Robert Spurrier Ellison papers
Scope and Contents
Materials include correspondence, genealogical notes, diaries, business records, drafts of writings, speeches, and collected research and reference materials including manuscripts, letters, legal documents, maps, photographs, and newspaper clippings. The materials pertain primarily to the history and settlement of the American West, the American Indian Wars and American Indian culture, and the preservation of western historical landmarks. Dated 1833 to 1951.
Dates
- Creation: 1833-1951
Creator
- Ellison, Robert Spurrier (creator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to use material from this collection must be obtained from Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.
Biographical History
Robert Spurrier Ellison (1875-1945) was a prominent Colorado lawyer, businessman, politician, historian, and author.
Robert Spurrier Ellison (1875-1945) was born in Rushville, Indiana. After graduating from Indiana University in 1900, Ellison studied law. He was admitted to the Colorado bar in 1903 and specialized in mining litigation with the Colorado Springs law firm Schuyler and Schuyler. Ellison married Vida F. Gregory of Colorado Springs in 1907.
In 1911, Ellison was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. He moved to Denver in 1915, and to Casper, Wyoming in 1919. While in Wyoming, Ellison became vice-president of the Midwest Refining Company. He helped to found Wyoming's Historical Landmark Commission and served as regional director of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association. Ellison also compiled and financed a history of the Pawnee nation, for which the Pawnee Supreme Council named him a tribal chief. In 1930, Standard Oil of Indiana bought the Midwest Refining Company and transferred Ellison to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Ellison returned to Colorado Springs following his retirement in 1940, where he was elected president of the Bank of Manitou, mayor of Manitou Springs and director of the Boy Scouts of the Pikes Peak Region. Ellison wrote several books on the American West, and was considered Colorado's greatest book collector. His Western Americana collection was once said to be the second largest in the United States.
Ellison died at his home in Manitou Springs August 16, 1945.
Extent
10 boxes (5 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in nine series: 1. Biographical, date of production not identified. 2. Genealogical, 1917-1928. 3. Robert Spurrier Ellison mementos, 1916-1946. 4. Robert Spurrier Ellison general correspondence, 1906-1945. 5. Robert Spurrier Ellison journal, 1893. 6. Robert Spurrier Ellison business career, 1906-1930. 7. Robert Spurrier Ellison writings, 1924-1940. 8. Robert Spurrier Ellison research and reference file, 1833-1951. 9. Oversize, 1850-1935.
Other Finding Aids
Finding aid available in repository.
Other Finding Aids
File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/MSS782.xml
Custodial History
Purchased from Fred Rosenstock of Denver, Colorado in 1978.
It is believed that the 2013 accession is also from the same purchase.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased; John Rosenstock; 1978.
Appraisal
Utah and the American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (20th century Western & Mormon Manuscripts collection development policy, 5.VII, 2007).
Processing Information
Processed; Margaret Weddle, student manuscript processor; and John M. Murphy, curator; 2014.
- Title
- Register of Robert Spurrier Ellison papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Garrett Schroath
- Date
- 2011 September 2
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States