George Arthur Bartlett (1869-1951)

George Arthur Bartlett was born in San Francisco, California, on November 30, 1869 but moved to Eureka, Nevada, at a young age. Bartlett was educated in Nevada public schools, received a law degree in 1894 from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and returned to Eureka to begin his career practicing law. Bartlett was elected district attorney for Eureka County in 1898 and served a two year term. Bartlett moved his law practice to the new and thriving town of Tonopah in 1901 and five years later was elected to the United States Congress on the Democratic Silver Party ticket. He was re-elected in 1908 and served for two terms.

George Bartlett married Pearl Gates in 1899; they had four children. At the close of his two terms in Congress, the Bartletts moved to Reno where he practiced law with prominent attorney, Frank N. Norcross. Bartlett was appointed District Judge of Washoe County in 1918 and again in 1921. He was then elected to the bench on his own merits and served from June 1, 1921 to December 31, 1930. On his retirement from the bench, Judge Bartlett devoted his time to private practice.

George Bartlett, one of the state's most prominent men, was very involved in Nevada politics. Bartlett's obituaries claimed he granted more than 20,000 divorces, earning him the sobriquet of "the divorce judge." His views on marriage and divorce, gleaned from his experience in handling scores of divorce cases during his career, were expressed in the book, Men, Women and Conflict, published in 1931 and re-issued in 1947 as Is Marriage Necessary? Bartlett also played a significant role in adjudication of water rights allocations of the Humboldt River and the Carson-Truckee Irrigation District.

Judge George Bartlett died at age 81 in Reno, Nevada, on June 1, 1951.

Scope and Content

The George Bartlett manuscript collection was purchased from Margaret Bartlett Thornton, daughter of Judge Bartlett, by the Special Collections Department in 1978. The collection, which dates from 1869-1951, is contained in 50 archival boxes, and follows much of Bartlett's original order. There are no restrictions on use of the collection other than limitations on handling some very fragile materials.

The collection was divided into eighteen series. Included were a portion of the Judge's personal library; title pages of those materials were photocopied to preserve a record of his holdings and the books themselves transferred to either the Special Collections or main library book stacks. There is an extensive number of photographs (originally contained in four archival boxes); they have been transferred to the Special Collections photographic archives and cataloged as photo collection P90-02.

Manuscript materials include legal records and related files from law cases for which Bartlett was either the attorney or judge: divorces, probates, mining and water issues, paroles, guardianships, naturalizations, and wills. Other series include family and business correspondence, financial records, biographical materials, Bartlett family legal papers, Bartlett's literary manuscripts and notes, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr.'s manuscript "Swing Your Partner," political campaign files, aviation and National Aeronautical Association files, clippings, and court notebooks and records.

Originally Processed by: [Lenore Kosso, 1981]
Guide Revised by: Susan Searcy, 1999

This collection has been divided into the following series:

NC1253/1	Divorce cases
NC1253/2	Estate Cases
NC1253/3	Court Cases (Miscellaneous)
NC1253/4	Legal Files and Papers
NC1253/5	Marriage Licences
NC1253/6	Parole Records
NC1253/7	Mining Records
NC1253/8	Water
NC1253/9	Correspondence
NC1253/10	Financial Records
NC1253/11	Family Items and Memorabilia
NC1253/12	Literary Material
NC1253/13	Political and Government Material
NC1253/14	Organizations and Companies
NC1253/15	Newspaper Clippings
NC1253/16	Printed Material
NC1253/17	Photographs
NC1253/18	Books

NC1253/1   Series 1. Divorce Cases. 1918-1949.   12.5 cu. ft.

This series comprises the largest grouping of Bartlett papers in the collection. Contents vary but may include correspondence, legal complaints, depositions, briefs, findings of fact and conclusions, and decrees. Arranged alphabetically.

Box 1	NC1253/1/1	Divorce Cases A
Box 2	NC1253/1/2	Divorce Cases B - Bo
Box 3	NC1253/1/3	Divorce Cases Br - Col
Box 4	NC1253/1/4	Divorce Cases Con - Er
Box 5	NC1253/1/5	Divorce Cases Es - G
Box 6	NC1253/1/6	Divorce Cases H - J
Box 7	NC1253/1/7	Divorce Cases K - L
Box 8	NC1253/1/8	Divorce Cases M
Box 9	NC1253/1/9	Divorce Cases N - Rice
Box 10	NC1253/1/10	Divorce Cases Rich - So
Box 11	NC1253/1/11	Divorce Cases Sp - V
Box 12	NC1253/1/12	Divorce Cases W - Woods
Box 13	NC1253/1/13	Divorce Cases Wren - Z

NC1253/2   Series 2. Estate Cases. 1912-1944.   2.5 cu. ft.

Bartlett served as the attorney for many clients; his work for them included drawing up wills and handling legal actions necessary to settle estates. This series contains records of the settlement of estates of his clients. Contents vary but may include correspondence, wills, amendments to wills, petitions for sale of property and for distribution, court testimony, accounts by executors, and decrees for distribution. The estate cases are arranged alphabetically.

Box 13	NC1253/2/1	Estate Cases A - Gi
Box 14	NC1253/2/2	Estate Cases Gr - N
Box 15	NC1253/2/3	Estate Cases O - Z List of Estates not settled

NC1253/3   Series 3. Court Cases (Miscellaneous). ca 1896-1937.   4 cu. ft.

This group includes civil court cases files for which Bartlett was the attorney, excluding divorce, estate, mining, and water-related cases. Arranged alphabetically by name of client.

Box 16	NC1253/3/1	Court Cases A - Je
Box 17	NC1253/3/2	Court Cases Jo-Nevada
Box 18	NC1253/3/3	Court Cases Newark - S
Box 19	NC1253/3/4	Court Cases T - Z

NC1253/4   Series 4. Legal Files and Papers. 1875; 1909-1945.   1 cu. ft.

These are miscellaneous legal files, arranged alphabetically by subject (i.e. agreements, bankruptcies, guardianship, wills, etc.).

Box 20

NC1253/4/1 NC1253/4/2

Legal files (miscellaneous) by subject Miscellaneous legal pages

NC1253/5   Series 5. Marriage Licenses. 1920s-1930s.   1 cu. ft.

This series contains marriage licenses; the reason why Bartlett kept this file is unknown. Arranged alphabetically.

Box 21

NC1253/5

Marriage Licences

NC1253/6   Series 6. Parole Records. 1922-1927.   1 folder.

This series contains form letters from the State Board of Pardons requesting statements of facts concerning prisoners sentenced by Judge Bartlett, and form letters from the Judge supplying that data. Arranged alphabetically.

Box 21

NC1253/6

Pardon and Parole Records

NC1253/7   Series 7. Mining Records.   6 cu. ft.

Series 7 included files for Bartlett's mining company clients. Papers include court cases, articles of incorporation, correspondence, notes, and printed material. Arranged alphabetically by name of company.

Box 22	NC1253/7/1	Mining Records A - Como
Box 23	NC1253/7/2	Mining Records Comstock - F
Box 24	NC1253/7/3	Mining Records G - K
Box 25	NC1253/7/4	Mining Records L - O
Box 26	NC1253/7/5	Mining Records P - R
Box 27	NC1253/7/6	Mining Records S - Z

NC1253/8   Series 8. Water. 1923-1933.   2 cu. ft.

Judge Bartlett played a significant role in adjudication of water rights allocations of the Humboldt River and the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District. Materials in this series document his role and include case files, notes, correspondence, printed materials on water issues, and miscellaneous water material. Printed materials consist of water articles, yearly snow survey tables, and printed briefs for non-Nevada water cases. Arranged alphabetically.

Box 28	NC1253/8/1	Humboldt River Adjudication (ca. 1923-1932)
Box 29	NC1253/8/2 NC1253/8/3 NC1253/8/4 NC1253/8/5	Water-related court cases A - Z Truckee-Carson Irrigation District Water material (miscellaneous) Water. Printed material

NC1253/9   Series 9. Correspondence. 1885-1953.   7 cu. ft.

This series includes dated, general correspondence from 1885-1953, arranged chronologically. Also included are separate files of divorce and parole inquiries, both in chronological order. Other correspondence includes family correspondence; undated letters, post cards and telegrams; unidentified letters; correspondence of others; letters from well-known persons; code letters; letter fragments; letterheads and envelopes. Correspondence related to material in other subject series remains within those subject files.

Box 30	NC1253/9/1	Correspondence (general, dated) 1885-1910
Box 31	NC1253/9/1	Correspondence (general, dated) 1911-1914
Box 32	NC1253/9/1	Correspondence (general, dated) 1915-1922
Box 33	NC1253/9/1	Correspondence (general, dated) 1923-1931
Box 34	NC1253/9/1	Correspondence (general, dated) 1932-1940
Box 35	NC1253/9/1 NC1253/9/2 NC1253/9/3 NC1253/9/4 NC1253/9/5 NC1253/9/6 NC1253/9/7 NC1253/9/8 NC1253/9/9	Correspondence (general, dated) 1941-1953 Divorce inquiries (dated) chronological order Parole inquiries (dated) chronological order Undated correspondence (includes telegrams, post cards, business and personal letters) Letters from well-known persons (undated) Unidentified letters (copies) Correspondence of others outside the Bartlett family Code letters Letter fragments
Box 36	NC1253/9/10	Family correspondence

NC1253/10   Series 10. Financial Records. 1874-1950.   2 cu. ft.

This series includes bills and receipts (not in order), tax statements, and miscellaneous papers relating to Bartlett family matters.

Box 37

NC1253/10/1 NC1253/10/2 NC1253/10/3 NC1253/10/4 NC1253/10/5 NC1253/10/6 NC1253/10/7 NC1253/10/8 NC1253/10/9 NC1253/10/10 NC1253/10/11 NC1253/10/12 NC1253/10/13 NC1253/10/14 NC1253/10/15

Bills and receipts Outstanding accounts Attorney's fees (receipts) Lucy Gates, financial Pearl Gates Bartlett, bills and canceled checks J.M. Bartlett, Barbara Bartlett, financial Accounts, 1874 Property deeds and tax statements, Eureka, Nevada Income and other tax statements Household accounts Miscellaneous bank notes Checks, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. West End Club, Henry M. Rives Accounts, land Torn receipts and notes

NC1253/11   Series 11. Family Items and Memorabilia.   1 cu. ft.

Included are George Bartlett biographical sketches, family papers (including some legal materials), family memorabilia, invitations, and greeting cards.

Box 39

NC1253/11/1 NC1253/11/2 NC1253/11/3 NC1253/11/4 NC1253/11/5 NC1253/11/6 NC1253/11/7 NC1253/11/8 NC1253/11/9 NC1253/11/10 NC1253/11/11 NC1253/11/12 NC1253/11/13 NC1253/11/14 NC1253/11/15 NC1253/11/16 NC1253/11/17 NC1253/11/18

"An Act of Lauditory of an Act..." (At the bottom of the box) George Bartlett biographical sketches Family documents (including Bartlett's will, 1927, and marriage certificate, 1899) Mortgages and deeds Insurance - Pearl and George Bartlett House/street plans Pearl Gates Bartlett Lucy Ann Gates Estate of Joseph La Montane. Lucy Gates, Executrix. Barbara Bartlett (legal) Family Memorabilia Cards (calling cards, business cards, cards sent with flowers, membership cards) Invitations Greeting cards Number not assigned Address books Key Pittman memorial Biographical sketches, material which accompanied transfer of collection to Special Collections.

NC1253/12   Series 12. Literary Material. ca 1930-1947.   1 cu. ft.

This series includes notes and manuscripts of Bartlett's books, Men, Women and Conflict and the revision of that work, titled Is Marriage Necessary. Also included are collected writings of others, worksheets, and correspondence from Margaret Bartlett Thornton concerning her father's books.

Box 40

NC1253/12/1 NC1253/12/2 NC1253/12/3 NC1253/12/4 NC1253/12/5 NC1253/12/6 NC1253/12/7

Men, Women and Conflict worksheets, correspondence Is Marriage Necessary royalties Is Marriage Necessary correspondence from Margaret Bartlett Thornton Bartlett manuscripts Notes and jottings, George Bartlett Writings of others, poetry "Swing Your Partner", a manuscript by Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr.

NC1253/13   Series 13. Political and Government Material.   1 cu. ft.

This series includes Bartlett campaign and political material, Nevada election material and general campaign and political items.

Box 41

NC1253/13/1 NC1253/13/2 NC1253/13/3 NC1253/13/4 NC1253/13/5 NC1253/13/6 NC1253/13/7 NC1253/13/8 NC1253/13/9 NC1253/13/10 NC1253/13/11 NC1253/13/12 NC1253/13/13

Bartlett campaign and election material Congressional material, George Bartlett Nevada election material Political lists, Nevada State of Nevada - printed material Eureka County - printed material General political material Speeches and addresses Campaign material (others) Women's Suffrage Key Pittman memorial Abraham Lincoln Fight for Freedom, Inc.

NC1253/14   Series 14. Organizations and Companies.   2 cu. ft.

George Bartlett belonged to many organizations and was particularly interested in aviation. This series includes materials from the National Aeronautical Association and other organizations and companies with which he was involved. Arranged alphabetically by company or organization name. NAA materials filed after all other materials in this series.

Box 42	NC1253/14/1	Organizations and Companies arranged in alphabetical order (except National Aeronautical Assoc.)
Box 43	NC1253/14/2	National Aeronautical Association, National Air Transport

NC1253/15   Series 15. Newspaper clippings. 1909-1967.   1.60 cu. ft.

Box 44	NC1253/15/1	Newspaper clippings A - N Abortion, birth control and women's liberation. Agriculture-Land and crop tariffs Aviation (4 folders) Bartlett, Dorothy Bartlett, Donald Bartlett, George - book reviews Bartlett, George - Bureau of Mines Bartlett, George. Court cases and decisions Bartlett, George. Divorce Bartlett, George. Divorce - articles by GB Bartlett, George. Personal life. Bartlett, George. Political life (4 folders). 1910-19441. Bartlett Putnam, Jean Bartlett Thornton, Margaret Books, authors and stories. Business and banking Census and statistics Court case - Humboldt River suit. Court cases - Supreme Court decisions Divorce laws and statistics Divorces and marriages of interest Divorce and marriage material - misc. Education and children Explorers - Putnam, Byrd, Amundsen Famous people Foreign countries Forestry History - Nevada Labor and industry Laws - State Police bill, etc. Mining - Bureau of Mines and silver issue Mining - history and people Mining - litigation and taxes Mining - production and development Misc: Red Cross, maritime, sports, history, sayings, weather, German articles Nevada politics (4 folders) Newlands, Francis and Newlands Project
Box 45	NC1253/15/2	Newspaper clippings O - Z Obituaries (2 folders) Oil Pan-American Exposition, 1915. San Francisco World's Fair, 1939-1940. Panama Canal Pittman, Key Poetry, art and music Railroads, laws, etc. Religion and philosophy Science and health Taxes U.S. politics (2 folders) U.S. Presidents - T. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, misc. Vanderbilt, Cornelius - his column and divorces Wingfield and Nevada banking World War I & II Water and electrical studies - projects, acts, etc. Misc.

NC1253/16   Series 16. Printed material.   .3 cu. ft.

Box 45

NC1253/16/1 NC1253/16/2 NC1253/16/3 NC1253/16/4 NC1253/16/5 NC1253/16/6

Newspapers Nevada Divorce and marriage Law World War I material Miscellaneous printed material

NC1253/17   Series 17. Photographs.

This series includes photographs of George Bartlett and the Bartlett family; Bartlett's friends and clients; well-known persons; buildings; places; and miscellaneous pictures. Some items in this series are over-size photographs, drawings, or silhouettes. All photographs have been transferred to photo archives as P90-02.

 

NC1253/18   Series 18. Books. ca 1888-1947.   6 cu. ft.

This series includes a variety of books, some from George Bartlett's library, some written by friends with personal inscriptions to Bartlett. Also included are Judge Bartlett's court case notebooks dating from 1916-1930, diaries (appointment books), scrapbooks, journals, daily reminders, account books, and some small notebooks. Many of the books are in poor or very fragile condition and are stored in an unorthodox fashion for the sake of preservation. Materials have been boxed according to condition, rather than by subject.

Box 50	NC1253/18	Books from George Bartlett's library, including two copies of Men, Women and Conflict. [transferred to stacks]
Box 51a-b	NC1253/18	Scrapbooks [4]
Box 52	NC1253/18	Books (Good Condition) Court Account Book, 1915 Time Book, 1910-1912 Diaries (appointment books), 1922-1930
Box 53	NC1253/18	Books (Fair Condition) Record of Official Acts of G.A. Bartlett as a Notary Public for Eureka County, Nevada, 1893-1900. [also used as a guest book, 1950's] Court Case notebooks, 1916; 1923; 1925-1926; 1928-1931 Daily reminder, 1914 Journal Small notebook, writings, and notes, Eureka County Precinct, 1894 3 Account books (W.E.F. Deal) Calendar, 1918 Notebook, 1893-1894
Box 54	NC1253/18	Books (Poor Condition) Soft Cover Notebooks, 1914; 1888-1889 Court Case Notes (folder) Letters in fragile condition (folder) Department of Justice Circulars, 1917 (folder) Pacific Livestock Co. vs.. Ellison Ranching Co. Court Case Notebooks, 1921-1922; 1927-1929 Court Case Notebook - R.C. Stoddard, June 26, 1917 Court Case Notebook - E.F. Lunsford, 1920-1921 Court Case Notebook - E.F. Lunsford
Box 55	NC1253/18	Books (Extremely Fragile Condition) Court Case Notebook (unable to open) Court Case Notebooks, 1919; 1922; 1924; 1929-1930

Manuscripts | Special Collections

Please direct questions to Jacquelyn Sundstrand
Updated October 28, 2008