Bookmark this page or copy and paste URL to Email message

Roberta Flake Clayton Papers circa 1920-1939

MSS-28

Biographical Note

Roberta Flake Clayton, author and pioneer, was born August 19, 1877 at Beaver, Utah, the daughter of William J. and Lucy Hannah White Flake. Within weeks of her birth the family moved by wagon to Arizona via Lee's Ferry. In 1878 they founded the town of Snowflake, Arizona, where Roberta spent her childhood and a portion of her adult life. She was married to James William Clayton and raised five children, although her son William was killed in action during World War I. Her husband died in 1934.

Roberta Clayton authored plays, pageants, and poetry as well as five books: Pioneer Women of Arizona (1965?), Pioneer Men of Arizona (1974), To the Last Frontier (1976), Rhymes, Rhythms and Rhapsodies, and Diaries for My Children. She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and civic affairs, being a counselor in the Stake Relief Society, president of the Relief Society, and a member of the Gay 90's and the Pioneers of Navajo and Apache Counties. She died at her home in Mesa on January 12, 1981.

Scope and Content Note

The Roberta Flake Clayton Papers are comprised of typescript essays, short stories, and poems concerning cowboys and Mormon pioneers in Arizona in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although the material is mostly undated, the majority of the writings were probably created in the 1920's and 1930's.

"Eternal Verities" is an essay expressing personal recollections of despair during the depression years in Arizona. The John A. Hunt file contains stories told by Hunt and compiled by Clayton, including "A True Story of Early Days", "Pioneer Stories", and "My First Experience with Outlaws". "Loretta Ellsworth Hansen" is a biographical essay that describes the Hansen family's settlement at Show Low and Mesa, Arizona in the 1880's. "Georgia" is an essay composed of Clayton's personal memories of Georgia Hansen. "Protectors Provided" is a synopsis of a "comedy drama in six acts" with a typescript critique by John Branch Timms of the Palmer Photoplay Corporation. "Jim Scott of the Circle Dot" is a short story relating to the Hashknife Outfit that was probably written for the Federal Writer's Project, Work Projects Administration.

The "Cowboy Life" file contains writings entitled "Cowboy Sayings and Amusements", "Cowboy's Work, Wages and Outfit" and "Cowboy Lingo". The "Marketing" file refers to buying and selling cattle in Arizona and lists major "cattle owners" in the state.

A number of typescripts were apparently intended to be published as parts of a Pioneer Source Book. The majority of this material seems to particularly refer to Mormon pioneers in Arizona. The "Amusements" file includes sections entitled "Pioneer Amusements: Fourth of July", "Christmas", "The Dance", and "The Drama". "Food Preparation" generally concerns meats and dairy products. "Industries" includes sections on "Reloading Cartridges", "Candle Making", "Glue Making", "Rug Making", "Home Made Mattresses"", "Weaving", "Quilts" and "Fancy Work".

Miscellaneous Fragments include items entitled "Joy of Service", "William in the Role of Paul Revere", "An Arizona Romance" and "Checking Up".

Arrangement

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.

Copyright

Arizona State University does not own the copyright to this collection. We recognize that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.

Access Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Roberta Flake Clayton Papers, MSS-28, Arizona State University Library.

Provenance

The Roberta Flake Clayton Papers were received from Ms. Clayton in 1967 (ACC#67-016).

Container List