Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980 Archives - Theodore Roosevelt Center

CCC camp shed

Photograph of a shed from a Civilian Conservation Corps camp located near Jones Creek in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-07-29

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

A study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin

Historian Ray H. Mattison reports on his study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin. Mattison concludes that the cabin in question is the one occupied by Roosevelt when he first moved to Medora, North Dakota. Whether or not it was his home beyond 1885, it continued to be the base of Roosevelt’s cattle ranching operation. In addition to a thorough history of Roosevelt’s time in the Badlands Region and the efforts of others to preserve and/or showcase the Maltese Cross cabin, the report includes photos and sworn affidavits from Medora locals.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-05-24

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Rodney C. Loehr

Ray H. Mattison lost the address for the Forester who is going to analyze the timber from Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin. He hopes Rodney C. Loehr can resend it. Mattison enjoyed meeting Loehr at the Minnesota Historical Society and is grateful for his assistance.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-04-16

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Rodney C. Loehr

Ray H. Mattison provides a brief background on the Maltese Cross cabin and requests to have pieces of wood from the cabin tested.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-04-26

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Russell Reid

Ray H. Mattison requests materials from the North Dakota State Historical Society to complete the Maltese Cross cabin study.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-04-27

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Russell Reid

Ray H. Mattison informs North Dakota State Historical Society Superintendent Reid of the results of the testing done on Maltese Cross cabin wood samples.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-05-08

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Roy P. Johnson

Ray H. Mattison asks Roy P. Johnson what information John C. Witherow had to base his argument that Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin in Bismarck, North Dakota, was not authentic. Mattison notes that the March 19, 1904, Dickinson Press did not agree with Witherow’s contention. He would like a copy of the article Johnson wrote for the Fargo Forum on the subject. Mattison will write to Edward S. Luce at the Custer Battlefield National Monument to draw his attention to the recent article on Jacob Horner that Johnson wrote for the North Dakota historical quarterly.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-07-14

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Roy P. Johnson

Ray H. Mattison thanks Roy P. Johnson for his hard work gathering and sending him research materials regarding the authenticity of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross cabin. The information Mattison has gathered from interviewing old timers backs the authenticity of the cabin thus far, although he still has more people to interview. Mattison believes Hermann Hagedorn is incorrect in saying that Roosevelt went to Red River country in Nebraska in 1882, because there is Red River in Nebraska. He notes a paragraph in Roosevelt’s 1920 autobiography in which the President talks about his first trip to Fargo, North Dakota in 1883, not 1882.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-07-23

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Roy P. Johnson

Ray H. Mattison thanks Roy P. Johnson for loaning him the research materials regarding the authenticity of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin. He lets Johnson know there will be a delay in sending back the materials back because he wants to copy much of it.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-08-09

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Roy P. Johnson

Ray H. Mattison returns the archive materials that Roy P. Johnson lent him regarding the authenticity of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin. Mattison would like to travel to Bismarck before he makes his final report on the cabin.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-08-12

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Jay Brown

Ray H. Mattison asks Jay W. Brown if he can provide any information on the condition of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin, including the logs, when he assisted in dismantling it so the cabin could be shipped to the St Louis World Fair in 1904. Brown’s handwritten reply is included. He says the logs were in good condition at the time. Theodore Roosevelt was able to identify the cabin in St. Louis because of the Maltese Cross Brand on the left front corner of the building. The brand is made out of 45 Sharps Rifle cartridges.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-10-08

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Jay W. Brown

Ray H. Mattison thanks Jay W. Brown for the information regarding the Maltese Cross Cabin.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-11-04

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Memorandum from Ray H. Mattison to Allyn F. Hanks

Ray H. Mattison sends Allyn F. Hanks the rough draft of his report on the authenticity of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin for review and comments.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-02-16

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Russell Reid

Ray H. Mattison encloses a rough draft of his report on the authenticity of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin for Russell Reid to review. He asks Reid if the North Dakota Historical Society has a negative of the cabin as it appears in the present.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-02-16

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Hermann Hagedorn

Historian Ray H. Mattison writes to Hermann Hagedorn about letters from Theodore Roosevelt to Sylvane M. Ferris and Joseph A. Ferris.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-11-12

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Albert T. Volwiler

Historian Ray H. Mattison asks Albert T. Volwiler for further details regarding the Elkhorn Ranch and the Maltese Cross Cabin. He also seeks clarification on certain transfers of property as well as more information concerning Theodore Roosevelt’s ranching activities at these locations.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-11-12

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Fred Ramus

Historian Ray H. Mattison encloses photographs of supposed Elkhorn Ranch house site and asks Fred Ramus to confirm the location.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-11-03

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Letter from Ray H. Mattison to Henry J. Walz

Historian Ray H. Mattison requests information from Henry J. Walz based on two enclosed photographs of the Wiedeman Ranch and the ostensible site of the Elkhorn Ranch. He also notes that Walz was likely the last occupant of the Elkhorn Ranch house.