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Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna of his arrival in North Dakota. He details the problems that have arisen due to the winter weather. The number of cattle lost due to the weather is “wholly trifling.” He feels he will get through all right if he can square his debt.
1886-03-20
President Roosevelt did not know J. Henderson Macauley’s location. Joseph A. Ferris is still at Medora, North Dakota. Roosevelt wonders if MacAuley ever thinks of their buffalo hunt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-21
Senator McCumber reviews his understanding of the situation surrounding the appointment of Sylvane M. Ferris to a position in North Dakota. He agrees that Ferris deserves a more prominent position and believes that arrangements can be made shortly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-23
Hermann Hagedorn’s 1919 silent film in which he interviews former friends of Theodore Roosevelt’s from his time in the North Dakota Badlands. Included are images of Medora, North Dakota, in 1919 and a cattle roundup. W. W. Reid was the principal photographer and the film was sponsored by the Roosevelt Memorial Association (Theodore Roosevelt Association).
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1919
The President of the Northern Pacific Refrigerator Car Company, the Marquis de Morès, writes to Theodore Roosevelt while in a jail cell awaiting trial for murder. He claims Joe Ferris is responsible for getting him indicted and he has read newspaper accounts of Roosevelt fighting with Morès. Morès wants to know if Roosevelt is responsible for the accounts in the paper because he thought Roosevelt was his friend.
1885-09-03
Photograph of Joseph A. Ferris’s granddaughter Ethel Garnet Benson (left), her husband, Carl Arthur Benson (right), and their daughter (center) at the Maltese Cross Ranch site, seven miles south of the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-08-22
Photograph of an informational display entitled “Roosevelt’s Friends,” which discusses Theodore Roosevelt’s contemporaries during his time in the badlands; museum exhibit #26 in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1967-03-30
Article highlights the history of Theodore Roosevelt’s ranches in the North Dakota Badlands and their state as of the writing.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1937-09-20
William O. Trenor, owner of the Maltese Cross Ranch, provides historical information on the Maltese Cross Ranch from “a noted author.”
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1938-03-04
Memorandum encloses three separate documents pertaining to the Maltese Cross Ranch and the Elkhorn Ranch, including a memo from the acting regional historian which recommends not acquiring the Maltese Cross Ranch and two autobiographical excerpts (copies) from Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1940-03-13
Lewis F. Crawford discusses a range of topics, including Theodore Roosevelt’s ranching skills, cowboy songs, and the formation of the stockmen’s association.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1918-04-26
The letter writer provides Albert T. Volwiler with the names of individuals who have connections to the Medora, North Dakota, area.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1918-03-04
Copy of an article written to argue for the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin. The cabin was to be exhibited at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and some question had arisen regarding its authenticity. This article includes notarized statements from Sylvane M. Ferris, Howard Eaton, and Joseph A. Ferris.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1904-03-19
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.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1950-05-24
William Oren Trenor, current owner of the land that made up Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross ranch, is building two cabins based on the buildings used by Roosevelt. He has been advised by Joseph A. Ferris and George W. Myers.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1936-08-03
Historian Ray H. Mattison requests information about the location of the Elkhorn Ranch site from Hermann Hagedorn.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-11-03
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.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-11-12
Historian Ray H. Mattison writes to Hermann Hagedorn about letters from Theodore Roosevelt to Sylvane M. Ferris and Joseph A. Ferris.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-11-12
Typed transcript of an article that appeared in the Bismarck Tribune, summarizing current events in Medora, North Dakota, as described in the Bad Lands Cow Boy.
1886-12-09
Transcription of an excerpt from William Wingate Sewall’s ledger book noting financial transactions for the Elkhorn Ranch.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1885-1886