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Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Auction: The Earp Brothers & Cowboys

Sat, Jul 26, 2025 11:00AM EDT
  2025-07-26 11:00:00 2025-07-26 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Auction: The Earp Brothers & Cowboys https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/tombstone-western-heritage-museum-auction-the-earp-brothers-cowboys-20021
Join North American Auction Company on July 26th for a once-in-a-lifetime auction of the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum Collection. This extraordinary sale features the largest private collection of Tombstone history, including rare and historic pieces tied to Wyatt Earp, the Earp Brothers, and the infamous Cochise Cowboys. From original artifacts, outlaw relics, and the largest collection of C.S. Fly photographs, this is a can’t-miss event for collectors of the Old West’s most legendary chapter.
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Lot 19

Minnie Hart '88 Arizona Territory Teaching Diploma

Estimate: $750 - $1,200
Starting Bid
$200

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
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$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
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$100,000 $5,000
For your consideration are Rare Teaching Diploma of S. L. Hart's Daughter, Minnie Jane Hart, circa 1888. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. The legacy of S.L. "Lum" Hart as gunsmith to the cowboys, gamblers, lawmen, and gunfighters of Tombstone cannot be over estimated. Today a firearm with the "S.L. Hart" stamp is almost priceless. Hart's daughter Minnie Jane taught school in 1890 at Tombstone's first school house. She replaced the first woman schoolteacher in Tombstone, Sarah Herring Sorin, who eventually became Arizona's first woman attorney and the first woman to try a case in front of the US Supreme Court unassisted by a male attorney. The diploma reads, "ARIZONA EDUCATIONAL DIPLOMA, TERRITORY OF ARIZONA. The Territorial Board of Education Hereby issues to Minnie J. Hart this DIPLOMA, which authorizes the person names to teach in any Public School of this Territory for six years from date hereof. Prescott, January 4th 1888." It was signed by the acting governor, the Territory Treasurer C. B. Foster and the Superintendent of Public Instruction Charles Strauss. The Territory gold seal is on the lower left while the Territory stamp is at top. The diploma is printed on Crane & Co. paper, watermark is visible. A great piece of Old West Tombstone history! The diploma is in nicely preserved condition in a clear protective sleeve. Diploma is in good overall condition, age tanning consistent with age and use. Measures 10.5"W x 11.75"L, sleeve is 11.375"W x 12.625"L, weight is U6.

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