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Finding Aid for the Montana Manuscript Collection
1878-1990
Mont.Coll.Mss
Mont.Coll.Mss
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Title: Montana Manuscript Collection
Identifier/Call Number: Mont.Coll.Mss
Contributing Institution:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
4.13 Linear feet
8 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1878-1990
Abstract: This collection contains photographs, newspaper clippings, Montana-related ephemera, correspondence pertaining to the Society
of the Framers of the Constitution of the State of Montana as well as written attempts to compile historical accounts of various
aspects of Montana's history.
creator:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Clark Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
[Identification of item], Montana Manuscript Collection, Mont. Coll. Mss., William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University
of California, Los Angeles.
The contents of this collection are the result of multiple accessions. The provenance of the Charles Kessler Papers is unclear.
The Society of the Framers of the Constitution of the State of Montana Papers were donated by Walter M. Bickford (MS.1929.004).
The Robert S. Hale and James Thompson Papers are the result of two separate accessions: The James Thompson Papers were a 1970
purchase (MS.1970.010) and the Robert S. Hale Papers (MS.1970.009) were a gift from J. E. Reynolds. The Calvary Commissary
Papers (MS.1952.006) were also purchased by the Library. The Donna Adams Materials were a gift from Donna Adams (MS.1991.001).
Processed by Jacque Giebel, April-May 2011.
Charles Nickolas Kessler (1874-1957) was the president of his family's business, the Kessler Brewing Company. He actively
opposed the prohibition movement but to his dismay, Montana supported statewide prohibition that became effective in January,
1919. On June 28, 1919, the Kessler Brewery was closed and all of the company's alcohol was destroyed. The brewery would not
be re-opened until 1933 after the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. Throughout his life, Kessler was extremely interested
in acquiring information on various aspects of the history of Montana.
The Society of the Framers of the Constitution of the State of Montana was founded on August 17, 1889. It was comprised of
75 members who were elected by the people of the Territory of Montana as well as honorary members that included participants
from the 1884 Constitutional Convention. According to Article II of the organization's constitution, "the object and purpose
of this organization shall be purely for social, moral and mental enjoyment and improvement; cultivating and encouraging American
patriotism and love for our country, free from all political bias and spirit (Second Reunion of the Society of the Framers
of the Constitution of the State of Montana 1891).
Robert S. Hale (d. 1922) was a pioneer and prominent man of Helena, Montana. Upon his death he left an Estate worth a said
$100,000. He was survived by neither widow, children, nor parents, as stated in the newspaper, "The Helena Independent" on
August 18th, 1923. Following his death, there was a lengthy litigation and settlement of his Estate. His niece Lutie Gibson
White was accused by Annie H. Thompson, widow of James Thompson, the son of one of Hale's sisters, for undue influence in
gaining control of his properties prior to his death.
Fort Keogh is located on the western edge of Miles City, Montana. From about 1823-1890, west of Mississippi, various conflicts
were taking place between Native Americans, American settlers and the United States Army. These conflicts have become known
as the Indian Wars. The Indian Wars were the result of European colonizers and their desire for westward expansion. The settling
of the West resulted in the uprooting of a number of indigenous populations.
This collection contains photographs, newspaper clippings, Montana-related ephemera, correspondence pertaining to the Society
of the Framers of the Constitution of the State of Montana as well as written attempts to compile historical accounts of various
aspects of Montana's history. This collection also includes food orders and returns for Cavalry and Infantry Companies at
Fort Keogh and correspondence related to the litigation and settlement of Robert S. Hale's estate and various documents belonging
to James and Annie Thompson.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Charles Kessler Papers, 1880-1931. 1 box (0.21 linear feet)
- Series 2. Society of the Framers of the Constitution of the State of Montana Papers, 1889-1929. 2 boxes (0.63 linear feet)
- Series 3. Robert S. Hale and James Thompson Papers, 1878-1929. 1 box (0.21 linear feet)
- Series 4. Cavalry Commissary Papers, 1878-1893. 2 boxes (0.42 linear feet)
- Series 5. Donna Adams Materials, 1881-1960. 1 box (0.21 linear feet)
- Series 6. Scrapbooks of Newspaper Clippings, 1903-1919. 1 box (0.21 linear feet)
Images of Montana and the West, Mont. coll. Photos, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los
Angeles.
Online finding aid available via the OAC.
The William Bickford file in the correspondence series of the Pre-1934 Clark Archive.
The Collection of Papers Related to Montana, 1833-1934 is very much related to this collection and there is a strong correlation
with the items that are described in this finding aid. They are described in the
Calendar of The Montana Papers in the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library (University of California at Los Angeles) / prepared
by the Southern California Historical Records Survey Project, Division of Community Service Programs, Works Progress Administration.
Los Angeles, CA : The Southern California Historical Records Survey Project, 1942.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bickford, Walter M., (Walter Mansur), b. 1852
Clark, William Andrews, 1839-1925
Hale, Robert S., d. 1922
Kessler, Charles N. (Charles Nickolas), 1874-1957
Society of the Framers of the Constitution of the State of Montana
Thompson, Annie H.
Thompson, James
Actions and defenses--United States--19th century
Armies--Commissariat
Black-and-white photographs
Cavalry--United States--19th century
Ephemera--United States--20th century
Indians of North America--United States--19th century
Legal documents--United States--19th century
Letters--United States--19th century
Mining claim--United States--19th century
Minutes--United States--20th century
Montana--History
Notebooks--United States--19th century
Picture postcards--United States--20th century