Guide to the Richardson Family Collection

Collection

Identifier: H67-163

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The Richardson Family Collection contains personal correspondence, financial records, awards/certificates, personal records, educational records, promotional literature, tourist literature, business cards, Cheyenne Frontier Days records, business and financial records of the Chihuahua Lumber Company, Consolidated Oil Royalty Company, the Richardson Brothers, and the Richardson Trust Association, masonic records, and writings of Warren Richardson, Sr. Much of the correspondence reveals much about early Cheyenne and the family’s social and intellectual interests. There is a file called "Richardson Family Correspondence" which contains letters to whom the original addressee is unknown.

Dates

1851-1961

Creator

Richardson Family (Family)

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of print materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Biographical Note

The Richardson family was a prominent Cheyenne family. Originally the family began in the newspaper trade. After their arrival in Cheyenne in 1867-1868, the Richardsons established successful business ventures in Colorado, Wyoming, and Mexico. In addition, the family was active in social circles, the Episcopal Church, Masons, Shriners, and Knights of Pythias. With their wealth, they established a trust for the family and later established an educational endowment, and funded several noteworthy projects in the Cheyenne-Laramie area.

Warren and Mary Ann (Kabis) Richardson and their three children, Victoria, Warren Jr, and Clarence arrived in Cheyenne on April 17, 1870 from the East. Warren Sr. became involved in the newspaper trade in town as editor of the Wyoming Daily Leader, a profession that a couple of his sons followed him into. He was also on the First National Bank board and the family was active in the Episcopal Church. Three additional children were born in Cheyenne: Valeria, Emil, and Arthur. Arthur died in 1900 at the age of 24. At the time, he was editor of the Cheyenne Sun newspaper and had just been elected to the state legislature.

The three remaining Richardson brothers, Warren Jr, Clarence and Emil, were some of the initial investors in the Salt Creek oil fields of Natrona County and made multimillion dollar fortunes there. The Brothers also had a lumber business in Old Mexico. The brothers were all very active in the Masonic organizations. Clarence was a part of the Klondike Gold Rush in Alaska, mining in Leadville, Colorado and a floor trader in the New York Stock Exchange before settling down to the oil business in Natrona County. Warren Richardson, Jr., was a member of the 1st Cheyenne Frontier Days Committee. Richardson Laboratory at the Laramie County Memorial Hospital dedicated in memory of the matriarch.

The family was very close knit and most lived in the palatial family home one block south of the Capitol Building until their deaths.

Extent

9 cubic feet

Additional Description

Abstract

The Richardson Family Collection contains records created and collected by the family of Warren and Mary Ann (Kabis) Richardson, a pioneer family in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Arrangement

This collection is divided into two series: Records and Publications. In some cases, large records that are not compatible with folders are filed separately and designated oversize.

Acquisition Information

Purchased in 1967 following the death of Valeria Richardson. The State of Wyoming purchased the Richardson Mansion at 2220 Capitol in Cheyenne and its furnishing. Much of the furniture was added to the Wyoming State Museum’s collection, and the photographs and documents to the Wyoming State Archives’ collection. The house was torn down in 1968 to make room for the Hathaway Building.