University of Arizona. ;
Guidon Books ;
The Finney County Kansas Historical
Society
Collection Name:
Charles Jesse
Jones collection,
Inclusive Dates:
1872-1990 (bulk
1872-1936)
Physical Description:
.6 linear feet
Abstract:
This collection consists of correspondence,
photographs, publications, and articles detailing the life of quintessential
pioneer cowboy Charles Jesse "Buffalo" Jones.
Collection Number:
MS 363
Repository:
University of Arizona Libraries, Special
Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
Biographical Note
Charles Jesse Jones, known as "Buffalo" Jones, born January 31, 1844 in
Tazewell County, Illinois to Noah and Jane Jones, lead the life of the
quintessential pioneer cowboy. From his early childhood in Illinois where his
father once hired Attorney Abraham Lincoln, to his experience as a buffalo
hunter on the Great Plains in the 1870's, and later his friendship and rivalry
with Theodore Roosevelt, Jones' life story serves as an allegory for the
experience of American expansionism on the western frontier. Charles J. Jones'
unique role in this westward movement was his effort to save the American Bison
from extinction, and subsequently to hybridize them with domestic cattle.
His early experience as a buffalo hunter lead Jones to respect the
rugged, adaptive qualities of bison, simultaneously lamenting their demise and
his own role in their slaughter. In the process of trying to save the bison
from extinction Jones became famous for the live capture of wild animals. His
reputation lead him on a series of adventures including the live capture
African big game, which was filmed with both still and moving photography; the
live capture of the arctic musk ox, and the capture and "spanking" of bears in
Yellowstone National Park after being appointed Park Warden by President
Theodore Roosevelt. The writer Zane Grey, who became friends with Jones and had
accompanied him on mountain lion captures, acknowledged that Jones was the
inspiration for many of his fictional characters, as well as the subject of two
non fiction books, The Last of the Plainsmen, 1911 and Roping Lions in the
Grand Canyon, 1924.
Charles J. Jones married Martha J. Walton (a descendent of naturalist,
Isaac Walton) on January 20, 1869. They had four children, two boys died in
childhood. Throughout his life Jones maintained close correspondence with his
daughters, Jessie and Olive. Suffering from a chronic illness contracted while
in Africa, Jones died at his daughter Olive's house in Topeka, Kansas on March
18, 1919. He is buried alongside his wife Martha and their two sons in the
Valley View Cemetery, Garden City, Kansas.
Scope and Content Note
The collection is contained in one manuscript box and one scrapbook.
The correspondence is mostly between family members from 1907 to 1928.
The bulk of the correspondence is between C. J. Jones and his youngest daughter
Olive Jones Whitmer. There is also correspondence between Olive Jones Whitmer
and other family members as well as business partners of her father. There is
some correspondence between C. J. Jones and business partners and others
interested in his business ventures including, James Wilson, United States
Secretary of Agriculture; John A. Dix, Governor of New York; and Charles
Goodnight, livestock breeder.
The publications are mostly articles regarding C. J. Jones (often
photocopies); broadsides and other advertising publications, some original
copies; an old Yellowstone National Park brochure; an original copy of the
American Bison Society Report, 1924-1926, and a dinner
program for Canadian Camp, New York, 1911.
The financial and biographical records in this collection are limited to
three stock certificates and a photocopy of Jones' death certificate. The
scrapbook is comprised of photographic images from magazines and photocopies of
articles regarding C. J. Jones' various activities.
The collection is an interesting glimpse into the personal life of C. J.
Jones and his relationship with family members, and to a lesser degree his
business and professional interactions.
Organization
The collection has been organized into the following subgroups:
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 the
University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all
claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Correspondence of Charles Jesse Jones and family, 1904 1928. Also
correspondence with James Wilson, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; New York
Governor John A. Dix; Lina Elise (Mrs. Zane) Grey; as well as business related
correspondence.
Arrangement:
By family, then general; thereafter, chronological.
Subseries: Correspondence, family.
, 1904-1917
box
folder
1
1
48 letters from C. J. Jones to Olive Jones Whitmer,
1904-1917
Subseries: Correspondence from C. J. Jones to Martha
"Mattie" Walton Jones (wife),
ca.1907
box
folder
1
2
New York,
January
21,1907
1
2
New York,
January 10,
ca.1907
1
2
Salt Lake City,
June 24,
1907
Subseries: Correspondence from C. J. Jones to Jessie
Phillips Jones:
, 1910-1914
box
folder
1
2
, October 25,
1910
1
2
, July 28,
1911
1
2
, February 24,
1914
Subseries: Correspondence, family, general,
1906-1936
box
folder
1
3
Draft of legal agreement of Buffalo Jones Catalo Co.
by C.J Jones and Martha J. Jones,
September 16,
1906
1
3
To Mrs.Whitmer, from J. F. Jones [business partner of
C. J. Jones?],
September 18,
1914
1
3
Aunt K. to Jessie P. Jones,
1936
Subseries: Correspondence of Olive Jones Whitmer,
ca.1911-1928
box
folder
1
3
From J. F. Jones,
November 19, 1911,
March 28,
1914
1
3
From J. F. Jones,
September 17,
1914
1
3
From J. F. Jones,
January 22,
1916
1
3
From Lina Elise (Mrs. Zane) Grey,
March 21,
1919
1
3
From Lenox Curtis of Canadian Camp,
April 5,
1923
1
3
From J. D. Hand,
February 4,
1927
1
3
Eight letters from Jim Owens (Uncle?) to Jessie Jones
Phillips(?),
1923-1928
1
3
From "Katie" (sister) to C.J. Jones,
Subseries: Correspondence, photocopies of originals in
folder 5,
1908-1918
From C. J. Jones to James Wilson, Secretary of
Agriculture, Washington, D.C., regarding hybridized sheep and cattle, Fredonia,
AZ. [6 pages],
January 27,
1908
1
5
Letter to C. J. Jones from The American Bison Society
President Edmund Seymour [2 pages],
September 18,
1917
1
5
Letter to C. J. Jones from The American Bison Society
Secretary M. S. Garretson [2 pages],
January 19,
1918
Subseries: Correspondence, general. C. J. Jones,
1907-1917
box
folder
1
6
From Frank Onstatt and James T. Owens (2) handwritten
copies (written draft and final copy) recounting Zane Grey's Grand Canyon trip
with C. J. Jones, Fredonia, AZ.,
1907
1
6
From New York Governor John A, Dix,
April 18,
1911
1
6
From C. J. Jones in France,
April 1,
1914
1
6
From C. J. Jones [London],
1914
1
6
C. J. Jones, London (to whom?),
September 20,
1914
1
6
From C. J. Jones(?) to James Coddington,
September 5,
1916
1
6
From "Buffalo" Jones to Progressive Party,
October 25,
1916
1
6
From Jim Owens,
January 7,
1917
1
6
From C.T. Jones to Edmund Seymour, San Antonio,
April 1,
1917
1
6
From C. Goodnight to C.T. Jones, Goodnight, Texas,
April 9,
1917
1
6
From C.T. Jones to C. Goodnight, San Antonio,
April 16,
1917
Includes articles about C. J. Jones, flyers regarding various
events, advertising brochures, promotional materials for Jones' financial
activities, and American Bison Society publications
1912, 1924 and 1926.
Subseries: Publications,
ca.1901-1926
box
folder
1
7
Report of the American Bison Society [in envelope],
1924-1926
1
7
Denver Post advertisement regarding "Buffalo,"
1
7
Jones show [2 photocopies],
1916
1
7
Glacier National Park brochure,
1
7
Kansas City Times article [photocopy],
October 7,
1919
1
7
Lecture bulletin for "Buffalo" Jones,
1907
1
7
Article
The Real Conquest of the West,
1907
1
7
C. J. Jones article
The Capture of Mountain Sheep[photocopy],
ca.1901
1
7
Advertising bulletin proof page,
1
7
Advertising bulletin for "Buffalo" Jones film of live
animal captures in Africa,
ca.1916
1
7
Book excerpt from
Charles Goodnight : cowman and plainsman by J.
Evetts Haley, page 453,
Subseries: Publications,
ca.1911-1990
box
folder
1
8
Advertising flyers(3) for Persiarino lamb from the
Buffalo Jones Hybridizing Station, Las Vegas and Portales, New Mexico,
1
8
C. J. Jones (1) page biography from
Arctic vol. 37, no. 2;
, June,
1984
1
8
Full page magazine photo on reverse side (by Cherry
Kearton),
ca.191l
1
8
Canadian Camp Ninth Annual Dinner Announcement;
drawing on cover of guest of honor, C. J. Jones,
March 6,
1911
1
8
American Bison Society dinner announcement at
Delmonico's,
February 23,
1912
1
8
U.S. News and World Report, with cover photo of
Buffalo Bill Cody, Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Jones,
May 21,
1990
1
8
Arizona Highways Magazinearticle about C. J.
Jones, with cover photo of Buffalo Bill Cody, Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Jones,
September
,1978
Portraits of Charles Jones; Jesse Jones; Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill
and Buffalo Jones together; photographs of bison herds; sheep flocks; and
African animal capture. Some original photographs, some copy photographs, and
some photocopies of original photographs.
Arrangement:
Dimension (small to large)
Subseries: Photographs
, 1872-1941
box
folder
1
10
C. J. Jones, 1872; 4x2" New York Gallery Print,
St.Joseph MO., by W.T. Duer Buffalo herd with Cowboy, on 4x5" matte board,
1
10
Man with two "Persiarino Sheep,"
1
10
Three tents in woods,
1
10
C. J. Jones in Stetson hat, signed [photo from
magazine],
1
10
Cowboy and five cattle,
1
10
Mountain Lion on chain in barn loft. Inscription:
"Captured Mountain Lion Yellowstone Park"
1
10
Small Buffalo herd (20) on grassland,
1
10
C. J. Jones portrait with hat and necktie,
1
10
Buffalo along fence in gullied area, McCook, Nebraska
; inscription reads: "1881 Compliments R. E. Stotts 1941, "
, 1881
1
10
C. J. Jones, montage of cutout photographs with inset
of rhinoceros,
1
10
Jessie Jones Phillips [center], youngest daughter of
C. J. Jones, in 1920's era clothes with Chief Turtle and Chief Eagle, both in
Plains Indian (Blackfeet?) headdress, "She's an Indian Princess" written on
back of photo,
1
10
Jim Owens next to a tree, "The Denver and Rio Grande
Western R.R. Co." stamp on back of photograph,
1
10
Two lambs balanced on plank,
1
10
C. J. Jones photo, (2) signed copy photographs,
Subseries: Photograph / Postcard,
box
folder
1
10
Persiarino Sheep Postcard advertising C. J. Jones
breeding business,
Subseries: Photocopies of photographs,
ca.1890-1920's
box
folder
1
11
Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Jones; 2
different poses; 3 photocopies total,
1
11
Jessie Jones Phillips with Chief Turtle and Chief
Eagle,
ca.1920's
Subseries: Photocopies of photographs and etchings,
ca.1902-1920's
box
folder
1
11
C. J. Jones standing by irrigation flume
1
11
Child in stagecoach, man standing outside,
1
11
Cowboys (3) in woods by lake,
1
11
Pack trip w/ 15 people, trees in background,
1
11
Cowboys in mountains taking in scenic views,
1
11
Fred Harvey Corporation postcard of Indian farmers,
[photocopy of etching],
1
11
Grand Canyon view [Detroit Photography Company],
1902
Subseries: Photocopies,
box
folder
1
11
Persiarino Sheep on grassland
1
11
Two Buffalo in yolk pulling sled
1
11
Yellowstone Park stagecoach
1
11
Drawing of (2) Cowboys trying to lasso African lion
1
11
Man seated next to Gorilla
1
11
Three men holding Chimpanzee; [on same page] cartoon
of C. J. Jones in Africa
1
11
Buffalo Jones Broadsides (2) advertising motion
pictures of African live animal captures
Scrapbook with articles, correspondence and photographs regarding C.
J. Jones activities ranging from buffalo raising; to Warden of Yellowstone; to
African animal capture. Scrapbook photographs (from magazines) are thought to
have been compiled by his daughter, Olive.
box
folder
2
1
Scrapbook of C.J. Jones Activities and History,
1890-1979
