Seligman Historical Society
The museum that houses the documents and artifacts belonging to the Seligman Historical Society is not generally open to the public. They open it only during town celebrations, such as Route 66 Days, and for groups, such as Elder Hostel, that have made arrangements in advance.
The museum is located a block off the Main Street in the Cottage Hotel, a structure that is on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel was built in 1912 and was called Cottage Hotel because the woman who built it lived in the front and rented rooms to railroad men and cowboys.
Personnel at the local library should be able to provide further information on how to access the Historical Society's materials. Contact the librarian, Charlotte Lindemuth (520-42203633).
Materials are described below and listed by the rooms in which they are located:
School Room:
- There are several photos in frames and cases around the room: 1924, 1931, 1933, grade school students 1930-31, unidentified (3), HS? 1935-36: 5th and 6th grade, 1934-35 (7 photos in all) more recent graduates (the 1950s?)
- Two Diplomas, 1927 and 1930
- Report cards: 2, 1930-1931, 1929-30
- 4 unidentified sports teams photos: 1960s and 1970s
- Five group photos of grade school classes in early 1970s
- Photo: 1934 junior class
- Twenty-three copies of La Sierra, the school annual:
- Various years, 1946 through late 1970s
- Seligman High School Class of 1933, record type of book, fairly damaged by rain-has graduation announcement and other materials, small
Birthing room:
The doctor employed by the railroad (at least during the late 1930s and 1940s) used this room as a birthing room for clients who were not connected with the railroad. This site was ideal because the woman who ran the "hotel" at the time was also a nurse (some identify her as a mid-wife).
- Copies of two clippings on the buildings
- World War II ration book for Louise E Bishop, listed as the last baby born in this room.
- "Old timer's recollection" (typed). Written by Dorothy Gilliam in 1990. It's about people in the area that she remembers.
- Photos on the wall:
Twins, Bob and Barbara Miller, born 1932: (infant and toddler photos), 2
Patty Lou George and Sunny Rae George, born in the Cottage Hotel with Dr. Connor attending: midwife, Lilly Stone: years 1943, 1945.
Library:
- Large Scrap Book: Northern District Seligman Woman's Club for the years 1961-62, 1962-63
Like other Woman's club scrapbooks, it contains the yearbook, member list, and clippings of newspapers about activities. (11x14-approx. size, pages falling out, approximately 50 pages, done on both sides like a standard scrap book.)
- Other Seligman Woman's Club scrapbooks:
1955-56, 1956-58, 1970,1971, 1956-58, 1955-56, 1970, 1973, 1979-80, 1980-81.
- Cashbook for Woman's Club: 1969-1979
- Copy of program for Seligman Centennial and Grand Reunion, 1986. It's called the High Plains Trader: Northern Yavapai County and Surrounding areas (must be ongoing paper for: Ash Fork, Seligman & Peach Springs; this particular issue is Vol. III No 4)
- Copy of "appendices:" approximately 40 pp of information, the first is called "Pioneering Family Leaves Legacy" (obviously from a newspaper), as well as other copies of articles, notes, maps, etc. No source or date evident.
- Youth Employment News Letter, Vol. 1, No. 1, 8 pp no date, must be local publication
- "Arizona's Impossible Railroad," by Tosh Plumlee, no source, no date: about 8 pages
- Brown, Virginia M., Magnificent Land: Prescott National Forest (dated 1979) copy of spiral bound article, 54 pp.
- Robinson, Dorothy F. Arizona the Beautiful: A History of the State for Boys and Girls, 8x11 pamphlet stylebook, no publisher, no date. 18 pp
- First National Bank of Arizona: The Arizona Story, no author, no date, no publisher, 8x11 pamphlet style, 63 pp
- "Arizona... Its Place in Time, from Arizona Days and Ways", no date, no single author, but articles in this "magazine" are by various authors
- Arizona 1887-1950: The Bank of Douglas, copyright 1949 by The Bank of Douglas, Phoenix, Arizona, --about Douglas, Bisbee, photos, short descriptions
- Various 1950s and 60s newspapers
- Rodeo Program, 4th Annual American Legion Seligman Rodeo, --that's all it says and there is no year. It gives dates of August 17 and 18
- Box:
Scrapbook with photos of serviceman, Henry Fowler, café, etc., in Seligman, nothing is identified
Letter to "Jim" from "Louise," three pages, typed, no date
Letterman Army Hospital newsletter FogHorn, 1956
Release from US Army for Henry E Fowler, 1943,
Basketball tournament, Arizona State College Flagstaff, 1959
Military photo album with other pictures of child, Hamilton Field, California shots, etc., at least 30
pages of photos, nothing identified
Miscellaneous clippings
Letter: War Department to Mrs. Mary L. Fowler, Purple Heart for Henry Fowler, awarded August 18, 1945:death certificate 1976
Certificate for Flying School Roswell Army Flying School, Roswell, New Mexico (Henry Fowler) dated June 1, 1942
Billfold with miscellaneous info. (Henry Fowler)
A few loose photos, not identified
Ranch or old west room
Maps
- Blueprint map of ranches in Seligman area, hanging on the wall: Boquillas ranch; and Boquillas Cattle Co.: 4
- Ranches in the area: overview:
General as well as two of John R. Norton's 00 ranch. There is also a third map.
- General Drainage maps, 2, 1953-54
Santa Fe Room:
- Various railroad time tables (one from 1979)
- Rules operating department Santa Fe 1953 (small booklet)
- Santa Fe Telephone directory 1973
- Scrapbook with copies of assignments (40 pp at least) 1983
- Santa Fe Roundhouse record book, 1961- 30 pp
- Bulletins, 1985: approx. 30 pp
