AHJ_ah00059 Inventory of the George T. Beck Papers, 1869-1968 Beck (George Thornton) Papers Processed by Susan Horan 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/
2007

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Loreley Moore July 2007 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Beck, George T. (George Thornton), 1856-1943. George T. Beck Papers 1869-1968 00059 19.12 cubic ft. (35 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English George T. Beck came to Wyoming in 1879, and was a sheep rancher, oil land developer, businessman, and politician in the Cody, Wyoming area. The collection contains correspondence and diaries of the Beck family, a manuscript for George Beck's autobiography, correspondence, journals and record books relating to his many business ventures, and printed material relating to his political and business careers. Biography of George T. Beck

George Washington Thornton Beck was a Wyoming sheep rancher, oil land developer, businessman, and politician. Born 28 July 1856 near Lexington, Kentucky, Beck was the son of James Burnie Beck and a collateral descendant of George Washington. Beck studied civil engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. In 1877 he headed west, eventually settling in northern Wyoming near present-day Sheridan. He owned a large sheep operation and was active as a mining engineer. In 1895 Beck laid out the city of Cody with his friend Colonel William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody. Together they also formed the Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company. Later Beck built and operated the Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company and helped develop surrounding oil fields. Beck was the first member of the Wyoming territorial council from Johnson County and the president of the last territorial council. In 1902 he made an unsuccessful run for the governorship, but earned the nickname "Governor" nonetheless. He served as mayor of Cody in 1903 and was a member of the Wyoming State Senate from 1913-1917. He also served as a six time delegate to the Democratic National Convention. In 1897 Beck married Daisy M. Sorenson. Together they had three children : George T. Beck, Jr., Jane Beck Johnson, and Betty Beck Roberson. George Beck died 1 December 1943 in Cody.

Scope and Content

The George T. Beck Papers, 1869-1968, include a large number of journals and record books relating to Beck's many business ventures. The collection contains records of the Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company the Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company, and other associations and organizations. The Legal Documents contain material relating to various court cases and land claims. Correspondence contains a mixture of personal, business, and politically-related correspondence. Diaries and Personal Papers include George Beck's diaries from 1889-1942. These diaries record daily happenings around the Beck residence in Cody and with Beck's business interests. This series also includes correspondence and financial receipts belonging to Christian Inhelder. Political Papers contain material belonging to George Beck's father, Senator James Beck of Kentucky, and also include documents relating to the many Democratic Conventions George Beck attended. Printed Material contains newspaper clippings relating to Beck's political and business careers. Maps of Wyoming and surrounding areas are included, as well as surveys of land around Cody and blueprints of several construction sites.

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 George T. Beck at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

The George T. Beck Papers were donated to the University of Wyoming in 1947 and 1966 by Daisy Sorenson Beck and her children.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by Susan Horan in October 1998 and revised by Loreley Moore in July 2007.

 Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, George T. Beck Papers, Collection Number 00059, 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~111~111.

 Access Terms Buffalo Bill, 1846-1917. Roberson, Betty Beck. Beck, James B. (James Burnie), 1822-1890. George T. Beck Refinery. Park County Fair Association (Wyo) Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company. Shoshone Irrigation Company. Democratic National Convention. Water resources development--Wyoming--Park County. Electric utilities--Wyoming--Park County. Cuba -- History -- 1810-1899. Wyoming -- Politics and government. Cody (Wyo.) Park County (Wyo.) Wyoming -- History--To 1889. Wyoming -- History --1890-1918. Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945. Wyoming -- History -- 1946- Diaries. Business records. Photographs. Businessmen. Beck family Agriculture and Natural Resources Business, Industry, Labor, and Commerce Ranching Water and Water Rights Politics, Government, and Law City Planning Overland Journeys to the Western United States Pioneers Wyoming Container List Series I. Correspondence 1869-1944

Sub-series I. George T. Beck Correspondence 1869-1944

1 1-21 Correspondence 1869-1898 2 1-18 Correspondence 1899-1904 3 1-12 Correspondence 1905-1912 4 1-17 Correspondence 1913-1925 5 1-15 Correspondence 1926-1937 6 1-7, Correspondence 1938-1944 Sub-series II. Beck Family Correspondence 1875-1942 6 8 Beck, Betty 1910-1933 6 9 Beck, George T. Jr. 1937-1942 6 10 Beck, James B. 1875-1889 6 11 Beck, Jane T. 1909-1938 6 12 Cody, William F. 1896-1905 6 13 Johnson, Nelson T 1941 6 14 Rumsey, Bronson undated 6 15 Sorenson (Beck), Daisy 1896-1942 6 16 Miscellaneous undated Series II. Diaries and Personal Papers 1876-1968

7 1 Address Books (3) 1906-1908 7 2 Autobiographical Notes undated 7 3-6 Autobiography -- Beck, George T. 1923 7 7 Beck, George T. Jr. -- Speech 1968 7 8 Biographical Material -- Beck, George T. undated 7 9 Certificates 1889-1940 7 10 Character Description -- Beck, George T. undated 7 11 Diaries -- Beck, Betty Goodloe 1906, 1912 7 12 Diaries -- Beck, George T. Jr. --Trip to Havana, Cuba with Father 1889 7 13 Diaries -- Beck, George T. 1892, 1902, 1904, 1913-1915 8 Diaries -- Beck, George T. 1916-1930 9 Diaries -- Beck, George T. 1931-1942 10 1 Genealogy 1887, 1889 10 2 Inhelder, Christian -- Correspondence 1885 10 3 Inhelder, Christian --Receipts and Mortgages -- Originals 1880-1890 10 4 Inhelder, Christian -- Receipts and Mortgages -- Photocopies 1880-1890 10 5 Manuscripts 1896-1943 10 6 Miscellaneous -- Club Memberships, Licenses etc. 1902-1939 10 7 Notebooks 1916, 1927, 1934 10 8 Notes undated 10 9 Phrenological Character 1876 Series III. Business and Legal Records 1879-1942

Sub-series I. Business Records 1879-1942

11 1 Beck, James B. -- Book Listing of Land Ownership in Missouri. Wisconsin, and Minnesota 1879 11 2-3 George T. Beck Refinery 1937-1942 11 4 George T. Beck -- Order Book 1938 11 5 Beckton Mill 1883-1888 11 6 Beckton Mill -- Ledger -- Accounts of Construction and Journal Entries 1883-1888 11 7 Beck Sulphur Placer and West Sulphur Placer 1903-1923 11 8 Big Horn Basin Development Company undated 11 9 Big Horn County 1895 11 10 Big Horn County School District No. 6 1897, 1903 11 11 Buffalo Mill Company 1887-1891 12 Cody Canal Association 1907, 1932, 1941 12 Cody Club 1901-1931 12 Cody Garage Club 1912-1913,1925 12 Cody Golf Club 1926-1931 12 Cody Oil and Development Company 1903-1904 12 Cody Townsite Company 1896-1910 12 Cook House -- Ledger -- Accounts of Supplies and Invoice List 1896, 1901 12 County Assessments 1902-1913 12 First National Bank of Cody undated 12 General Business Records 1904-1941 12 General Business Records -- Cash Book -- Personal Accounts, Deposits and Balances 1911-1916 12 General -- Daily Cash Counterbook -- Accounts of Cash Received and Paid 1896 13 1 General Business and Financial Records -- Day Book -- Business and Financial Records 1881-1888 13 2 General Business Records -- Day Book -- Daily Accounting of Money 1939-1940 13 3 General Business Records -- Drilling Account in Beaumont, Texas 1917-1919 13 4 General Business Records -- Financial Reports 1891,1896 14 1 General Business Records -- Ledger -- Accounts of Fruit, Cigars, and Candy 1910-1916 14 2 General Business Records -- Financial Figures 1940 14 3 General Business Records -- Journal -- Taxes 1897-1925 14 4 General Business Records --Weekly Time Book 1934-1935 14 5 General Business Records -- Workmen's Time Book 1890s 14 6 Lincoln Land Company 1900-1915 14 7-8 Park County Fair Association 1912-1919 14 9 Park County Fair Association 1921-1928 14 10 Park County Fair Association 1932-1943 15 1 Park County Fair Association undated 15 2 Park County Fair Association -- Assignments 1932-1933 15 3 Park County Fair Association -- Bank Records 1923-1941 15 4 Park County Fair Association -- Forms 1915-1916 15 5 Park County Fair Association -- Insurance Records 1933-1942 15 6 Park County Fair Association -- Printed Material 1915-1924 15 7 Pioneer Building : Account Book -- Insurance Policies and Receipts 1903-1911 15 8 Pioneer Building : Leases and Statements 1907-1924 16 1-5 Shoshone Electric Light And Power Company 1904-1934 16 6 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Annual Reports 1922-1929 16 7-8 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Bills 1905-1934 16 9 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Cash Book -- Supplies and Expenses 1909-1914 16 10 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Cash Book -- Cash Paid Out and Cash Received 1911-1916 17 1-4 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Cash Book 1911-1916 17 5 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Cash Book -- Accounts of Merchandise undated 17 6 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Correspondence 1905-1924 17 7-9 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Correspodence -- Westinghouse 1905-1923 18 1 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Day Book -- Agreements and Cancelled Checks 1904-1905 18 2 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Development Report 1928 18 3 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Electric Power Survey 1934 18 4-5 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Index of Names -- A-Z 1908 18 6 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Insurance 1906-1934 18 7-9 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Journals -- Accounts 1905-1925 18 10 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Ledger -- Index of Names and Merchandise 1906-1907 19 1 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Ledger -- Accounts undated 19 2 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Ledger undated 19 3-10 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Meter Books 1906-1910 19 11 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Notebook "Paid Out" 1907 19 12-14 Shoshone Electric and Power Company -- Receipt Books 1922-1925 20 1 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Stock Book 1905, 1914 20 2 Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company -- Tax Records 1909-1937 20 3 Shoshone Electric and Power Company -- Tax Records -- Water Appropriation Certificates 1907, 1929 20 4-6 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company 1895-1897 20 7 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company 1894 20 8-11 Shoshone Irrigation Company 1898-1903 21 1-5 Shoshone Irrigation Company 1904-1908 21 6 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Contracts 1896, 1901, 1905 21 7 Shoshone Land and and Irrigation Company -- Check Book 1905 22 1 Shoshone Land and and Irrigation Company -- Day Books -- Financial Records 1896 22 2-3 Shoshone Land and and Irrigation Company -- Day Books -- Financial Records 1902-1903 23 1-18 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company --Field Notes, Construction Books, Miscellaneous (17), and History 1893-1910 24 1 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Ledger of Financial Records 1895-1897 24 2 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Ledger of Merchandise and Property Accounts 1896-1902 24 3 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Miscellaneous Financial Records 1896-1897 25 1 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Letter Press Books 1897 25 2 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Letter Press Books 1896 25 3 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Letter Press Book -- Beck, George T., Manager 1896-1898 25 4 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Letter Press Book -- Elliot, D.H., Land Commissioner 1897 26 1 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Manager's Book -- Merchandise Accounts, Receipts, and Bills 1895-1896 26 2 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Payroll 1896-1898 27 1 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Sales Register 1903-1906 27 2 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Receipt Book 1901 27 3 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Supply Book 1896 28 1 Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company -- Water Rights Contracts 1896-1907 28 2 Woodmen of the World -- Book of Ceremonies 1918 28 3-5 Modern Woodmen of America -- Pass Report Book -- Financial Records 1910-1915 28 6 Modern Woodmen of America -- Index of Names A-Z 1908-1911 Sub-series II. Legal Documents 1884-1942

29 1 Beck Family Legal Documents -- Includes George T. Beck's Will 1887-1929 29 2 Milling/Lumber 1880s-1937 29 3 Mining 1884-1911 29 4 Miscellaneous 1886-1931 29 5 Notices of Proposed Locations 1897-1920 29 6-8 Oil and Gas 1903-1942 29 9-10 Real Estate 1885-1942 Series IV. Political Papers 1888-1938

30 1 Beck, James B. (Senator) 1885,1888 30 2 Bills 1890-1890 30 3 Democratic Conventions --Correspondence, Platforms 1896-1932 30 4 Democratic Party Platforms 1908 30 5 Manuscripts and Notes undated 30 6 Petitions 1908 30 7 Poll Books 1896-1898 30 8 Printed Material 1909-1923 30 9 Speeches 1890-1938 Series V. Photographs and Audio-Visual Materials 1880-1947

31 1 Beck, Betty Goodloe 1899 31 2 Beck, Daisy S. undated 31 3 Beck, George T. 1889-1890 31 4 Beck, George T. 1906-1936 31 5 Beck, George T. -- Residence in Cody, Wyoming 1920, 1922 31 6 Beck, James Burnie and Jane Augusta Washington Thornton no date 31 7 Beck Refinery 1897 31 8 Boal, Horton 1890 31 9 Buffalo, Wyoming 1888 31 10 Burke, Major John M. undated 31 11 Cody, Wyoming 1899, 1903, 1942 31 12 Cody Canal 1895-1897 31 13 Cody, William F. (Buffalo Bill) 1898-1906 31 14 Ferry -- Jamestown to Newport, Rhode Island 1911 31 15 Iron Tail (Chief) undated 31 16 Johnson, Jane Beck and Nelson T. and Family 1930-1939 31 17 Kingsford 1821 Stump 1909 31 18 Lakeview Canal undated 31 19 Leitz, Joseph circa 1895 31 20 Negatives--Unidentified Soldier, ca. World War I undated 31 21 Oregon Basin 1904, 1920, 1921 31 22 Perkins, C.E. undated 31 23 Picture Postcards 1910-1947 31 24 Schwoob, Thornton 1935 31 25 Sheridan County undated 31 26 Shoshone Dam 1904 31 27 Sod House 1885 31 28 Stagecoach (Artwork) undated 31 29 Thorn, William T 1899 31 30 Unidentified Landscape undated 31 31 Washington, George T. -- Seal undated 31 32 Whitney, Gertrude Payne 1908 31 33 Wildlife -- Elk and Mountain Goats Feeding During Winter undated 32 1 Phonograph Record - "A Personal Message from Franklin D. Roosevelt" 1932 32 2 Photograph of George T. Beck -- Printing Plate undated Series VI. Printed Material 1883-1957

33 1 Advertisements -- Ads for Machinery and Other Products 1897-1932 34 1 Brochures 1883-1938 34 2 Catalog -- "American Miller" 1885-1886 34 3 Miscellaneous -- Articles, Speeches, etc. 1902-1933 34 4 Newspaper Clippings 1900-1943 34 5 Programs and Invitations 1874-1926 34 6-7 Sons of the American Revolution -- Bulletins and Registers 1891-1944 35 1 Construction Blueprints -- Shoshone Electric Light and Power Company, Placer Claims, Cody Canal, etc. 1897-1913 35 2 Legal Documents -- Land Claims, Contracts, Elections and Stock Certificates 1888-1910 35 3-4 Maps and Surveys -- Wyoming and Colorado, and the United States 1908, 1957 35 5 Newspapers 1937