RALPH LAWRENCE CARR PAPERS
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Ralph Lawrence Carr Papers contain correspondence, reports, campaign pamphlets, five scrapbooks, speech transcripts, manuscripts and legal documents. A portion of this material provides information on Carr’s work as an attorney. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings documenting his two terms as Governor of Colorado. The majority of Carr’s legal papers pertain to his work on the Trinchera Ranch case, which dealt with water rights. The papers also contain manuscripts he wrote on the Maxwell Land Grant, Sangre de Cristo Grant and Cripple Creek. Only a few items contain personal information. The papers span 1924 to 1957.
The bulk of the series consists of papers regarding the Trinchera Ranch Company versus Water District #35 case. These papers comprise background material, documents from the hearing, investigation reports and correspondence. Reports, a plat, affidavits, the judgment, an indenture and a resolution encompass the background papers (copies). The remaining material includes Carr’s research and manuscripts regarding the Sangre de Cristo Grant and the Maxwell Land Grant. Correspondence and Carr’s nomination comprise the papers on his service as U.S. District Attorney for Colorado.
The series consists of correspondence, election certificates and transcripts of speeches along with programs or pamphlets from the events Carr attended or addressed. The transcripts provide information on Carr’s concern with state’s rights.
The personal material consists of correspondence, several articles on Abraham Lincoln that Carr collected and publishing certificates of registration for Cripple Creek Gold Rush. The correspondence includes letters his wife, Eleanor Carr, received.
The five scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings documenting Carr’s elections, activities and actions as Governor of Colorado. Numerous articles cover his views and actions regarding the reorganization of the state’s financial structure, water rights and state’s rights. The clippings also cover Carr’s service as regent at the University of Colorado and his illness and death.
Dates
- 1887-1950
ACCESS:
The collection is open for research.
OWNERSHIP:
Records are the physical property of the Denver Public Library.
PUBLICATION RIGHTS:
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Ralph L. Carr was born in Custer County, Colorado in 1887. Raised in Cripple Creek, Colorado, Carr attended schools in the city. Carr earned his A.B. and L.L.B. from the University of Colorado in 1910 and 1912 respectively. After graduation, he was admitted into law practice in Victor, Colorado. Concurrently he worked as the editor for the Victor Daily Record. On February 1, 1913, Carr married Gretchen Fowler. They had two children, Robert F. and Cynthia. In 1915, Carr relocated to Trinidad, Colorado. He continued legal work and became editor for the Evening Picketwire.
In 1917, Carr moved to Antonio, Colorado. From 1922 to 1929, Carr served as the County Attorney in Conejos County, Colorado. From 1927 to 1929, he worked as the Assistant Attorney General of Colorado. He served as the legal advisor to the Colorado Commissioner on the Rio Grande Compact from 1928 to 1929 and 1934 to 1938. Concurrently Carr worked as Special Counsel for the State of Colorado on irrigation matters involving La Plata and North Platte Rivers. From 1929-1933, Carr served as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado. In 1933, Carr received Norlin’s recognition medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Legal Profession from the University of Colorado.
In 1939, Carr was elected Governor of Colorado. He served two two-year terms. As Governor, Carr reorganized the state’s financial structure. Carr campaigned for the recognition and preservation of the rights for Western constituents and the state’s natural resources. He advocated the states’ rights to control the use of water, grazing lands, timber, mineral deposits and the conduct of agriculture and livestock pursuits. After serving as Governor, Carr was elected regent for the University of Colorado and engaged in private practice in Denver.
Carr joined the American, Colorado and Denver Bar Associations. He was a member of the Phi Delta Phi, legal fraternity and the Delta Tau Delta, social fraternity. Carr died in 1950.
Extent
2 boxes (.75 linear feet)
3 oversize boxes
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
PROVENANCE:
Eleanor Carr donated the scrapbooks in 1957. The Denver Public Library purchased the bulk of the papers from Eleanor Carr in 1957. The two essays on Cripple Creek were transferred from the Harold H. Dunham Collection in 1978. Robert F. Carr donated two Christmas essays on April 25, 1978.
SIZE:
Number of Boxes: 2 (.75 linear feet)
Oversize: 3 boxes
LOCATION:
WH61
PROCESSED BY:
Ellen Zazzarino
July 2002
REVISED AND ENCODED BY:
Merrie Jo Schroeder
August 2005
PROJECT MANAGER:
Ellen Zazzarino
- Carr, Eleanor, 1913- -- Archives.
- Carr, Ralph L. (Ralph Lawrence), 1887-1950 -- Archives.
- Colorado -- Politics and government. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Governors -- Colorado. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Legislators -- Colorado. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Trinchera Ranch (Colo.) -- Archives.
- Title
- RALPH LAWRENCE CARR PAPERS
- Date
- 2005
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository
