Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Westmont Tractor Company records, 1931-1981
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Westmont Tractor Company
- Title
- Westmont Tractor Company records
- Dates
- 1931-1981 (inclusive)19311981
- Quantity
- 1.2 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 712
- Summary
- This collection includes the history of Westmont Tractor Company, news articles and advertising from 1961-1981, and photos of equipment in use at logging, farming, and road construction sites in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. It also includes photo albums of logging and road construction around Montana from 1931-1947.
- 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
Historical NoteReturn to Top
William J. Gallagher was born near Lewistown, Montana, on August 2, 1901. He graduated from The University of Montana-Missoula with a degree in business administration in 1925. Gallagher worked for the Nash-Finch Company of Minneapolis as an accountant, salesman, and assistant manager of their stores in Missoula and Havre, Montana. He was employed by the Missoula Mercantile in general accounting and credit work from 1927 to 1930 before turning full-time attention to his own business.
In 1929, Gallagher and Roy Robinson each purchased a one-third interest in Petrie Tractor & Equipment Company of Missoula, Montana, the Caterpillar equipment dealer for Western Montana and Idaho. In 1930, they bought the original owner's share and renamed the business Westmont Tractor Company. Howard Daugherty purchased Roy Robinson's share in 1945. A branch store was established in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and in 1949 another branch was opened in Kalispell, Montana.. In 1955 William's only son, Gary J. Gallagher, joined the business and when he became president in 1965 they opened a new branch in Libby, Montana.
After 49 years as the Caterpillar dealer in Western Montana and Idaho, Westmont Tractor Company discontinued that line in December 1978 but retained other equipment sales. In 1979 two new branches were opened, one in Spokane, Washington, and one in Billings, Montana.
William J. Gallagher and his second wife, Rosemary, were very active in the Missoula community and made significant contributions to The University of Montana-Missoula, homes for at-risk children, and the United Way. Mr. Gallagher died in 1995.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes the history of Westmont Tractor Company, news articles and advertising from 1961-1981, and photos of equipment in use at logging, farming, and road construction sites in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Most of these individual photos were originally submitted to Caterpillar Company and include specific site, date, project and equipment information. The remainder include photos of the Westmont Tractor Company and William J. Gallagher. The collection also includes two photo albums of logging, mining, and road construction around Montana from 1930 to 1967. In the first album, dated 1930-1932, projects include a pipeline from Cut Bank to Butee and Anaconda, farming in Frenchtown, road construction on Evaro Hill, work on McDonald Pass, and others. In the second album, from 1946 to 1967, the Montana sites include lumber companies such as J. Neils Lumber in Libby and Kennedy-Stevens Lumber Company near Eureka; plowing snow and road grading in Beverhead County, building the East Shore road of Flathead Lake, work on the Belton-Nyack road, and others.
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.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Westmont Tractor Company Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Custodial History
The papers were held for some period by Norma Schmidt, the last vice president of Westmont Tractor Company before it changed hands.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Jill A. and Philip M. Dahl, 2009
Processing Note
Approximately 200 unidentified slides and photos were removed from the collection during processing.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | History of Westmont Tractor Company | 1949-1979 |
1/2 | Articles and advertising | 1961-1981 |
1/3 | Photos of Westmont Tractor Company building and equipment | undated |
1/4 | Photos of William Gallagher with others | 1944-1955 |
1/5 | Photos of road construction near Butte, Montana | 1941-1947 |
1/6 | Photos of logging near Libby, Montana | 1937-1939 |
1/7 | Photos of road construction and logging in various Montana locations | 1937-1950 |
1/8 | Photos of farming in various Wyoming locations | 1941 |
1/9 | Photos of construction in various Idaho locations | 1936-1939 |
1/10 | Photos and drawings of Holt tractors, precessor of Caterpillar | undated |
Box | ||
OS2 | Photo album | 1972-1975 |
OS3 | Photo album | 1946-1967 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Agricultural machinery--Montana--Photographs
- Caterpillar tractors
- Construction equipment industry--Idaho
- Construction equipment industry--Montana
- Earthmoving machinery--Idaho
- Earthmoving machinery--Montana
- Logging--Machinery--Montana--Photographs
- Mining machinery--Montana--Photographs
- Roads--Montana--Design and construction--Photographs
Personal Names
- Gallagher, William J., 1901-1995.
Corporate Names
- Caterpillar Tractor Company
- Westmont Tractor Company--Archives
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks