William L. Dickinson Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 236

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The William L. Dickinson Papers consists of two series: correspondence and subject files. The Correspondence Series, arranged chronologically, contains early letters to L. J. Dickinson (1896-1908) and some correspondence to William Dickinson from Wisconsin University (1916-1918). There are a number of letters to William and Agnes from his father (1919-1925), also letters from a ranch friend, Lawrence Nordquist (1929), to the abstract company from the North Dakota Highway Department (1933). There is a letter from his dog, Major (1934), and several concerning wheat allotments (1935-1937), a 1937 letter concerning land classification and a soil survey by NDAC, one from the Collection and Land Department (1939) and on from author, Jack Rollinson (1941). There is a 1949 letter to the Bureau of Reclamation and several from Frances Dickinson to Leonard Sackett of the Institute.

The Subject Series includes an 1891 autograph book and the diary of Mr. Dickinson covering his years as a rancher (1914, 1917-1922, 1925). There is biographical material about the Dickinson family, and papers from a University of Wisconsin Extension course in business (1917-1918). Concerning financial matters, there are clippings and papers on banks, Savings and Loan Companies, stock, books of expenses and receipts (1936-1940), records of the Dickinson Abstract Company (1926-1950), a group of statements, receipts and accounts, (notably from) L.J. Dickinson and Son Company (1905-1913), and automobile expenses (1933-1934). There is a ledger from the W.L. Dickinson Ranch (1914-1918) and miscellaneous papers.

There are newspaper clippings on two hotel fires in Dickinson (1949, 1950). Among numerous clippings and papers on government matters are those on taxes and audits in Cass County (1938-1941), taxes, census figures, federal agencies, budgets of North Dakota counties (1930-1941), the State Bank, school funds, community property, and “North Dakota Whirligig” concerning North Dakota State government (1933-1949). There is also material on tax budgets, levies from Stark County (including papers of the Stark County Taxpayers Association (1936-1940), and clippings on the federal government including material on Franklin Roosevelt (1936-1940) and on the Brannon plan (1949). From Mr. Dickinson’s graduation in 1895 are the Class prophecy and program. Of interest are a large number of clippings on a variety of historical subjects from the West including the Badlands, the Marquis de Mores, and Buffalo Bill with a 1911 copy of Buffalo Bill Stories. Clippings on Indians include a ceremony at Crazy Horse’s Village, battles with Chief Joseph and others, and Indian raids. Among characters described are; “Liver Eating” Johnson, Martha “Clamity Jane” Cannery, “Wild Bill” Hickok, Jim Bridger, and memoirs of S.P. Panton and Jirah Allen. There are many other articles on the old days in Montana, and Wyoming on such subjects as homesteading, gold seekers, forts, explorers, Grasshopper glacier, Maximilian, English adventurers, early pioneers, steamboats, trappers, the army, outlaws and the railroads. Concerning land holdings are clippings on land in the public domain (1938-1952), a 1908 map for homestead entry survey in Wyoming, and papers on land belonging to W.L. Dickinson.

Among legal papers are the Articles of Incorporation of the Current-Heffron Abstract Company (1914), Articles of Partnership of L.J. Dickinson and Son Company (1905), agreements of sale of CurrentHeffron Abstract Company (1926, 1950), shares in Dickinson Mercantile, an accident statement, licenses, and permits (1916-1950). Concerning Montana, there are clippings and pamphlets on dams, a pictorial magazine, climatological data (1909) and tourist information.

There is also material from organizations such as the Elks, Masons, and Range Riders, and numerous clippings on Parks and Forests, clippings and other papers on cattle raising, livestock sales (1910-1949) dude ranches, the Eaton and Huidekoper families, and a series of articles on modern ranching by Wallis Huidekoper (1944). There are also articles on rodeos and races, ration books from World War II, a copy of the United Commercial Travelers magazine, The Sample Case (1928), and clippings on Will Roger’s plane crash (1935).

Dates

1891-1954.

Creator

Dickinson, William L., 1878-1952. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Copyrights

The NDSU Archives does not hold the copyrights.

Biography

William Lewis Dickinson was born November 22, 1878 in Moire, New York to Lewis J. and Sarah Dickinson. In 1890, L. J. Dickinson moved to Dickinson, North Dakota (named for his cousin, Welles Dickinson) where he entered the mercantile business with his brother, Horace. After graduating from high school in Moire in 1895, William came West to join his family, but soon went to Minneapolis and then came to Dickinson to work in the family store. In 1905, in partnership with his father, he started the L.J. Dickinson and Son clothing store in Dickinson. After the store was sold in 1913, Mr. Dickinson, an outdoorsman, operated a ranch near Cooke, Montana, which she later made into a dude ranch. In 1917 he took an Extension Course in business from the University of Wisconsin and in 1925 he sold the ranch and purchased the Current-Heffron Abstract Company of Dickinson, later called the Dickinson Abstract Company, which he sold in 1950.

On July 7, 1916, at Cody, Wyoming, Mr. Dickinson married Agnes Couture of Litchfield, Minnesota. On May 21, 1952, he married Frances Woodward at Mesa, Idaho. On October 2, 1952, he died at Idaho Falls, Idaho, and his body was taken to Salt Lake City for cremation in the Salt Lake Memorial Columbium.

Mr. Dickinson belonged to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Dickinson Commercial Club and the Dickinson Town and Country Club. He was a director of the Stark County Taxpayers Association, was on the Board of Directors of the Dickinson Savings and Loan, and was president of the Range Riders Club. He was a Republican and a member of the Cattlemen’s Association.

Extent

1.2 Linear Feet (1.2 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Dickinson was a North Dakota merchant and rancher. The collection contains some correspondence and extensive subject files covering topics such as finances, ranching diaries (1914-1925), his Dickinson Abstract Company, historical newspaper clippings on the West, Stark County Taxpayers Association, and the 1895 high school class prophecy for his class at Moire, New York.

Provenance

Donated by Mrs. W. L. Dickinson of Cody, Wyoming, 1954 (Acc. 236).

Separation record - Maps (Institute map collection)

Dickinson Station grounds

Separation record - Broadside (Institute broadside collection)

Marriage license, William and Agnes Dickinson, July 7, 1916, Cody, Wyoming

Separated Photographs (Institute photograph collection)

Added to the Dickinson, N.D. Photograph Collection (Photo 38) 24 photographs of Dickinson, N.D., general (people, street scenes, buildings)

13 photographs of Dickinson, N.D., general, (people, and buildings)

40 photographs of Dickinson Ranch, (W. L. Dickinson ranch, Cooke, Montana, ranch scenes and people)

7 photographs of L. J. Dickinson family

10 photographs of W. L. Dickinson family