Clyde H. Porter and Mae Reed Porter papers, 1928-1956

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Summary

Creators:
Porter, Clyde, 1889-1958
Abstract:
A collection of research and secondary material about the fur trade in the Rocky Mountains compiled by Clyde H. Porter and Mae Reed Porter.
Extent:
15.8 Linear Feet (19 boxes, 1 notebook)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Clyde H. Porter and Mae Reed Porter papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of approximately 4000 items from 1928 to 1956, it consists of the research files of Clyde H. Porter and Mae Reed Porter; the collection also contains biographical material, business papers, correspondence, manuscripts, two tins of microfilm, three rolls of duplicates, and ephemera. There are research notes for the book, Ruxton of the Rockies (1950) and other books concerning the Rocky Mountain region. There is also secondary source material pertaining to German immigration to Texas and to various fur traders and adventurers, including Toussaint Charbonneau, August Chouteau, and George Ruxton.

Biographical / historical:

Clyde H. Porter (1889-1958) and his wife Mae Reed Porter (1889-1969) studied and wrote about the early exploration, development, and fur trade of the Far West, particularly the Rocky Mountain area. Clyde H. Porter, the son of Joseph and Jennie Henderson Porter, was born in St. Louis, Missouri; he attended Iowa State College where he met Mae Reed, whom he married in 1910. After Clyde's service in the U.S. Army during World War I, the Porters moved to Kansas City where Clyde gradually rose through the ranks to become an executive for the Kansas City Power and Light Company. Both Clyde and Mae Porter were passionate about the history of the American West. Mae Porter was an historian and art collector in her own right who collaborated with Bernard DeVoto on his book Across the Wide Missouri. This work won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 1948. After thirty-five years of service at the Kansas City Power and Light Company, Clyde retired and began assisting Mae with her historical research. Cooperatively, the Porters contributed to at least two books entitled Ruxton of the Rockies (1950) and Matt Field on the Santa Fe Trail (1960).

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mae Reed Porter, March 1959.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1965. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement:

Organized in the following series: 1. Biographical data; 2. Business papers; 3. General correspondence; 4. Manuscripts; 5. Records; 6. Miscellaneous notes, photographs, and newspaper clippings; 7. Duplicates.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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]. Clyde H. Porter and Mae Reed Porter papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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