RIP Don Chaput

 

Legacy Remembers

January 6, 2025

 

Donald Chaput, a long-time resident of Altadena, California passed away on December 11, 2024 at the age of 90. He was a noted mining historian whose research incorporated various histories of Great Lakes region, the Philippines, and the American Southwest. He was prolific author of over 15 books and dozens of contributions to periodicals and journals, such as the Smithsonian Handbook of North American Indians.

Born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Don was one of 10 siblings and had a large variety of jobs during snowy winters as he was growing up. He joined the Marines for two years and was stationed in Korea, coordinating prisoner transfers in the latter part of the war. In 1958 he achieved a Master's Degree in Social Sciences from Michigan State University, where he met the love of his life, Toni. They were married in 1960 and started their family with two sons, Ben and Ed.

During the 1960's Don taught Junior High Social Studies, English and Geography, and was employed in 1966 by the Michigan Historical Commission, where he became Research Director and Chief Editor. During this period, he focused on his young family, his career, and his many relatives in the Michigan region. In 1969 he wrote his first book on his home town, Hubbell – A Copper Country Village, followed by his second book The Cliff Mine, in 1971, which was a few miles from Hubbell. These books started a lifelong passion in mining research which was featured in great detail in his subsequent books.

In 1972 He was offered a job as Senior History Curator at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles where he was in charge of the military history vault and continued his research on mining and the history of the southwest. Don moved his family to Altadena, California, under the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains, which provided the backdrop for the remainder of his life. While in Altadena he and his wife Toni developed many new friendships, spent much of their time playing bridge and music, and took up bowling and other hobbies while raising their two sons. By the 1980's Don and Toni were able to travel together on mining research trips. Don kept up with his writing and was frequently involved with Museum events and gave numerous speeches and presentations on many topics throughout the decade. At this point in his career he had developed a large group of research collaborators and was contributing many articles to publications.

In the early 1990's Don had retired and still continued his travels with Toni, expanding to many different countries. During this period, his writing began to focus on characters surrounding the Earp Brothers, and he wrote books on Virgil Earp, Nellie Cashman, "Buckskin Frank" Leslie and Dr. Goodfellow. Many large family gatherings were held at Don's home in Altadena, and he & Toni added birding as one of their favorite hobbies. In the 2000's the family gatherings grew larger with grandchildren and friends and Don continued working on his research and writing and gave periodic presentations on topics of interest from his research. As Curator Emeritus with the Museum of Natural History he continued to work with the institution for 15 years after his retirement.

In 2018 Don & Toni moved to an Assisted Living Facility, within view of the San Gabriel Mountains and Don was able to help care for Toni as her health declined. At this juncture, Don had assumed he was done with his writing, but got a second wind with a new collaboration effort, and released two final books - The Earp's Invade Southern California, and Tombstone, Arizona Mystique - in the final years of his life. These books were very well received and he left us on a high note with his writing legacy. Don spent much time in his waning years updating the next generation of his family with genealogy information and archival photos that he assembled in pamphlets.

He leaves behind his son Ben and his wife Rebecca of Torrance and son Edward and his wife Theresa of Duarte, grandchildren Bryce, Aurora, Nikko & Paolo and five great grandchildren. He was cremated at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, and a ceremony with family members was held in the cemetery rose garden.

CHAPUT, Don (Donald Charles Chaput)

Born: 12/19//1933, Hubbell, Michigan, U.S.A.

Died: 12/11/2024, Altadena, California, U.S.A.

 

Don Chaput’s westerns – books

 

French Canadian contribution to winning the American West: biographical notes - 1985

Virgil Earp: Western Peace Officer - 1994

The Earp Papers: In a Brother’s Image – 1994

Nellie Cashman and the North American Mining Frontier - 1995

Dr. Goodfellow: Physician to the Gunfighters, Scholar, & Bonvivant – 1996

Buckskin Frank Leslie Vol. 1 & Vol. 2- 1999

The Odyssey of Burt Alvord: Lawman, Train Robber, Fugitive - 2000

Cochise County Stalwarts: A Who’s Who of the Territorial Years (co) - 2000

Nellie Cashman and the North American Mining Frontier - 2010

The Earps Invade Southern California: Bootlegging Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and the Old Soldiers' Home (co) – 2020

Tombstone, Arizona Mystique (co) - 2023