Kevin M. Britz Papers

Collection

Identifier: 5021

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes copies of published works, correspondence, oral history transcripts, lecture notes, newspaper clippings, and business brochures. All materials focus on the towns of Deadwood, South Dakota, Tombstone, Arizona, and Dodge City, Kansas.

Dates

1995-2006

Creator

Britz, Kevin Mark, 1954-2011 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center with no restrictions to access. The collection may be utilized during normal operating hours or by appointment. Some materials cannot be reproduced by Deadwood History, Inc.

Biographical / Historical

Kevin M. Britz was born on May 1, 1954, at Langley Airforce Base in Virginia. He graduated with a bachelor of arts in history from Knox College in Illinois in 1976 and returned to school, earning an M.A. in history from the University of Arizona in 1986.

Britz worked in museums and as a consultant for historic sites in several states including Minnesota, Arizona, and Oregon while also working on a Ph.D. in U.S. History which he received in 1999 from the University of Arizona. Britz's dissertation focused on tourism in Western towns.

After earning his Ph.D., Britz continued to work in the museum field while also holding teaching positions at Kenyon College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Oregon. In 2008, he was named director of the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Britz continued to work on his research regarding tourism in western towns with the intent of publishing a book on the subject of how people commemorate their lives and country by creating myths.

In 2011 Britz passed away after a year-long battle with cancer. His book, Tombstone, Deadwood, and Dodge City Re-Creating the Frontier West was completed by historian Rogers L. Nichols and published post-humously in December 2018.

Extent

4.0 Linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Kevin M. Britz Papers includes the lecture notes, essays, Masters thesis, and Ph.D. Disertation created by Professor Britz and the copious amounts of copied records he obtained while doing his research for a book focused on Western towns and tourism. Britz's writing revolved around three separate Western communities, Deadwood, South Dakota, Tombstone, Arizona, and Dodge City, Kansas, with a large portion of the materials focused on Deadwood's Days of '76 Celebration. While the bulk of the collection is copies of research materials from the late 19th century through the mid 20th century, all of Britz's work was created between 1995 and 2006.

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged into five series. The first series consists of all materials related to college courses and workshops taught by Britz. Also found in this series is information about his doctoral degree from the University of Arizona.

The final four series consist of the themes Britz identified for his book, and original order was maintained within these themes as much as possible. The series are Heroes, Setting, Literature, and Tourism.

Please see box list for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The archival collection of Kevin Britz was acquired by Deadwood History, Inc. by donation in 2017.

Accruals

In June 2021, Kate Britz brought in Kevin M. Britz last book published post-humously in December 2018, Tombstone, Deadwood, and Dodge City Re-Creating the Frontier West was completed by historian Rogers L. Nichols.

The book can be found in the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center in the William D. Haas Resource Library.