Guide to the

Ethelbert Talbot

Papers, 1848-1961 (bulk 1869-1928)

3.5 cubic feet

Accession Number 2418

Prepared by D.C. Thompson

April 1999

Contents

Introduction 

Biography 

Series Description 

Scope and Content

Subjects

Folder List

Series I. Personal Information and Church Records 

Series II. Diaries 

Subseries 1. Ethelbert Talbot 
Subseries 2. Annie Talbot 

Series III. Correspondence 

Series IV. Photographs 

Series V. Scrapbooks 

Introduction

Ethelbert Talbot, 1848-1928
Papers, 1848-1961 (bulk 1869-1928)
3.5 cubic feet (7 document boxes, 1 F22 box)
Accession Number 2418

The bulk of the Ethelbert Talbot papers were given to the American Heritage Center by Francis Donaldson between 1967 and 1970. A few items were also received from Anne Talbot Donaldson in 1963 and Mable Brown in 1966. Many books and pamphlets were transferred to the library.

The collection should be cited as: Ethelbert Talbot Papers, 1848-1961, Accession Number 2418, Box Number…, Folder Number…, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED

Rick Ewig
Acting Director

Biography

Ethelbert Talbot (1848-1928) was born in Missouri. He graduated from Dartmouth College and the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church and began his clerical career as rector of the Episcopal Church in Macon, Missouri, in 1873. In 1887 he was elected missionary bishop of Wyoming and Idaho, an office which required him to travel great distances through thinly-populated country often under difficult conditions. There were at that time only four Episcopal clergymen at work in Wyoming and only six church buildings. Bishop Talbot chose Laramie, Wyoming, as his see city, and he oversaw the building of St. Matthew’s cathedral there between 1892 and 1897. In 1898 he was chosen bishop of Central Pennsylvania and went to live in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 1924, he became Presiding Bishop of the Church. Ethelbert Talbot married Dora Harvey (1850-1920), and they were the parents of one daughter, Anne Harvey Talbot (Donaldson) (b. 1875).

Series Description

The Ethelbert Talbot Papers are arranged in 5 series:

Series I. Personal Information and Church Records, 1848-ca. 1934 (13 folders + oversize). Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Contains sermons and writings by Talbot and others, district and general convocation programs, a small number of church records, and biographical and genealogical information.

Series II. Diaries, 1869-1928. 4 document boxes. Arranged chronologically.

Subseries 1. Ethelbert Talbot, 1869-1928. Journals of Talbot’s daily activities; also includes some news clippings and miscellaneous inserts.

Subseries 2. Annie Talbot, 1892-1893. Journals of Annie Talbot’s travels in Europe.

Series III. Correspondence, 1869-1961. 1 document box. Arranged chronologically. Primarily private letters from Ethelbert Talbot to his wife and daughter; includes a small amount of church-related and other business correspondence.

Series IV. Photographs, 1895-1919. 1 document box. Arranged roughly chronologically. Includes albums of Laramie and of Wyoming ranches and camping trips kept by Annie H. Talbot. Also includes loose prints from scrapbooks and diaries.

Series V. Scrapbooks, 1887-1920. 1 document box + oversize. Arranged roughly chronologically. Primarily news clippings and printed material regarding Ethelbert Talbot. Includes some primary documents on church business.

Scope and Content

The Ethelbert Talbot Papers consist primarily of the personal papers and diaries of Ethelbert Talbot. The diaries record daily activities and the correspondence is, for the most part, private letters from Talbot to his wife and daughter. There are also occasional letters from other family members and a few from Talbot’s colleagues regarding church business. There is some correspondence regarding publication of Talbot’s autobiographical books; and there are some short manuscripts and sermons written by Talbot and others. Church records, although not entirely absent, are scattered and incomplete. There are three scrapbooks containing clippings, printed material, and some hand-written documents regarding Ethelbert Talbot, the Talbot family, and various friends and colleagues. Clippings and miscellaneous documents were also found tucked into the diary pockets, and this material had been retained with the diaries. There are also four photograph albums and some loose photographs.

Subjects

Episcopal Church -- Wyoming
Episcopal Church -- Idaho
Episcopal Church -- Pennsylvania
Parish missions -- Anglican communion -- Wyoming
Parish missions -- Anglican communion -- Idaho
Parish missions -- Anglican communion -- Pennsylvania 
Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.)
Cathedrals -- Wyoming
Laramie (Wyo.)
Wyoming -- History -- To 1889
Wyoming -- History -- 1890-1918
Wyoming -- History -- 1919-1945
Wyoming -- History -- 1946-
Diaries
Photographs
Bishops

Folder List

Series I. Personal Information and Church Records, 1848-ca. 1934

Series II. Diaries, 1869-1928

Subseries 1. Ethelbert Talbot, 1869-1928

Series II. Diaries (cont.)

Subseries 2. Annie Talbot, 1892-1893

Series III. Correspondence, 1869-1961

Series IV. Photographs, 1895-1919

Series V. Scrapbooks, 1887-1920

Series 1. Personal Information and Church Records, 1848-ca. 1934