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J An Inventory of the Papers of

Bent's 01 d Fort

Collection Number 55

A holding of the Library of the Colorado Historical Society

1300 Broadway Denver, CO 80203

Processed by Tracie Etheredge & Aleks Humeyu~ptewa

Copyright 1994 COLORADO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

All Rights Reserved

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Historical Information .......................................... 1

Scope and Contents ............................................... 5

Chronology ....................................................... 6

Collection Contents ............................................. 8

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Bent's Old Fort 1

Historical Information

Bent's Old Fort, located on the Arkansas River, in

southeastern Colorado, stood for little more the twenty years, but

it was one of the most significant trading centers in the West.

Located on both the north/south route between the Platte River

country and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the east/west route up the

Arkansas River and into the mountains, trappers and Indians alike

found this a natural and important trading point.

Charles and William Bent, and Ceran St. Vrain were among the

early traders who developed an interest in both fur trade with the

Indians of the southwest, and in marketing American merchandise in

New Mexico. The three men were the principal partners in a firm

they organized in 1830. Earlier the men had all been engaged in

the upper Missouri fur trade and were therefore well equipped and

experienced in trade with Indians and Mexicans.

The concept of a great trading establishment on the Arkansas

River among the southwestern Indian tribes appears to have evolved

in the mind of Charles Bent soon after the formation of the

partnership. Charles believed that such a fort, as large as any on

the Missouri River, would be necessary to hold this vast territory

against competing traders.

The partners selected a site on the north side of the Arkansas

River about twelve miles north of the mouth of the Purgatoire

River. The fort was constructed around 1833 or 1834, under the

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Bent's Old Fort 2 f

direction of William Bent. Since suitable timber was not .'

available, the trading post was built of adobe.

The new trading establishment was one of the largest in the

trans-Mississippi west. For fifteen years, Bent's Fort dominated

a vast area of the West. Its domain extended over much of present

day Colorado, western Nebraska and Kansas, southern Wyoming,

northern New Mexico, and the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. During

its existence, Bent's Fort was the principal outpost of

civilization on the southwestern plains, and the only white

establishment west of Independence, Missouri. Employing normally

about sixty men, it required the specialized services of numerous

tradesmen.

Along with its important trade functions, the fort was a

favorite congregating point for traders and mountain men in the

southwest. Since it was the only place in the region where they

might obtain merchandise for another season; traders and trappers

came to the fort, and it became a center for social gatherings and

exchanges of information.

Even before it was finished Bent's Fort was a principal point

of contact between the Indians and the whites on the southwestern

plains. Situated on the borders of various hunting grounds, it had

a great advantage over any other location.

With the outbreak of the Mexican War in 1846, Bent's Fort

assumed a new role. The war caused the New Mexican trade to come '

to an abrupt end and the Indian trade declined. The fort's

Bent's Old Fort 3

location halfway between the Missouri River and Santa Fe, made it

an ideal location as a supply depot for the Americans operating in

New Mexico, but with the decline of trade, the fort's importance

also declined.

Following his appointment as Governor of New Mexico in 1846,

Charles Bent was brutally murdered. St. Vrain decided to withdraw

from the business and devote his attention to a holding he owned in

Colorado and New Mexico, which left William Bent as sole owner of

the fort. In 1852-1853, unable to sell the structure, William Bent

built a new stone fort, known as Bent's New Fort, at Big Timbers,

on the Arkansas River. The 01 d Fort was part i a 11 y destroyed,

reportedly set on fire by Bent himself. After its abandonment, the

fort continued to deteriorate. The adobe walls crumbled rapidly

and many of the bricks were hauled away by neighboring ranchers.

The movement to preserve the remains of Bent's Old Fort has

been long and sustained. In 1910, the Oau~hters of the American

Revolution placed a marker near the site. In 1928, the owners

deeded much of the site to the D.A.R., and in 1954, the D.A.R.

transferred its ownership to the State Historical Society of

Colorado.

As a part of the National Survey of Historic Sites and

Buildings of the National Park Service, Bent's Old Fort was

recommended in 1959 for fu rt her study as a nation a 1 park. That

same year, a bill was enacted by Congress, authorizing

establishment of Bent's Old Fort Historic Site.

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After a series of archeological digs on the site, the Fort was

rebuilt by the Park Service in the early 1970's, and it continues

as a popular historic site in southeastern Colorado.

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Bent's Old Fort 5

Scope and Contents

Bent's Old Fort was the first major white settlement in

Colorado. It served as an important trading and social center in

the unsettled West, and made further settlement possible.

The collection contains material assembled during the intense

research that was done before and during the fort's restoration.

The series include: Correspondence (1952-1975); Primary Research

Material (1807-1929); Secondary Research Material (1839-1975);

Miscellaneous Material (1910-1975); and Oversized Material

(undated).

A portion of this collection was donated in 1988 by Enid

Thompson. All photographs have been transferred to the Colorado

Historical Society's Department of Photography.

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Bent's Old Fort 6

Chronology

1768 Silas Bent is born in Massachusetts.

1799 November 11: Charles Bent is born in Charleston, Virginia.

1801 July 18: Juliannah Bent is born in Charleston, Virginia.

1803 May 31: John Bent is born in Charleston, Virginia.

1806 Silas is appointed principal deputy surveyor for the new territory of Louisiana.

1809 May 23: William Bent is born in St. Louis, Missouri.

1809

1824

Silas is appointed presiding judge in the St. Louis court of common pleas.

George and William Bent, along with Ceran St. Vrain, make their first journey to the upper Arkansas area. They form a partnership which will become Bent, St. Vrain & Company.

1827 November 20: Silas Bent dies in St. Louis, Missouri.

1828

1829

1833

1835

1837

1846

1846

1847

1849

The Bent Company begins construction of Bent's Old Fort on the Arkansas River.

Charles and William Bent join a caravan of traders setting out for Santa Fe where they set up a mercantile business.

Construction of Bent's Old Fort is completed.

William Bent marries Owl Woman, a Cheyenne Indian.

Bent, St. Vrain, and Co. build Fort St. Vrain a few miles north of Fort Vasquez.

The Mexican War begins.

Charles Bent is made first territorial governor of New Mexico.

Charles Bent is killed in Taos, New Mexico.

Bent's Old Fort is abandoned and partially destroyed.

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1859 Bent's New Fort is 1 eased to the U.S. War Department. Its name is eventually changed to Fort Wise, and later to Fort Lyon.

1859 William Bent is appointed Indian agent for the upper Arkansas River area.

1861 The buildings of Bent's Old Fort are repaired and become the headquarters for several stage lines.

1868 May 23: William Bent dies at Fort Lyon.

1870 October 29: Ceran St. Vrain dies in New Mexico.

1875

1910

1954

1963

1975

The stage lines abandon Bent's Old Fort.

The Daughters of the American Revolution install a stone monument to mark the sight of Bent's Old Fort.

The Daughter of the American Revolution transfer the property to the Colorado Historical Society.

The Colorado Historical Society transfers the property to the National Park Service.

Reconstruction of Bent's Old Fort begins.

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Bent's Old Fort 8

Collection Contents

Correspondence (1952-1975)

Description Date

Letters regarding Bent's Fort 2/1/1952-3/31/1955

Letters regarding Bent's Fort 4/8/1955-7/29/1957

Letters regarding Bent's Fort 10/14/1957-4/4/1960

Letters regarding Bent's Fort 9/26/1960-5/9/1972

Letters regarding Bent's Fort 5/30/1972-6/12/1975

Primary Research Material (1807-1929)

Notes regarding Bent's Fort

Military correspondence

Auguste Chateau estate inventory Will of MariaM. Baca Will of Antonio M. Sanches Photocopy of picture of Mary Bent Moore

Personal accounts regarding Bent, s Fort

Legal document in Spanish Legal document in Spanish

Invoices of supplies

Invoice of Bent, St. Vrain, and Company

Note of payment by W.J. Williams

Letter to W. Bent from c. St. Vrain Extracts from a letter by P.G. Scott

Three letters regarding Bent's Fort

1807-1843

1825-1849

1829 5/14/1832 5/23/1839 undated

1835-1934

10/7/1836 7/5/1840

1838-1840

1839

1943

2/11/1845

1907

1866

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22

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24

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26

27

28

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Letter to [unknown] from C.S. Frances

Receipt from W.W. Bent

Receipt of estate of G. Bent

The Prowers Account Book Daybook listing customers and purchases, including supplies, sundries and 1 i vest ock

Letter to W.C. Ferrill from W.F. Stone

Sketch of Bent's Fort by W.N. Boggs

History of Bent's Fort by W.N. Boggs

Newspaper clippings regarding Bent's Fort

Letter to [unknown] from H.L. Lubers regarding Bent's Fort

Photographs regarding Bent's Fort

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2/24/1867

12/5/1867

7/26/1869

1869-1872

9/19/1897

1 911

1 911

1912-1920

6/20/1929

undated

Secondary Research Material (1839-1975)

Blotter for the English books of 1839-1840 the Firm of Ewing, Clymer, and Company

Typescript regarding W. Bent, and 1905 life at Bent's Fort, by W.N. Boggs

Article from The Trail regarding Sept. 1924 Bent's Fort

Record of Proceedings 12/13/1929

Research notes regarding New 1935 Mexican colonial embroide~y Research notes regarding Fort 1968 Union Trading Post

Articles regarding Bent's Fort 1937-1950

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Report regarding renovation of Bent's Fort

Research notes regarding the furnishings of Bent's Fort

Department of Interior historic preservation guides

Brochures of historic monuments

Research notes of E. Thompson

Design directive regarding Bent's Fort

Typescript of "Furnishing Study for Bent's Old Fort," by E. Thompson, Part 1

Typescript of "Furnishing Study for Bent's Old Fort," by E. Thompson, Part 2

Typescript of "Furnishing Study for Bent's Old Fort," by E. Thompson, 2nd draft, Chapters 1-9

Typescript of "Furnishing Study for Bent's Old Fort," by E. Thompson, 2nd draft, Chapters 10-12

Typescript of appendixes of "Furnishing Study for Bent's Old Fort, " by E. Thompson, 2nd draft

Typescript of "Furnishing Study for Bent's Old Fort," by E. Thompson, 3rd draft

Typescript of "Furnishing Study for Bent's Old Fort," by E. Thompson, Final Copy

Fort Laramie study

Furnishing plan for Bent's Fort

Fort Larned study

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May 1961

1963-1973

1968-1971

1970-1972

1972

Mar. 1973

5/1/1973

5/1/1973

5/1/1973

5/1/1973

5/1/1973

Mar. 1974

1974

1974

1974

1974

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Big Horn Canyon study

Development plan of Bent's Fort

Notes regarding women at Bent's Fort

Articles regarding Bent's Fort site

Research notes of Baca House workbook

National Park Service arch and furnishing reports

Layouts of Bent's Fort

Article titled, "Charles Bent Has Built a Fort," by C. Taylor

Photographs regarding Bent's Fort

Photographs regarding Bent's Fort

Bent's Old Fort 11

1974

Mar. 1975

1975

undated

undated

undated

undated

undated

undated

undated

Miscellaneous Material (1910-1975)

57A Forest and Stream magazine 1/1/1910 containing an article regarding Bent's Fort

58 Notes regarding Daughters of the 1920-1963 American Revolution participation at Bent's Fort

59 Notes regarding Daughters of the 1920-1976 American Revolution participation at Bent's Fort

60 Memo regarding Bent's Fort 12/15/1923

61 Photocopies of newspaper clippings 1953-1967

62 Colorado State Senate Bill #54 1961 regarding Bent's Fort

6B Daughters of the American 1963 Revolution program

64 Bent's Fort brochures 1966-1978

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70

Loose

Loose

Loose

Loose

Five place mats regarding Bent's Fort

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12/14/1974

Photograph and list of Bent family 1975 descendants

List of National Archives 1975 Microfilm publications

Newspaper clippings regarding 1975-1979 Bent's Fort

Script for video of Bent's Fort 1976

Profile of Spanish colonies on New undated Mexico

Oversized Materials (undated)

File cards -bibliography of undated furnishing study

File cards -Agriculture to Food undated

File cards - Furnishings to People undated

File cards - People to Heat and undated Light

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