Herschel Bullen, Sr. papers
Scope and Contents
This 10 box collection contains the papers of the pioneer industrialist Herschel Bullen, Sr. The materials in this collection consist of correspondence, personal papers, legal documents, financial papers, and various other materials. Nearly half of the materials in this collection consist of Bullen's financial papers, providing a detailed account of the financial status and economic dealings of one of Richmond's early settlers.
Boxes 1-3 contain Bullen's bank statements from 1886-1910. Box 4 consists of booklets that contain a detailed and often daily log of Bullen's financial dealings from 1878-1908. Boxes 5-7 contain a variety of personal papers, legal documents, financial papers/booklets, and LDS materials. Box 8 contains Bullen's correspondence and papers while serving as a member of the State Board of Land Commissioners (1900-1910). Box 9 contains Bullen's personal and business correspondence (separated into outgoing and incoming). Bullen's outgoing correspondence has been organized chronologically. Incoming correspondence has been organized alphabetically by the surname name of the sender. In addition, Box 9, Fd 8 contains the incoming correspondence (1848-1878) to Clarissa Bullen, the mother of Herschel Bullen, Sr. Box 10 contains 40 check registers/account registers spanning the years from 1880 to 1910.
Note: Researcher interested in the Bullen family should also see USU Special Collections & Archives, Coll Mss 178: The Herschel Bullen, Jr. Papers.
Dates
- 1848-1912
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Restrictions
Open to public research.
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 Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the Herschel Bullen, Sr. papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
Herschel Bullen, Sr. was born January 10, 1840 in Mercer, Maine to Newell and Clarissa Judkins Atkinson Bullen. In 1846 the Bullen family set sail on the Brooklyn for San Francisco, California, and upon landing, traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah to join Mormon pioneers. In 1858 Hershel's father died, leaving Herschel responsible for the family's financial needs. In 1861 the Bullen family relocated to the developing settlement that later became Richmond, Utah. During the 1860s Hershel became involved with Richmond's "Dramatic Circle", a group of theatricals that often traveled throughout Cache Valley performing such acts as "Ten Nights in a Bar Room."
On March 28, 1868 Herschel married Lydia Malinda Knapp, a Welch immigrant, in Farmington, Utah. They had one child, Lorenzo, before they separated/divorced in the spring of 1870. During that same spring, on February 8, 1870, Hershel married Emma Boston Gibbs in Salt Lake City, Utah. They later had two children, Herschel Jr. and Nellie. Tragedy struck the family on October 1, 1873 when Emma died. Three years later, on October 1, 1876 Herschel married again, this time to Mary Josephine Whittle in Logan, Utah. Together they had seven children, Roy, Pearl, Cyrus, Emma, Asa, Bryant, and Edith.
During the 1870s Herschel found work freighting goods between Utah and Montana. Since railroad construction was increasing in the West, Herschel formed a partnership with Samuel A. Hendricks and operated a railroad grading company, often working contracts throughout the western United States. Herschel also acquired and maintained a large farm in Cache Valley where he raised crops and livestock. By the 1890s Herschel became involved in land speculation and the Republican party, serving as a member of the State Board of Land Commissioners from 1900 to 1910. Herschel Bullen, Sr. died on June 27, 1910 in Richmond.
Source:
Bair, Amos, W. History of Richmond, Utah, The Richmond Bicentennial Committee, 1976 (this book can be found at USU Special Collections & Archives under the call number: 979.27 R415).
Extent
10 boxes (3.25 linear ft.)
Abstract
This collection contains the papers of pioneer industrialist Herschel Bullen, Sr. The materials in this collection consist of correspondence, personal papers, legal documents, financial papers, and various other materials. Nearly half of the materials in this collection consist of Bullen's financial papers, providing a detailed account of the financial status and economic dealings of one of Richmond's early settlers.
Arrangement
Incoming correspondence arranged alphabetically; outgoing correspondence arranged chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers of Herschel Bullen, Sr. were donated to USU Special Collections & Archives by Reed Bullen (a grandson of Herschel Sr.) in 1991.
- Title
- Guide to the Herschel Bullen, Sr. papers 1848-1912
- Author
- Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
- Date
- ©2008
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Revision Statements
- August 8, 2008.: Template information was updated to reflect Utah Manuscript Association best practices.
- 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu