Archives West Finding Aid

The Richards family papers, 1800-1982, include correspondence, diaries, legal documents, books, manuscripts, research notes, clippings, photographs, and other assorted items. These materials document the lives of five members of the Richards Family: William Jarvis, Reverend Jonas DeForest Richards, DeForest Richards, Bartlett Richards, and Bartlett Richards Jr.

The correspondence of the above individuals documents of their lives and activities from their own point of view. The letters also reveal the close knit nature of the family and how its members were affected by the events of their lives on a personal level.

The diaries are those kept by DeForest Richards. They document his travels overseas and his campaign and subsequent service as Governor of Wyoming.

The legal documents (found in Series III and VII) concern Bartlett Richards’ career as a cattleman. They shed light on how he acquired his land holdings. These documents also provide insight on the operations of his cattle business.

Series IV: Bartlett Richards – Nebraska Sandhills Cattleman concerns the writing of the named book. It documents the research undertaken by Bartlett Richards Jr. and evolution of the book to its final version. This series also contains useful correspondence with people who knew and worked for Bartlett Richards Sr. In addition, these files reveal the extent of Bartlett Richards Jr.’s efforts to restore his father’s reputation.

A large part of the printed material (found in Series IV and V) concerns the media’s coverage of Bartlett Richards activities in the cattle business and his subsequent prosecution by the federal government. There are also a number of items that appear to have little to do with the Richards family.

There are a few photographs of Bartlett and DeForest Richards. There is a handful of images of Spade Ranch as it appeared during Bartlett Richards’ time and its subsequent ownership by Lawrence Bixby. The bulk of the photographs are unidentified images from the family albums.