Title: Elizabeth Ellen Roberts
Dates: 1956-1961
Collection Number: MSS 10183
Quantity: .75 ft.
Abstract: Papers consist of correspondence, literary productions, printed material, and miscellanea. Correspondence dated form 1913 to 1961, to and from Elizabeth Roberts and her husband. These letters concern ranching issues, Christmas cards, personal matters, and research information procured from the Department of Agriculture and railroad companies. The collection’s literary productions are made up of autobiographical writings and reminisces, historical writings and informative papers, and research notes and drafts. These writings cover North Dakota and Dakota Territory historical topics and pioneer life. The printed material contains, dating from 1922 to 1960, brochures, Daughters of the American Revolution programs, pamphlets, and circulated poems and writings. Also included are many newspaper clippings from the North Dakota area, Ward’s self heating iron instructions, a 1956 North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Annual Convention magazine, information on the Klondike Ranch in Wyoming, lists of book titles and birds, request cards, drawings, a razor, ration books, and the letterhead of A. B. Berry (father of Elizabeth Roberts).
Provenance: The papers were donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota by Elizabeth Roberts on January 1, 1961.
Property rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to the collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: Photographs from the collection were transferred to the Photo Archives (00003 Elizabeth Ellen Roberts Collection).
Related Collections: 00003 Elizabeth Ellen Roberts Collection
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Elizabeth Ellen Roberts was born to John Lloyd Roberts and Margaret Barr Roberts on March 7, 1872 in Waterloo, IA. She had four sisters: Mary Jane, Katherine, Anne and Nell. On January 21, 1890 she married T. Frank Roberts at Medora (ND). They had three children: one daughter, born ca. 1891 (who died at age 6), Harry (1892) and Ellen (Mrs. Ted Pope) (1895). During her lifetime, Elizabeth worked as a Deputy Game Warden and Rancher. She lived in Waterloo (IA) (to 1875); Minneapolis (MN) (1875-1877); Bismarck (DT) (1877, 1879-1882); Fort Meade, Black Hills (DT) (1877-1879); Custer Trail Ranch, Billings County (1882-1884); Sloping Bottom Ranch near Medora (ND) (1884-1890); Slope County ranch (1892); Shackford, A. C. Huidekoper Ranch on Deep Creek (1892-1898); Gladstone (ND) (1897-1898); Marmarth (ND). Elizabeth Ellen Roberts passed away January 9, 1968, at the Johnstone Memorial Nursing Home in Beach (ND).
Source:
Research conducted by Barbara Handy-Marchello on March 3, 2008
Billings County Pioneer (Medora), January 18, 1968
T. F. (Thomas Franklin) Roberts passed away at age 95 in a Bowman hospital March 15, 1954.
He was born at LeSueur, Minn. March 5, 1859. He came to Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory in 1879 and then moved to the Alex Larvey ranch in what is now Mobridge. He was a mail stage driver between Fort Yates and Fort Sully. He worked for A. C. Huidekoper and Howard Eaton of the Custer Trail Ranch in the Badlands. There he knew Teddy Roosevelt and the Marquis De Mores.
He had his own ranches near Medora and Amidon, raising horses.
He married Elizabeth Roberts of Medora January 21, 1890. Their son Harry is caretaker of the Marquis De Mores chateau in Medora. Their daughter, Mrs. Ted Pope lives in Bowman. Historian Chester Brooks of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park interviewed Roberts many times for books he was writing about Roosevelt and Badlands history. Honorary pallbearers include Ben Bird, Einar Olstad, Chester Brooks, Russell Reid, George Will, George Osterhaut, Chris Rasmussen, William Kunkel, and Barney Connell. – Dickinson Press, March 18-19, 1954
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Correspondence, 1916-1925
2 Correspondence, 1926-1961 and n.d.
3 Literary productions – historical writings and drafts, ca. 1930’s and 1940’s and n.d.
4 Literary productions – autobiographical material, ca. 1930’s and 1940’s and n.d.
5 Literary productions – research notes, ca. 1930’s and 1940’s and n.d.
6 Printed material, 1922-1960 and n.d.
Box 2:
1 Newspaper clippings, 1912-1949 and n.d.
2 Miscellaneous, ca. 1880’s-1940’s and n.d.
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