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Porter (Clyde H. and Mae Reed) Papers
mssPortercm  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Scope and Contents
  • Processing Information
  • Arrangement
  • General

  • Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
    Title: Clyde H. Porter and Mae Reed Porter papers
    Creator: Porter, Clyde, 1889-1958
    Identifier/Call Number: mssPortercm
    Physical Description: 15.8 Linear Feet (19 boxes, 1 notebook)
    Date (inclusive): 1928-1956
    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.
    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]. Clyde H. Porter and Mae Reed Porter papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Mae Reed Porter, March 1959.

    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).

    Scope and Contents

    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.

    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.

    General

    Former call number: mssPorter papers.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Fur trade -- Rocky Mountains
    Fur trade -- West (U.S.)
    Fur traders -- West (U.S.)
    Germans -- Texas
    Indians of North America -- West (U.S.)
    Rocky Mountains -- Description and travel
    Texas -- Emigration and immigration
    West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
    Business papers -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century
    Ephemera -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century
    Letters (correspondence) -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century
    Manuscripts -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century
    Research (document genres) -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century
    Charbonneau, Toussaint, approximately 1758-approximately 1839
    Chouteau, Auguste, 1750-1829
    Porter, Mae Reed, 1889-1969
    Ruxton, George Frederick, 1820-1848