Photographs and Negatives, 1908-1940

7.7 cubic feet

Accession Number 598

Prepared by Renee LaFleur

May 2000

Contents

Introduction

Biography

Series Description

Scope and Content

Subjects

Folder List

Other Resources

Introduction

Charles J. Belden, 1908-1940
Photographs and Negatives, 1908-1940
7.7 cubic feet. (4 document boxes, 1 slim document box, 17 shoe boxes, 1 record center carton)
Accession Number 598

The Belden collection of photographs and negatives were donated to the American Heritage Center in 1986 by his granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Lily and Jack Turnell. Items in the collection are organized by numbers randomly assigned by the American Heritage Center.

The collection should be cited as: Charles J. Belden Photographs, Accession Number 598, Box Number, Folder Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming. 

RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED

Rick Ewig
Associate Director

Biography

Charles Josiah Belden (1887-1966) was born into a wealthy California family. His grandfather, Josiah Belden, was an early pioneer in California who made millions in San Francisco real estate. Charles was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He first bought a camera in 1909 to record a tour of Europe he and his friend Eugene Phelps made in 1909. The main focus of the trip was the journey to Russia. Belden’s 1908 Packard was the first automobile to make such a trip in the country. After the tour, Belden joined Phelps at his family’s ranch in Wyoming. In 1912 Belden married Eugene’s sister Frances after working as a cowboy for a number of years. Charles and Frances had three children, Annice, Margot, and Mary Elizabeth, who died while still a toddler. In 1922 the Louis Phelps died leaving the Pitchfork Ranch to Charles and Eugene. The two, however, did a poor job of managing the ranch. Charles was more interested in photography and Eugene in tinkering with farm machinery. In 1940 Charles and Frances divorced. He moved to Florida with his second wife, Verna Steele Belden. There he died of a self inflicted gun shot wound in 1966.

The Charles J. Belden Collection consists of approximately 3,000 negatives original negatives. Most of the images were taking in the 1920s and 1930s on the legendary Pitchfork Ranch near Meeteetse, Wyoming. Located at the base of the Absaroka Mountains, the 250,000 acre ranch provided fertile ground for Belden’s photography. By filming cowboys and cattle against the dramatic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, he created some of the classic images of the American West. Belden used these photographs to publicize the Pitchfork Dude Ranch, to illustrate articles he wrote about cowboy life, and for marketing. Belden, however, was a versatile photographer and the collection contains a variety of images. These photographs depict everyday life on the Pitchfork Ranch, a trip to Europe in 1909, Yellowstone National Park, raising antelope, dude Ranching and trips to the Southwest and Latin America. His photography can be found in National Geographic Magazine and the Dude Rancher’s Association’s magazine the Dude Rancher.

Belden was involved in other notable adventures that added character to the photographer. Known for his beaver Stetson hat, Stetson actually named a cowboy hat after him, "The Belden." Airplanes became a fascination for Belden. In the late 1920s Belden was involved in raising antelope and sending them by airplane to zoos around the world, including some to Germany on the Hindenburg. Helping to pioneer the process of planting fish from the air, Belden filmed the experience for future reference. He also helped the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission conduct a census using aerial photographs to count large herds in 1940. Made famous because of his articles and photographs, Belden wrote about ranch life, the dude ranch, and his one of a kind bighorn and domestic sheep hybrid.

Belden’s photographs document life on the ranch as well as other Wyoming locations. Although some may seem contrived today, others show his understanding of how to build a dramatic scene and of the hardships of the Wyoming range.

Series Description

The Charles J. Belden photographs are divided into two series:

Series I. Photographs, 1908-1940. (4 document boxes). This material is arranged arbitrarily and consists mostly of photographs concerning cattle and sheep ranching in Wyoming. Included are images of the Belden family, the dude ranch, and travel.

Series II. Negatives, 1908-1940. (19 boxes). Contains glass plate and soft negatives. Also included are occasional glass or soft positives. Numbers on the negatives correspond to the numbers assigned to the prints.

Scope and Content

The Charles J. Belden photographs and negatives were taken by Belden during the time he lived at the Pitchfork Ranch in Wyoming. These photographs capture the many aspects of ranch life, including grazing, branding, driving, and riding. In addition, the activities of the dude ranch operated by I. H. "Larry" Larom are documented in the collection.

Also found in the collection are photographs of Belden’s many travels. Trips to Holland, Italy, Germany, Russia, and Panama as well as Yellowstone National Park and the Southwestern United States. Belden’s family appears not only in the travel prints, but also in portraits and candid shots.

Each print is titled and numbered by the American Heritage Center. The negatives correspond with the numbers on the prints. Most of the negatives are glass plate, although many soft negative copies and several positives are included. Prints with the same title description may or may not be identical. A note has been made where only a print or a negative exists of an image.

Subjects

Belden, Margot
Belden, Frances
Sommers, Annice
Cowboys -- Wyoming
Photography -- Wyoming
Photography of animals -- Wyoming
Photography of livestock -- Wyoming
Photography of mountains -- Wyoming
Photography -- Panama
Dude ranchers -- Wyoming
Ranches -- Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park
Pitchfork Ranch (Wyo.)
Panama -- History -- 1903-1946
Panama Canal (Panama)
Wyoming -- History -- 1890-1918
Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945
Wyoming -- History -- 1946-
Photographers

Folder List

Series I.  Photographs, 1908-1940.  

#1-499
#500-999
#1000-1498
#1500-1999
#2000-2499
#2500-2859

Series II.  Negatives, 1908-1940.

Other Resources

Find out more about Belden's photographs and negatives held at the American Heritage Center through the online catalog. You may also contact or visit the Reference Services at the American Heritage Center for additional information.

The AHC's Digital Collections has a selection of 30 Belden images. The AHC exhibit Uphill and Against the Wind also features Belden's photographs.