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Guide to the Barton Thomas Ryan Collection

 Collection
Identifier: HC-73

Scope and Contents

The collection consists mainly of correspondence but also includes military, social, business and financial records. The bulk being letters from Ryan and Ridding family members and friends. Topics include life in Burlington, Iowa, the Civil War, the military, and general life in the American West. Of particular interest are letters to and from Mary Ridding as the two tried to keep alive their nearly 1000-mile-love affair. In these letters, Ryan also talks about military life at Fort Steele in the 1870s.

Dates

  • 1848 - 1908

Language of Materials

English .

Conditions Governing Access

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

Conditions Governing Use

The collection is opern for research though some record types may be restriced. Box 4 contains various fire- or water-damaged records which need preservation work, if possible. Until then, access is restricted.

Biographical / Historical

Barton Thomas "Tom" Ryan (1839-1908) was a rancher in the Saratoga area. Born in Indiana, he was raised in Burlington, Iowa, along the Mississippi River. During the Civil War, he enlisted with the 7th Iowa Calvary and was stationed at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After the war, he remained with the Army quartermaster corps and was stationed at Fort Randall in South Dakota and later at Fort Steele in Wyoming. He returned to Iowa in 1871 to marry his sweetheart, Mary Ridding. The couple returned to Fort Steele and after his term of service ended, they developed a successful ranch in the Saratoga area. He died on August 24, 1908.

Extent

2 cubic feet

Abstract

The collection consists mainly of correspondence but also includes military, social, business and financial records. The bulk of the collection consists of letters from Ryan and Ridding family members and friends. Topics include life in Burlington, Iowa, the Civil War, the military, and general life in the American West. Of particular interest are letters to and from Mary Ridding as the two tried to keep alive their nearly 1000-mile-love affair. In these letters, Ryan also talks about military life at Fort Steele in the 1870s.

Processing Information

Processed by Carl Hallberg. Findinig aid last updated 2023. Finding aid encoded in 2023.

Title
Guide to the Barton Thomas Ryan Collection, 1848-1908
Author
Finding aid created by Carl Hallberg
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the Wyoming State Archives, Wyoming Cultural Resources Division, Wyoming Department of State Parks & Cultural Resources Repository

Contact:
Barrett Building
2301 Central Avenue
Cheyenne Wyoming 82002 United States
(307) 777-7826