For Further Study
For your convenience, the following resources and links provide additional information about the history of the Empire Ranch of Southern Arizona, the Vail family interests in Southern California and the individuals who were involved in the Empire Ranch’s operations. Most of the materials are not available in the University of Arizona libraries.
Finding Aids
Empire Ranch Records (AZ 246): Mr. Frank Boice, 1963
Charles U. Pickrell Memorial Collection (AZ 298): Mrs. C. Pickrell, 1970
Selim Maurice Franklin Papers, 1873-1931 (AZ 336): 1965
Empire Ranch Foundation
The Empire Ranch Foundation is a non-profit volunteer organization that was established in 1997. Acting in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, the purpose of the Foundation is to protect, restore and sustain the Empire Ranch historical buildings and landscape as an outstanding western heritage and education center. http://www.empireranchfoundation.org/
Arizona Historical Society
Collection includes correspondence, business records, and manuscripts of reminiscences relating to Edward Vail and his family's businesses. It also includes records of the Total Wreck Mine, Empire Ranch, and reminiscences about an 1896 cattle drive to California and the Pantano (La Cienega) Stage Station. Search “Empire Ranch” on their Online Archive Catalogs (LISTA). http://www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org/library_and_archives/
The Town of Vail, Arizona
Town named after Edward Vail. He deeded land from the Empire Ranch to the railroad and when a railroad came through in 1881, a railroad stop and town was given the name "Vail” in his honor. Information about the history of the Town of Vail, Arizona and the Vail family can be found here. https://www.greatervailchamber.com/history-of-vail-az
Empire Ranch – Hands on the Land
Hands on the Land (HOL) is a network of field classrooms stretching across America from Alaska to Florida. HOL is sponsored by Partners in Resource Education, a collaboration of five Federal agencies, a non-profit foundation, schools, and other private sector partners. “Wild about the Grasslands!” is a week-long summer day camp program for children who have completed Grade 5 through Grade 7 offered by the Empire Ranch foundation. The ranch heritage and environmental education program is designed to keep students learning while having fun in the outdoors. https://www.empireranchfoundation.org/ranch-events/youth-education-programs/
Vail Ranch Restoration Association
The Vail Ranch Restoration Association, Inc. (VaRRA), a non-profit corporation, was formed to heighten awareness of the rich heritage of the properties now known as the Historic Vail Ranch Headquarters site in Temecula, California. VaRRA seeks to promote research, preservation, and restoration of other Vail Ranch sites in Southern California that were part of the landholdings of the historic Empire Land and Cattle Company. https://varra.hypermart.net/index2.html https://temeculaca.gov/157/Vail-Ranch
Vail Ranch History – Temecula, California
Provides information about the Vail Ranch in Temecula, California. In 1904 Walter Vail, who had come to the United States from Nova Scotia, eventually migrated to California and with various partners began buying vast acreages in Southern California. He purchased 87,500 acres in Riverside County which included the township of Temecula. https://temeculaca.gov/157/Vail-Ranch
History of Santa Rosa Island
Provides information about Vail interests in California. In 1901 Walter L. Vail and J. V. Vickers bought their first shares in Santa Rosa Island. It took an additional 30 years for the Vail and Vickers partnership to acquire the remaining shares of Santa Rosa Island. https://www.nps.gov/chis/learn/historyculture/santarosaisland.htm