Miscellaneous Files

The majority of the items in this collection relate to Hamilton “Ham” Bell, documenting various elements of his life, such as his Elephant Livery Stable, his role as Ford County Sheriff, and his automobile company and ambulance service. Many items also relate to the later years of his life in the 1930s and 1940s, documenting Kansas Pioneer Picnic events, The Last Round Up and other events honoring and commemorating Bell’s life and work in Dodge City. As a collection largely assembled by Violet Watson, many documents also relate to her life and work with H.B. Bell. She also collected several funeral programs of early Dodge City residents that she knew. Furthermore, there are items relating to Bell's involvement in the Welfare League, as well as items related to Willis Watson, Violet Watson's father. The collection contains photographs, newspapers and newspaper clippings, letters, pamphlets, magazines, and other written documents.