William D. "Bill" Rishel photograph collection
Collection
Identifier: P1276
Scope and Contents
The William D. "Bill" Rishel photograph collection consists of 2 boxes containing 30 black-and-white photographs and cabinet card portraits of Bill Rishel, his family, and friends or acquaintances. In addition to images of Rishel throughout his life, Box 1 contains photographs of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson and pictures taken of Virginia Rishel at an event, circa 1983, for the book she wrote about her father's experiences managing the western portion of a nineteenth-century cross-country bicycle relay race. Box 2 is oversize and contains portraits of Harry Lloyd Hopkins circa 1940-1950.
Dates
- 1870-1983
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the William D. "Bill" Rishel photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Permission to publish material from the William D. "Bill" Rishel photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Biographical Note
William D. “Bill” Rishel was born on Sept 26, 1869 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to Jennie McLaughlin and John A. Rishel. In 1872 the family moved to Nebraska and in 1876 to Colorado. In 1880, Rishel settled in Cheyenne, Wyoming and lived there until he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1895. He married Mildred Shelmerdine in 1899 in Salt Lake City. She died in 1921. They had one child, Virginia Rishel.
Rishel was an avid bicyclist who pioneered bicycle racing in Wyoming and Utah. After settling in Salt Lake City, Rishel edited a semi-monthly bicycle magazine and managed a bicycle track near Beck’s Hot Springs. He also served as manager of the western section of William Randolph Hearst's 1896 cross country San Francisco to New York bicycle relay race. Through this role, Rishel laid out a route which was partially used for the Utah highway system. From 1900-1910, Rishel was the sports editor of the Salt Lake Herald. After leaving this position, Rishel became involved with the activities of the United States Auto Mobile Association and was an organizer of the Utah State Automobile Association, serving as its president. He was purported to be the first man in Utah to drive a car. Rishel managed the Salt Palace Race Track for a time, but put many of his energies towards promoting the use of automobiles in Utah, particularly through tourism. Rishel ran a tourist bureau in connection with the Utah State Automobile Association.
Bill Rishel died on March 20, 1947. In 1983, his daughter, Virginia Rishel, wrote and published Wheels to Adventure: Bill Rishel's Western Routes about the cross-country relay race and her father’s involvement in mapping the event.
Rishel was an avid bicyclist who pioneered bicycle racing in Wyoming and Utah. After settling in Salt Lake City, Rishel edited a semi-monthly bicycle magazine and managed a bicycle track near Beck’s Hot Springs. He also served as manager of the western section of William Randolph Hearst's 1896 cross country San Francisco to New York bicycle relay race. Through this role, Rishel laid out a route which was partially used for the Utah highway system. From 1900-1910, Rishel was the sports editor of the Salt Lake Herald. After leaving this position, Rishel became involved with the activities of the United States Auto Mobile Association and was an organizer of the Utah State Automobile Association, serving as its president. He was purported to be the first man in Utah to drive a car. Rishel managed the Salt Palace Race Track for a time, but put many of his energies towards promoting the use of automobiles in Utah, particularly through tourism. Rishel ran a tourist bureau in connection with the Utah State Automobile Association.
Bill Rishel died on March 20, 1947. In 1983, his daughter, Virginia Rishel, wrote and published Wheels to Adventure: Bill Rishel's Western Routes about the cross-country relay race and her father’s involvement in mapping the event.
Extent
30 Items (2 boxes)
Abstract
William D. “Bill” Rishel (1969-1947) was a Utah bicycle and automobile enthusiast who promoted both industries in the state in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Arrangement
Arranged by subject
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by University of Utah Hinckley Institute of Politics in 2005 and 2006.
Separated Materials
See also the William D. "Bill" Rishel papers (ACCN 2140) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections staff.
- Title
- Guide to the William D. "Bill" Rishel photograph collection, 1870-1983
- Author
- Finding aid created by Claire A. Kempa
- Date
- 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu