Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
S. N. Leek papers, 1882-1946
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Leek, S. N. (Stephen Nelson), 1858-1943
- Title
- S. N. Leek papers
- Dates
- 1882-1946 (inclusive)Date of CollectionDate of Collection
- Quantity
- 51.02 cubic ft. (104 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 03138
- Summary
- 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.
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
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.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
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.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Alternative Forms Available
Existence and Location of CopiesDigital reproductions of select material from this collection are available at http://digitalcollections.uwyo.edu:8180/luna/servlet/uwydbuwy~74~74.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arrangement is at the series level.
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by Stephen N. Leek at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThis material was received from Stephen N. Leek, Nancy Corsi, and Lillian Tonrich from 1969-2015 and the Leek family in 2009.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe 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.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Manuscript Material Return to Top
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.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 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 | |
| Folder | |||
| 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 FilmsReturn to Top
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.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
Sub-series 1. Glass Lantern Slides |
||
| Box | ||
| 12 | undated | |
| 13 | undated | |
Sub-series 2. Glass Plate Negatives |
||
| Box | ||
| 35 | undated | |
| 36 | undated | |
| 37 | undated | |
| 38 | undated | |
| 39 | undated | |
| 40 | undated | |
| 41 | undated | |
| 42 | undated | |
| 43 | undated | |
| 44 | undated | |
| 45 | undated | |
| 46 | undated | |
| 47 | undated | |
| 48 | undated | |
| 49 | undated | |
| 50 | undated | |
| 51 | undated | |
| 52 | undated | |
| 53 | undated | |
| 54 | undated | |
| 55 | undated | |
| 56 | undated | |
| 57 | undated | |
| 58 | undated | |
| 59 | undated | |
| 60 | undated | |
| 61 | undated | |
| 62 | undated | |
| 63 | undated | |
| 64 | undated | |
| 65 | undated | |
| 66 | undated | |
| 67 | undated | |
| 68 | undated | |
| 69 | undated | |
| 70 | undated | |
| 71 | undated | |
| 72 | undated | |
| 73 | undated | |
| 74 | undated | |
| 75 | 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 |
||
| Box | ||
| 20 | undated | |
| 21 | undated | |
| 22 | undated | |
| 23 | undated | |
| 24 | undated | |
| 25 | undated | |
| 26 | undated | |
Sub-series 4. Panoramic and Oversize |
||
| Box | ||
| 27-34 | Oversized prints |
undated |
| 91 | Oversize originals |
undated |
| 99 | Panoramic prints |
undated |
| 100 | undated | |
Sub-series 5. Prints and Negatives (Miscellaneous) |
||
| Box | ||
| 14 | Prints |
undated |
| 15 | Photographs and negatives |
undated |
| 16 | undated | |
| 17 | Duplicate negatives |
undated |
| 18 | Interpositives |
undated |
| 19 | Interpositives (LPS 7-1992) |
undated |
| 101 | undated |
Series III. ArtifactsReturn to Top
Consists of equipment used by Leek during his career as a photographer, including a tripod, cameras, and other materials.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 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 |
| 102 | Black leather Kodak camera case containing a Century Model 46 camera, pocket Kodak camera, Kodak Eastman glass plates, and formula guide for Kodak Eastman glass plates |
1915-1920 |
| 103 | Eastman Kodak film cartridge |
undated |
| 104 | Oliver typewriter Co. No. 7 (olive green typewriter) |
1914-1915 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Camping --Wyoming.
- Elk --United States.
- Elk --Wyoming.
- Fishing --Wyoming.
- Indians of North America --Legends.
- Landslides --Wyoming --Teton County..
- Photography --Wyoming.
- Wildlife cinematography.
- Wildlife conservation --United States.
- Wildlife conservation --Wyoming.
- Wildlife cinematography --Wyoming.
- Wildlife photography --Wyoming.
Geographical Names
- Grand Teton National Park (Wyo.)
- Jackson Hole (Wyo.)
- National Elk Refuge (Wyo.)
- Wyoming --History --1919-1945.
- Wyoming --History --1980-1918.
- Yellowstone National Park
- Gros Ventre Range (Wyo.)
- Teton County (Wyo.)
- West (U. S.) --History
- Wyoming --History --To 1889.
Processed by Shaun Hayes
2009-2010
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
