Ellis Clarke Soper collection, Undated

Collection

Identifier: 1931-004

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Soper collection curently contains historical photographs, lithographs and some artifacts highlighting some aspects of 19th century American life, Native Americans and the westward expansion.

Dates

Undated

Creator

Soper, Daniel (Collector, Person)

Access

This material is open for research use by any registered reader.

Use and Copyright

This material is owned by the University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections. Unpublished manuscripts are under copyright. Therefore, permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from both the repository and the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

Ellis Clarke Soper (3 July 1881 - Oct 1969) was a consulting engineer and a collector of Americana.

Biographical / Historical

Daniel Soper, who collected these items, also was also involved in collecting the Soper-Savage Collection of fraudulent "Pre Columbian" relics.

Extent

8 Linear Feet (11 boxes, 3 oversize boxes, 1 +oversize box)

Language of Materials

Multiple languages

Additional Description

Physical Location

Manuscript collection shelved on 3rd floor. All known artifacts are shelved together in the Tower.

Custodial History

The Soper Collection was purchased in New York by Chancellor Findlayson for $5000 in the fall of 1930 to join the Bright Roddy Collection, the James Wolfe Borneo Collection, and others, to populate the Museum that had been built in McFarlin Library. At that time it was comprised of over 100 crates containing more than 5,000 items. The collection was declared redundant in about 1942 and the bulk of the collection was broken up, with many items being given to the theater department for use as props. The rest of the collection was loaned to Philbrook, until 1996 when the non-Native materials were returned to McFarlin. The Native American materials were given to Philbrook outright. In 2015/6, more of Soper was returned to McFarlin as objects deemed to be non-Native were returned.