Emmett Dalton Collection, 1920-1941; 2001

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Summary

Creators:
Dalton, Emmett and Seger, Richard
Abstract:
The Emmett Dalton Collection contains materials related to Emmett Dalton, a one-time bank robber and member of the Dalton Gang. He was the sole survivor of an attempted double bank robbery in Coffeyville Kansas in 1892. He was convicted for second degree murder and served 14 ½ years of a life sentence until he was pardoned for good behavior. After he was released from prison, he worked in real estate and film production, wrote about his experiences in the Dalton Gang, and promoted prison reform. This small collection contains a typewritten manuscript copy of his autobiography titled West of 96, photographs, news clippings, and an inscribed Bible. Most materials are from the 1930s.
Extent:
1 Linear Feet 2 flat boxes; 4 folders and 2 phase boxes.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Emmett Dalton Collection, 1930-1941; 2001, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MSA.49; [folder number] [folder title][date].

Background

Scope and content:

This small collection contains materials related to Emmett Dalton, written by or about him and his experiences with the Dalton Gang. It includes typewritten manuscript copies of Dalton's autobiography titled West of 96, news clippings about Emmett Dalton, several photographs including a portrait of Dalton, and a Bible inscribed by Dalton's wife, Julia Johnson. Most of the materials are from the 1930s.

Biographical / historical:

Emmett Dalton (1871 – 1937) was one of 15 children born to Adeline Younger and Lewis Dalton. Emmett was the youngest of four brothers that were involved with the Dalton Gang. The Dalton Gang was notorious for a spree of train and bank robberies committed between May 1891 and October 1892. On October 5, 1892, five members of the Dalton Gang attempted to rob two banks at the same time in Coffeyville, Kansas. Local townspeople realized what was happening and engaged in a shoot-out with the bank robbers. The shoot-out injured four people and resulted in the deaths of four Dalton Gang members, three citizens, and the Town Marshal. Emmett Dalton survived despite being shot multiple times and left for dead. He was sentenced to life in prison for second degree murder. The Kansas Governor, Edward Hoch, pardoned Dalton for good behavior after serving 14 ½ years. Dalton married his childhood sweetheart Julia Johnson, and they eventually moved to Southern California where Dalton worked in real estate and the film industry. He worked on and starred in several short serials and productions including The Last Stand of the Dalton Boys, Beyond the Law, and Man of the Desert, and wrote two versions of his autobiography, West of 96 and When the Dalton's Rode. Throughout his career he capitalized on his outlaw notoriety while publicly disavowing "outlawry" and advocating for prison reform. Emmett Dalton died in Southern California in 1937. His autobiography When the Dalton's Rode was made into a movie in 1940.

References

"Dalton Gang." The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 19, July 2025 from https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=DA006

"Dalton Gang gone as Last Man Dies." New York Times. 13, July 1937. Retrieved from https://nyti.ms/4k8wtRW

Rasmussen, Cecilia. "Outlaw Emmett Dalton Went From Guns to Religion to Show Biz." Los Angeles Times. 15, July, 2001. Outlaw Emmett Dalton Went From Guns to Religion to Show Biz - Los Angeles Times

Acquisition information:
Donated by Richard Seger, 2008.
Processing information:

Processing and finding aid completed by Molly Smith, 2025.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged by material into 4 folders and 2 phase boxes.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library and Archives at the Autry. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

Emmett Dalton Collection, 1930-1941; 2001, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MSA.49; [folder number] [folder title][date].

Location of this collection:
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027, US
Contact:
(747) 201-8448
rroom@theautry.org
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