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Will Croft Barnes Collection, 1879-1955.

NAU.MS.448
NAU.PH.2011.14

Biographical note

Will Croft Barnes (1858-1936) came to Arizona in 1880 as a telegrapher at Fort Apache and won the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1881 for escaping to get help when the fort was under siege. In 1883 he left the army and became a successful cattle rancher, after which he served on the Livestock Sanitary Board for eleven years. Barnes also served in the Territorial Legislature as a delegate from Apache County. He introduced the bill which created Navajo County in 1895 and has been referred to since as the "Father of Navajo County".

In 1907, Barnes joined the U.S. Forest Service and held the position of Chief of Grazin until 1928. He successfully increased cooperation between cattlemen and the Forest Service and was instrumental in improving management of timber, grazing and water resources.

After retiring from the Forest Service, Barnes spent three years with the U.S. Board of Geographic Names and authored a number of books, including "Arizona Place Names". Barnes wrote until his death in 1936. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Scope and Content

The collection consists primarily of biographical material and small manuscripts on topics in Arizona history. Also included are reviews of Barnes' publications, information on the dedication of Barnes Field House and some miscellaneous items. Sixty-three photographs are catalouged separately as the Will Barnes Photograph collection.

Arrangement

Restrictions

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan..

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for Northern Arizona University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Controlled Access Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Will Croft Barnes Collection, NAU.MS.448, NAU.PH.2011.014 Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Northern Arizona University. Cline Library. Flagstaff, Arizona..

Acquisition Information

Materials were donated by the Arizona Historical Foundation.

Processing Information

Processed in May and June of 2012.

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