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By KK, 2019;
Collection Overview
Abstract
Transcription of the Richard "Beaver Dick" Leigh Diaries from the original held at The University of Wyoming in Laramie.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Biographical Note
Richard "Beaver Dick" Leigh (9 January 1831, Manchester England – 29 March 1899, Wilford Idaho) was an English-American trapper, scout and guide at the end of the 19th Century, primarily in the area now known as Jackson Hole Wyoming. He has been called "possibly the West's last mountain man." He was the guide for F. V. Hayden's survey of the Teton Range in 1872. Leigh Lake was named for Richard Leigh, and nearby Jenny Lake for his first wife, by Hayden's expedition. He corresponded frequently with his longtime friend, Charles B. Penrose, leaving behind diaries and letters that provide a personal, historical, and geographical documentation of the area. He was mentioned by Theodore Roosevelt in 1892, as a local hunter around Two Ocean Pass. His moniker "Beaver Dick" was reportedly given to him by Brigham Young as a tribute to his trapping skills. In 1964, Beaver Dick State Park was opened near Rexburg Idaho.
Administrative Information
Repository:
McCracken Research Library
Access Restrictions:
McCracken Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials. Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation or publication. Contact McCracken Research Library for more information.
Acquisition Source:
unknown
Acquisition Method:
unknown
Preferred Citation:
Richard "Beaver Dick" Leigh Diaries, MS 523, McCracken Research Library, Buffalo Bill Center of the West
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