William H. H. and Emma Dickinson Papers

William H. H. and Emma Dickinson Papers, 1823-1908

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Dickinson, William H.H., 1840-1910; Dickinson, Emma, d. 1927
Title: William H. H. and Emma Dickinson Papers
Dates: 1823-1908 (inclusive)
18231908
Quantity: 0.25 linear feet, (1 box)
Collection Number: Mss 255
Summary: William H.H. and Emma Dickinson were early residents of Missoula, Montana. The collection contains a Dickinson family genealogy, Mr. Dickinson's Civil War diary and a later autobiographical account based on the diary, Mrs. Dickinson's reminiscence of early Missoula, an autograph book from Mr. Dickinson's family, personal and business financial records, an assay report, and early photographs of Missoula.
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 creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

William H. H. Dickinson was born in Ohio in 1840, where he received a business education. When he was twenty years old, he went to Kansas, and served in the Third Kansas Infantry (later consolidated with the Fourth Kansas Regiment to become the Tenth Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Infantry) during the Civil War. He emigrated to Montana after 1868, moving to Fort Peck, Fort Benton, and then to the Bitterroot Valley, where he taught school, mined, and took photographs. In 1872 he was appointed postmaster in Missoula, Montana. He continued in that post, was one of the city's first merchants, and served as school clerk and superintendent of schools.

In 1871, Dickinson married Emma C. Slack, who had come to Montana from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1869. They were the first couple married in Missoula. She taught in Missoula's first public school beginning fall of 1869. She was one of the organizers of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Missoula, and remained active in that organization.

The Dickinsons had three children. Mr Dickinson died in 1910; Mrs. Dickinson died in 1927.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains a Dickinson family genealogy, Mr. Dickinson's Civil War diary, Mrs. Dickinson's reminiscence of early Missoula, an autograph book from Mr. Dickinson's family, personal and business financial records, an assay report, and early photographs of Missoula.The collection offers information on early life in Missoula, including residents, business, education, and the physical appearance of the town.

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

William H. H. and Emma Dickinson Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Custodial History

The papers were in the possession of Richard Giffin, the Dickinsons' great-grandson, until time of donation to the Archives.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Richard Giffin, 1969.

Processing Note

The original processer arranged the papers, described them as the W. H. H. Dickinson Papers, and separated photographs to the photograph collection. In 2004, the finding aid was expanded, the collection was re-named the William H. H. and Emma Dickinson Papers, and the photographs were re-integrated into the collection. The 2004 finding aid listed two 1861 diaries - a closer examination of the mateirals in 2007 showed that one of the diaries was actually an autobiographical account based on the 1861 diary. In 2011 the biographical note for William was edited and updated - the original note indicted he'd served in the 8th Infantry when, in fact, he'd served in the 3rd.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Genealogy	1897
1/2	William H.H. Dickinson diary transcript available	1861
1/3	William H. H. Dickinson autobiographical account based on 1861 diary	undated
1/4	Emma Dickinson reminiscences	undated
1/5	Autograph book	1847-1850
1/6	Correspondence	1870
1/7	Financial records	1823-1895
1/8	Dickinson store ledger	1879
1/9	Legal documents	1887-1907
1/10	Assay report	1906
	69-0001: View of Missoula, Montana, and Mount Jumbo	circa 1890
	69-0002: View of Missoula, Montana, taken from Waterworks Hill The railroad tracks, a water tower, and train are visible in the foreground.	1883
	69-0003: Rattlesnake Creek during the Flood of 1908. Greenough Mansion on Vine Street in the background. Missoula, Montana	1908
	73-0052: Missoula, Montana, view from Waterworks Hill looking south. Black line to the left is road to Bitterroot Valley.	1876

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Soldiers--United States--Diaries

Corporate Names

United States. Army. Kansas Infantry Regiment, 8th (1861-1866)

Family Names

Dickinson family

Geographical Names

Kansas--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Missoula (Mont.)--History
Missoula (Mont.)--Photographs
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives

Form or Genre Terms

Autograph albums
Diaries
Financial records
Genealogies
Personal papers--Montana --Missoula
Photographs--Montana--Missoula
Reminiscences--Montana--Missoula

Occupations

Businessmen--Montana --Missoula

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Dickinson family
- Dickinson, Emma Slack, d. 1927
- Dickinson, W. H. H. (William Henry Harrison), 1840-1910

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