Meldrum family papers, 1889-1945,

AHJ_ah04338 Inventory of the John W. Meldrum papers, 1854-1938 Meldrum (John W.) Papers Processed by Jamie J. Johnston 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 August 2006 Finding aid is in English John W. Meldrum papers, 1854-1938 Collection number: 04338 University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. Publication date: 2006 Contact Information 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/ Date Processed August 1999

2006 University of Wyoming

Collection Summary Meldrum, John W., 1843-1936 John W. Meldrum papers 1854-1938 1871-1938 04338 5.33 cubic ft. (8 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English The collection includes personal and business correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, scrapbooks, one letterbook of John W. Meldrum’s official correspondence as Inspector General of the Wyoming National Guard and one containing both personal and official correspondence written as a special disbursing officer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and as Commissioner for Yellowstone National Park. Biography of John W. Meldrum

John W. Meldrum was born on a farm in Caledonia, New York, on September 17, 1843. His parents died before he was fifteen. He continued to farm and attended public school during the winter months while growing up in Caledonia. He had two brothers, Norman H. Meldrum and his younger brother Gordon B. Meldrum.

In 1863 John Meldrum joined the Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery. His regiment joined the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. All three brothers fought in the Civil War for the Union, but Gordon B. Meldrum, the youngest brother, did not survive the war. He died of exposure and hardship as a prisoner in Libby Prison. In 1865, John Meldrum was honorably discharged and obtained employment in the Quarter Master’s Department of the Army in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1867 he returned home to New York and met his wife Emmaline Hicks Warren. They were married on November 13, 1867. She died in 1908. They had no children.

In 1868 John Meldrum and his family moved west to Wyoming and Colorado. They arrived in Cheyenne on April 6, 1868. From 1869-1870 John Meldrum and his brother Norman raised cattle in La Porte, Colorado, but in May of 1870 John and his wife moved to Laramie, Wyoming. Norman H. Meldrum stayed in Colorado where he became a prominent political figure, holding positions as Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State. From 1911-1919 Norman lived in Wyoming as Commandant of the Wyoming Soldiers and Sailors Home in Buffalo. He died shortly after his retirement in February, 1920.

John Meldrum became Clerk of the District Court for the Second Judicial District of Albany and Carbon Counties in September 1872. As clerk he wrote the original sentencing draft for George Parrott alias “Big Nosed George,” in Carbon County. In 1882 he was nominated by the Republicans as a delegate to Congress for Wyoming. He lost the nomination to M.E Post of Cheyenne. In 1884 he resigned as Clerk of the District Court in order to take the appointment by President Arthur of Surveyor General of the Wyoming Territory, but he resigned in 1885 when President Cleveland came to office. In 1889 Meldrum was appointed Secretary of the Territory. He became acting Governor when Governor F.E Warren was elected to the U.S Senate. On July 10, 1890, the Wyoming Territory was admitted to the union, while Meldrum was acting governor. On July 3, 1891, he was appointed Inspector General of the Wyoming National Guard with the rank of colonel by Governor Barber. After resigning as Inspector General in 1893, Meldrum was appointed as the first Commissioner of Yellowstone National Park in 1894. He was Commissioner for 41 years until 1935 when he announced his retirement. He died shortly after, while visiting his niece Susie Meldrum in Denver. He was 92 years old.

Scope and Content

The John W. Meldrum papers are comprised of materials that relate to his personal and professional life. There is correspondence between John Meldrum and Melville C. Brown, Emmaline Meldrum (his wife), and other friends and colleagues. Melville C. Brown was a Lawyer in Laramie who befriended John during the 1870s. These letters from Melville discuss personal issues, politics, and the buying of property in Laramie. There are two letter books that contain mostly out-going correspondence that are related to John Meldrum's professional career. There are photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, artifacts, and scrapbooks that relate to John Meldrum’s life and his family, such as his brother Norman H. Meldrum and his niece Susie A. Meldrum.

There are papers about the outlaw George Parrott, alias “Big Nosed George.” John Meldrum was clerk of the District court when George Parrott was found guilty of first degree murder after attempting to hold up a Union Pacific train and killing two deputy sheriffs of Carbon County. He was sentenced to be hanged in Carbon County on April 2, 1881, but he was lynched before his legal execution date, when he tried to escape. John Meldrum wrote the original draft of George Parrott’s sentence.

From 1894 until his death in 1935, John Meldrum was commissioner of Yellowstone. There are correspondence and photographs that concern the building of the Chapel in Yellowstone that Meldrum sponsored. There are some miscellaneous business items that Meldrum had to deal with while commissioner, such as a legal document disputing whether a moose was killed in the boundaries of Yellowstone Park. There are also pamphlets and newspaper clippings that promoted Yellowstone Park from the 1890s – 1900s.

Most of this collection gives information about his life after he moved to Laramie, Wyoming, in 1870 up to his death in 1935. Except for a few photos and newspaper clippings there is little concerning his life while growing up in New York and his participation in the Civil War.

Access Restrictions

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

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by John W. Meldrum at the date of processing. To see an archival collection on the Meldrum family, see:

Meldrum family papers, 1889-1945, Collection Number MSS WH374, Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library, Denver, Colorado. Acquisition Information

The John W. Meldrum collection was donated to the American Heritage Center by Myrna D. Shoemaker between 1972 and 1976 and purchased from Anderson Butler Rare Books in 2018.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Jamie J. Johnston in August 1999 and updated by Jamie J. Greene in September 2018.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, John W. Meldrum papers, 1854-1938, Collection Number 04338, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Access Terms Meldrum, Susie A. Meldrum, Norman M. Carey, Joseph M. (Joseph Maull), 1845-1924. Richards, William A. (William Alford), 1849-1912. Richards, DeForest, 1846-1903). Warren, Francis E. (Francis Emroy), 1844-1929. Brown, Melville C. Parrott, George. United States--Officals and employees. United States. Circuit Court (Wyoming). Commissioner (Yellowstone National Park). United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Wyoming. Inspector General’s Office. Republican Party (Wyo.) County council members--Wyoming--Albany County. County clerk--Wyoming--Albany County. Judges--Yellowstone National Park. Politics, Practical--Wyoming. Yellowstone National Park. Laramie (Wyo.) Wyoming--Politics and government. Wyoming--History--To 1889. Wyoming--History--1890-1918. Wyoming--History--1919-1945. Scrapbooks. Letter books. Judges. Public officers. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Meldrum, Emmaline. Wyoming Albany County Laramie Politics, Government, and Law Politics and Politicians Environment and Conservation National Parks Container List Series I. Correspondence 1874-1933 0.45 cubic ft. (1 document box)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains correspondence between John Meldrum and Melville C. Brown, Mrs. Meldrum, and other friends and colleagues, concerning business, personal matters, and the chapel in Yellowstone. There is also correspondence to his brother Norman H. Meldrum and post cards to his niece Susie A. Meldrum.

1 1 Brown, Melville C. to John W. Meldrum 1881-1916 1 2 Chapel in Yellowstone 1905-1925 1 and 8 General Correspondence of John W. Meldrum 1874-1933 1 6 Meldrum, Emmaline Hicks 1878-1897

Correspondence with John W. Meldrum

1 7 Meldrum, Norman H. 1912-1919

Correspondence while he was Commandant of the Wyoming Soldiers and Sailors Home

1 8 Meldrum, Susie A. - Post Cards 1915-1925 1 9 Letter Book Copies of John W. Meldrum 1889 1 10-11 Letter Books #1 and #2 of John W. Meldrum 1889-1918 Series II. General Materials 1880-1935 0.44 cubic ft. (shares 1 document box and 1 F24 box)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains newspaper clippings, programs, flyers, articles, pamphlets, and legal documents that give information about John W. Meldrum’s life both personal and professional.

“Big Nosed George” Materials 1880-1926: 2 1 Copies of the original sentence 2 1 Correspondence concerning information on Big Nosed George 2 1 Newspaper Clippings 2 1 John Meldrum’s article about Big Nosed George 2 2 “Big Nosed George” Materials-Periodical: “The Union Pacific Magazine” – Article by J. W Meldrum 1926 2 3 Campaign & Election Materials 1882-1888 2 4 Meldrum, John W. 1884-1935 Miscellaneous 1882-1934: 2 5 Receipts 2 5 List of Court Procedures 2 5 List made in 1934 – “Pictures I will miss and want to see” 2 6 Miscellaneous Poetry undated 2 7 Miscellaneous Programs 1887-1916 8Newspaper clippings1928-1929 6 Original drafts of George Parrott, alias “Big Nosed George,” Sentence December 15, 1880 2 8 Proclamation of Statehood by Governor John W. Meldrum 1890 5 2 “The Nation Is Supreme” – Newspaper clipping regarding Judge Riner’s opinion in the Race Horse case undated Yellowstone National Park 1895-1928: 2 9 S. 218, Bill concerning the construction of a post-office in Yellowstone 2 9 Legal document 2 9 Programs 2 9 Press Release 5 1 Yellowstone National Park–Map 1895 2 10 Yellowstone National Park-Newspaper Clippings 1906-1916 2 11 Yellowstone National Park Pamphlets 1890s-1900s Series III. Family Materials 1862-1938 0.44 cubic ft. (shares 1 document box and 1 F24 box)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains newspaper clippings, greetings cards, post cards, and Emmaline Hicks Warren’s autograph book.

2 12 Advertisements for Chocolat – Menier, make-up, yeast cakes, and sewing machines 1889-1893 2 13 Greeting Cards undated 2 14 Meldrum, Norman H. 1882-1920 5 4 Newspaper: Society, Vol. 1, No. 27 Denver, CO. 1900 5 5 Newspaper: Sheridan Press-Seventh Annual Big Horn Mountain Edition, Sheridan, Wyoming 1938 2 15 Newspaper Clippings-Various Family Members, friends, and New York 1886-1933 2 16-17 Post Cards – scenic and occasional undated 5 3 Scottish Society of Rochester N.Y.: Third Annual Basket Picnic 1886 2 18 Warren, Emmaline Hicks (Lina Warren) Autograph Book 1862-1863 Series IV. Photographic Materials 1865-1935 0.38 cubic ft. (shares 1 document box, 1 F22 box)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains photographs of Yellowstone, John W. Meldrum, his family and friends, and a painting of a river scene.

Caledonia, New York: 2 19 First and only School John Meldrum attended: Caledonia, New York 1922 2 19 Tree Planted by John W. Meldrum as a boy in 1853 1922 2 19 The Old Grist Mill where John Meldrum took wheat for grinding as a boy 1922 2 19 House where J. W. Meldrum was born 1922 Commissioners Home in Yellowstone Park: 2 20 John W. Meldrum standing in front of his Yellowstone Home undated 2 20 Commissioners home in Yellowstone: Mammoth, Hot Springs undated Family and Friends: 2 21 Picture of a Portrait of Norman H. Meldrum 1976 2 21 Group of unidentified men (One may either be Norman Meldrum or John Meldrum) undated 2 21 Emmaline Hicks Warren (Meldrum) undated 2 21 Yellowstone: Elizabeth Tuschuian, John N. Downie, Evelyn Downie, and Nuff – 8 years old 1918 2 21 John W. Meldrum and his niece Myrna Downie: Los Angeles 1928 2 21 John W. Meldrum and Jane Raeueer White (Ned) undated 2 21 John W. Meldrum and unidentified man undated 2 21 Elizabeth Carey, Joseph M. Carey, and Charles D. Carey undated 2 21 House that John W. Meldrum helped to build undated 2 21 1 negative of John W. Meldrum and Jane Reaueer White (Ned) undated 8Misecellaneous family and friends1931-1950 John W. Meldrum: 2 22 John W. Meldrum – Officers U.S Mechanical Dept., Little Rock Arkansas 1860s 2 and 8 John W. Meldrum undated 2 22 John W. Meldrum in front of Chapel he sponsored in Yellowstone undated 2 22 “Arkansas Traveler,” undated Yellowstone National Park: 2 23 Theodore Roosevelt in Yellowstone 1903 2 23 President and Mrs. Harding in the “Black Sand Basin,” Yellowstone National Park 1923 2 23 Liberty Cap – Yellowstone Park undated 2 23 Unidentified women on horseback – Liberty Cap in the background undated 2 23 Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel undated 2 23 2 unidentified women on horseback – Mammoth hotel in the background undated 2 23 Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel – Yellowstone Park undated 2 23 Memorial to Frank Jay Haynes and his help in Yellowstone National Park undated 2 23 General Hiram W. Chittenden undated 2 24 Yellowstone National Park-Chapel undated 2 25 Yellowstone National Park-Picture of Sylvan Lake and Top Notch Peak undated 3 1-3 The Meldrums’ home in Cheyenne or Laramie ? 1880s-1890s 3 4 The Yellowstone Park Commissioner’s Home, Mammoth Hot Springs undated 3 5 Unidentified group of men undated 3 6 Picture of Devil’s Cork Screw - Grand Canyon - Bright Angel Trail undated 3 7 President Theodore Roosevelt on Horseback undated 3 8 Gordon B. Meldrum’s Headstone undated 3 9 Nancy E.L. Kercher 1906 3 10 John W. Meldrum and Liberty Cap Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park undated 3 11 Chittenden Bridge undated 7 Oversize Art 12” x 16” Painting – Artist unknown – Riverscape of a stone house on the bank undated

(transferred to art storage)

Series V. Artifacts undated 0.38 cubic ft. (1 F17 box)

This series contains a pillow sham, some hand crafted items, and various packaging labels.

4 1 Packaging Labels undated 4 2 Miscellaneous craft items undated 4 3 Pillow sham undated Series VI. Scrapbooks 1854-1905 0.44 cubic ft. (shares 1 F24 box)

This series contains two scrapbooks made by Mrs. John Meldrum. The first one has various clippings of poetry, sayings, and articles about the family. The second one is made up of invitations, wedding announcements, and miscellaneous clippings.

5 Scrapbook of Clippings undated 5 Scrapbook of Announcements and Clippings 1854-1905