Pony Express Centennial Association Records, 1957-1976

Summary

Creators:

Pony Express Centennial Association

Abstract:

The Pony Express Centennial Association was incorporated (1958) to foster and facilitate commemorations of the centennial of the Pony Express (1860-1861). The man principally responsible for promoting this Association was retired Air Force Lt. Col. Waddell Smith, a grandson of one of the partners in the firm Russell, Majors and Waddell which had operated the Pony Express. The Records of the Pony Express Centennial Association consist principally of the correspondence of Waddell Smith. The collection also contains financial records, reports, clippings, other materials Smith gathered and some correspondence of Edwin H. Burgess, Director of the Washington D.C. Branch of the Centennial Association.

Extent:

10 linear feet

Language:

English.

Background

Scope and content:

The Records of the Pony Express Centennial Association consist principally of the correspondence of Waddell Smith. The collection also contains financial records, reports, clippings, other materials Smith gathered and some correspondence of Edwin H. Burgess, Director of the Washington D.C. Branch of the Centennial Association.

Biographical / historical:

History

The Pony Express Centennial Association was incorporated (1958) to foster and facilitate commemorations of the centennial of the Pony Express (1860-1861). The man principally responsible for promoting this Association was retired Air Force Lt. Col. Waddell Smith, a grandson of one of the partners in the firm Russell, Majors and Waddell which had operated the Pony Express. A collector of Pony Express artifacts and an authority on the history of the company, Smith served as President of the Association. Association activities included a multi-state historic marker program and a two-way reenactment across the original route with a thousand volunteer riders.

Acquisition information:

Acquired in 2003.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Pony express

Location of this collection:

UC Davis, Special Collections

University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library

100 NW Quad

Davis, CA 95616-5292, US

Contact:

(530) 752-1621

speccoll@ucdavis.edu

Website