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Collection Description

This collection consists of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody's and others' correspondence with John H. Tait, (1912-16). Cody signed himself variously, "Colonel," "Col.," and "Governor" in several letters. Tait, one of the Rough Riders of the Spanish-American War, performed in the Rough-Riders segment of the Wild West show.

Included in two scrapbooks are pictures and postcards of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West alone and in combinations with other promoters; Tait identifies himself in many of the troupe photographs. A magazine article on photographs of Barnum sideshow members preserved by Meserve; a magazine article on Stewart "Eddie" Tait--the Barnum of Borneo; business cards of various performers in the 1899 show; and a letter from Mrs. Louisa Frederici Cody after Irma Cody Garlow’s death are among the diverse elements in the scrapbooks. Parts of the collection are a contract for Tait as "Boss Porter of the Sells-Floto Circus sleeping cars" and a note from Mrs. Cody inquiring about Buffalo Bill's shirts.

A volume by the Rough Riders Association with rosters of members from each troop and a Route Book of the 1899 Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show are present.

Restrictions

All collection materials are used under staff supervision within the Reference and Research Rooms of the McCracken Research Library during stated public service hours. Research appointments are strongly encouraged, especially for primary documents.

Copy Restrictions

User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Administrative Information

MS 231, John H. Tait Collection, McCracken Research Library, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming.

Collection donated in May, 2002

Related Material

See also MS 6--William F. Cody Collection.

Digital scans (available only in the Library) of the two scrapbooks have been created.

Access Points

Baker, Johnny--Correspondence.

Biggs, Fredie (Sells-Floto)--Photographs.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Great Far East (Show)

Buffalo Bill, 1846-1917--Correspondence.

Buffalo Bill, 1846-1917--Photographs.

Burke, John M., d.1917--Correspondence.

Business cards--19th century.

Circuses--20th century.

Cody Family--Photographs.

Cody, Louisa Frederici, 1843?-1921--Correspondence.

Cody, Louisa Frederici, 1843?-1921--Photographs.

Compton, Cy, "Cowboy King"--Photographs.

Compton, Sie.

Cook, Frank A.--Correspondence.

Cowgirls--20th century.

De Maris Hot Springs (Cody, Wyo.)

Death notices--20th century.

Decker, Louie, d. 1935--Correspondence.

Employment references--20th century.

Furst, Ilse--Correspondence.

Gerlach-Barklow Co. (Joliet, Ill.)--Records and correspondence.

Hagedorn, Hermann--Correspondence.

Hinebaugh, W. H.--Correspondence.

Hiscock Photo (Cody, Wyo.)

Horsemen and horsewomen--19th century.

Horsemen and horsewomen--20th century.

I.X.L. Ranch Wild West Show (Mexico)

Leder'dje, P.--Correspondence.

McClintock, P. M.--Correspondence.

Murphy, M. Joe--Correspondence.

P.T. Barnum (Firm)

Pawnee Bill, 1860-1942--Photographs.

Postcards--19th century.

Postcards--20th century.

Progressive Party (1912). Progressive Congressional Committee (Washington, D.C.)--Records and correspondence.

Sells-Floto Circus.

Sells-Floto Circus--Records and correspondence.

Sheriffs--Ajo, Ariz.--20th century.

Tait, Emma (Mrs. John H.)--Correspondence.

Tait, John H.--Correspondence.

Tait, Stewart, "Eddie", Barnum of Borneo.

United States. Army. Volunteer Cavalry, 1st--Veterans--Bylaws.

United States. Army. Volunteer Cavalry, 1st--Veterans--Constitution.

United States. Army. Volunteer Cavalry, 1st.

United States. Dept. of the Interior--Records and correspondence.

Wild west shows--19th century.

Wild west shows--20th century.

Women in the performing arts--West (U.S.)--20th century.

Women in wild west shows--20th century.

Contents List