Finding Aid to the William H. Hardy Manuscript Collection MS.630

Holly Rose Larson
Library and Archives at the Autry
2012 October 25
210 South Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
rroom@theautry.org


Contributing Institution: Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: William H. Hardy Manuscript Collection
Creator: Hardy, William Harrison, Captain
Identifier/Call Number: MS.630
Physical Description: 0.1 Linear Feet (4 folders)
Date: undated
Abstract: This is a collection of manuscripts by Captain W. H. Hardy regarding his life and experiences in Arizona from 1867-1887. Some were printed in the newspaper Mohave County Miner between 1887 and 1889. These are typed manuscripts and copies, all of which are undated.
Language of Material: English .

Scope and Contents

This is a collection of manuscripts by Captain W. H. Hardy regarding his life and experiences in Arizona from 1867-1887. Some were printed in the newspaper Mohave County Miner between 1887 and 1889. These are typed manuscripts and copies, all of which are undated. Titles of the manuscripts are "Arizona Twenty Years Ago," "Captain Hardy Tells What He Knows About The Eastern Boundaries of the County," "Horse Sense," and "That Famous Ride." "That Famous Ride" contains a portion by Albert Franklin Banta.

Biographical Note

William Harrison Hardy, born in Allegany County, New York on April 25, 1823, was a pioneer adventurer, town builder, and businessman. He went to California with a wagon train in 1849 and became "Captain Hardy" when elected captain of the company. Captain Hardy, as he was known for the rest of his life, was drawn to the new frontier of the Territory of Arizona and founded the town of Hardyville, in 1865, at the approximate site of the present day Bullhead City. He erected a cluster of adobe buildings for a mercantile store, hotel, and saloon. He took an active, influential role in Territorial politics. He established the post office (and invented a riveted mail sack still in use today), ferry crossing at Hardyville, and a stage line and mail route to Prescott on a toll road.
In later years Captain Hardy was a member of the first board of prison commissioners who supervised the construction of the Arizona Territorial Prison at Yuma. He died a man of modest means at the home of his sister in Whittier, California in June 1906.

Preferred Citation

William H. Hardy Manuscript Collection, undated, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.630; [folder number] [folder title][date].

Processing history

Processed by Glenna Schroeder, circa 1977-1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012 October 25, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).

Acquisition

Donated to the Library as part of the Munk Library of Arizoniana, 1910 April 7.

Conditions Governing Use

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 Head of Research Services and Archives. 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.

Conditions Governing Access

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Captain Hardy Tells What He Knows About The Eastern Boundaries of the County
Arizona -- History
Indians of North America -- Arizona
Typescripts
That Famous Ride Mohave County Miner Arizona twenty years ago Horse Sense