AHJ_ah03138 Inventory of the S. N. Leek papers, 1882-1946 Leek (Stephen Nelson) papers Processed by Shaun Hayes 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/
2009-2010

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Shaun Hayes July 2009 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Leek, S. N. (Stephen Nelson), 1858-1943 S. N. Leek papers 1882-1946 03138 51.02 cubic ft. (104 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English S.N. Leek was a hunter, trapper, dude rancher, politician, and guide as well as a writer and wildlife photographer. This collection consists of materials related to Leek's life and various careers. Arrangement of the Collection

Arrangement is at the series level.

 Biography of S. N. Leek

Stephen Nelson Leek (1858-1943) was one of the earliest settlers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He was born in Turkey Point, Ontario, Canada and lived in Kearney, Nebraska, and Salt Lake City, Utah, before moving to Wyoming sometime around 1882. He worked on several ranches in southeast Wyoming before settling permanently in Jackson Hole between 1886 and 1888 where he homesteaded a ranchsite three miles south of the present town of Jackson.

Stephen Leek was a hunter, trapper, dude rancher and guide as well as a writer and wildlife photographer. He also served as a Uinta County Representative in the 1907 session of the Wyoming House of Representatives. He did extensive photographic and motion picture studies of elk, and toured the country on the Orpheus Vaudeville circuit billed as "The Father of the Elk." Through his photographs, writings and personal appearances he was instrumental in building public support for saving the Jackson Hole elk herd that culminated in the establishment of the National Elk Refuge in Jackson.

 Scope and Content

The collection documents the life and work of Stephen Leek. There are manuscripts and research materials on subjects including Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole and Western history; elk and other wildlife; Indian legends; and the Gros Ventre Slide, as well as bound typewritten manuscripts (1920-1924), illustrated with Leek’s photographs, on fishing trips in Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park and several mountain camping trips. Also included are two parts (ca. 200 pages each) of a manuscript, "Uncle Jack," and about 100 pages of poetry. There is an undated diary, ledgers and other business records, and correspondence from 1892-1941. There are several maps, including two hand-drawn maps of the Teton Pass area and the natural dam on the Gros Ventre River created by the slide in 1915. Leek’s photographic career is documented by forty-eight boxes of glass plate negatives, prints taken from the glass plate negatives, two boxes of glass lantern slides, black and white prints, a photo album, and seven motion picture reels.

 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 Stephen N. Leek at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

This material was received from Stephen N. Leek, Nancy Corsi, and Lillian Tonrich from 1969-2015 and the Leek family in 2009.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by Shaun Hayes in July 2009, revised by D. Claudia Thompson in June 2010, and updated by Jamie J. Greene in September 2016.

Portions of the collection were digitized by Rick Walters in 2009, Jamie J. Greene in 2012, Susan Gilmore in 2012, Shannon Hoskins in 2013, and from 2016-2019.

 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~74~74.

 Access Terms Elk --United States. Elk --Wyoming. Wildlife conservation --United States. Wildlife conservation --Wyoming. Indians of North America --Legends. Photography --Wyoming. Wildlife photography --Wyoming. Wildlife cinematography --Wyoming. Fishing --Wyoming. Camping --Wyoming. Landslides --Wyoming --Teton County.. Wildlife cinematography. Wyoming --History --To 1889. Wyoming --History --1980-1918. Wyoming --History --1919-1945. Yellowstone National Park National Elk Refuge (Wyo.) Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Grand Teton National Park (Wyo.) Gros Ventre Range (Wyo.) West (U. S.) --History Teton County (Wyo.) Agriculture and Natural Resources Fisheries and Wildlife Ranching Social Life and Customs Sports and Recreation Home and Family People, Ethnicity, and Culture Wyoming Photographs Container List Series I. Manuscript Material

Contents include maps, ledgers, pamphlets, correspondence, news clippings, manuscripts, and published materials either including articles by Leek or used by him during his life. A number of postcards either using photos taken by Leek or containing correspondence related to his life are included as well. The manuscripts are poetry, fiction, and non-fiction notes Leek used in his publications.

 1 1 "Uncle Jack" manuscript undated 1 2 "Uncle Jack" manuscript undated 1 3 Manuscripts undated 1 5 Poetry undated 2 1 Correspondence 1907 2 2 Newsclippings 1905-1942 2 3 Library of Congress 1903, 1921 2 4 Will and family record 1918, undated 2 5 S.N. Leek biography 1941 2 6 Yellowstone correspondence and map 1919, 1931 2 7 Correspondence 1925-1941 2 8 Correspondence 1892-1925 2 9 Financial papers 1891-1929 2 10 Miscellaneous undated 2 11 Articles of Incorporation 1906, 1927-1930 2 12 Wyoming State Constitution 1906 2 13 Maps undated 3 1 Indian legends undated 3 2 Indian notes undated 3 3 "Horse Thieves" manuscript undated 3 4 "Logging the Snake" manuscript undated 3 5 Fish notes undated 3 6 "Trip to Jackson, 1887," manuscript undated 3 7 Yellowstone and Grand Teton history 1928-1946 4 Ledgers, diaries, and financial records 1882, 1920, undated 5 1 Maps undated 5 2 Pamphlets 1909-1930 5 3 Pamphlets 1912-1932 6 1 Western history notes undated 6 2 Jackson history notes undated 6 3 Gross Ventre slide notes undated 6 4 Poetry undated 6 5 Sargent Homestead notes undated 6 6 White Patch notes 1932 6 7 Manuscripts undated 6 8 Various notes undated 6 9 Elk history 1927-1932, undated 6 10 "Uncle Jack" manuscript undated 7 Publications 1920-1926 8 Publications 1905-1911 9 Yellowstone diary, maps, and photographs undated, 1933 10 Postcards undated, 1909-1912 11 Postcards undated, 1904-1912 Series II. Photographs, Negatives, and Motion Pictures Films

Consists of a number of photographs and negatives of images taken by Leek throughout his life, as well as motion picures of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and other subjects. Prints, interpositives, and duplicate negatives are included.

Sub-series 1. Glass Lantern Slides

12 Glass lantern slides undated 13 Glass lantern slides undated Sub-series 2. Glass Plate Negatives

View item list of glass plates.

35 Glass plate negatives (LPS 1-40, Hunters and Hunting) undated 36 Glass plate negatives (LPS 41-88, Hunters and Hunting) undated 37 Glass plate negatives (LPS 110-188, Bears, Fox, Wildcats, Squirrels, and Beaver) undated 38 Glass plate negatives (LPS 189-240, Beaver) undated 39 Glass plate negatives (LPS 243-293, Elk and Antelope) undated 40 Glass plate negatives (LPS 294-332, Elk) undated 41 Glass plate negatives (LPS 333-377, Elk) undated 42 Glass plate negatives (LPS 378-450, Elk) undated 43 Glass plate negatives (LPS 451-493, Elk) undated 44 Glass plate negatives (LPS 494-533, Elk) undated 45 Glass plate negatives (LPS 534-581, Elk) undated 46 Glass plate negatives (LPS 582-632, Elk) undated 47 Glass plate negatives (LPS 633-726, Elk) undated 48 Glass plate negatives (LPS 730-807, Cattle, Elk Famine, Mr. Leek, and Portraits) undated 49 Glass plate negatives (LPS 811-917, Portraits) undated 50 Glass plate negatives (LPS 922-1018, Portraits, Indian, Maps) undated 51 Glass plate negatives (LPS 1020-1113, Geysers, Clouds, Bridges, and Buildings) undated 52 Glass plate negatives (LPS 1114-1269, Buildings and Horses) undated 53 Glass plate negatives (LPS 1270-1342, Horses) undated 54 Glass plate negatives (LPS 1343-1471, Horses and Camp) undated 55 Glass plate negatives (LPS 1472-1570, Camp and Fishing) undated 56 Glass plate negatives (LPS 1571-1717, Fishing and Rocks) undated 57 Glass plate negatives (LPS 1718-1998, Rocks and Trees) undated 58 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified, Flowers and Cones) undated 59 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified, Birds) undated 60 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified, Trees and Lakes) undated 61 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified, Nature) undated 62 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified, Trees) undated 63 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified, Hunting, Fishing, and Nature) undated 64 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified, Wildlife, Birds, and Houses) undated 65 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified, Poetry, Pictures of Pictures, Antler Art) undated 66 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified, Outdoors: Mountains ) undated 67 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified: Outdoors: Mountains, Lakes, and Rivers) undated 68 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified: Outdoors: Trees, Mountains, and Lakes, Poetry, Pictures of Pictures, and Antler Art) undated 69 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified: Outdoors: Waterfalls and Flowers) undated 70 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified: Outdoors: Mountains, Lakes, and Trees) undated 71 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified: Outdoors: Waterfalls, Rivers, Lakes, and Mountains) undated 72 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified: Landscapes: Mountains) undated 73 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified: Nature, Wildlife, Horses, Fishing, and Hunting) undated 74 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified: Portraits, Houses, Buildings, Hunting, Camping, and Fishing) undated 75 Glass plate negatives (LPS Unidentified: Portraits, Nature, Wildlife, Elk, Houses, Hunting, Fishing, and Camping) undated 76 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 1-104) undated 77 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 105-242) undated 78 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 243-382) undated 79 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 383-531) undated 80 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 534-670) undated 81 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 670B-784) undated 82 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 785-950) undated 83 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 951-1113) undated 84 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 1114-1266) undated 85 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 1267-1412) undated 86 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 1413-1567) undated 87 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 1568-1713) undated 88 Prints from glass plate negatives (LPs 1714-1998) undated 89-90 Unidentified prints from glass plate negatives undated Sub-series 3. Motion Picture Film

20 Jackson Hole motion picture film undated 21 Jackson Hole motion picture film undated 22 Jackson Hole motion picture film undated 23 Unidentified motion picture film undated 24 Unidentified motion picture film undated 25 Unidentified motion picture film undated 26 Unidentified motion picture film undated Sub-series 4. Panoramic and Oversize

27-34 Oversized prints undated 91 Oversize originals undated 99 Panoramic prints undated 100 Panoramic negatives undated Sub-series 5. Prints and Negatives (Miscellaneous)

14 Prints undated 15 Photographs and negatives undated 16 Duplicate negatives (LPS 7-1992) undated 17 Duplicate negatives undated 18 Interpositives undated 19 Interpositives (LPS 7-1992) undated 101 Interpositives (converted from nitrate negatives) undated Series III. Artifacts

Consists of equipment used by Leek during his career as a photographer, including a tripod, cameras, and other materials.

 92 Glass lantern projector and view finder undated 93 Photographic plates undated 94 Miscellaneous photographic supplies undated 95 Circuit camera and swivel base undated 96 Projector undated 97 Glass negative camera and camera with film box undated 98 Tripod undated 102Black leather Kodak camera case containing a Century Model 46 camera, pocket Kodak camera, Kodak Eastman glass plates, and formula guide for Kodak Eastman glass plates1915-1920 103Eastman Kodak film cartridgeundated 104Oliver typewriter Co. No. 7 (olive green typewriter)1914-1915