Bookmark this page or copy and paste URL to Email message Gist and Gardner Families Photographs circa 1900-1940, UndatedCP SPC 261
Biographical NoteThe Gardner family was among the first to settle in Prescott, Arizona, where they operated successful mercantile and ranching businesses. Gail Irwin Gardner was born to James Isom Gardner (1857-1935) and Rebecca E. (Bell) Gardner (1856-1957) in Arizona on December 25, 1892. He had one sister, James Maryfrank (Gardner) Sisson (1892-1973). James I. Gardner had come to Prescott from Missouri in 1879 and opened his first mercantile store on October 1, 1883. When this building became too small, he commissioned a new structure on the northeast corner of Cortez and Willis Streets in 1891. The shop sold a wide variety of goods, including produce, dry goods, household goods, ranching and farming supplies, and clothing in addition to offering a mail-order service. Gail Gardner was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy and Dartmouth University in New Hampshire, graduating in 1915. After serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I, he returned to Prescott and worked as a cowboy in Skull Valley with his friend, Bob Heckle, until injury forced his retirement. He went on to purchase a cattle ranch in Skull Valley, which he owned and operated until 1960. Gardner was also a poet, writing the well-known "The Sierry Petes" (also called "Tyin' Knots in the Devil's Tail") in 1917. A book of his poetry, Orejana Bull, was published in 1935. Gardner died in Prescott in the same house he was born in on November 23, 1988. Gail Gardner married Delia Henrietta Gist (1900-1990) in Skull Valley, Arizona on September 22, 1924. The couple had two children, James Gail (1930-) and Cynthia Jean (1934-). James Gardner graduated from Dartmouth College in 1952 and returned to Arizona, where he worked for the Valley National Bank. He began his career as the Assistant Manager of the Prescott Branch and worked in Gila Bend before becoming Manager of the Tempe branch in the 1960s. Cynthia Gardner married Sam Steiger (1929-2012) in 1954. Steiger attended Cornell University and served in the Korean War before beginning his career as a rancher and horse breeder. During the majority of his career, however, he was involved in politics. Steiger served in the Arizona State Senate (1960-1964) and worked as a war correspondent for two newspapers during the Vietnam War before being elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1967. He served in the House until 1977 and went on to work as a special assistant to Arizona Governor Evan Mecham from 1987 to 1988. Scope and Content NoteThis collection consists of 31 images depicting members of the Gist and Gardner families in Skull Valley, Arizona; San Francisco, California; Redwood City, California; New Mexico; and Missouri. Among the individuals depicted are James I. Gardner, Rebecca (Bell) Gardner, James G. Gardner, Cynthia (Gardner) Steiger, Gail I. Gardner, Delia (Gist) Gardner, Aubrey Gist, Sallie (Sweeten) Gist, Susan (Gist) Mayfield, Jay Gist, and Randolph Gist. Also included are several photographs of Prescott, Arizona. ArrangementThis collection consists of three folders.RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsTo view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability. CopyrightArizona State University does not own the copyright to this collection. We recognize that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright. Related MaterialInterested researchers may also wish to consult: SHM MS-7: Gardner Family Papers (Sharlot Hall Museum; guide available at http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/sharlot/Gardner_Family_Papers_SHM_MS-7.xml)
CP SPC 326.15: James G. Gardner Photographs (guide available at http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/asu/cp_spc_326_15.xml)
MSS-271: James Gardner Sisson Collection (guide available at http://www.azarchivesonline.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/asu/sisson.xml)
Access TermsPersonal Name(s) Gardner, Delia (Delia Henrietta Gist), 1900-1990 Gardner, Gail I. (Gail Irwin), 1892-1988 Gardner, James G. (James Gail), 1930- Gardner, James I. (James Isom), 1857-1935 Gardner, Rebecca E. (Rebecca E. Bell), 1856-1957 Gist, Aubrey (Aubrey Howard), 1874-1968 Gist, Jay (Aubrey Jay), 1903-1959 Gist, Randolph (Randolph Cherry), 1916-1953 Gist, Sallie (Sarah Joyce Sweeten), 1873-1942 Hellmann, Richard H. (Richard Hoge), 1889-1977 Mayfield, Susan (Susan Gist), 1906-1976 Sisson, James Gardner, 1892-1973 Sisson, William Frederick, 1893-1963 Steiger, Cynthia (Cynthia Jean Gardner), 1934- Family Name(s) Gardner family Gist family Geographic Name(s) Prescott (Ariz.). Administrative InformationPreferred Citation[Identification of item], Gist and Gardner Families Photographs, CP SPC 261, Arizona State University Library. ProvenanceThese images were copied from originals in the possession of James G. Gardner in November of 1992 (Accession #1992-00675). Container List
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