Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Payson W. Spaulding papers, 1886-1980
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Spaulding, Payson W.
- Title
- Payson W. Spaulding papers
- Dates
- 1886-1980 (inclusive)Date of CollectionDate of Collection
- Quantity
- 98.97 cubic ft. (103 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 01803
- Summary
- Payson W. Spaulding was an attorney in Evanston, Wyoming from 1901-1971. His collection contains legal case files, correspondence, business records, legal documents, newspaper clippings, publications, maps, and photographs relating to his law practice and personal life.
- 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
Payson W. Spaulding established himself as a notable attorney in Southwest Wyoming, serving the community and state for 70 years. He was counsel for the Lincoln Highway Association, Union Pacific Railroad Company, and John D. Rockefeller’s Snake River Land Company; involving Spaulding in the establishment of the Lincoln Highway and the Jackson Hole National Monument. Payson W. Spaulding was born in Bingham, Maine in 1876; however, he spent most of his youth growing up in the Midwestern states of Minnesota and Illinois. Spaulding attended Kent College and the University of Colorado law school, where he earned his law degree in 1901. Shortly after graduation he moved to Evanston, Wyoming, opened a law office, and married Nelle Johnson Quinn. Spaulding was interested in automobiles and road travel. He was the first person to own an automobile in Evanston and in 1908 he joined J.M. Murdock and his family on a transcontinental automobile tour to New York. He also took a personal interest in oil drilling; investing time and money mining Southwest Wyoming and Nevada. He continued practicing law in Wyoming until 1971 and died in 1972 at the age of 95.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains legal case files regarding civil, divorce, corporate, criminal, land, water, and probate cases from Payson W. Spaulding’s private practice. These files contain correspondence, legal documents, and financial records concerning the case and/or clients; including his work with the Lincoln Highway Association, Union Pacific Railroad, and the Jackson Hole National Monument and involvement of Rockefeller’s Snake River Land Company in acquiring land for the monument. The collection also contains his law firm records of correspondence, research and reference publications, and financial records; documentation about transcontinental automobile tours in the early 20th century; personal correspondence, photographs, news clippings, publications, and maps of Wyoming and Utah; and correspondence and legal documents regarding Spaulding’s personal interests in oil drilling and mining.
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.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by Payson W. Spaulding at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThis material was received from Addie B. Taggart in 1975, 1977, and 1981.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe collection was processed by Jamie J. Greene in November 2012.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Legal Case files, 1900-1974Return to Top
This series contains legal case files from Spaulding's private law practice regarding civil suits, divorce, corporations, criminal cases, land matters, water rights, roads, and probate and guardianship matters. These files contain correspondence, legal documents, and financial records about the case and/or clients.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Sub-series 1. Client and Topic files This series contains legal case files organized according to the topic/case type or client.
|
1901-1974 | |
Box | ||
1 | Appeals to the Wyoming Supreme Court |
1905-1968 |
2 | Bankruptcy |
1903-1959 |
3-4 | Collections and sundry suits for collection |
1901-1968 |
2 | Department of the Interior |
1910-1929 |
5 | Goldfield Consolidated Mines Company (Goldfield Corporation) |
1906-1974 |
6-7 | Irrigation and water conservancy districts |
1935-1963 |
Jackson Hole National Monument |
1909-1955: | |
Box | ||
8-9 | Land matters and roads |
1912-1955 |
10-11 | JP Ranch Company |
1909-1941 |
12-14 | Robert E. and Grace G. Miller Estate |
1919-1950 |
10-11 | Snake River Land Company |
1927-1954 |
15 | Lincoln Highway |
1913-1958 |
16 | Oil and gas mining leases |
1930-1965 |
17-19 | Union Pacific Railroad |
1904-1970 |
20-21 | Utah Power and Light Corporation |
1943-1968 |
Sub-series 2. County and State files This series contains legal case files organized according to the County and State the case occurred in and then by case type.
|
1900-1976 | |
Box | ||
Lincoln County: |
||
Box | ||
22-23 | Civil |
1912-1964 |
23 | Civil - divorce and child custody |
1914-1963 |
24 | Companies and corporations |
1935-1965 |
23 | Criminal |
1946 |
24 | Land matters, water rights, roads |
1915-1960 |
25-26 | Probate, guardianships, and adoptions |
1913-1967 |
Sublette County: |
||
Box | ||
27 | Civil |
1925-1960 |
27 | Civil - divorce |
1930-1961 |
28 | Companies and corporations |
1926-1960 |
28-29 | Land matters, water rights, roads |
1907-1970 |
29 | Miscellaneous litigations |
1927-1949 |
29 | Probate, guardianships, and adoptions |
1925-1936 |
Teton County: |
||
Box | ||
37 | Bankruptcy |
1942 |
30-32 | Civil |
1912-1964 |
32 | Civil - divorce |
1928-1963 |
Companies and corporations: |
||
Box | ||
33 | 1925-1961 |
|
34 | Teton Valley Ranch and Wendell L. Wilson |
1955-1964 |
34-36 | Albert E. Schwabacher |
1940-1968 |
37 | Criminal |
1932-1934 |
37 | Land matters, water rights, roads |
1932-1958 |
37 | Miscellaneous litigations |
1916-1960 |
38-40 | Probate, guardianships, and adoptions |
1908-1969 |
37 | Workman's compensation |
1932-1937 |
Uinta County: |
||
Box | ||
Civil: |
||
Box | ||
41 | Civil suites for and against Blyth & Fargo Company |
1903-1921 |
41-43 | 1900-1919 |
|
44-46 | 1920-1929 |
|
47-48 | 1930-1939 |
|
49 | 1940-1949 |
|
49-50 | 1950-1959 |
|
50-51 | 1950-1969 |
|
51-52 | Civil - divorce |
1909-1970 |
Companies and corporations: |
||
Box | ||
53 | 1900-1919 |
|
53-54 | 1920-1929 |
|
54-56 | 1930-1972 |
|
57 | Towns and School Districts |
1910-1965 |
57 | J.R. Broadbent Company |
1950-1976 |
58-59, 97 | Stahley Land & Livestock Company |
1916-1970 |
59 | Uinta Land & Grazing Company |
1908-1960 |
59-60, 97 | Edholm & Akin Company |
1907-1915 |
60 | Z-Bar Ranch |
1907-1915 |
61 | Criminal |
1902-1963 |
62-64 | Land matters, water rights, roads |
1900-1970 |
61, 65-66 | Miscellaneous litigations |
1900-1965 |
Probate, guardianships, and adoptions: |
||
Box | ||
67-68 | 1900-1919 |
|
68-69 | 1920-1929 |
|
70-72 | 1930-1939 |
|
73-75 | 1940-1949 |
|
75-76 | 1950-1959 |
|
76-77 | 1950-1969 |
|
78 | Estate of Mary Rennie |
1960-1973 |
61 | Workman's compensation |
1928 |
Other Wyoming Counties: |
||
Box | ||
79 | Albany County |
1929 |
79 | Carbon County |
1944-1953 |
79 | Laramie County |
1912-1920 |
79 | Natrona County |
1947-1954 |
79 | Park County |
1910-1919 |
79 | Sweetwater County |
1906-1951 |
Out of State Litigations: |
||
Box | ||
79 | California |
1938-1948 |
79 | Colorado |
1966 |
79 | Idaho |
1920-1939 |
Utah: |
||
Box | ||
80 | Civil |
1922-1944 |
80 | Civil - divorce and child custody |
1919 |
80 | Companies and corporations |
1907-1964 |
80 | Criminal |
1915-1929 |
81 | Land matters, water rights, roads |
1906-1962 |
81 | Miscellaneous litigations |
1915-1965 |
82 | Probate, guardianships, and adoptions |
1919-1969 |
Series II. Law Firm records, 1900-1972Return to Top
This series contains correspondence, legal documents, financial records, certificates and awards, newspaper clippings, law books, and publications regarding the operations and activities of Spaulding's law practice.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
85 | Accounting ledger books |
1901-1915 |
83-84 and 92 | Bank Statements, cancelled checks, and check stubs |
1902-1968 |
85 | Bills receivable |
1902 |
85 | Business cards |
undated |
85, 98 | Certificates and awards |
1902-1972 |
Correspondence: |
||
Box | ||
85-86 | 1900-1909 |
|
85-87 | 1910-1919 |
|
85, 88-89 | 1920-1929 |
|
85, 89 | 1930-1972 |
|
89 | Political correspondence |
1902-1962 |
90-91 | Directories |
1900-1972 |
85 | Dockets of the Third Judicial District Court |
1912-1971 |
85 | Index of cases, names, and numbers |
|
85 | Law firm legal matters |
1900-1970 |
85 | Letterheads |
undated |
90 | Maps - state road maps |
1935-1965 |
90, 99-103 | Maps and blueprints - U.P.R.R., topographical maps, townships and sections |
1900-1971 |
90 | Newspaper clippings |
1900-1972 |
90-91, 98 | Publications on law, U.S. laws, and hearings |
1900-1972 |
90 | Reference law books for the firm |
1900-1972 |
92 | Seals/emblem matrices or dies |
1900-1970 |
98 | Signs - Wyoming County Officers |
1927-1950 |
85 | Uinta County and state business licenses and taxes |
1915-1966 |
85 | Union Pacific Railroad Company passes for Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding |
1905-1969 |
85 | Wyoming State Bar Association |
1930-1959 |
85 | Wyoming State Bar Association - correspondence and photographs |
1937-1939 |
85 | Wyoming State Bar membership and license fees |
1902-1972 |
85 | Wyoming State Board of Law Examiners |
1955-1968 |
Series III. Personal papers, 1886-1972Return to Top
This series contains correspondence, photographs, legal documents, speeches, publications, newspaper clippings, and a scrapbook regarding Spaulding's personal life and interests; including documentation about automobile travel and oil drilling and mining investments.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Sub-series 1. Personal files |
1886-1972 | |
Box | ||
98 | Book - "Collier's Photographic History of the European War," |
1915 |
Correspondence: |
||
Box | ||
93 | 1904-1971 |
|
93 | Mrs. Nelle Spaulding |
1886-1980 |
93 | P.W. Spaulding and Fred Varny (Spaulding's half-brother) |
1927-1968 |
93 | P.W. Spaulding and J.M. Murdock |
1908-1934 |
93 | Day planner and receipts |
1914 |
93 | Invitations |
1955-1971 |
93 | Legal matters |
1911-1964 |
93 | Marriage certificate |
1904 |
93 | Newspaper clippings |
1920-1972 |
93 | Obituaries and notices for Fredrick Warren Varny (Spaulding's half brother) |
1968 |
93 | Obituaries and notices for Payson W. Spaulding |
1972 |
93 | Pamphlets |
1869-1925 |
93 | Payson W. Spaulding's campaign for Third Judicial District Court Judge |
1934 |
93 | Speeches |
undated |
93, 98 | Transcontinental automobile tours - books, pamphlets, clippings, and scrapbook |
1908-1949 |
93 | Union Pacific Railroad retirement |
1971 |
93 | University Club membership |
1953-1954 |
93 | University of Colorado -1901 Alumni and yearbook |
1901-1951 |
Sub-series 2. Oil drilling and mining activities |
1900-1944 | |
Box | ||
94 | Correspondence |
1927-1944 |
94 | Correspondence between P.W. Spaulding and J. M. Murdock |
1911-1921 |
94 | Charles Spaulding (P.W. Spaulding's brother) and Spaulding Engineering Company |
1900-1915 |
94 | Charles Lilley |
1918 |
94-95 | J. M. Murdock and the Murdock-Spaulding Trusteeship |
1911-1921 |
95 | Nevada Star Mining Company - Cherry Creek, Nevada property |
1917-1926 |
95 | Penn Star Mining Company |
1917-1927 |
95 | T-C Oil Company |
1920 |
Sub-series 3. Photographs |
1900-1967 | |
Box | ||
96 | Evanston, Wyoming |
1903-1936 |
96 | Memorial dedications |
1930-1939 |
96 | Oil drilling and mining |
1920-1939 |
96 | Payson W. Spaulding |
1903-1967 |
96 | Salt Lake City, Utah |
1900-1919 |
96, 98 | Scenic views and landscapes (mostly of Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park) |
undated |
96 | Stereocards - Union Pacific Railroad views and Yellowstone National Park |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Automobile travel--United States
- Law firms--Wyoming
- Practice of law--Wyoming
- Roads--West (U.S.)
- Transportation--West (U.S.)--History--20th century
Personal Names
- Rockefeller, John D.(John Davison), 1874-1960
Corporate Names
- Lincoln Highway Association
- Snake River Land Company
- Union Pacific Railroad Company
Geographical Names
- Evanston (Wyo.)
- Jackson Hole (Wyo.)
- Jackson Hole National Monument (Wyo.)
- Lincoln Highway
- Uinta County (Wyo.)
- Wyoming--History, 1890-1918
- Wyoming--History, 1919-1945
- Wyoming--History, 1946-
- Wyoming--History--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- Legal files
- Maps
Occupations
- Lawyers