MS 006 Bechtel Collection SUMMARY INFORMATION Title: Bechtel Collection Creator: Robert Bechtel Inclusive dates: 1886 -- 2012 Extent: 27 boxes; 7 linear feet Abstract: This collection contains research notes, photographs, clippings, and drafts of work related primarily to Arizona postal history, particularly his work in the Grand Canyon and catalog of state postmarks. Also included are photographs and financial documents of Ella Knott, postmaster of Light, Arizona. Finally, the collection also includes a large collection of Arizona covers. Call no.: MS 006 Language: English Repository: Peggy J. Slusser Memorial Library 920 N. First Avenue Tucson, Arizona, 85719 ACCESS & USE Acquisition information: Robert (Bob) Bechtel first donated his Grand Canyon collection and this was processed in 2011. He subsequently donated his work on the Arizona state postmarks catalog, Light documents and photographs, Arizona covers, and other materials over years. The Grand Canyon collection was absorbed into this one. Restrictions: This collection has no restrictions. Copyright: It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Postal History Foundation, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright. Preferred citation: Bechtel Collection. Postal History Foundation. MS 006 – Bechtel Collection ARRANGEMENT This collection is arranged into five series: Grand Canyon postal history materials Ella Knott materials Arizona statehood postmark catalog materials Other philatelic and Postal History Foundation materials Arizona covers SCOPE & CONTENT NOTE Series 1: Grand Canyon materials The Grand Canyon folders would be of interest to historians and genealogists interested in the late 19th and early 20th century events of the Grand Canyon. This series includes information about people and subjects such as Ada Bass, John Hance, Lyman H. Tolfree, J.H. Tolfree, Lt. John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, John M. Stotsenburg, “Minus,” “Sam” (a Navajo guide), Harold E. Anthony and his Sky Island expedition, Louise M. Hinchcliff, Guy Mitchell (who ran a Star Route mule train), Fred Bart, air crashes in the Grand Canyon (and associated mail), Max Biegert, Grand Canyon Railway, Santa Fe Railway, Mojave Train Station, Tuba City (Arizona), Oraibi (Arizona), Tolfree (Arizona), Tourist (Arizona), Grandview (Arizona), Bakersfield (California), and a 1896 Great Register from Kern County (California). The material includes information about many places in and near the Grand Canyon, as well as historical events and the people in them, including the history of postmasters. There are a combination of handwritten-notes, photocopies, photographs, and slides. Series 2: Ella Knott The Light folders would be of interest to historians and genealogists interested in early Cochise County, Light, and the Knott family. This series includes photographs and documents from Ella Knott, postmaster of Light, Arizona (that no longer exists). Of note is a book of poetry written in pencil and bank statements with cancelled checks that show the price of items at the time. Series 3: Arizona Statehood Postmarks Catalog The Catalog folders would be of interest to an Arizona postmark collector interested in picking up where Bob Bechtel stopped and revising the catalog. This series includes handwritten notes, photocopies of postmarks, and correspondence both before and after the first edition was published. Most of these focus on finding previously undiscovered postmark types. Drafts of the catalog have Bechtel’s handwritten notes that are corrections and additions to the draft. Also included are any photocopies of Arizona postmarks that do not appear to be in any published catalog versions. Clippings include book reviews and announcements. - 2 - MS 006 – Bechtel Collection Series 4: Other philatelic and Arizona historic materials The philatelic exhibits in this series have a broad appeal and would be of interest to both philatelist and non-philatelists. The exhibits appear to have been displayed at an ARIPEX meeting. Also in this series are other articles written by Bechtel, correspondence and clippings related to philately or the Postal History Foundation, a PowerPoint presentation given by Bechtel at the Arizona Centennial celebration, and a cassette tape of a 2008 interview of Bechtel by Bill Mortimer about the Postal History Foundation. One memo from an Arizona internment camp at Papago Park describes what to do when a prisoner escapes. Series 5: Arizona covers Postal historians, historians, and genealogists will find the Arizona covers series useful. Over the span of many years, Bechtel collected thousands of covers from post offices throughout Arizona. These covers include both territorial and statehood postmarks. It is a very comprehensive collection. Sub Series A: Arizona postmarks on covers This large subseries contains covers collected because of their postmark – the post office name and type of postmark were the focus of the collection. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by post office (town) name, and then chronologically. Larger towns may also be divided by substation, postmark type, and other criteria. Sub Series B: Arizona advertising/corner covers This subseries contains covers collected because of information displayed in the left upper corner. Businesses and organizations use stationery with their logo and address in the return address are of the envelope. These corner covers are arranged alphabetically by business/organization name. Note that the subseries begins, save for one cover, with “G.” Covers A-F could not be located at the time of processing, and it is unknown whether or not they were donated, or mislabeled at the time of initial sorting of the dozens of boxes donated by Bechtel. If ever located, advertising/corner covers A- F will be integrated into the collection. SUBJECT TERMS Bechtel, Robert ( Arizona – History Grand Canyon (Ariz.) – History Light (Ariz.) – History Knott, Ella Kane, 1865-1952 Postal service – United States – Arizona Covers (Philately) – Arizona Covers (Philately) – Exhibitions - 3 - MS 006 – Bechtel Collection RELATED MATERIAL Related collections : Arizona Covers Collection (MS 047) Arizona Postcards Collection (MS 023) Arizona Territorial Correspondence Collection (MS 025) Kriege Collection (MS 026) Theobald Postcards and Postmarks Collection (MS 032) Postal History Foundation Collection (MS 031) Postal History Foundation Arizona Post Office Field Trip Collection (MS 042) Ephemera-Arizona Post Offices Separated material: Tourist maps and brochures (now with MAPS) National Geographic, May 1955 (now cataloged in stacks) Arizona Highways, February 1994 (now with journals) James Arthur Metzger Biography (now cataloged in stacks) ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE Acquisition number : 2010-06 Processed by: Valerie Kittell, beginning April 2015 and ending February 2016. Volunteers Charlene Kittell, Cindy Konst, and Cosette Hutton also helped with processing. BOX AND FOLDER LISTING Box 1 f. 1 Research notes – Grand Canyon 1928 – n.d. f. 2 Correspondence – Grand Canyon 1988 - 2001 f.3 Bechtel articles – Grand Canyon 1987 - 1993 f.4 Clippings – Grand Canyon n.d. f. 5 Grand Canyon Exhibit 1998 f. 6 Photographs and slides – Grand Canyon n.d. f. 7 Knott family biographical information n.d. - 4 - MS 006 – Bechtel Collection Box 1 f. 8 Knott family photographs 1909 f.9 Ella Knott book of poetry n.d. f. 10 Knott correspondence and covers 1914 - 1948 f. 11 Ella Knott financial papers – Wilcox Bank and Trust Co. 1912 - 1919 f. 12 Ella Knott financial papers – Bank of Douglas 1928-1939 Notes made prior to (?) first edition of Arizona Statehood Box 2 f. 13 Postmarks Catalog n.d. Notes made subsequent to (?) first edition of Arizona f. 14 Statehood Postmarks Catalog n.d. f. 15 Correspondence – Arizona Statehood Postmarks Catalog 1989 - 2000 First edition catalog with Bechtel’s marginalia and f. 16 corrections After 1990 f. 17 Catalog draft with corrections (After 1999?) f. 18 Catalog draft with corrections (After 1999?) f. 19 Photocopied postmarks 1912 - 1998 Box 3 f. 20 Philatelic exhibit - “Whoops! Errors in Handling the Mail” 1950 – 2001 Philatelic exhibit - “Trying to Find You (To Get You to Pay f. 21a-b Your Bill)” 1913 - 1926 f. 22 Philatelic exhibit – “Cross-border Usage” 1914-1958 f. 23 Bechtel philatelic articles n.d. f. 24 Miscellaneous correspondence n.d.; 1993 f. 25 Miscellaneous clippings 1983-1990 Papago Park internment camp escaped prisoner instructions f. 26 memo 1943 f. 27 Arizona Centennial presentation and interview 2008; 2012 f. 28 Revenue stamps and mining certificates 1901-1959 - 5 - MS 006 – Bechtel Collection Box 4 Arizona postmarks on covers: Agua Fria-Barkerville 1912-2006 Agua Fria 1971-1978 Ajo 1913-2001 Alhambra 1916-1917 Allantown 1929 Alpine 1912-1999 Alto 1924-1932 Amado 1932-1993 Anita 1917 Apache 1921-1943 Apache Junction 1951-2003 Aripine 1936-1963 Arivaca 1931-2006 Arivaipa 1931 Arizona City 1962-1994 Arlington 1913-2001 Artesia 1915 Ashfork 1912-2005 Ash Fork 1931-2000 Ashurst 1926-1955 Aultman 1919 Avondale 1912-1993 - 6 - MS 006 – Bechtel Collection Box 4 Avra 1932 Aztec 1913?-1958 Bagdad 1944-1995 Bannon 1934-1942 Bapchule 1937-1990 Barkerville 1925 Bellemont 1912-1990 Box 5 Arizona postmarks on covers: Benson-Camp Verde 1912-2008 Benson