Finding Aid for the Nelson Family Papers...Collection Number: 2010.01 Extent: 3 cubic feet Location: Private storage in the home of Peter M. Nelson Language: English Biographical Note:

Nelson Family Papers 1

Finding Aid for the Nelson Family Papers Nelson Private Collection, Beulah CO

Contents

Page

Collection Summary………………………………………………1-4

SERIES 1: Elmer and Juanita Nelson Personal Papers……….......4-8

SERIES 2: Peter M. Nelson Personal Papers……………………9-12

SERIES 3: Medical, Family Trust and Funeral Records………12-15

SERIES 4: Memorabilia and Collectibles……………………...15-17

SERIES 5: Family Portraits and Photographs………………... 17-20

Appendix A: Accession Description………………………………21

Appendix B: Colophon………………………………………........23

Appendix C: Background Research………………………………24


Nelson Family Papers

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Title: Nelson Family Papers

Inclusive Dates: 1879-2005 [1944-1999]

Creators: Elmer H. Nelson, Juanita M. Nelson and Peter M. Nelson

Abstract:

The Nelson Family Papers documents the lives of Elmer H. Nelson (1914-1999), Juanita M.

(Smith) Nelson (1915-1996) and Peter M. Nelson (born 1944) through manuscript files,

photographs, scrapbooks, ephemera and collectibles.

Collection Number: 2010.01

Extent: 3 cubic feet

Location: Private storage in the home of Peter M. Nelson

Language: English

Biographical Note:

Elmer H. Nelson was born in Rawlins, Wyoming in 1914 to Peter Nelson and Lillie

(Hanks) Nelson. Elmer was one of four sons (George, Kermit and Frank Nelson) and was raised

in Rawlins, Wyoming. Elmer worked in a bakery during high school and graduated in 1932. He

then attended and graduated from business school in Denver, Colorado, before marrying Juanita

Smith in 1939. During World War II, Elmer worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in

Green River, Wyoming, and helped build the Japanese Interment Camp in the Snowy Range.

Descended from a long line of railroaders, Elmer then pursued a lifelong career with the railroad.

Elmer was an avid rock hound and spent his free time polishing rocks and making jewelry.

Elmer was also an antique collector, having inherited many of his family’s heirlooms.

Juanita M. (Smith) Nelson was born in 1915 in Ottawa, Kansas to Vernon and Hallie

(Runnion) Smith. As a young child, Juanita’s family lived on a ranch outside of Rawlins,

Wyoming. When Juanita was six years old, her father was severely injured in a horse accident

which left him blind. As a result, Juanita learned to read Braille so she could teach her father,

and was unable to start school because she had to be Vernon’s “eyes,” during the months before


his death. Juanita and her mother then moved to Rawlins, Wyoming where Hallie gained

employment as a telephone operator. This was where she met her second husband, Ray Hume.

Juanita had two younger brothers, George and Ray Jr.; however, Hallie died in childbirth with

baby Ray. Ray Hume remarried, leaving Juanita to be raised by her stepfather and stepmother.

Due to strained relations with her stepfather, Juanita ran away from home as a teenager

and lived with relatives in Douglas, Wyoming, and her stepfather destroyed all of her belongings

with the exception of a sugar bowl and a few photographs. Fiercely independent, Juanita

returned to Rawlins after a short period of time and began working as an operator and

stenographer. She and Elmer Nelson then married in 1939. Juanita also worked at the Rawlins

Chevy Garage and was later offered a job at Rawlins National Bank where she worked as

secretary to the president and was the bank’s antique buyer. Juanita was very active in PEO and

was an advocate for the education of young women.

Peter M. Nelson was born on September 22, 1944 to Elmer and Juanita Nelson. He and

his sister, Linda (born 1947), spent their childhood years in Rawlins, Wyoming. Peter began

working at a young age as a sheep herder for Elmer Peterson, and at a local butcher shop.

During the summers, he worked at Trail Lake Ranch, before graduating from high school in

1962. Following graduation, Peter was a hard rock-driller for the Hog Park (Colorado) dam

construction project. He then attended the University of Wyoming, Northwest Community

College, and earned a bachelor of arts from Chadron State College in 1968. That same year,

Peter worked on the Union Pacific Railroad, and married his first wife, Jan. Peter went back to

school to earn his teacher certification, and he and Jan moved to La Junta, Colorado in 1969,

where he worked as a biology teacher at La Junta High School (1969-1977). Peter’s son, Scott,

was born in December of 1969, followed by a daughter, Wendy, in February of 1973.

In 1977, Peter met and married his second wife, Dawn Nelson and began his career as an

engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad (1977-2007). Peter and Dawn gave birth to a daughter, Amy,

in January of 1979, and then moved to their current residence in Beulah, Colorado in the fall of

1983. As the oldest of two children, Peter not only amassed a substantial collection of family

records throughout his lifetime, but was also appointed executor of his parents’ estate and

therefore collected numerous documents about Elmer and Juanita Nelson’s financial and medical

affairs in the mid- to late-nineties. Following the death of his mother in 1996 and the death of

his father in 1999, Peter also assumed custody of the remaining family records and numerous

collectibles that belonged to Elmer and Juanita.

Arrangement: Chronological

Scope & Content:

The Nelson Family Papers documents the lives of Elmer H. Nelson (1914-1999), Juanita M.

(Smith) Nelson (1915-1996) and Peter M. Nelson (born 1944) through manuscript files,

photographs, scrapbooks, ephemera and collectibles. With the exception of a few genealogical

records and photographs, the majority of the collection consists of papers collected after Elmer


and Juanita’s marriage (1939), and records that were created during Peter M. Nelson’s lifetime

(1944-2007). While the collection contains records that were kept by Elmer and Juanita Nelson

during the 1970’s and 1980’s, there is a substantial gap in records created by Peter M. Nelson

during this time period.

Separated Materials: No separated materials

Restrictions:

The majority of the collection is open to qualified researchers. Permission for use or

reproduction must be obtained from Peter M. Nelson. Restricted files include:

2010.01.019 Birth Peter M. Nelson

2010.01.049 BNSF Railroad

Limited Access to Series 3 (2010.01.35-2010.01.47)

Processing Information: Processed by Amy Nelson, July 2010

Provenance/Source: Peter M. Nelson

CONTAINER LIST

Box 1: SERIES 1 – Elmer and Juanita Nelson Personal Papers, 19 folders

SERIES 2 – Peter M. Nelson Personal Papers, 16 folders

SERIES 3 - Medical, Family Trust and Funeral Records, 13 folders

Box 2: SERIES 4 – Memorabilia and Collectibles, 6 folders

Box 3: SERIES 5 – Family Portraits and Photographs, 16 folders

SERIES 1 – Elmer and Juanita Nelson Personal Papers

Location: Box 1

Dates (Inclusive): 1909-1984

Extent: 19 folders

Creators: Elmer Nelson and Juanita Nelson

Scope and Content: The papers in this series include early Smith and Hanks family records, as

well as school, marriage, financial and medical records for Elmer and Juanita Nelson.


Additionally, the series includes newspaper clippings, ledgers and correspondence compiled by

Elmer and Juanita Nelson.

Restrictions: None

Language: English

Folder Description

2010.01.001

Early Family Records Smith

(1909-1944)

Items: Certificate of Marriage – Vernon Smith and Hallie

Runion (1909 Sept. 18); Registration Certificate – Vernon Smith

(1917 June 5); Postcard: “Notice of Classification from War

Department” to Vernon Smith (1918 April 3); Cemetery Burial

Deed to Ms. Vernon Smith (1923 Mar. 3); Envelope to Miss

Jeanette Smith (1940); Newspaper clipping, “Mary Smith

Celebrates 94th

birthday” (1944 Nov. 29), Newspaper clippings

(2), Obituaries for Vernon Smith (undated); Pencil drawing of

Juanita Smith’s hand and foot (undated)

2010.01.001a

Smith Family Bible

(undated)

Description: The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New

Testaments, Translated out of the original tongues with the

former translations diligently compared and revised. World

Syndicate Publishing Company: Cleveland, NY. Black turtle

shell cover, 4 ½ x6 ½ inches. Inscription inside front cover

reads: “From Grandmother Mary A. Smith to Juanita M. Smith

(Mrs. Elmer H. Nelson), Marvin Nelson – 229 E. Jeffers Dr.,

Rawlins Wyo.

2010.01.002

Early Family Records

Hanks/Nelson

(1914-1951)

Items: Hanks Family Tree, 3 copies (1470-1951); Birth

Certificate – Elmer Nelson (1914 June, 28); “Funeral services for

Lillie H. Nelson” 6 typed pages (1946 Feb.16); Costello

Mortuary Statement of Death for Peter Nelson on August 15,

1955 (1955 Nov. 7) Frank Nelson’s recipe notebook, 1 of 2

(1936); Frank Nelson’s recipe notebook, 2 of 2 (1936)

2010.01.003

High School Yearbooks

Items: 5 - Rawlins Roundup Yearbooks


Elmer Nelson (1928-1934)

2010.01.004

High School Commencement

Elmer Nelson (1931)

Items: Diploma – Elmer Nelson (1931 May); Newspaper

clipping, “Lives of great men of Rawlins High School (Rawlins

Republican, 1931 May 19)

2010.01.005

Mining Stock Certificates

(1933-1934)

Items: Empty envelope from J.J. Mandell & Co. to Mr. Peter

Nelson; Sacramento Gold and Quicksilver Mining Company

Stock Certificate - Peter Nelson (1933); Horn Silver Mines

Company Stock Certificate – Peter Nelson (1933); Moscow

Silver Mines Company Stock Certificate – Peter Nelson (1935);

Moscow Silver Mines Company Stock Certificate – J.C. Johnson

(1934); King David Mining Company Stock Certificate – Peter

Nelson (1933); Journal with handwritten notes about silver

companies inside front cover, remaining pages blank

2010.01.006

Marriage Certificates

Elmer & Juanita Nelson

(1939)

Items: Wyoming State Marriage License – Elmer Nelson and

Juanita Smith (1939 Nov. 8); Blue felted paper folio; “I Love

You” poem by Carloton Everett Knox; Marriage Certificate -

Elmer Nelson and Juanita Smith (1939 Nov. 10); “Certificate of

Marriage” – Elmer Nelson and Juanita Smith (1939 Nov. 10);

Newspaper clipping, “Juanita Smith is Bride of Elmer Nelson”

(1939 Nov. 10)

2010.01.007

Gems and Minerals

Magazine

(1956)

Items: Gems & Minerals Magazine, June 1956 (24 pages)

2010.01.008

Birth Certificate Corrections

Juanita Nelson

(1957-1972)

Items: “Request for Change in Social Security Records” (1957

Nov. 19); Letter From Kansas State Board of Health RE: copy of

birth certificate (1962 July 13); Photostatic copy of birth

certificate; “Affidavit for the Correction of a record” (1962 Aug.

13); Receipt; Letter from Juanita Nelson requesting copies of

birth certificate (1972 May 24); Duplication of “Standard

Certificate of Birth” (1915 Sept. 27); “Amended Certificate of


Live Birth” (1972 July 17); Duplicate of amended certificate

2010.01.009

Medical Bills

(1969)

Items: Bills from Dr. Larcom ( 1969 Sept. 19); Statement from

Dr. Wood (1969 Sept.); Record of Payment to Memorial

Hospital of Natrona County ( 1969 Oct. 17); Railroad Major

medical Expense Worksheet (1969 Dec. 11); Record of Payment

to Dr. Wood, Dr. Cavanah and Dr. Larcom (1969 Dec. 15)

Statement from Dr. Cavanah (1969 Dec. 15)

2010.01.010

Railroad Elmer Nelson

(ca. 1975)

Items: Golden Age Passport for Elmer Nelson (undated); United

Transportation Union Life Membership for Elmer Nelson

(1975); Certificate of Annuity U.S. Railroad Retirement Board

(undated); Rail Travel Privilege Card for Elmer and Juanita

Nelson (undated)

2010.01.011

Antiques & Collectibles

(1 of 3) (1967-1979)

Items: Hard-bound ledger of purchases (1967-1979); Spiral-

bound ledger of purchases (1978)

2010.01.012


(2 of 3) (1967-1979)

Newspaper clipping, Joel Sater’s Antique News (1972 Jan. 3);

Newspaper clipping, The Antique Trader (1975 July 29); Ledger

of antiques; State Farm “Change and Attaching Clause

Endorsement” (1976, Oct. 7); Typed summary of antiques, 7

pages; Handwritten notes, 4; “Antique Royal Worcester

Porcelain” handwritten inventory, 2 pages; “Antique Royal

Worcester China” typed inventory, I page; “Nippon” handwritten

inventory, 3 pages; “Antique Silver” handwritten inventory, 2

pages; “Miscellaneous Antique Items” handwritten inventory, 2

pages; “Antique pieces we kept” handwritten inventory, 4 pages

(1978 May 20); “Antique China and Glass we kept” handwritten

inventory, 5 pages; “Brilliant Period American Cut Glass”

handwritten inventory, 4 pages; Receipts for purchases (1976-

1984)

2010.01.013


(3 of 3) (1967-1979)

Items: 83 color photographs of collection; 20 color slides of

collection

2010.01.014

Receipts & Expenditures

Items: Trip Diary (1972-1989); Ledger of expenses: home,

purchases, bills, insurance, medical, items sold (1976-1994);


(1976-1994)

Product tag from Oak Chairs & Tables (1983, April 15);

Cablevision Receipt (1985 Jan. 23); Osvaldo Salinas

Construction Receipts ( 1991 June); Lennox Collections Orchard

Jam Jar Set Certificate (1992 Aug. 14); McAllen Refrigeration

receipt (1993 Oct. 4); Best Buy Receipt (1994 Jan 12); Universal

Refrigeration receipt (1994 June 8); McAllen Refrigeration

receipt (1994 June 8); True Value receipt (1994 June 10); Valley

Med Arts Clinic Receipt (1994 June 15); Lack’s Valley Store

receipt (1994 July 30); Receipt for pan & toaster oven (1994

Aug. 6); Universal Refrigeration receipt (1994 Aug. 27);

Universal Refrigeration receipt (1994 Oct. 25)

2010.01.015

House Purchase & Insurance

Golden Acres, McAllen, TX

(1980)

Items: “Lot Purchase Agreement (1979 Nov. 19); “Warranty

Deed” (1980 Mar 11); Title Policy, Stewart Title (1980 Mar 18)

2010.01.016

High School Reunions

Elmer Nelson

(1982-1985)

Items: 5x7 color photograph, “Class of 1931” (1982 Aug. 6-7);

Rawlins Graduate Directory, “1886-1932 RHS Reunion”; Typed

list of names and addresses (undated); Fifty-Plus Reunion

Directory (1985 Aug. 2-4); Newspaper clipping, “Fifty year-plus

reunion draws 135 for gala time” (Rawlins Daily Times, 1982,

Aug. 13)

2010.01.017

Correspondence

Elmer & Juanita

(1986-1987)

Items: Letter from Margaret Baker (1986); Letter from unknown

sender (1986); Letter from Marsha (1990); Letter from George

Nelson (1997); Letter from Harpers (1997); Holiday cards (2)

from Dorothy & Earl (undated

2010.01.018

Addresses & Phone

Numbers (undated)

Items: Address Book; Phone number list on cardstock;

“Emergency & Business Numbers”; “Golden Acre Residents”;

Telephone owner’s manual; Stereo Instruction Manual;

SERIES 2 – Peter M. Nelson Personal Papers


Location: Box 1


Extent: 16 folders

Creators: Juanita Nelson and Peter M. Nelson

Scope and Content: This series contains Peter M. Nelson’s vital, school, and marriage records

which were created and collected by Juanita Nelson and Peter M. Nelson. This series also

contains scrapbooks and correspondence created and collected by Peter M. Nelson from

childhood to adulthood.

Restrictions: Limited access to 2010.01.019 Birth Peter M. Nelson

Language: English

Folder Description

2010.01.019 Birth

Peter M. Nelson

(1944 Sept. 22)

Items: “Notification of Birth Registration” (1944 Sept. 22);

“Birth Certificate” (1944, Sept. 22); reproductions of

“Notification of Birth Registration” (3); Social Security Card

(undated); War Ration Book Four (1944 October)

2010.01.020

Baby Book

Peter M. Nelson

(1944-1945)

Items: 20–page album with handwritten notes by Juanita

Nelson; 5 first birthday cards

2010.01.021

Baptism

Peter M. Nelson

(1946 Apr. 14)

Items: Certificate of Baptism

2010.01.022

Sound Recordings (1953)

Items: Recordio Disc 7-inch: “To Mother & Daddy from

Marvin 12-47”; Recordio Disc 10-inch: Side 1 - “Marvin


Nelson, #1 Chord Frolic, #2 Fairies Harp, #3 Wishing Star”

(1953 December 2), Side 2 – “Marvin, Lightly Row, Spring

Song” (1953 December 17); Recordio Disc 10-inch): Side 1 –

Linda, #1 Swans on Lake, #2 Runaway River, #3 Man on the

Moon” (1953 Dec. 2), Side 2 – Linda, Birthday Party, The

Robin, Merry Clown, Cuckoo, Away in a Manger (1953 Dec.

17); Columbia 10-inch LP Record: Ray Noble and His

Orchestra with Buddy Clark, “Love is a Random Thing” and

“Linda” (undated); Capitol 10-inch LP Record: Jo Stafford and

Gordon MacRae, “I’ll String Along With You” and “The Pussy

Cat Song” (undated)

2010.01.023

“Marvin Nelson’s Scrapbook”

(Circa 1954-1956)

Items: Clippings; Sympathy cardsfor tonsil operation; Notes

from friends; Memorabilia from Foster’s wedding, church

camp, piano recital, boy scouts, schoolwork, artwork

2010.01.024

Scrapbook, “To Marvin From

Sandra on his birthday”

(1956-1959)

Items: Postcards & souvenirs from Colorado; Newspaper

clipping “Hunter Safety Course”; schoolwork; boyscout badges;

Note from Lydia (1954); Drawing of the Lone Ranger; “News

Weekly Quick: 1951; Homemade paper; Newspaper clipping

,“Junior High Honor Roll” (1957, May 24); Junior High School

Certificate of Promotion (1958 May 22); Order of DeMolay

membership materials (1959)

2010.01.025

Newspaper clippings

(circa 1963-1975)

Items: “$20,000 Accident suit filed in district court”(circa

1963); “Know your businessmen who serve you in

Rawlins”(undated); “Who will miss Juanita Nelson?” (Daily

Times, 1975 Dec. 4)

2010.01.026

Report Cards

(1950-1962)

Items: 9 report cards Kindergarten – 12th

grade

2010.01.027

High School Commencement

Items: 6 x 8 diploma (1962 May 23); tassle; congratulatory

letter from Senator Gale McGee; Commencement Activities


Peter M. Nelson (1962)

Programs, 1958 & 1962; Graduation Announcement; Card from

Juanita & Elmer Nelson; Memorabilia from senior trip to

California (1962)

2010.01.028

University of Wyoming

(1962-1965)

Items: Report cards; Transcripts; Correspondence from Office

of the Registrar

2010.01.029

Northwest Community

College (1964-1965)

Items: Report cards; Associate In Arts Certificate (1965 May

24); Commencement Program (1965 May 24)

2010.01.030

“The Dying of George Parrott:

Alias Big Nose George” Term

Paper (1967)

Items: 15 page typed term paper by Peter M. Nelson, includes 6

newsprint clippings and 3 color photographs

2010.01.031

Chadron State College

(1966-1968)

Items: Report cards; Correspondence from Chadron State

Screening Committee with envelopes; 3 ½ x 5 B&W

photograph of Peter M. Nelson and Fred Spencer; 7 x 9 diploma

in black case (1968 May 19)

2010.01.032

Marriage Certificates

Pete & Dawn Nelson

(1977)

Items: Physician & Laboratory Certificates for Peter M. Nelson

and Dawn Essman (1977 July 13); Reproduction of “Certificate

of Birth Registration” for Dawn Nelson (1951 Oct. 29);

Reproduction of “Certificate of Live Birth” for Peter M. Nelson

(1944 Sept. 22); State of Colorado Marriage License (1977

Aug. 2)

2010.01.033

Correspondence to

Peter M. Nelson

(1963-2001)

Items: Letter to “Marv” from Trail Lake Ranch (1963 July 31);

Letter to “Marv” from Jim & Deanna (1968 June 26); Letter to

“Dear Brother” from Linda Nelson (undated); Card and letter

to “Pete & Dawn” from Linda Nelson (undated); Letter to “Pete

& Dawn” from Linda Nelson (1984 Sept. 18); Letter to “Pete,

Dawn & Amy” from Linda Nelson (undated); Lette to “Marvin”


from D. Smith (1998 Dec. 31); Letter to “Marvin & Dawn”

from Donna Smith with enclosures: duplication of Lillie

Matilda Nelson’s death certificate, duplication of Peter Nelson’s

death certificate, duplication of obituary for Matilda Hanks,

duplication of Thomas Hanks’ biography, duplication of Lillie

Nelson’s funeral service, duplication of marriage license for

Peter Nelson and Lillie Hanks (2001, Sept. 10); Letter to “Bro”

from Linda Nelson with postcard of Rawlins Churches

2010.01.034

Genealogy Research

Hanks/Nelson (undated)

Items: Letter from Ann Middlekamp; (2) 3.5 floppy disks with

records about the Hanks and Nelson families from Family Tree

Maker (undated)

SERIES 3 - Medical, Family Trust and Funeral Records

Location: Box 1


Extent: 13 folders

Creators: Elmer Nelson, Juanita Nelson and Peter M. Nelson

Scope and Content: In 1995, Elmer and Juanita’s health began to fail, which led them to

appoint Peter M. Nelson as their legal and medical representative. This series contains legal,

financial, and medical records that were collected by Peter M. Nelson shortly before Elmer and

Juanita moved from Texas to Colorado, as well as during the years leading up to their deaths in

1996 and 1999.

Restrictions: All files restricted except: 2010.01.039, 2010.01.040, 2010.01.046, 2010.01.047

Language: English


Folder Description

2010.01.035

Surgery Report for

Elmer Nelson

(1995)

136 pages of medical records for Elmer Nelson.

Includes: consultation notes, surgery procedures, progress notes,

medication and treatment charts, physicians orders, assessments

and other information from the patient’s charts at Rio Grande

Regional Hospital. (1995 August-September)

2010.01.036

Family Trust Portfolio 1 of 2

(1995)

Items: Family Trust Portfolio

Includes: Trust Overview, Trust Document, Changes to Trust

Assets, Certificate of Trust, Community Property Agreement,

Pour-Over Will, Powers of Attorney, Living Will & Physician’s

Directive, Funeral Arrangements, Funding Support; Additional

documents: Articles I-V, Community Property Agreement,

Special Warranty Deed (1995 June 7); First State Bank & Trust

“Notification of Deposit” (1995 Nov. 24)

2010.01.037

Family Trust Portfolio 2 of 2

(1995)

Items: Articles I-V, Community Property Agreement and

Special Warranty Deed (1995 June 7); First State Bank & Trust

“Notification of Deposit” (1995 Nov. 24)

2010.01.038

Medical Directives

(1990-1999)

Items: “Directive to Physicians” for Juanita M. Nelson (1990

July 15); “Directive to Physicians” for Elmer H. Nelson” (1990

July 15); Letter from Dr. Laman (1997 Aug. 14); Letter from

Peter M. Nelson assuming responsibility of Nelson Family

Revocable Trust and Power of Attorney (1997, Sept. 15);

“Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care” signed by Elmer

Nelson appointing Peter M. Nelson as POA (undated);

“Authorized Agent’s Directive to Withhold CPR” (1999, Jan 14)

2010.01.039

Funeral Records

Juanita Nelson

(1996)

Items: State of Colorado Certificate of Death, 3 copies (1996

Mar. 22); Reproduction of death certificate; Imperial Funeral

Home “General Price List”; Imperial Funeral Home Obituary

Notice, “Date to run: Thursday March 21, 1996”; Newspaper

clippings (4)of obituary; Imperial Funeral Home “Statement of

Funeral Goods and Services Selected”; “Cremation and


Disposition Authorization” (1996 Mar. 20); Certificate of

Cremation (1996 Mar. 22); Receipt from Imperial Funeral Home

(1996 Mar 26)

2010.01.040

Sympathy Cards

Juanita Nelson (1996)

Items: Sympathy cards, memorial donations and clippings of

return addresses from envelopes received by Peter M. Nelson

following the death of his mother, Juanita Nelson (1996)

2010.01.041

Railroad Retirement

(1996)

Items: Railroad Retirement Notice (1996 April 10); Handwritten

notes and phone numbers; State of Colorado Certificate of Death

2010.01.042

Transamerica Life

Companies (1996)

Items: Letter from Transamerica Life Company to Peter M.

Nelson (1996 April 5); Claim Transmittal (1996 April 29)

2010.01.043

Occidental Life Insurance

(1996)

Items: Address change Acknowledgement; Letter from Elmer

Nelson requesting benefit payment (1996 April 4); Occidental

Life Insurance Application (1937 March 5); Occidental Life

Insurance Policy (1937 March 5); Change of Beneficiary (1940

March 20)

2010.01.044

F&G Life Insurance

(1996)

Items: Letter from Rawlins National Bank about pension benefits

(1990 Mar 26); Letter from F&G Life Insurance with

explanation of benefits and policy information packet (1996 May

20)

2010.01.045

Social Security Claim

(1997)

Items: Acknowledgement letter to Elmer Nelson from Social

Security Administration (1996 April 18); Telephone

Appointment Confirmation (1996 Dec. 11); Letter to Elmer

Nelson requesting application for benefits (1997 Jan. 6); Notice

of Award and Receipt for Lump-Sum Death Payment (1997 Feb.

3)


2010.01.046

Funeral Records

Elmer Nelson

(1999)

Items: State of Colorado Certificate of Death, 2 copies (1999

May 18); Reproductions (2)of death certificate; “Cremation and

Disposition Authorization” (1996 May 16); Certificate of

Cremation (1999 May 19)

2010.01.047

Sympathy Cards

Elmer Nelson

(1999)

Items: Sympathy cards and memorial donations received by

Peter M. Nelson following the death of his father, Elmer Nelson

(1999)

SERIES 4 – Memorabilia and Collectibles

Location: Box 2


Extent: This series includes memorabilia, collectibles and ephemera that were collected by

Elmer, Juanita and Peter M. Nelson. The contents range from autographs and postcards, high

school and railroad memorabilia, to coins, jewelry, and books.


Scope and Content: 6 folders

Restrictions: Limited access to folder 2010.01.049 BNSF Railroad

Language: English

Folder Description

2010.01.048

Autographs & Postcards

(undated)

Items: Envelope with Paul Lichter’s address and notes;

Autographs: Falon Young, Elvis Presley, Gordon Jerry, Joe

Vincent (circa 1946); photocopy of autographs; Elvis Presley

postage stamp; Newsprint clipping (Parade,1981); Michael

Martin Murphy autograph; 12 postcards


2010.01.049

BNSF Railroad

(circa 1978-2005)

Items: Santa Fe Time Service Approval Card – Peter M. Nelson

(1978 May 18); BNSF Locomotive Engineer Certificate – Peter

M. Nelson (1999, 2002, 2005); Transportation Political

Education League Membership Card (2003); 2-BNSF

Identification cards (undated); Wooden switchboard “plugs”;

name and social security number stamps

2010.01.050

Wooden box

(undated)

Description: 12x6x5 in. finished wooden box with metal handles

and hinged lid. Contains objects from Peter M. Nelson’s high

school years, including: 3 medals for “Boys’ Octet” ; Bausch &

Lomb Honorary Science Award medal; 59 graduation name

cards; 2 shoe horns; wallet with 10 graduation photos of

classmates, insurance card, Friday Afternoon Club Membership

Card, wallet diploma, business card, Union Pacific Railroad

Pass; Cufflinks- “Souvenir de Grece”; Cufflink (1 missing)-

silver vest; Cufflinks – round, gold & black design; Cufflinks-

Gold Train; Silver Fleur de Lis pin; square gold lapel pin; gold

lapel pin with wheels; bronze rectangular pin; 3 decorative clips

with gold & black design; silver lapel pin with hanging spur;

silver oval clip; 2x3 inch bronze cross on lanyard; black leather

belt with silver buckle; empty metal tin of “Laymon’s Aspirin” ;

miniature silver lighter; circular pendant of Mexican coin; metal

tag “University of Wyoming 58918”; steel spike, 4 ½ inches;

steel golf tee; German “pfennig” coin

2010.01.051

Coins

(1879-1974)

Items: 17 Silver Dollars (1879-1971); 10 Half Dollars (1942-

1964); Union Pacific “Lucky Piece” (1934); United States

Transportation Union (1969); Complete U.S. coin set (1971);

U.S proof set (1971); 2 Complete U.S. coin sets (1973); U.S.

Proof Set (1973); 2 Complete U.S. coin sets (1974); U.S. Proof

Set (1974); U.S. Mint’s Bicentennial Silver Uncirculated Set

(1976); 1 Canadian coin in case (1973); 4-$2.00 bills (1928-

1963)

2010.01.052

Juanita Nelson Jewelry

(undated)

Items: “Lee Sands Enamel Peacock Pin”; circular pearl brooch;

gold brooch with single pearl; 2 gold bracelets with polished

stones; “Swank” obsidian cufflinks; “Genuine hand-carved


ivory” rose brooch and earrings; jade set – 2 necklaces, bracelet,

earrings; gold chain with diamond pendant; gold chain with

opal & ruby pendant ; 6 gold bracelets; gold “Giovanni” rose

brooch; “Florenza” gemstone brooch; round obsidian brooch;

obsidian brooch & earring set; floral metal pendant; 3 hat pins

2010.01.053

Elmer Nelson Collectibles

(ca. 1905-1984)

Items: Folder: Webster Vest Pocket Dictionary (undated);

Improved Ready Reckoner: Form & Log Book (1905); Red &

blue Wyoming pendant; Gold pocket watch with stand;

“Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen” pin; “B. of R.T.” 10-year

service pin; Union Pacific “Junior Old Timers Club” pin;

Episcopal pin; Membership pin; Order of Elks Centennial

keychain (1963); Marble; Class ring; CCC ring; Leather

watchband; Compass; “Santa Fe Junction” matchbook; 4

bullets; Steel spike “65”; Embroidered silk handkerchief; Geode

fountain pen base; Polished stone heart; Bolo tie with polished

stones; 2-Wyoming License Plates (1983); Magnifying glass;

Oxford Card Guides; Playing cards; Brown & Bigelow ruler

(1965); “Ronnie Rapper” paddle ball; Reagan/Bush campaign

buttons (1984); Reagan Comics: A Cornucopia of cartoons on

Ronald Reagan (1984); The Presidents Tidbits and Trivia

(1984); blue & red suspenders

SERIES 5 – Family Portraits and Photographs

Location: Box 3

Dates (Inclusive): circa 1900-2007

Extent: 16 folders


Scope and Content: This series contains over three hundred family portraits and photographs of

the Nelson family. In addition to loose B&W and color photographs, this series also contains

Peter M. Nelson’s photo albums.


2010.01.054

Vernon, Hallie & Juanita

Smith (circa 1917-1924)

Items: 4 portraits

5x7 B&W photograph of Vernon Smith, age 8 (undated); 4x6

B&W photograph of Vernon, Hallie and Juanita Smith in brown

cardstock folio (ca. 1917); 4x6 B&W photograph of Hallie and

Juanita Smith in grey cardstock folio (ca. 1924); 5x7 B&W

photograph of Hallie Runnion Smith in silver frame (Inscription

on back: “Wasn’t your mother beautiful? Hallie Runnion Smith,

born 1889. (Juanita’s mother, picture taken in 1924)”

2010.01.055

Early family photographs –

Smith & Nelson (circa 1900-

1940)

Items: 23 B&W photographs (various sizes)

Coverage includes early Smith family photos (Vernon, Hallie

and Juanita Smith, ca. 1910-1924), and Nelson family photos

(Nelson brothers, Elmer & Juanita Nelson, ca. 1930-1941)

2010.01.056

“RR Pics Winter on Red

Desert, Rawlins Wyo to

Green River”

(1910-1949)

Items: 1 postcard, 15 B&W photographs (various sizes);

enlarged duplicates of originals (18)

2010.01.057

Portraits - Elmer & Juanita

(1941)

Items: 2 portraits

8 ½ x 11 B&W photograph of “Elmer Harry Nelson 1941, 27

yrs.old”; 8 ½ x 11 B&W photograph of “Juanita Smith Nelson

1941, 26 yrs. old”

2010.01.058

Portraits – Peter M. Nelson

(1945-1952)

Items: 7 – 8 ½ x 11 portraits

3mos (1945), 10mos (1945), 1yr9mos (1946), 3yrs (1947), 4 ½

yrs (1949), 6yrs (1950), 8yrs (1952)

2010.01.059

Childhood photographs

Items: 180 B&W photographs, 37 color photographs (various

sizes), and 11 negative strips.

Restrictions: none

Language: English


(1944-1962)

Coverage includes: baby pictures of Peter M. Nelson (1944-

1947), pictures from Peter M. Nelson’s and Linda Nelson’s

childhood (1948-1958), and Peter M. Nelson’s high school years

(1959-1962)

2010.01.060

Portrait – Peter M. Nelson

(1966 Feb. 7)

Items: 8 ½ x 11 B&W portrait

2010.01.061

College Photo Album

(1964-65)

Items: 11x14 unbound album containing 20 pages, 5

photographs per page (B&W & color) with handwritten captions

about events, people, places and memories from Peter M.

Nelson’s college years. Also includes (23) 3”x3” loose color

photographs from the same time period.

2010.01.062

Class Picture – “BIO 480

Mexico & Guatemala”

(1974)

Items: 1- 8 ½ x 11 B&W photograph with handwritten notations

of student names

2010.01.063

Scott & Wendy Nelson

(1970-1977)

Items: 15 color photographs (various sizes) documenting the

birth and childhood of Peter M. Nelson’s first two children, Scott

and Wendy Nelson.

2010.01.064

Graduation & Prom pictures

(1988-1998)

Items: 5 - 5x7” color photographs of Scott, Wendy and Amy

Nelson’s high school proms and graduations.

2010.01.065

Portrait - Elmer & Juanita

(1995)

Items: 8 ½ x 11 color portrait, “Ages 81 & 79”

2010.01.066

Items: 8 ½ x 11 color computer print


Photograph – Erik Hoofnagle

(ca. 1995)

2010.01.067

Photographs – Nelson

Brothers & Wives

(ca. 1996)

Items: 4 - 8 ½ x 11 color photographs and envelope

2010.01.068

Retirement Home

(1996-1999)

Items: (42) color photographs of Elmer Nelson after Juanita’s

death while living at the Regent and the Crossroads in Pueblo,

CO (1996-1999)

2010.01.069

Class Picture - Peter M.

Nelson’s 45th

Class Reunion

(2007)

Items: 8 ½ x 11 color photograph and envelope


Appendix A

Accession Description

Date Received:

05/20/2010

Accession Number:

2010.01

Location:

Home storage of

Peter M. Nelson

Beulah, CO

Creating Individuals: Elmer Nelson, Juanita Nelson and Peter M. Nelson

Title: Nelson Family Papers

Quantity: 3 cubic feet

Approximate Dates: 1879-2005 [1944-1999]

General Contents:

- Photographs

- Correspondence

- Handwritten journals & notebooks

- Scrapbooks

- Birth, marriage and death certificates

- Academic records & yearbooks

- Financial and medical records

- Family tree scrolls

- Newspaper clippings

- Collectibles: coins & jewelry

- Ephemera related to Rawlins Wyoming and the BNSF Railroad

Donor: Peter M. Nelson

Accessioned by: Amy Nelson

Date: June 1, 2010


Appendix B

Colophon

This collection was processed by Amy Nelson, a graduate student of Library and

Information Science, at Emporia State University. Amy has completed five semesters of

graduate studies, with an emphasis in Archives. Amy also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in

German and Russian Studies from The Colorado College. During her undergraduate

coursework, Amy studied abroad in Germany and Russia to enhance her linguistic and history

studies.

Currently employed as a Reference Assistant at the Rawlings Public Library in Pueblo,

Colorado, Amy’s professional experience also includes work for the Western History and

Genealogy Department at the Rawlings Library, and two practicum assignments at the Estes Park

Museum, where she assisted with preserving selected art collections and was responsible for

processing the Byxbe/Crump Collection.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists (2009-current)

American Library Association ( 2008-current)

Colorado Association of Libraries (2008-current)

Pueblo Historical Society (2008-current)

Library Technology Committee (2008-current)

AWARDS AND HONORS

Friends of the Library MLS Scholarship Recipient (2009 and 2010)

Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship Recipient (2009)

Employee of the Month – Pueblo City-County Library District (September 2008)

Staff Member of the Year – Beulah School (2005)

Cum Laude – The Colorado College (2002)

Regensburg International Scholar Award – The Colorado College (2000)

Anne von Bibra Sutton German Scholar Award – The Colorado College (1999)


Appendix C

Background Research

Processing of this collection involved extensive historical research. While the processor

was able to collect a substantial amount of historical information from the collection, there were

many contextual elements that were not evident from the records themselves. The processor

therefore conducted numerous interviews with Peter M. Nelson and Linda (Nelson) Hoofnagle.

A preliminary interview was conducted with the donor at the time of acquisition; however,

subsequent interviews were required to fully determine the context in which various records

were created, as well as how to best describe many of the records and objects within the

collection. Similarly, biographical information about the record creators was obtained through

interviews with the donor, as well as his sister, Linda.

Documents

Finding Aid for the Nelson Family Papers...Collection Number: 2010.01 Extent: 3 cubic feet Location: Private storage in the home of Peter M. Nelson Language: English Biographical Note: