Buffalo Bill Center of the West

  • Visit
    Current HoursDecember 1–February 29: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday–Sunday Hours & RatesPlan your visit to the Center of the West. Group SalesWe welcome commercial group and bus tours. Facility RentalsThe Center is the perfect place for your next event. Visiting YellowstoneYour best stop on the way to or from Yellowstone. LodgingSelect from a variety of local accommodations. ItinerariesDiscover some quick day trips in and around Cody. DirectionsFind driving directions and check road conditions. StoriesFind your story among ours. Calendar of EventsSee what events are happening during your visit here.
  • Explore
    Buffalo Bill Museummuseum icon Draper Natural History Museummuseum icon Whitney Western Art Museummuseum icon Plains Indian Museummuseum icon Cody Firearms Museummuseum icon McCracken Research Librarymuseum icon Online Collectionsmuseum icon Blogs, articles, and featuresmuseum icon ExhibitionsFind out what’s on view in our Center. Beyond Our WallsSee how we bring the West to the World. NewsroomStay up-to-date with all Center happenings.
  • Learn
    School Programs & ResourcesEssential info and resources for teachers and students. Family ProgramsFamily-friendly programs, activities, and craft ideas. InternshipsCollege students may apply to gain museum experience. Skype in the ClassroomLive, interactive K–12 field trips. WorkshopsExplore hands-on programs for kids, families, and adults. Conservation InternshipsTraining for conservators from all over the world. Pre-K ProgramsSet up a guided tour for your preschool class. Field TripsInvestigate outdoor adventures for adults and children. Highlights MapsDiscover collection highlights in each of our museum. Games and InteractivesLearn about the collection through online interactives. Lectures & FilmsPlan for future talks and view past program videos. Western EssaysDelve into historical information on western topics.
  • Shop
    Books Clothing and Accessories Gifts Native American Replicas Fine Art Quality Leather Native American Jewelry Navajo Rugs Pottery Prints Media Baskets
  • Research
    McCracken Research LibraryFind books, photos, archives, media, and more. Digital CollectionsExplore our extensive photo and manuscript collections. Archival Collection List and Finding GuidesBrowse inventories of archival collections. The Papers of William F. CodyDiscover scholarship on the man and the myth. Fellowship ProgramContribute to new scholarship using Center collections. Buffalo BillUncover in-depth information about William F. Cody. Greater Yellowstone Natural HistoryLearn more about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Western ArtDelve into the lives and works of western artists. Plains IndianDiscover more about Plains Indian tribes and collections. FirearmsFind a firearms bibliography, glossary, and more. ConservationFind out how we preserve Center collections. Rights and ReproductionsLicense or reproduce images from our collections.
  • Support
    Planned GivingLeave your legacy with a bequest or estate gift. Patrons BallAttend our annual gala fundraiser. MembershipBecome a supporter and receive great benefits. VolunteerSupport the Center with your time and talent. Our next raffle car: a 1967 Pontiac GTOBuy your tickets online for this amazing prize! Give TodayMake a donation to programs and operations. Why I SupportSee what motivates donors to give to the Center. We have a winner for the car raffle for 2019Winner: from Lusk, Wyoming, with ticket #0553 Raptor ExperienceHelp provide care for our avian friends.

Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Become a Member Sign up for our Newsletter
  • Visit
    • Current HoursDecember 1–February 29: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday–Sunday
    • Hours & RatesPlan your visit to the Center of the West.
    • Group SalesWe welcome commercial group and bus tours.
    • Facility RentalsThe Center is the perfect place for your next event.
    • Visiting YellowstoneYour best stop on the way to or from Yellowstone.
    • LodgingSelect from a variety of local accommodations.
    • ItinerariesDiscover some quick day trips in and around Cody.
    • DirectionsFind driving directions and check road conditions.
    • StoriesFind your story among ours.
    • Calendar of EventsSee what events are happening during your visit here.
  • Explore
    • Our Museums
      • Buffalo Bill Museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West
      • Draper Natural History Museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West
      • Whitney Western Art Museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West
      • Plains Indian Museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West
      • Cody Firearms Museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West
      • McCracken Research Library Buffalo Bill Center of the West
      • Online Collections Buffalo Bill Center of the West
      • Blogs, articles, and features Buffalo Bill Center of the West
    • Museum Details
      • ExhibitionsFind out what’s on view in our Center.
      • Beyond Our WallsSee how we bring the West to the World.
      • EventsFind out what programs, talks, and other events are coming up!
      • NewsroomStay up-to-date with all Center happenings.
  • Learn
    • School Programs & ResourcesEssential info and resources for teachers and students.
    • Family ProgramsFamily-friendly programs, activities, and craft ideas.
    • InternshipsCollege students may apply to gain museum experience.
    • Skype in the ClassroomLive, interactive K–12 field trips.
    • WorkshopsExplore hands-on programs for kids, families, and adults.
    • Conservation InternshipsTraining for conservators from all over the world.
    • Pre-K ProgramsSet up a guided tour for your preschool class.
    • Field TripsInvestigate outdoor adventures for adults and children.
    • Highlights MapsDiscover collection highlights in each of our museum.
    • Games and InteractivesLearn about the collection through online interactives.
    • Lectures & FilmsPlan for future talks and view past program videos.
    • Western EssaysDelve into historical information on western topics.
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Clothing and Accessories
    • Gifts
    • Native American Replicas
    • Fine Art
    • Quality Leather
    • Native American Jewelry
    • Navajo Rugs
    • Pottery
    • Prints
    • Media
    • Baskets
  • Research
    • McCracken Research LibraryFind books, photos, archives, media, and more.Buffalo Bill Center of the West
    • Digital CollectionsExplore our extensive photo and manuscript collections.
    • Archival Collection List and Finding GuidesBrowse inventories of archival collections.
    • The Papers of William F. CodyDiscover scholarship on the man and the myth.
    • Fellowship ProgramContribute to new scholarship using Center collections.
    • Buffalo BillUncover in-depth information about William F. Cody.
    • Greater Yellowstone Natural HistoryLearn more about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
    • Western ArtDelve into the lives and works of western artists.
    • Plains IndianDiscover more about Plains Indian tribes and collections.
    • FirearmsFind a firearms bibliography, glossary, and more.
    • ConservationFind out how we preserve Center collections.
    • Rights and ReproductionsLicense or reproduce images from our collections.
  • Support
    • Planned GivingLeave your legacy with a bequest or estate gift.
    • Patrons BallAttend our annual gala fundraiser.
    • MembershipBecome a supporter and receive great benefits.
    • VolunteerSupport the Center with your time and talent.
    • Our next raffle car: a 1967 Pontiac GTOBuy your tickets online for this amazing prize!
    • Give TodayMake a donation to programs and operations.
    • Why I SupportSee what motivates donors to give to the Center.
    • We have a winner for the car raffle for 2019Winner: from Lusk, Wyoming, with ticket #0553
    • Raptor ExperienceHelp provide care for our avian friends.
  • High school student researching in the Center's McCracken Research Library
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Home > Research > McCracken Research Library > Manuscripts and Archives

Manuscripts and Archives

Manuscripts and Archives

The McCracken Research Library houses over three hundred manuscripts, archives, and photographic collections containing primary research materials. These materials are available for research by appointment.

Manuscript Collections

The manuscripts and archives collections contain unique, unpublished records created by organizations and individuals in the conduct of their activities. Letters, speeches, minutes, reports, writings, and other types of records document the history and culture of the American West, Wyoming, and City of Cody. Manuscripts derive from diverse sources such as pioneers and settlers, local citizens, industry leaders, western artists, naturalists, and major cultural figures.
Many manuscript collections have indices and inventories available at the reference desk. A few have electronic finding aids in PDF format.

For our online manuscript finding aids, click here to go to our archival collections list.

Detail of a document signed by William Clark, Governor of the Missouri Territory, 1813

Detail of a document signed by William Clark, Governor of the Missouri Territory, 1813.

Organizational Records

The collections also represent a variety of organizations, such as local advocacy groups or professional organizations.

Cecil McMillin rides bucking horse. Charles Belden Collection. PN.67.597

Cecil McMillin rides bucking horse. Charles Belden Collection. PN.67.597

Gun and ammunition companies, such as Winchester, L.C. Smith, and Schuyler, Hartley & Graham, are also documented by extensive correspondence, reports, financial records, and other material distinctive to their businesses.

 

Pictorial Collections

Pictorial collections include a variety of material types such as photographs, slides, postcards, artworks, and ephemera.

Stereograph card

Stereograph card

The McCracken archive houses over 500,000 documentary images. Such topics as Buffalo Bill and his Wild West show, Plains Indians, ranching, fishing and hunting industries, local history, the oil industry, cattle ranching, dude ranching and Yellowstone National Park are well represented. Works include Wyoming photographers Charles Belden, Stan Kershaw, Jack Richard, and F.J. Hiscock. Examples of photographic formats in this collection include black-and-white prints and negatives, glass lantern slides, stereocards, and 35mm film color slides.

For our online manuscript finding aids, click here to go to our archival collections list.

Ask a Librarian

Do you have a research question you just can’t seem to find the answer to? Our librarians are stellar sleuths! E-mail us your question to [email protected] or click on the link below!

ASK A LIBRARIAN

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The Center of the West is known for the amazing artifacts that help us tell the authentic story of the American West.

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Programs

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