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Finding Aid to the William Alexander Carter Papers, 1837-1975, bulk 1860-1869
BANC MSS 99/75 p  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
The William Alexander Carter papers, 1837-1975 (bulk 1860-1869) contains Carter's business and personal papers as a sutler at Fort Bridger, Utah Territory. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, mainly to Carter, along with legal papers, financial records, and items relating to Carter and to his family. The papers give a detailed view of a busy period during the history of Fort Bridger as a center of regional business and government, and likewise reflect the business, political, and personal aspects of Carter's career during an active and successful period. Carter's business involved people from all over the United States, but regional centers like Salt Lake City and St. Louis are particularly well represented, as is New York City.
Background
William A. Carter of Virginia began his army service in the Seminole War and became a sutler or purveyor after his discharge. Later, as a Missouri settler and an 1850 overland emigrant to California, Carter came to Fort Bridger with Albert Johnston's Utah Expedition in 1857 and spent the rest of his life there as a sutler and post trader. In addition to his business provisioning emigrants traveling overland, Carter was active in mining, lumbering, and ranching. He was his own bookkeeper, a custodian of government funds, and served in a number of public offices, including those of probate judge, justice of the peace, and notary public. He was known as a friend of the Shoshone and Ute Indians. Carter unsuccessfully solicited an appointment as Wyoming Territory's first governor, and was a public relations man for Fort Bridger and the area, giving enthusiastic accounts during his regular trips to Virginia and Washington D.C. After his death in 1881 until 1890, his widow, Mary E. Carter, and their children carried on business at Fort Bridger.
Extent
Number of containers: 5 boxes and 2 oversize folders Linear feet: 2.3
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720186000. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Availability
Collection is open for research.