Robert B. David Historical Collection
Scope and Contents
The Robert B. David Historical Collection consists of 50 dismantled scrapbooks that cover a wide range of topics about Wyoming and the American West from prehistoric times to the mid-twentieth century. Several scrapbooks were dedicated to David’s investigation and research of the 1897 “Hole-in-the-Wall Fight” and the Johnson County War, which include interviews with the prominent and local individuals involved. Early scrapbooks feature David’s research about the Dinwoody and Castle Garden areas of Wyoming. Research notes, proofs, and drafts of two of Robert David's best-known books, "Malcolm Campbell, Sheriff" and "Finn Burnett," are included in the collection. The collection also contains Robert David's extensive personal diaries, letters and correspondence, memoirs, and “excerpts.” Some diaries and correspondence belonged to Robert David’s immediate family members, particularly his father Edward Taft David. The collection contains 12 boxes of photographs and snapshots from throughout the collection and several pieces of furniture provided by the David family.
Dates
- 1845 - 1977
- 1866 - 1959
Conditions Governing Access
The Robert B. David Papers can be accessed in the reading room or by working with staff to access remotely.
Conditions Governing Use
The Robert B. David family retains copyright for all published literary compositions within the collection. Based on an orphaned works investigation conducted by the Western History Center, it is estimated that these materials may enter the public domain in or around 2042. All other materials are subject to standard repository guidelines.
About the Creator
For more information regarding Robert B. David's life, this article by Tom Rea is recommended:
https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/bob-davids-war-wyoming-soldier-serves-france
Extent
Approximately 12.74 (18 archival boxes) Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Metadata Rights Declarations
- License: This record is made available under an Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons license.
Repository-level Arrangement
The Robert B. David Papers have been arranged in the Western History Center's self-imposed and unofficial Natrona County Archives (NCA) and the residents series imposed therein.
Collection-level Arrangement
The Robert B. David Historical Collection is arranged in essential 5 different series that can be traced back to their creation and a perceived original or repository imposed original order. The first series contains David's scrapbooks alongside their photographs that were separated in filing cabinets for some time; series two consists of Edward T. David's Bob Divine Letters; series 3 contains Robert David's diaries and their separated photos; series 6 consists of Robert's memoirs and excerpts. Researchers and users of the Western History Center will find autobiographical information, indexes, and legacy but retained Western History Center processing information. The last 2 boxes of the collection contain photocopies made and stored by the Western History Center prior to 2021.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Robert B. David family to Casper College, 1987.
Processing and Preservation
Due to the deteriorating state of the original materials, the repository may systematically perform digital preservation to migrate content to an OAIS-informed digital repository as its resources allow.
- A.J. Bothwell
- Boney Earnest
- CY Ranch (Natrona County, Wyoming)
- Casper (inhabited place)
- Castle Gardens (historical landmark)
- Converse (county)
- Dinwoody Petroglyphs (historical site)
- Douglas (inhabited place)
- Edward Taft David
- Fort Fetterman (inhabited place)
- Fort Laramie (inhabited place)
- Fort McKinney (inhabited place)
- Fort Phil Kearney (inhabited place)
- Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.)
- Goose Egg Ranch (Natrona county, Wyoming)
- Johnson County War, 1892.
- Joseph M. Carey, United States Senator, Governor of Wyoming
- Malcolm Campbell, Converse County Sheriff
- New Deal, 1933-1939.
- Oregon National Historic Trail
- Robert "Bob" Divine
- W.E. Guthrie
- Title
- Robert B. David Historical Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Kayci Kruhmin, Casper College Western History Specialist, was the lead processor on the Robert B. David Historical Collection when the Western History Center made its first web-publishable finding aid for them.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Casper College Archives and Special Collections Repository
125 College Drive
Casper Wyoming United States 82601 United States
3072682549
hanz.olson@caspercollege.edu