Cree, Charles M. and James E., Papers, 1885-1950 and undated

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10605/76589

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Cree, Charles M. and James E.

Title: Charles M. and James E. Cree Papers

Dates: 1885-1950 and undated

Abstract: The Papers contain correspondence, financial documents, legal documents, and other material related to the affiars of the Cree family's ranch and land holdings in Eastern New Mexico.

Collection #: S 1821.1

Quantity: 1 box (.25 linear feet)

Language: English

Repository: Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University

Biographical Sketch

James E. Cree, a Scotsman and owner of a distillery in Edinburgh, Scotland, founded the Angus VV Ranch in the 1880's. It was located on Little Creek in the vicinity of the town of Angus, Lincoln County, New Mexico. Cree and his partner Brandon Kirby are credited with introducing the Angus breed of cattle to New Mexico. Pat Garrett, former sheriff and noted slayer of Billy the Kid, at one point served as ranch manager on the VV ranch.

Charles M. Cree, the son of James Cree, was also born in Scotland. After immigrating to New Mexico, he resided in Santa Fe, NM, but managed legal matters and other financial transactions related to the Ranch and other family land holdings well into the twentieth century.

Scope and Content

The bulk of the documents consist of correspondence, cattle brand identification and stock counts, and investigative reports concerning cattle rustling on and around the Angus VV Ranch in the 1890s. Additional material includes financial records, primarily dating from the early- to mid-twentieth century, all of which were handled by Charles M. Cree and his wife.

Organization

The Charles M. Cree Papers are organized by the following series: Cattle Rustling Investigation, Correspondence, Cowboy Poetry, Financial Material, Legal Material, and Printed Material.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Index Terms

The subject headings used by the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library are derived from the Library of Congress and/or locally developed.

Subjects (Persons)

  • Charles M. Cree.
  • James E. Cree.

    • Subjects (Organizations)

  • Angus VV Ranch.

    • Subjects (Places)

  • Angus (N. M.)
  • Lincoln County (N. M.)
  • Santa Fe (N. M.)

    • Subjects

  • Aberdeen-Angus cattle.
  • Cattle rustling.
  • Cattle stealing.
  • Law.
  • Lincoln County (N. M.)--History--19th century.
  • Ranching.
  • Ranching--New Mexico--History.

    • Related Materials in the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library:

    Administrative Information

    Preferred Citation

    Charles M. and James E. Cree Papers, 1885-1950 and undated, Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

    Acquisition

    Collection accession #(s): 2014-0136-X

    Purchase, 2014

    Processed by: Robert Weaver, 2016

    Collection Inventory

    Cattle Rustling Investigation

    Box 1

    +++Correspondence +++Statements

    Correspondence

    • Folder 23, 1890

    Cowboy Poetry

    Financial Material

    • Folder 25, Correspondence and receipts, 1896-1950
    • Folder 26, Tax receipts, 1890-1945

    Legal Material

    • Folder 27, H. A. Hicks Law Office correspondence, August 1927-August 1928
    • Folder 28, Land deeds and correspondence, 1885-1939
    • Folder 29, Oil and gas leases and correspondence, April 1942-November 1943
    • Folder 30, Passport, 1928

    Printed Material

    • Biographical summary

    Browse

    Recent Submissions

    Now showing 1 - 20 of 85