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Ryder Ridgway Collection 1799-1980

MSS-68

Biographical Note

William Ryder Ridgway, author and historian, was born to David Lawrence and Ella Young Ridgway in Safford, Arizona on May 11, 1909. He graduated from Safford High School in 1927 and was employed at the Young and Ridgway Store at Safford. Later he worked as an inspector at the Arizona Agricultural Inspection Station at San Jose on Arizona 70.

Ridgway was an avid historian and collector of historical records showing Graham County and Mormon history. He was a regular columnist in the Eastern Arizona Courier and contributed a number of articles to Arizona Highways Magazine, particularly the September 1968 issue. Ridgway was also a lecturer in history at Eastern Arizona College at Thatcher. He was a member of the Graham County Historical Society and the Church of Safford. Ryder Ridgway died in Safford on May 21, 1985.

Scope and Content Note

The Ryder Ridgway Collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, research files, printed matter, and family papers showing Graham County and Mormon history from 1799 to 1980. The majority of the collection consists of personal papers and government and business records that Ridgway collected documenting Graham County history from 1890 to 1960. The collection has been divided into two series.

Series I: Ridgway Papers extends from 1890 to 1976 and consists of Ridgway's personal papers. The series has been divided into two subseries. Sub-Series A: Correspondence houses primarily letters exchanged with W. Roy Pace, a fellow researcher interested in eastern Arizona history. The letters discuss details of family and regional history in Graham County. Sub-Series B: Manuscripts/Scrapbooks generally concerns historical events and individuals in Graham County.

Series II: Ridgway Collections extends from 1799 to 1980 and consists of materials that Ridgway collected or received regarding Graham County history. This series is divided into five subseries.

Sub-Series A: Personal and Family Papers houses materials that Ridgway received from individuals who were stimulated by his writings in the Eastern Arizona Courier. As a result, this series contains records of a number of Graham County families as well as genealogical and historical manuscripts and "reminiscences" written by a number of Mormon residents.

Sub-Series B: Mining Records includes materials showing the Alabama Mine, Carlisle Mine, Duncan Mining and Milling Company, Phelps Dodge Corporation, and the Terreroca Mining Company of Steepler, New Mexico.

Sub-Series C: Graham County History includes histories of the towns of Hubbard and Matthewsville, maps and drawings of Fort Grant and Fort Thomas, and transcriptions of news articles and research notes on county history.

Sub-Series D: Mormon/Arizona History includes transcripts of James H. McClintock's radio program Forward, Arizona, biographical information on Mormons William Jordan Flake, Joseph Neal Haywood, and John D. Lee, and maps of the 1885 survey of the East Salt and Gila River Meridian.

Sub-Series E: Ephemera includes pamphlets and brochures on a variety of topics similar to those represented in the series above. The materials are indexed by author in the card file located in Box 11A.

Arrangement

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

To 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.

Copyright

Arizona 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 Material

The Ryder Ridgway Photograph Collection (CP SPC RR) contains 800 photographs, lantern slides, oversized images, and panoramas. Themes include the economic and social development of Southeastern Arizona, which is primarily comprised of the Thatcher and Safford area in Graham County but also includes Bisbee, Morenci, Clifton, and Superior.

A number of publications have been removed from the Ridgway Ephemera series. Ephemera relating to Arizona or the Southwest was removed and individually indexed. It is accessible through the ASU Special Materials Index.

Access Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Ryder Ridgway Collection, MSS-68, Arizona State University Library.

Provenance

The Ryder Ridgway Collection was received in at least thirteen accessions from 1968 to 1991. Nine accessions were received from Ryder Ridgway between 1968 and 1974 (ACC# 1968-00067, 1972-00067, and 1974-00067). Four accessions were received from Mrs. Ryder Ridgway from 1987 to 1991 (ACC# 1987-00111, 1989-00180, 1990-00381, and 1991-00468).

Processing Note

Materials received directly from Ridgway were originally processed as MSS-68. Materials received from Mrs. Ridgway were added to the collection in 1994 and the collection was rearranged to reflect the entirety of the Ridgway papers. A conversion sheet identifying the current location of materials cited by the old box and folder numbers is available from the University Archivist.

Ephemera not related to Arizona and the Southwest has not been retained. A complete card index to the original ephemera collection is available in Box 11A of this collection.

Container List

Series II: Ridgway Collections
	Sub-Series A: Personal and Family Papers
				Sub-Sub-Series i: Edward D. Tuttle Papers
Box	Folder
2	7		Arizona in Retrospect, 1927 (Manuscript and Typescript)
2	8		Correspondence/Miscellaneous Papers, 1865, 1883-1899
2	9		Diary, 1863, 1866, Undated (With Typescript)
2	10		Ledger, 1893-1906 (With Index)
Box	Folder
3	1-1A		Reminiscence: Mary Tuttle Webb, Undated (Manuscript and Typescript)
3	2		Reminiscence: Mrs. Edward D. Tuttle, Undated (Manuscript and Typescript)
3	3		Untitled Manuscript Regarding First Territorial Legislature, Undated. (Manuscript and Typescript)
				Sub-Sub-Series ii: Parks Family Papers
Box	Folder
3	4		Before New Mexico Was Tamed by Jennie Parks Ringgold, Undated (Typescript)
3	5		Frontier Days in the Southwest by Jennie Parks Ringgold, 1940-1941 (Publication Correspondence)
3	6-6D		Frontier Days in the Southwest by Jennie Parks Ringgold, Undated (Typescript)
3	7		When Arizona Was Young and Tragic Days of the West by Jennie Parks Ringgold, 1937, Undated (Typescript)
3	8		Correspondence: Parks, Charles, 1956-1966
3	9		Correspondence: Parks, John D. et. al. Regarding Arizona Pioneers and Parks Family History, 1896, 1955-1967
Box	Folder
4	1-1A		Correspondence: Parks, William H., 1951-1962
4	2-2A		Correspondence: Ringgold, Jennie Parks, 1950-1958
				Sub-Sub-Series iii: J. L. T. Watters Papers
Box	Folder
4	3		American Woman's League, Duncan: Minutes, 1910-1912
4	4		Autobiography; History of Duncan, Arizona; Apache Kid Typescripts, 1935, 1946, Undated
4	5		California State Constitution, 1912 (Reprint)
4	6		Correspondence: Spence, Harold C. E. Regarding Oro Plata Consolidated Mines, New Mexico, 1914-1922
4	7		Duncan Pharmacy Account Book, 1918
Box	Folder
5	1		Gila Canal Account Book, 1911-1912 (With Index)
5	2		Gila River Highline Canal Company: Minutes, 1913
5	3		Greenlee County Court Deposition: Robert Stewart Sherman Regarding Indian Depredations, Undated (Manuscript Copy)
5	4/OV3		J. L. T. Watters and Dana Miller Notarial Certificates, 1910, 1932
5	5		Mount Royal Consolidated Mining Company: Checkbook, 1920
5	6		Oregon Steamship Company: Steamship Columbia: Ships' Stores Inventory, Undated
5	7		Passenger Carriage Business Ledger, 1890-1891 (With Index)
5	8		Personal Account Book, 1882-1883 (With Index)
Box	Folder
6	1		Pharmacist/Postmaster Checkbooks, 1919, 1925-1926
6	2		Real Estate Agency Records, 1913-1920
6	3		Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Company: Policy Register, 1910, 1912
6	4		Watters Family Correspondence, 1897-1914, 1932
6	4A		Watters Family Legal and Business Papers, 1891-1924, 1934
6	5		Watters Family Genealogy/Family Papers, 1799-1848, Undated
				Sub-Sub-Series iv: Other Families and Individuals
Box	Folder
6	6		Autobiography: Coleman, Emma Beck, Undated (Incomplete Typescript)
6	7		Autobiography: Dial, Henry, 1937, 1956, Undated
6	8		Bradberry Family History, Undated (Photocopy of Published Material)
Box	Folder
7	1-1/OV3		Hansen, Charles Papers Regarding Steeplerock and Carlisle Mines, 1904, 1979
7	2		Miscellaneous Biographical Research, Undated (Photostats of Published Material)
7	3-3A		Miscellaneous Biographical Research, Undated (Photostats of Published Material)
7	4		Packer, Bernie Correspondence Regarding Land for Sale, Wellton-Mohawk Area, 1954
7	5		Perry, George and Gamble Family Papers, 1900-1922, 1943
7	6		Perry, George and Gamble Family Papers, 1974-1976
7	7		Posey and Keasley Family Papers, 1899-1925
7	8		Whelan Family Correspondence, 1943
7	9		Unidentified Child's Poetry, Undated
							Written on Silver King Mining Company Mill Report Form.
	Sub-Series B: Mining Records
Box	Folder
7	10			Alabama Mine: Account Book (Provisions/Stores), 1908-1909
7	11			Carlisle Mine: Record Book (Sample, Dump and Tailings Analyses), 1883
Box	Folder
8	1			Duncan Mining and Milling Company: Shareholders Meeting Minutes, 1917-1929
8	2			Phelps Dodge Corporation, Arizona Copper Company and Detroit Copper Mining Company Histories by F. Remington Barr, 1940
8	3			Terreroca Mining Company (Steepler, New Mexico): Account Book, 1916 (With Index)
8	4			Terreroca Mining Company (Steepler, New Mexico): Supply House Account Book, 1909 (Journal with Index)
8	5			Terreroca Mining Company (Steepler, New Mexico): Supply House Cash Book, 1906-1920
	Sub-Series C: Graham County History
Box	Folder
9	1-1A			Book of Remembrance, History of Hubbard, Graham County, Arizona by Margaret B. Shelley, Undated (2 Copies)
9	2-2B			Book of Remembrance, Life Story of Matthewsville, compiled by Grace McBride Larson and Laura McBride Smith, Undated (2 Copies)
9	3/OV3			Fort Grant: Map of Military Installation, 1879
9	4/OV3			Fort Thomas: Architectural Drawings and Records, 1877-1887
9	5			Graham County, Arizona: Abstracts of Titles, 1897-1909
9	6			Graham County, Arizona: Physician and Surgeon Register, 1885-1909
9	7/OV			Map Showing Location of Watters Canal (Graham County, AZ and Grant County, NM), 1909
Box	Folder
10	1			Notebook: News Transcriptions Regarding Graham County, 1870-1903
10	2			Notebook: News Transcriptions Regarding Graham County, 1871-1976
10	3			Odd Fellow and Rebekah House (Safford, Arizona): Account Book and Records, 1897-1928
10	4/OV			Planting Plan for Roosevelt Park, Safford, Arizona, 1953
10	5			San Carlos Agency: Preliminary Council Proceedings, 1896
10	6			San Carlos Agency: Stores received at Camp Apache Agency: Account Book, 1874-1897
Box	Folder
11	1			Silver King Wood Camp: Neighbors, 1895 (Photostat Manuscript)
11	2/OV3			Tombstone Republican Articles, 1883 (Photostat)
11	3			Triumph Tunnelsite Company: Stock Certificate, 1902
11	4/OV3			Valley Canal and Duncan Farm Lands: Land Titles, 1912, 1917-1919
11	5			Wham Robbery Material, 1889 (Newspaper Transcripts)
	Sub-Series D: Mormon/Arizona History
Box	Folder
11	6-6B			Forward, Arizona, 1930-1931 (Typescript)
						Historical radio program by James H. McClintock.
11	7			Shadow Pictures of Arizona Men and Women by John Murdock, 1948
11	8			Filing Markers, Undated
11	9/OV			First Interstate Bank Exhibit Poster: Arizona Then and Now, Undated
11	10			Flake, William Jordan Biographical Information, 1963, 1969-1970 (Typescript Autobiography and News Clippings)
11	11/OV3			Gila Valley Record and Printed Calendars with Historic Photographs, 1909, 1974-1976
11	12			Lee, John D.: Journal Regarding Brigham Young/Mormon Emigration to Utah, 1844-1846 (Transcript)
11	13			Lee, John D.: Gleanings Concerning [Biographical/Genealogical Information], 1874-1932
11	14/OV3			Surveyors Maps: 1885 Survey East Gila and Salt River Meridian, 1885
11	15			The Pioneers; Reminiscences: Dr. Joseph Neal Haywood, 1927, 1959
11	16			US Postal Service: Informational Packet, 1906
	Sub-Series E: Ephemera
Box
11A				Card File Index for Ridgway Ephemera, Undated
Box	Folder
12	1			US Postal Service: General Scheme of Arizona, 1923-1948
12	2			US Postal Service: General Scheme of Arizona, 1951-1957
12	3			Notebook of Sketches, Maps and Outlines of Arizona Post Offices, Undated
Box
13				Publications Removed
Box
14				Publications Removed
Box
15				Publications Removed
Box
16				Publications Removed
Box
17				Publications Removed
Box
18				Publications Removed
Box
19				Publications Removed
Box
20				Publications Removed
Box	Folder
21	1-3			Post Cards
Box
22				Publications Removed
Box
23				Publications Removed
Box	Folder
24	1			Post Cards
						The three-digit number associated with each post card is the image number assigned when it was housed with CP RR: Ryder Ridgway Photographs. Patrons should submit requests for these materials using the applicable box and folder numbers rather than the image number.
183					Morenci Southern Railway Loop; Morenci, Arizona, 1909
188					Smelter of Detroit Mining Company; Morenci, Arizona, 1906
190					Morenci Southern Railway Loop; Morenci, Arizona, 1909
356					"Race for Mining Superiority 1907"
							Sketch of a cowboy with "Arizona" on his arm outdistancing another horseman.
359-364					New Cornelia Copper Company Plant in Ajo; the Old Dominion Copper Company Concentrator and Smelter in Globe; the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company Concentrator and the International Smelter in Miami; and the Arizona Eastern Railroad Depot in Globe, circa 1920
369-373					Escalante Hotel (a Harvey House) and Railroad Station, Ash Fork, Arizona (circa 1915); the Santa Fe Railroad Bridge Across the Colorado River at Topock, showing Needles, California in the Background (circa 1915); the Tucson, Cornelia, and Gila Bend Rail Depot in Ajo, (circa 1915); the Rail Depot in Tucson, (circa 1910); and the Auto Bridge over the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry (circa 1930), circa 1910-1930
Box	Folder
24	2			Post Cards
381-382					Rose Tree Inn in Tombstone (circa 1915); San Marcos Hotel in Chandler, circa 1915
390-396					Roosevelt Dam, Coolidge Dam, Boulder Dam, the Arizona Canal, Canyon Lake, Granite Reef Dam, and the Bill Williams Reservoir, 1908-circa 1960
401-403					High School at Humboldt, Arizona (circa 1930); the Main Building at University of Arizona, Tucson (circa 1917); and the Round Up Motel, Tucson (circa 1949), circa 1917-1949
404 A-D					Santa Rita Hotel, Old Pueblo Club, Rodgers Hospital, Pioneer Hotel, and Street Scenes; Tucson, Arizona, Undated
399*					Library and Park at the University of Arizona; Tucson, Arizona, 1908
Box	Folder
24	3			Post Cards
405 A-K					Houses, Post Office, State Hospital, City Hall, County Courthouse, East Lake Park, Hotel Luhrs, and Churches; Phoenix, Undated
406 A-E*					Bucky O'Neill Monument, Courthouse, Mercy Hospital, Hassayampa Hotel, Sills Service Station, and Apache Lodge; Prescott, Arizona, Undated
407 A-B*					Mission San Xavier del Bac; Tucson, Arizona, circa 1910
409 A-D					Curley School. Ajo, Arizona, circa 1920
Box	Folder
24	4			Post Cards
410 A-B					Elks Hall and Palm Boulevard. Yuma, Arizona, circa 1920
411 A-B					Postcards of the Cavern Cafe and a Bird's-Eye View of the City. Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
412 A-B					Postcards of Cold Beer in Barrels at Agua Prieta (circa 1930); the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in Douglas; and a Soldier and Woman Shaking Hands at a United States-Mexico Border Marker, circa 1910, 1930
415					Casa Grande Pueblo, 1902, 1930
552					Pueblo. Laguna, New Mexico, 1902
							Corporate Name(s) Detroit Photographic Co. (Publisher)
553-557					Hopi Pueblos, Children, and Weavers, circa 1906
							Corporate Name(s) Detroit Photographic Co. (Publisher)
558-562					Postcards of Navajo Warriors on Horseback and Blanket Weavers, circa 1908
563 A-B					Apache Indians, circa 1906
Box	Folder
24	5			Post Cards
564-571					Havasupai and Pima Indians, circa 1909
578					Bird's-Eye View of Crawford Avenue. Nogales, Arizona, circa 1918
580-583					Wise, Bowman, and Titcomb Residences and the Montezuma Hotel. Nogales, Arizona, circa 1918
585-586					Morley Street and the Southern Pacific Depot. Nogales, Arizona, circa 1920
593-600					Grand Canyon, circa 1915
							Many of these images were published by Fred Harvey.
							Personal Name(s) Harvey, Fred (Publisher)
599						East from Hopi Rowe Point, Grand Cayon National Park, Arizona, circa 1915
600						Looking East from Grand View Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona, Undated
Box	Folder
24	6			Post Cards
604					Entrance to Bright Angel Lodge, Grand Canyon National Park, circa 1940
605					Hotel El Tovar Grand Canyon, Arizona, c.1907, circa 1907
606					Train on the Bridge over Canyon Diablo, Arizona, circa 1918
607-609					Petrified Forest National Monument, circa 1910
610					Needles Mountains from the Colorado River, circa 1920
611-613					San Francisco Peaks, circa 1910
612-620					Tonto Creek; Oak Creek Canyon; Maple Gulch near Prescott; Middle Fork Canyon of the Gila River; Monument Well; and Lowell Observatory, circa 1915-circa 1960
621					Cliff Dwellings at Tonto National Monument, circa 1916
							Photo by H. C. Tibbitts from the series Apache Trail: The Wonder Trip Through Oldest America (CP SPC 44:75).
622					Interior of Hotel San Marcos; Chandler, Arizona, circa 1940
Box	Folder
24	7			Post Cards
623					Sierra Ancha Mountains with Roosevelt, Arizona in the Foreground, circa 1908
624-625					State Capitol; Phoenix, Arizona, circa 1906
626					Desert Sky Hotel on Van Buren; Phoenix, Arizona, circa 1950
627					Tempe Normal School Auditorium and Gymnasium; Tempe, Arizona, circa 1916
628-630					Congress Street, an Aerial, and Old Tucson; Tucson, Arizona, circa 1918-circa 1967
631-634					Roosevelt Dam, circa 1918-1920
635					General View of the Panama, California Exposition from the Arizona Gardens; San Diego, California, 1915
636					Salt River Canyon between Showlow and Globe, circa 1955
637					Praying Monk Rock Formation on Camelback Mountain; Phoenix, Arizona, circa 1955
638					Superstition Mountains, circa 1927
639					"The Desert, Arizona" by B. M. Dressler, circa 1910
							Personal Name(s) Peyton, Bertha Menzler, 1871-1947 (Author)
641-644					Desert; Clusters of Dates; Citrus Fruit and Groves; and Cacti, circa 1910
643						Giant Cactus, Arizona, Undated
Box	Folder
24	8			Post Cards
645-649					Desert; Clusters of Dates; Citrus Fruit and Groves; and Cacti, circa 1910
651-654					Ostrich Farms; Arizona, circa 1900-circa 1920
656					Burros, s.l., circa 1900
675					San Ildefonso Indians Making and Smoothing Pottery, circa 1910
677-678					New Mexico Pueblo Indians, circa 1910
679-683					Mexicans in the Market Square, Tijuana; Ploughing; Burros Carrying Water; and Dwellings; Mexico, circa 1910
696					Public School Building; Morenci, Arizona, circa 1905
710					Morenci Motel; Morenci, Arizona, circa 1905
718					Copper Head, Coronado Railroad; Clifton, Arizona, circa 1960
							The Copper Head was the first locomotive used in the area.
720					Resident and Business Section on the East Side of Clifton, circa 1900
Box	Folder
24	9			Post Cards