Fred James Dodge Papers mssDodge
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
April 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Fred James Dodge papers
Creator:
Dodge, Fred,
1854-1938
Identifier/Call Number: mssDodge
Physical Description:
12.87 Linear Feet
(9 boxes, 1 volume, 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): 1890-1938
Abstract: A collection of correspondence,
records, reports, criminal cases, and photographs belonging to Fred James Dodge, Chief
Special Agent for Wells Fargo and Company.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Fred James Dodge papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from William Wreden, August 1963.
Biographical / Historical
Fred James Dodge (1854-1938) was born on August 29, 1854, at Spring Valley in Butte County,
California; he accompanied his father's pack-train taking supplies to all but inaccessible
gold camps in various mountain areas. Dodge began as a stage-driver in California and Nevada
and later became a special investigator for Wells, Fargo and Co. for forty years. He was
known for his relentless search for justice during his many years as chief special agent.
Dodge died on December 22, 1938.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of 2,313 items from 1890 to 1938; it includes letters, documents
and 116 photographs related to the activities of Wells, Fargo and Co., special agent Fred
James Dodge. Subject matter includes nine criminal investigations in Texas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas and Louisiana from 1893 to 1912. The photographs are of outlaws and others; the
collection also includes lists of criminals, and twenty-three letters to and from John P.
Clum, 1930 to 1932. There is also a small amount of Dodge's personal and business papers,
reports, miscellaneous items and ephemera.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1965. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series: 1. Personal and business papers, correspondence; 2.
Criminal cases; 3. Photographs: criminals and general; 4. Records, reports, miscellaneous
and ephemera.
General
Former call number: mssDodge papers.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Criminal investigations
Law enforcement -- West (U.S.) -- History -- 19th century
Outlaws -- West (U.S.)
Private investigators -- West (U.S.)
Train robberies -- West (U.S.)
Business papers -- West (U.S.)
Letters (correspondence) -- West (U.S.)
Personal papers -- West (U.S.)
Photographs -- West (U.S.)
Clum, John P.,
1851-1932
Wells, Fargo &
Company
Box 1
Personal and business papers, correspondence
1891-1938
Scope and Contents
Box includes personal papers (1900-1928), business papers (1900-1920), and general
correspondence (1891-1938).
Box 2
Charles A. Beeler
1898 December 28
Scope and Contents
Charles A. Beeler was a Wells Fargo delivery man at San Antonio, Texas. Embezzlement,
$50,000, consigned to Southern Pacific Paymaster at San Antonio.
Box 3
J.B. Humphrey
1908 May 14
Scope and Contents
French, New Mexico Robbery, Wells Fargo Depot, $35,000, by J. B. Humphrey, alias
Arkansas ex-convict.
Box 4
J.B. Humphrey
1908 May 14
Box 5
Kansas City Southern train - Charles A. Ketchum
1892-1912
Scope and Contents
Kansas City Southern Trains numbers 4 and 9 robberies; Charles A. Ketchum, alias
Charles A. Hardin, Wells Fargo Messenger and ex-convict. Embezzlement, $50,000, en
route from New York to Galveston, Texas.
Box 6
Lake Charles, Louisiana
1912 November 13
Scope and Contents
Lake Charles, Louisiana Robbery, Wells Fargo office, $20,000.
Box 7
Rock Island train - Philip Elmer Tabor
1895-1913
Scope and Contents
Rock Island Train No. 43, Robbery near Wister, Oklahoma, by Frank Price, alias Frank
Edwards, alias Fleming; Sugarland Case, Texas, Robbery by Thompson and Crain; Philip
Elmer Tabor, ex-convict, Robbery, Messenger Lord, Southern Pacific Train No. 9 out of
New Orleans.
Box 8, Folder 1-90
Photographs: criminals and general
undated
Box 9
Records, reports, miscellaneous, and ephemera
1890-1932
Scope and Contents
Box contains John P. Clum correspondence with Dodge and clippings; James Marshall,
Chief of Police, Cripple Creek, Colorado (newspaper accounts); E.J. Reilly, Fire
Inspector, Report on fire danger at Wells Fargo...; miscellaneous material and
ephemera.
Volume 1
List of crimes and Wells Fargo criminals
1891-1895
Scope and Contents
Removed from box 9 and housed in a large envelope.
Folder 1
Photograph of Captain Fred James Dodge with President Theodore Roosevelt, et
al., in Texas
undated
Scope and Contents
Removed from box 8, flattened and encapsulated in mylar.
