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Clifton Boyd Worthen Research Collection: Central Montana History Worthen (Clifton Boyd) papers, 1882-1955
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Worthen, Clifton Boyd, 1899-1963
- Title
- Clifton Boyd Worthen Research Collection: Central Montana History Worthen (Clifton Boyd) papers
- Dates
- 1882-1955 (inclusive)18821955
- Quantity
- .8 linear feet of shelf space
- Collection Number
- MC 75 (collection)
- Summary
- This collection consists of materials gathered by Clifton Worthen, amateur historian, including writings, reminiscences, research notes, copies of original source materials, clippings, and miscellany dealing primarily with the Judith Basin, Montana area.
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection open for research.
- 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
Clifton Boyd Worthen was born in Lynden, Washington, on January 30, 1899. He attended the University of Washington and received a master's degree in social studies and education in 1928. His thesis was entitled "The history of Central Montana to 1871." Worthen moved to Montana and taught for 13 years at Fergus County High School in Lewistown and for 26 years at Missoula County High School. During the summers he worked as a fire lookout for the U.S. Forest Service in western Montana. He was a World War I veteran and served as historian for the Missoula American Legion for many years. As an amateur historian Worthen did extensive research on the history of the Judith Basin region of Montana and the mining development in the Maiden-Kendall area near Lewistown. Worthen and his wife Gladys were married on December 25, 1922, and had one son and two daughters. Clifton Boyd Worthen died at the age of 64 in Missoula on July 3, 1963.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Research collection. 1882-1955. .8 linear foot. This collection consists of Clifton Boyd Worthen's research materials on the history of central Montana's Judith Basin region. Included are correspondence (1929-1955) and newspaper clippings (originals and typescript research copies). Numerous unpublished writings by Worthen and other authors document Indian history, mining industry, and livestock development. Also included are several reminiscences of early settlers including Edward "Teddy Blue" Abbott, Hallowell F. Clement, Thomas J. Gregory, Henry N. Morgan, and Bob Shiell. Additional research materials (primarily typescript copies) provide information on Barnes-King Development Company, Judith Cattle Company, Lewis and Clark Expedition, and Granville Stuart.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
General Correspondence Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 1 | Oscar O. Mueller; Merrill Burlingame; Harry N.
Morgan; Marguerite Marmont; miscellaneous |
1929-1935 |
Research Notes Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 2 | Barnes-King Development Company balance sheet,
statements, etc. |
1903-1919 |
| 1 / 3 | Granville Stuart letterbook (1880-1887, typescript
and handwritten copies) |
undated |
| 1 / 4 | H.F. Clement diary (1878-1887, typescript copy and
notes) |
undated |
| 1 / 5 | Judith Cattle Company memos, articles of
incorporation, etc. (1878-1890, typescript copies) |
undated |
| 1 / 6 | Lewis and Clark Expedition journals, trail notes,
bibliography, etc. (1805-1885, handwritten notes and typescript copies) |
undated |
| 1 / 7 | "Montana History Outline" |
1940 |
| 1 / 8 | Walter E. Buck-Louis E. Place agreement; William H.
Culver will; Clary Estate; Clint Laxton-Bloomide Mining Company contract |
1882-1929, undated |
| 1 / 9 | "A History of Fergus County, Montana, 1879-1915" by
Anna Zellick (M.A. thesis) |
1945 |
| 1 / 10 | "Land Utilization in the Judith Basin of Montana" by
A. Russell Oliver |
1937 |
| 1 / 11 | "Missions de L'Oregon et Voyages aux Montagnes-
Rocheuses" [Missions of Oregon and Voyages to the Rocky Mountains] by Pierre J. De
Smet (typescript copy in French) |
undated |
| 1 / 12 | Miscellaneous notes (re Maiden, horse stealing,
cowboys, "Teddy blue" Abbott, Andersonville, sheepherders, law in Fergus County,
mining, Yogo Gulch, vigilantes of Central Montana, Thomas J. Gregory, Bob Shiell,
etc.) |
1929-1937, undated |
| 1 / 13 | Articles re Judith Basin, etc. from Mineral Argus and
Fergus County Argus" (1880-1915, typescript copies) |
undated |
| 1 / 14 | Articles re Judith Basin, etc. from Rocky Mountain
Husbandman (1877-1887, typescript copies) |
undated |
| 1 / 15 | Articles re Judith Basin, etc. from miscellaneous
newspapers (1871-1927, typescript copies) |
undated |
Writings Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 16 | "The Camps of Lewis and Clark in Montana" |
undated |
| 1 / 17 | "Central Montana History" |
undated |
| 2 / 1 | "The History of Central Montana to 1871" (M.A.
thesis) |
1928 |
| 2 / 2 | "Indians in Central Montana" |
undated |
| 2 / 3 | "Judith Basin" |
undated |
| 2 / 4 | "Mining in Fergus County" (typescript copy and
handwritten notes) |
undated |
Clippings Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2 / 5 | "50th Anniversary of Fergus County" (from "UDemocrat
News) |
December 1936 |
| 2 / 6-7 | Miscellaneous |
1925-1938 |
Transfers to Other Programs Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2 / 8 | List of artifacts, photographs, and printed materials
transferred to Museum, Photo Archives, and Library respectively |
Research Notes (Continued) Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2 / 9 | Edited accounts of James Fergus' diaries of early
life in Montana |
circa 1930-1939 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- History--Research
- Mines and Mineral Resources--Montana
- Ranching--Montana
Personal Names
- Worthen, Clifton Boyd, 1899-1963 (creator)
Geographical Names
- Andersonville (Mont.)
- Fergus County (Mont.)
- Judith Basin County (Mont.)
- Kendall (Mont.)
- Maiden (Mont.)
Finding aid prepared by MHS staff
2004
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
