Robert Bartlett Rhode was born and raised in central Wyoming. He attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with a degree in journalism. Rhode was a reporter and editor for many Wyoming newspapers and was a professor of journalism at the University of Colorado, University of Southern California, and University of Denver. His first two books were about photography. He wrote "Booms and Busts on Bitter Creek: A History of Rock Springs" in 1987 after he had retired. "Booms and Busts" documents the history of violence and corruption in Rock Springs, a mining town in Wyoming.
From the description of Robert Bartlett Rhode papers, 1978-1987. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 68814057
From the guide to the Robert Bartlett Rhode papers, 1978-1987, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)