 Porivo Notes undated 6 9 Porivo Scam 1988 6 10 Protests to False Claims of Wyoming Sacajawea 1995-1997 6 11 Qualified to Speak on Sacajawea 1943-1979 7 1 Ramsey, Howard 1980 7 2 Roberts, (Rev. John) 1940s 7 3 Roberts, (Rev. John) False Information 7 4-5 Roberts, (Rev. John), Miscellaneous Information 1905-1906, 1970-1976 7 6 Roberts, (Rev. John), Research Letters 1963-1985 7 7 Sacajawea Biography undated 7 8 Sacajawea, Edna La Moore Waldo 1971-1986 7 9 Sacajawea, False Identity 1924-1989 7 10 Sacajawea, False Information 1963-1986 7 11 Sacajawea, Guide (No!) 1974-1982 7 12 Sacajawea—Help on Expedition undated 7 13 Sacajawea Identity 1961-1986 7 14 Sacajawea Interpreter undated 7 15 Sacajawea, Landmarks and Monuments 1941-1989 8 1 Sacajawea, Miscellaneous 1966-1990 8 2 Sacajawea Names 1992 8 3 Sacajawea Reference Notes undated 8 4 Sacajawea Research Letters and Notes 1995 8 5-6 Sacajawea, Rough Manuscript undated 8 7 Sacajawea, Rough Notes 1996 8 8 Sacajawea, Siebert (Roger D.) Thesis 1961 8 9 Sacajawea Stamp 1994 8 10 Sacajawea Statistics 1990 8 11 Sacajawea Submissions 1954-1988 8 12 Sacajawea Summary 1986-1991 8 13 Sacajawea, Smithsonian Information 1942-1993 9 1 Saltgaver, Pat 1979-1995 9 2 Schultz, James 1928 9 3 Shoshone 1976 9 4-5 Shoshone Court Transcript, Sarah N. Lane Estate 1934 9 6 Shoshone Interviews 1976 9 7 Shoshone Words 1900-1985 9 8 Simpson, Al 1989-1993 9 9 Smith, H. Allen 1957 9 10 Sniffin, Bill 1995-1997 9 11 South Dakota 1955-1979 9 12 South Dakota, Dr. Will Robinson 1956-1963 9 13 Spanish 1981 9 14 Sun Dance Pamphlets 1967 9 15 Thomosma, Kenneth 1998 9 16 Three Women Manuscript 1967-1977 9 17 Tourism 1995-1998 9 18 Treatment of Indians 1972 9 19 Tweed, Mrs. Albert 1968 9 20 Utes, notes and photographs 1918-1995 10 1 Waldo, Ana Lee 1979 10 2 “Walk Softly, This is God’s Country,” 1997 10 3 Wasden, David (Dakota Sacajawea) 1980 10 4 Washakie (Chief) 1964-1980 10 and 17 Washakie (Fort), Indians - photographs and negatives undated 10 6 Washakie (Fort), Research 1956-1959 10 7 Webb, Harry 1983 10 8 Webb, Harry, Buffalo Bill Museum 1983 10 9 Webb, Harry, Letters 1978-1983 10 10 Webb, Harry, Letters to and from editors 1971-1980 10 11 Webb, Harry, Photographs for Bill Cody Article 1910-1952 10 12 Webb, Harry, Letters to Schroer 1975-1980 11 1 Webb, Harry—Photographs 1910-1980 11 2 Webb, Harry—Writings 1975-1981 11 3 Weisbrod, Marie Webster (interview) 1998 11 4 Wind River Reservation 1990-1997 11 5 Winnebago (Sioux) 1906-1986 11 6 Woodring, Minnie 1980 11 7 Woodruff, John Dwight 1943-1967 11 8 WPO (We Proceed On) Publications 1976-1992 11 9 Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne—Katherine Halverson 1954-1986 11 10 Wyoming University Archives, Heritage Center 1954-1991 11 11 Yellow Hand 1940-1993, 1976 11 12 Yount, Mildred Parker 1976 11 13 Zimm, Bruno Lewis 1904-1991 Series II. Printed Reference Sources Subseries 1. Books

(Arranged alphabetically)

 12 Fort Clatsop, A Charbonneau Family Portrait by Irving W. Anderson 1988 12 His Soul Goes Riding On by Chester E. Faris undated 12 My Friend the Indian by James McLaughlin 1910 12 Sacagawea—Indian Interpreter to Lewis and Clark 1988 12 Sacajawea, Lewis and Clark Expedition by Ella Clark and Margot Edmonds 1979 12 Saka’kawe’a, The Bird Woman by Russell Reid 1950 12 A Stone Upon His Shoulder by Helen Butler 1953 12 Tendoy, Chief of the Lemhis 1969 12 The Truth about Sacajawea by Kenneth Thomasma 1997 12 Walk Softly, This is God’s Country, The Letters and Journals of Reverend John Roberts, compiled by Elinor R. Markley and Beatrice Crofts 1997 12 The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday 1970 12 Wyoming Indians by the Right Rev. Winfred H. Ziegler 1943 Subseries 2. Journals and Magazines

(Arranged alphabetically)

 13 The American West March/April 1980 13 Arizona Highways November 1974 13 Annals of Wyoming October 1927-January 1928 13 Annals of Wyoming July 1941 13 Annals of Wyoming January 1954 13 Annals of Wyoming April 1955-October 1959

Semi-annual volumes; April and October. Missing October, 1958

 13 Annals of Wyoming October 1961 13 Annals of Wyoming 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981 13 Annals of Wyoming Index 1943, 1961 13 El-Porvenir, The Great West Magazine July 1904 13 Folio, the Newsletter of the Patrice Press May 1996, February 1998, May 1998 13 Highlights of the Upper Missouri, Lewis/Clark National Historic Trail 1984 13 Indian Notes April 1929, July 1929 13 In Wyoming June-November 1980 13 Life Magazine May 18, 1959 13 Montana, the Magazine of Western History 1973, Summer 1976 13 National Geographic November 1965, July 1981, November 1987 13 National Historic Trail 1984 13 Nebraska Alumnus March/April 1988 13 North Dakota Horizons Fall 1987 14 Oregon Historical Quarterly September 1970 14 Our Public Lands Winter 1971, Spring 1972 14 The Shoshone Pathfinder 1904 14 Sierra Heritage Fall 1983 14 South Dakota History Spring 1976, Fall 1978, Fall 1979 14 Southwest Museum Leaflets 1942 14 True West August 1958, October 1977 14 The West, True Stories of the Old West November 1964 14 We Proceed On 1974-1988

(Four volumes each year inclusive)

 15 We Proceed On 1989-1998

(Four volumes each year inclusive)

 15 The West—True Stories of the Old West November 1964 15 Westways March 1974 15 Wyoming State Historical Department 1921-1923 15 Wyoming Official Tour Guide 1998 Subseries 3. Newspaper clippings

(Arranged chronologically)

 16 1-7 Newspaper Clippings 1932-1949, 1956, 1961-1963, 1973-1979, 1985-1988, 1991, undated Series III. Oversize photographs

(Two photographs of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show)

 Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, Auburn, New York undated Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, Belingham, Washington undated