Collection P 015.33 and P017.10:  Olga Little photographs inventory

Years this material was created: circa 1910-1970
Quantity: 102 photographic images, in 2 folders.
 © 2007  by Fort Lewis College Foundation, Center of Southwest Studies account

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Links to contents

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Introduction/ Scope and contents

This collection is comprised of twenty-six photoprints and one 14x11” color photoprint of Olga Schaaf Little (in collection P 015.033), 116 slide transparencies (in collection P 017.010), and a booklet that consists of pages 3-26 of the 1956 Spanish Trails Fiesta program for August 2-5.

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Biographical note

Olga Little was one of Durango's notable female pioneers and its most famous mule skinner (or, as the catalogers at the Library of Congress prefer, muleteer).  Using her burros, she brought supplies in to mines in the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado, and brought ore back.  Mines that she so served  in the Junction Creek area included the Neglected Mine, the Durango Girl Mine, and the Bessie G. Mine (this was the farthest up Kennebec Pass, above Junction Creek; its last owner was Donald DeLouche; prior to him it was owned by Biill McCormick and Bert Thompson).  She and her train also served a number of mines in La Plata Canyon, including Mayday Mine, Jumbo Mine, Lucky Moon Mine, Gold King Mine, Idaho Mine (a mixture of silver with little veins of gold), Tenbrook Mine.  She freighted with a wagon and teams and a big bobsled.  Ross McCausland, Jr., was a friend of hers who ran placer claims at Needleton and packed timbers to the Neglected Mine.  One time, the burro next to the end of a train of burros kicked -- the last burro reared and broke the think line holding two timbers that were like a big sled.  The snow was 4 - 4 1/2 feet deep and the burro was stuck there until spring.  She brought hay to the burro every week until spring (the burro ate snow for hydration).  Little charged $5/ton for transporting coal on burros, in three 70-pound sacks, one on each side and one on top of the animal.  With a train of 30 burros, she averaged 10 burros per ton.  Her burros also transported 25 foot coils (2 inches or thicker, joined with lead splices) for use in trams at mines. 

Source: The foregoing information was from an interview by Andrew Gulliford (as Director of the Center of Southwest Studies) with Peryl and Ernie (age 85 at the time) Schaaf at their home in Durango on November 18, 2002.

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Administrative information

Acquisition information:  Ernest and Peryl Schaaf donated this collection of materials to the Center of Southwest Studies by deed of gift on December 12, 2003 (accession 2006:070).  Ernest Schaaf is Olga Little's nephew.  Various other items pertaining to Olga Little were transferred or donated to the Center previously from other sources.  These include: This Is Your Life -- 1950s broadcast about Mrs. Little (2004:05012) -- a VHS videocassette copy of the show.  Also at the Center are Durango attorney Soignier's office's files of the records of the Olga Little estate file, circa 1985-1986 (the Center retained several pages describing jewelry from this region) (accession 1998:07004).

Processing information:  The photographs were arranged and described by Fort Lewis College student archival workers and interns in the fall of 2006;  Professional Archival Intern Jerrid Miller digitized the images and created metadata records for them in January of 2007, under the supervision of Todd Ellison, Certified Archivist at the Center of Southwest Studies, who produced this inventory and the image access web pages in February of 2007.

Added entry terms:
Mines--Colorado--San Juan Mountains--Pictorial works
Mules--Colorado--San Juan Mountains--Pictorial works
Muleteers--Colorado--San Juan Mountains--Pictorial works
Women--Colorado--San Juan Mountains--Pictorial works
Little, Olga Schaaf
Hesperus (Colo.)--Description--Views
La Plata (Colo.)--Description--Views
San Juan Mountains (Colo.)--Description--Views

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Folder list

Collection P 015.33, in Box 2, Folder 16, 26 photoprints, circa 1926/1956.  Also, one oversize photoprint.

Collection P 017.10, in Box 1, Folder 10, 116 film transparencies (75 different images), circa 1914/1970.

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Item inventory of 102 photographic images of Olga Little, with links to online digital images

 (sorted by title, with a link to the online digital image)
 

Title	Photoprint #	Digital file's address
A man and his shadow on the porch	P01701064	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701064Page.htm
A man by a deserted building	P01701065	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701065Page.htm
Back view of a mule train and its rider	P01503323	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503323Page.htm
Bill Little and his collection	P01701074	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701074Page.htm
Bill Little on Sam the mule	P01701072	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701072Page.htm
Bill Little poses by the flower bush holding his hat	P01701047	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701047Page.htm
Bill Little posing by the flower bush	P01701046	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701046Page.htm
Blurred flowers	P01701061	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701061Page.htm
Building by the mountain	P01701001	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701001Page.htm
Building by the mountain photo number two	P01701010	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701010Page.htm
Building with a steep roof	P01701015	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701015Page.htm
Burro train heading to Gold King Mine	P01503321	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503321Page.htm
Crossing Junction Creek	P01503320	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503320Page.htm
Down hill for the mule train	P01503322	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503322Page.htm
Flag pole surrounded by a picket fence	P01701041	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701041Page.htm
Fred and Mrs. Demorest at Canyon Lake, Arizona	P01701022	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701022Page.htm
Fun house mirror	P01701068	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701068Page.htm
Gold King Mine	P01503310	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503310Page.htm
Gold King Mine, Colorado Post Card	P01503305	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503305Page.htm
Hanging out by the mules	P01503316	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503316Page.htm
Having a time with company on horseback	P01701071	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701071Page.htm
Little's home 1948	P01701009	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701009Page.htm
Little's home at May Day	P01701007	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701007Page.htm
Looking down at a mule train	P01701014	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701014Page.htm
Lou Saint James at Canyon Lake, Arizona	P01701023	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701023Page.htm
Matt, the last burro	P01503326	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503326Page.htm
Mayday School	P01701058	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701058Page.htm
Mule train carrying bales of hay	P01503324	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503324Page.htm
Mule train going over the hill	P01701003	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701003Page.htm
Mules in the snow	P01701013	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701013Page.htm
Mules heading off into the horizon	P01701011	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701011Page.htm
Mules in a huddle	P01701005	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701005Page.htm
Mules on the horizon	P01701004	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701004Page.htm
Mules packing uphill	P01701006	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701006Page.htm
Olga and Bill Little and a female friend pose next to a wall	P01701051	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701051Page.htm
Olga and Bill Little and friend pose next to a wall	P01701050	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701050Page.htm
Olga and Bill Little on the Trail to Neglected Mine (Colo.)	P01503302	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503302Page.htm
Olga and Bill Little pose for a distorted photo	P01701069	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701069Page.htm
Olga and Bill Little pose in front of a white truck	P01701049	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701049Page.htm
Olga and Tammy Schaaf post card	P01503307	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503307Page.htm
Olga Little and a population sign	P01701025	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701025Page.htm
Olga Little and company by a maroon truck	P01701036	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701036Page.htm
Olga Little and company having a picnic	P01701028	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701028Page.htm
Olga Little and company in front of the Oldstake Depot	P01701063	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701063Page.htm
Olga Little and company in the shade	P01701027	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701027Page.htm
Olga Little and company look at ore	P01701033	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701033Page.htm
Olga Little and company pose by a maroon vehicle	P01701040	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701040Page.htm
Olga Little and company pose by Goblin Valley sign	P01701038	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701038Page.htm
Olga Little and company pose by remnants of a wooden building	P01701037	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701037Page.htm
Olga Little and company pose by some rocks	P01701039	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701039Page.htm
Olga Little and dog post card	P01503306	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503306Page.htm
Olga Little and Fred at Canyon Lake, Arizona	P01701021	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701021Page.htm
Olga Little and friends	P01701030	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701030Page.htm
Olga Little and her mule train come back from Jumbo Mine	P01701073	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701073Page.htm
Olga Little and her mules pose by a railroad car	P01701017	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701017Page.htm
Olga Little and the touristy old prospector	P01701024	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701024Page.htm
Olga Little at the ruins	P01701031	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701031Page.htm
Olga Little at the Urbach's in Mesa, Arizona	P01701026	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701026Page.htm
Olga Little by a snowy landscape	P01503303	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503303Page.htm
Olga Little by the steps	P01701019	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701019Page.htm
Olga Little in a dress	P01701020	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701020Page.htm
Olga Little in a wagon	P01701018	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701018Page.htm
Olga Little in front of the Undertaker Furniture Store	P01701062	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701062Page.htm
Olga Little leading her mule train through the snow	P01701002	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701002Page.htm
Olga Little look at ore by a red truck	P01701034	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701034Page.htm
Olga Little posing with her mules	P01701075	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701075Page.htm
Olga Little posing with her mules	P01503327	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701075Page.htm
Olga Little, Bill Little and friend pose by the flower bush	P01701045	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701045Page.htm
Olga Little's flower beds	P01701043	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701043Page.htm
Olga Little's home and flower beds	P01701042	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701042Page.htm
Olga Little's house	P01503312	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503312Page.htm
Olga Little's picnic company	P01701029	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701029Page.htm
Olga Schaaf's little home and pack trips	P01503318	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503318Page.htm
Oriole on a railing	P01701066	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701066Page.htm
Our home	P01701008	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701008Page.htm
Pack mules on the trail	P01701012	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701012Page.htm
Packing for Gold King Mine	P01503317	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503317Page.htm
Parade of mules with Olga Little	P01701016	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701016Page.htm
Pink flower in Walton's garden	P01701055	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701055Page.htm
Posing with the mules	P01503314	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503314Page.htm
Retired burros	P01503325	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503325Page.htm
Rock formation	P01701070	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701070Page.htm
Sandy, the lead burro	P01503304	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503304Page.htm
Sitting on a fence in front of a cabin	P01701032	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701032Page.htm
Statues	P01701060	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701060Page.htm
Team of horses in the snow near Lewis Mountain Milling Co. at Fennbrook Mine	P01503308	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503308Page.htm
The cactus	P01701067	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701067Page.htm
The mules come marching in	P01503313	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503313Page.htm
The purple flower bush	P01701048	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701048Page.htm
The red shirt cowbow and his lasso	P01701035	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701035Page.htm
Train of mules in the distance	P01503311	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503311Page.htm
Train of mules in the snow	P01503315	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503315Page.htm
Two houses	P01701059	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701059Page.htm
Unloading the burro	P01503309	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503309Page.htm
Up the road from Olga Schaaf's little home and pack trips	P01503319	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503319Page.htm
Walkway in Walton's garden	P01701053	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701053Page.htm
Walton's garden	P01701052	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701052Page.htm
White and red-trimmed belfry	P01701057	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701057Page.htm
White flower in W. F. garden	P01701054	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701054Page.htm
Woman on horse, man standing beside, and wooden structure in background	P01503301	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P015/P01503301Page.htm
Yellow flower bush	P01701044	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701044Page.htm
Yellow flower in Walton's garden	P01701056	http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/finding_aids/images/P017/P01701056Page.htm

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Doing your own research: This description of a portion of the collections at the Fort Lewis College Center of Southwest Studies is provided to inform interested parties about the nature and depth of the repository's collections.  It cannot serve as a substitute for a visit to the repository for those with substantial research interests in the collections.

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