Arizona Biltmore Hotel Trading Post 1931

The Fred Wilson Collection contains correspondence, ephemera, news clippings, and memorabilia dating from 1907 to 1967. These papers document Wilson's careers as merchandiser, public servant, and patron of Native American arts and are divided into four series.

Series I: Native American Arts Subject Files is divided into two subseries. Sub-Series A: Trading Posts and Fairs consists of correspondence files and collected ephemera, news clippings, and memorabilia showing Wilson's trading posts and exhibitions between 1930 and 1965. Box 1, Folder 1 contains Wilson's correspondence with William Wrigley, Jr. concerning the opening of a branch of Wilson's trading post at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. Sub-Series B: Native American Artists contains correspondence and printed matter concerning Native American mythology, artistry and handicrafts, and noted artists dating from 1927 to 1961. Box 4, Folders 1 and 3 contain correspondence with, and biographical printed matter about, Pawnee artist Acee Blue Eagle and Navajo artist Pop Chalee (Merina Lujan Hopkins).

Series II: Phoenix Municipal Government is composed of clipping files describing Wilson's work at two governmental posts between 1933 and 1945.

Series III: Commercial Enterprises contains correspondence, printed matter, and memorabilia dating from 1908 to 1931 and documenting automobile sales, racing, and construction exhibits.

Series IV: Miscellaneous Subjects houses personal correspondence, ephemera, news clippings, and memorabilia dating from 1908 to 1927. These materials include biographical information about Wilson and document some of his commercial and civic activities.