Dorothy Floerchinger Papers, 1883-1991

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Floerchinger, Dorothy, 1901-1996
Title
Dorothy Floerchinger Papers
Dates
1883-1991 (inclusive)
Quantity
32.5 linear feet, including 105 volumes
Collection Number
Mss 342 (collection)
Summary
Dorothy Floerchinger was a Montana resident and amateur historian. This collection contains a manuscript written by Floerchinger, clippings and research materials on the Conrad family of Kalispell, Montana, and scrapbooks reflecting her personal interests into historic events throughout Montana and the rest of the United States.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Dorothy Floerchinger, the daughter of Ralph and Willie Mae Bracegirdle Bruner, was born on February 22, 1901, in Scotia, Nebraska. Graduating from Valier High School in Great Falls, Montana, in 1920, Mrs. Floerchinger began a career of teaching in Pondera County Schools. Due to an acute teacher shortage following World War I, the State Superintendent of Schools issued a special permit allowing her to teach elementary school with no professional training. She married Louis Floerchinger on November 15, 1924 and raised five children on the family farm near Conrad, Montana.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Floerchinger was an avid historian. Mrs. Floerchinger published several historical pieces on Northern Montana - from the history of the City of Conrad to the history of Pondera County. She did extensive research on the Conrad family of Kalispell, who founded the city of Conrad, and was involved in the preservation of local Conrad history. She also wrote literary pieces, publishing an anthology of poems and short stories called Highway to Happiness, a biographical tribute to a Conrad minister and humanitarian called To Speak of Love Was Not Enough, and her family history, The Bruner Bunch.

Mrs. Floerchinger was active in many organizations, including the Montana Library Association, the Montana Farmer's Union, and the Montana Democratic Party. Besides an interest in history, Mrs. Floerchinger was a poet and an artist. Mrs. Floerchinger died in Choteau, Montana, on May 8, 1996.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains a manuscript written by Mrs. Floerchinger, clippings and research materials on the Conrad family of Kalispell, Montana, and scrapbooks reflecting Mrs. Floerchinger's personal interests into historic events throughout Montana and the rest of the United States. Particular subjects include the history of the Marias River Valley; the history of Conrad, Montana; the Whoop-Up Trail; and Montana organizations, including the Montana Democratic Party, the Montana Farmers Union, and the Montana Library Association.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Dorothy Floerchinger Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is divided into three series:

Series I: Manuscript, 1 folder, 1977

Series II: Conrad Family Research, 3 folders, 1883-1978

Series III: Scrapbooks, 105 volumes, 1940-1991

Custodial History

All materials in this collection were collected and retained by Dorothy Floerchinger until donation to the K. Ross Toole Archives.

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Dorothy Floerchinger, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, and 1991

Processing Note

The actions of the original processors are unknown. As materials in this collection were received they were arranged into three separate entities. In 2001, the three entities were combined into one collection and re-described. Materials from SC 177 became Series I, SC 370 became Series II, and Scrapbook Collection 23 became Series III.

Separated Materials

A ledger book from Clinton, Virginia, 1882-1883; an indenture from Cumberland County, Virginia, 1828; and a Confederate flag were removed during processing and de-accessioned.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Manuscript , 1977Return to Top

1 folder

This series contains a manuscript written by Mrs. Floerchinger called "Quietly Flows Maria's River." The manuscript is somewhat a history of the Marias River, which is located in northern Montana. Included within the text are various maps of the area and a letter from Charles M. Russell regarding the Marias River and the Whoop-Up Trail, which is also located in northern Montana.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Manuscript, "Quietly Flows Maria's River"
1997

Series II:  Conrad Family Research , 1883-1978Return to Top

3 folders

Contained within this series are correspondence, biographical information, and clippings regarding the Conrad family of Kalispell and north central Montana. The correspondence is between Mrs. Floerchinger and several Conrad descendants and generally regards mutual requests for information on the family. Mrs. Floerchinger includes biographical information on the Conrad Family, such as histories written by others and a Conrad family tree. Clippings included in this series relate to various Conrad family events, such as weddings and funerals, along with any other news worthy items involving members of the Conrad family (society columns and business articles).

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/2
Correspondence and research, Conrad Family
1969-1971
1/3
Clippings, Conrad Family
1883-1978
1/4
Clippings, Conrad Family
1883-1978

Series III:  Scrapbooks , 1940-1991Return to Top

105 volumes

This series contains scrapbooks assembled by Mrs. Floerchinger. The first 50 scrapbooks reflect Mrs. Floerchinger's personal life; they include vacation mementos, letters, birthday and other holiday cards, news clippings, and various items relating to her interests (local Conrad events, the Montana Farmer's Union, the Montana Library Association, and the Montana Democratic Party). The remaining scrapbooks deal with various subjects, such as the Persian Gulf War, arts in Montana, education in Montana, and Montana history (in particular the Centennial Celebration in 1989). The majority of the scrapbooks are composed of news clippings regarding each subject.

The scrapbooks relating to Mrs. Floerchinger's personal life are arranged in chronological order; the remaining scrapbooks are grouped according to subject.
Container(s) Description Dates
Volume
1
Dorothy Floerchinger
1940-1952
2
Dorothy Floerchinger
1953
3
Dorothy Floerchinger
1954
4
Dorothy Floerchinger
1955
5
Dorothy Floerchinger
1955
6
Dorothy Floerchinger
1956
7
Dorothy Floerchinger
1956
8
Dorothy Floerchinger
1957
9
Dorothy Floerchinger
1957
10
Dorothy Floerchinger
1958
11
Dorothy Floerchinger
1958
12
Dorothy Floerchinger
1959
13
Dorothy Floerchinger
1959
14
Dorothy Floerchinger
1960
15
Dorothy Floerchinger
1960
16
Dorothy Floerchinger
1961
17
Dorothy Floerchinger
1961
18
Dorothy Floerchinger
1962
19
Dorothy Floerchinger
1962
20
Dorothy Floerchinger
1963
21
Dorothy Floerchinger
1963
22
Dorothy Floerchinger
1963
23
Dorothy Floerchinger
1964
24
Dorothy Floerchinger
1964
25
Dorothy Floerchinger
1965
26
Dorothy Floerchinger
1965
27
Dorothy Floerchinger
1966
28
Dorothy Floerchinger
1966
29
Dorothy Floerchinger
1967
30
Dorothy Floerchinger
1967
31
Dorothy Floerchinger
1968
32
Dorothy Floerchinger
1968
33
Dorothy Floerchinger
1969
34
Dorothy Floerchinger
1969
35
Dorothy Floerchinger
1970
36
Dorothy Floerchinger
1970
37
Montana
1971-1984
38
Dorothy Floerchinger
1982-1983
39
Dorothy Floerchinger
1983-1984
40
Montana
1980-1983
41
Conrad, Montana, 75th Anniversary
1984
42
Dorothy Floerchinger
1985
43
Dorothy Floerchinger
1985
44
Dorothy Floerchinger
1986
45
Dorothy Floerchinger
1986
46
Dorothy Floerchinger
1987
47
Dorothy Floerchinger
1987
48
Dorothy Floerchinger
1988
49
Dorothy Floerchinger
1988
50
Dorothy Floerchinger
1989
51
Dorothy Floerchinger
1990
52
Persian Gulf War
1991
53
Persian Gulf War
1991
54
Persian Gulf War
1991
55
Lewis & Clark
56
"Toole County, Fort Benton, Highland Journal"
57
"True Tales of the American Front - Montana"
58
"True Tales of Montana Authors"
59
"History"
60
"History"
61
Art in Montana/New Interpretations
62
"Art in Montana"
63
"Knees MT"
64
"Pageants by Dorothy Floerchinger"
65
Montana Centennial
1889-1989
66
Montana Centennial
1889-1989
67
Montana Centennial
1889-1989
68
Montana Centennial
1889-1989
69
"Places"
70
"Places"
71
"Places"
72
"Places"
73
"Places"
74
"Visual Arts"
75
"Visual Arts"
76
"Visual Arts"
77
"Visual Arts"
78
"Performing Arts"
79
"Performing Arts"
80
"Performing Arts"
81
"Performing Arts"
82
"Paul Dyck"
83
"People"
84
"People"
85
"People"
86
"People"
87
"Education"
88
"Education"
89
"Education"
90
"Writers"
91
"Writers"
92
"Writers"
93
"Writing"
94
"Montana People Doing Things"
95
"Montana People Doing Things"
96
"Montana People"
97
"Montana People and Places"
98
"Indians"
99
"Indians"
100
"Indians"
101
"Montanans of Note"
102
"The Piegan Storyteller"
103
"The Piegan Storyteller"
104
"The Piegan Storyteller"
105
Piegan Storyteller notes

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Arts--Montana
  • Education--Montana
  • Persian Gulf War, 1991

Personal Names

  • Russell, Charles M. (Charles Marion), 1864-1926--Correspondence

Corporate Names

  • Democratic Party (Mont.)
  • Montana Farmers Union
  • Montana Library Association

Family Names

  • Conrad family

Geographical Names

  • Conrad (Mont.)--History
  • Marias River Valley (Mont.)--History
  • Montana--Centennial celebrations, etc.
  • Montana--History
  • Whoop-Up Trail

Form or Genre Terms

  • Scrapbooks--Montana

Occupations

  • Women authors, American--Montana
  • Women historians--Montana

Finding aid prepared by Megan Morris
2001

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