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Historian Ray H. Mattison is conducting an historical study of the Elkhorn Ranch site for the National Park Service. He asks if any unpublished material regarding Theodore Roosevelt’s time in the Badlands has come to light.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1958-12-04
Historian Ray H. Mattison is conducting an historical study of the Elkhorn Ranch site. He asks if Chester L. Brooks might have any information regarding the site.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1958-12-04
Historian Ray H. Mattison requests access to William Wingate Sewall’s papers for his research of the Elkhorn Ranch site.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1958-12-09
Historian Ray H. Mattison requests access to William Wingate Sewall’s papers for his research of the Elkhorn Ranch site.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1958-12-09
Historian Ray H. Mattison has contacted William Wingate Sewall’s daughters requesting access to their father’s papers. He would like to meet with Hermann Hagedorn in early January.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1958-12-10
Historian Ray H. Mattison thanks Carleton Putnam for the Sewall correspondence which he believes will be helpful. Mattison will be in Washington, D.C., in early January and would like to meet with Putnam.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1958-12-18
Historian Ray H. Mattison appreciates the offer to view William Wingate Sewall’s papers. He asks if there are any artifacts used by Sewall during his time in North Dakota.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1958-12-22
Historian Ray H. Mattison has received the copies of letters from the Sewall papers and believes they contain unique and highly useful information on the Elkhorn Ranch. He asks if there would be further useful information in the Sewall papers as he has reached an agreement with Sewall’s daughters to view the papers.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1958-12-22
Study of Theodore Roosevelt’s ranching activities in the North Dakota Badlands. Also describes his two ranches, the Maltese Cross and the Elkhorn.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Unknown
Evaluation and recommendations on numerous North Dakota historic sites.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1964-02
Historian Ray H. Mattison was aware of the story mentioned by J. A. Huff, but has been unable to verify it.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1950-01-31
Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park Historian Ray H. Mattison would like Regional Director Lawrence C. Merriam and Historian Olaf T. Hagen to verify statements made by Benton C. Bird regarding Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to Yosemite National Park.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-07-01
Historian Ray H. Mattison is researching Henry S. Boice and the 777 Ranch. He asks if John H. Hansen can provide contact information for Boice’s sons. Hansen responds with information for Henry Boice and Frank S. Boice.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1950-02-16
Historian Ray H. Mattison acknowledges receiving a copy of Willis Huidekoper’s Land of the Dacotahs. He plans to use the booklet in several articles that he is preparing.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-12-31
View of the Elkhorn Ranch site.
1949-10-12
Ray H. Mattison describes the methodology used to try to discover the exact location of Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch. Mattison includes a historical background of the ranch, from its original construction and occupation by Roosevelt, William Wingate Sewall and Wilmot S. Dow, through its later abandonment and deconstruction. The primary method used by Mattison to determine the site of the Elkhorn was through a comparative study of photographs between those taken by Roosevelt in 1886 and contemporary photographs Mattison took in 1949. Additionally, Mattison interviewed a number of “Old Timers,” who were familiar with the Elkhorn Ranch, and who were able to corroborate the conclusions he came to based on the photographs.
1950-01
Ray H. Mattison gives a historical summary of the construction and use of Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch, and discusses the buildings present there. Mattison draws from a number of sources, including books, letters, photographs, and interviews to try to give a complete picture of the ranch and its activities.
1960-05
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Historian Mattison confirms receipt of Professor Taylor’s report, “Archeological Investigations of the Elkhorn Ranch Site.” Mattison also informs Taylor that Paul L. Beaubien, who had performed earlier excavations on the site, has passed away.
1962-07-19
Historian Ray H. Mattison responds to H. Raymond Gregg, the regional chief of interpretation, regarding a proposal that the National Park Service make an intensive investigation of Theodore Roosevelt’s personal papers in order to gather information to make an archaeological investigation of the Elkhorn Ranch site. Mattison notes that he and others have already made thorough investigations into the relevant materials, and he believes there would be little to gain from retreading the same materials. He agrees, however, that the Elkhorn Ranch deserves a detailed study.
1958-09-22
Ray H. Mattison responds to Superintendent Hanks’s request for advice on the content of the address to be given at the dedication ceremony for Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park. Park Historian Mattison includes a number of Roosevelt quotations on a variety of topics and his opinion on the focus of the address.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-05-21