Archives Center, National Museum of American History

L.F. Foster Wild West Scrapbooks, Photographs, and Copy Negatives

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1289
Creators:
Foster, L. F.
Foster, L. F.
Dates:
1888-1921
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2 Cubic feet
5 boxes
Repository:
Collection documents Wild West Shows in Oklahoma and Washington, particularly the career of Lewis Frederick Foster who was known for his showmanship and skills.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Consists of two scrapbook albums documenting the career of Lewis Frederick Foster. Materials also relate to western shows, rodeos, Buffalo Bill Cody, Pawnee Bill, and the 101 Ranch Wild West Show. Many other individual showmen, including American Indians, are also represented. Information in the collection indicates that Foster was an amateur photographer. It is unclear if the photographs are the work of Foster or if he assembled the album himself.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Lewis Frederick Foster was born in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts to James Foster and Elizabeth T. Frederick on September 19, 1861. He married Leona [Rosamond] Stockman on September 30, 1890 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Fosters had one daughter Leona Rosamond born in 1897. Foster performed on horseback in shows across the West including the Wild West Show in Oklahoma, the Frontier Show in Cheyenne, Washington, and the 101 Ranch Wild West Show. He was known as a 'Rough and Fancy Rider' and a 'Revolver Expert'. Foster died on March 4, 1924 at the age of sixty- two in Modesto, Stanislaus County, California and is buried in Acacia Memorial Park.

Administration

Author
Sarah Gediman, Julia Gibson, Savannah Hildre, and Vanessa Broussard-Simmons
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1933 by Foster's sister, Louise T. Foster, and his brother, John H. Foster.
Custodial History
Transferred to the Archives Center from the National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Sarah Gediman, intern, 2019; Julia Gibson, intern, 2019; and Savannah Hildre, intern, 2019; supervised by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, archivist, 2019.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Preferred Citation
L.F. Foster Wild West Scrapbooks, Photographs, and Copy Negatives, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Related Materials
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Archives Center Wild West Collection, NMAH.AC.1466
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, NMAH.AC.0060
Sonora Carver Papers, NMAH.AC0.521

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Albums Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bills Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cowboys Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cowgirls Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- 1890-1920 Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1890-1910 -- Black-and-white photoprints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Western shows Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rodeos Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Buffalo Bill, 1846-1917 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pawnee Bill Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
101 Ranch Wild West Show Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu