Leonel Ross O'Bryan (Polly Pry) papers, 1864-1934.

O'Bryan, Leonel Ross, 1857-1938, creator.

C MSS WH280

Finding aid available online and in repository.

1864-1934.

.5 linear ft. (2 boxes), 1 oversize box, 1 photograph box (113 items : cartes-de-visite, cabinet cards, card photographs, tintype, photographic prints)

Organized into 4 series: 1. Professional, 1902-1928 (Box1-2). 2. Personal, 1902-1928 (Box2). 3. Oversize, 1898-1917 (OVBox1). 4. Photographs, 1864-1934 (PhotoBox1)

Mrs. Leonel Ross Campbell-Anthony-O'Bryan, aka "Polly Pry", was a well known journalist for The Denver Post. One of her most notable series of stories resulted in the parole of the "cannibal" Alfred Packer in 1901. Pry reports on the conditions of the mining camps and the Western Federation of Miners also brought her much notoriety. She left The Denver Post and started her own magazine under the title, Polly Pry (1903-1905). After the publication folded, Pry worked for the Denver Times until 1914. The Times sent Pry to Mexico twice, once to interview the warring factions led by General Victoriano Huerta and Pancho Villa (1913-1914). During her second visit to Mexico, she witnessed the success of the revolutionary forces led by Villa and Venustiano Carranza. At age 60, Pry helped organize the American Franco Children's League to benefit French orphans. She also worked in public relations for the Red Cross in Greece and Albania during World War I. Leonel Ross Campbell was first married in 1872 to George Anthony, builder of the Mexican Central Railway, and then later to Harry O'Bryan. She died on July 16, 1938.

Collection contains individual and group portraits of Mrs. Leonel Ross O'Bryan, aka "Polly Pry," or Mrs. Leonel Ross Anthony, her family and friends. Portraits of Sally T. Andrew, Franklin O. Hornaday, G.W. Caldwell, Madame Hasad Prishtina, Norton W. Campbell (cousin), Royal Nelson Campbell (brother), Mary Elizabeth Campbell (mother), James McKinney Campbell (father), and unidentified men, women, and children. Views from her American Franco Children's League campaign for Poppy Day, images of Helen J. Ahern, Charles L. De Ryder, Arizona governor Thomas E. Campbell. 18 photographic prints mounted on sheets with annotations titled, "In the killers county," by Miss Benson, these are views from Iron Mountain Station, Wyoming. The photographs show Iron Mountain Ranch, Little Grace, the mail carrier, the sheriff, the postmaster, a trapper, and men and women ostensibly witnesses to a murder committed by Tom Horn.

Additional items include: four scrapbooks (1899-1917) cover Pry's journalism career, foreign travel, reportage of Mexican border troubles (1914), Red Cross work during World War I. Other miscellaneous newspaper articles, typescripts of several plays (some written in collaboration with Ellis Meredith). Correspondence includes business interests in Polly Pry Publishing Company (1905) and Lakeside Casino Theatre (1916).

O'Bryan, Leonel Ross, 1857-1938 -- Archives.

O'Bryan, Leonel Ross, 1857-1938 -- History -- Pictorial works.

Polly Pry Publishing Company (Denver, Colo.) -- Correspondence.

Lakeside Casino Theatre (Denver, Colo.) -- History.

Journalists -- Colorado -- Denver.

Women journalists -- Colorado.

Women journalists -- Colorado -- History -- Pictorial works.

Voyages and travels.

World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Red Cross.

Mexico -- History -- Revolution, 1910-1920.

Card photographs (photographs)

Visiting cards.

Tintypes (photographs)

Cabinet photographs.

Personal papers.

Letters (correspondence)

Collection includes former: C Photo Collection 100.

Contact Special Collections and Archives Dept., Denver Public Library, Denver, Colo.

Gift; Unknown donor; n.d.