James A. Pitts Collection, 1905-1960.

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James A. Pitts Collection, 1905-1960.

NAU.MS.15
NAU.PH.513.1-19


Descriptive Summary
Creator:	Pitts, James A.
Collection Name	James A. Pitts Collection,
Inclusive Dates:	1905-1960.
Physical Description	.5 linear feet (1 box); 16 photographs, 3 picture postcards, 8 negatives ; 6 x 9 cm. to 11 x 16 cm.
Description	Correspondence between Senator Henry Ashurst and James A. Pitts and two reminiscences of Pitts' experiences. The reminiscences include his arrival in Flagstaff in 1887 Photographs consist of several important images, including those of the Pitts family, their ranch, and business; Anvil Rock Ranch near Seligman; school children in Ash Fork; Governor George W.P. Hunt; and automobiles in Diamond Canyon.
Collection Number	NAU.MS.15 NAU.PH.513.1-19
Language	English.
Repository	Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives Department. Northern Arizona University Box 6022 Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6022 Phone: 928 523 5551 Fax: 928 523 3770 Email: Special.Collections@nau.edu

Biographical Note

James A. Pitts was born on February 13, 1869 in Polk County, Missouri. He and his brother William (Bill) spent their boyhood in Missouri, Texas, and New Mexico, during which time the family picked cotton, herded sheep, farmed, ranched, and worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. In 1887, the Pitts moved to Flagstaff. While in school, young James met-and become lifelong friends with - Henry Fountain Ashurst, the future "Silver Tongued Orator" who represented Arizona in the U.S. Senate for decades.

In 1889, James Pitts began working for the railroad depot; he also worked as a deputy sheriff and tax collector. He became an active member of the Flagstaff community, participating in Methodist-Episcopal Church activities and literary clubs. Pitts married Eva Ashurst, Henry's sister in September, 1890. It appears the couple had two children, Harvey and Albert. The family moved to Needles, California in 1883, where James had work with the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Late in 1894, Pitts moved to Williams, where he was employed as a bookkeeper by shop owner Max Salzman.

The sequence of events in the Pitts' lives is unclear over the next fifteen tears. Eva Pitts passed away around 1905, according to information written on the back of one of the photographs, but, James married Ella Foley on April 6, 1904, indicated another source. It is unlikely that these dates are both correct, as Pitts remained in close terms with Henry Fountain Ashurst the rest of his life. Thomas J. Pitts, whose mother was probably Ella, was born by 1906; the family owned a ranch near Ash Fork. In 1912, the Pitts moved to the Salt River Valley; the Phoenix City Directory lists James' occupation as stockman. Two years later, they purchased a mercantile in Seligman and settled there. "J.A. Pitts Merchant" read the sign on the shop, which added a post office a few years later.

In September, 1918, James received a telegram from Senator Ashurst informing him that Albert Pitts was killed in action in France. Harvey became co-owner of a mercantile in Ash Fork. Thomas Pitts ultimately became an attorney in Sans Francisco. James's brother William, who had remained in Arizona and was working as manager of the Howard Sheep Company, died in November, 1927 near Congress Junction. In 1929, James and Ella moved to Upland, California. Ella died there in January of 1938 and was buried in Ash Fork. James passed away in August, 1960.

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists primarily of correspondence between James A. Pitts and Senator Henry Ashurst and of two biographical reminisces written by Pitts. The bulk of the correspondence concerns the death of Pitts' son in World War I. The two biographical memoirs cover the period from Pitts' birth in 1869 until his arrival in Flagstaff in 1887.

Photographs consist of several important images, including those of the Pitts family, their ranch, and business; Anvil Rock Ranch near Seligman; school children in Ash Fork; Governor George W.P. Hunt; and automobiles in Diamond Canyon.

Organization

This collection is organized in two series.

Correspondence, 1912-1920, 1960.

Photographs, 1905-1950.

Restrictions

None.

Copyright

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. The photograph collection contains several important images, including those of the Pitts family, their ranch, and business; Anvil Rock Ranch near Seligman; school children in Ash Fork; Governor George W.P. Hunt; and automobiles in Diamond Creek.

Related Material

Ashurst, Henery Fountain Collection, 1913-1952. [manuscript] AHS-ND.13

Access Points

Personal Name(s)

Ashurst, Henry Fountain, 1874-1962.

Pitts, Ella Foley, d. 1938.

Pitts, Eva Ashurst.

Pitts, James A., 1869-1960.

Geographic Name(s)

Ashfork (Ariz.)

Flagstaff (Ariz.)

Seligman (Ariz.)

Subject(s)

General Stores--Arizona--Seligman.

Ranches--Arizona.

Genre Form(s)

Black-and-white negatives.

Black-and-white photographs.

Picture postcards.

Administrative Information

Credit Line

James A. Pitts Collection [manuscript], NAU.MS.15, Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives Dept.

James A. Pitts Collection [photograph], NAU.PH.513.1-19, Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives Dept.

Container List


Correspondence, 1912-1960.
Box-folder
1.1	James A. Pitts' reminiscences of his youth, 1869-1887, written in Upland, California, May 12, 1937.
Box-folder
1.2	James A. Pitts' reminiscences of early Flagstaff, 1887, written in Upland, California, May 21, 1937.
Box-folder
1.3	to James A. Pitts. This letter discusses Pitts' interest in a Civil Service appointment of some type. Ashurst advises Pitts on how to proceed, July 10, 1912.
Box-folder
1.4	Henry F. Ashurst to James A. Pitts, December 16, 1916.
Box-folder
1.5	Henry Ashurst to James A. Pitts. A series of letters from Ashurst to Pitts concerning Pitts' son Albert's service in World War I and his death in the fall of 1918, 1918-1919.
Box-folder
1.6	Henry Ashurst to Thomas Pitts, September 2, 1960.
Box-folder
1.7	Morris Bien to Henry Ashurst, This letter concerns the construction of a dam in Boulder Canyon of the Colorado River, October 5, 1920.
Box-folder
1.8	Two pamphlets written by Henry Ashurst, undated.
		A series of four letters written by Ashurst to different acquaintances discussing his life in Flagstaff, as well as his life as a public servant. 7 pages.
		"Remarks of Henry Fountain Ashurst at the Dinner Tendered by Francis D. Thomas and William B. Dolph on Saturday, November 23, 1946, at "North Rock" the Estate of Francis D. Thomas, Warrenton, Virginia." 3 pages.

Box-folder
1.9	Walkover Mining Company stock certificate, Hackberry Arizona, December 21, 1917.


Photographs, 1905-1950.
	Digital versions of these images are available here.

		NAU.PH.513.1: Boats on the Colorado River, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.2: Diamond Canyon, Arizona, stuck in mud, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.3: Automobile in Diamond Canyon Arizona, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.4: Albert Pitts, 1918.
		NAU.PH.513.5: J.A Pitts in Williams, Arizona, 1918.
		NAU.PH.513.6: J.A Pitts, 1950.
		NAU.PH.513.7: J.A. Pitts Family, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.8: Seligman, Arizona Passenger Train, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.9: Colorado River, Arizona, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.10: Ella Fley Pitts, 1904.
		NAU.PH.513.11: Soldiers drilling, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.12: Soldiers drilling 2, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.13: Automobile at Black Canyon, Arizona, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.14: J.A. Pitts Merchant Store, 1914.
		NAU.PH.513.15: J.A. Pitts with U.S. Department of the Interior officials, 1915.
		NAU.PH.513.16: J.A. Pitts, 1905.
		NAU.PH.513.17: Lillian Baker, George W.P. Hunt, J.A. Pitts, Buena Kilty, C.O. Case, 1916.
		NAU.PH.513.18: Students in front of school in Ashfork, Arizona, 1913.
		NAU.PH.513.19: Red Cross Canteen in Williams, Arizona, 1918.