A.W. Miles Family Records

A.W. Miles Family Records, 1882-1997

Overview of the Collection

Title: A.W. Miles Family Records
Dates: 1882-1997 (inclusive)
18821997
Quantity: 9.6 linear feet
Collection Number: 2367
Summary: The A. W. Miles Family Records consists of correspondence, business documents, land and legal documents, insurance and financial records, and personal articles relating to the family and the various Miles businesses. Subjects include real estate transactions, property management concerns, lumber and coal business, and Yellowstone National Park.
Repository: Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.
Languages
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Arthur Wellington Miles moved to Montana in 1880 while serving as Army paymaster at Fort Keogh near present-day Miles City. Following his resignation from the Army, Miles started a hardware business at Coulson, and by 1882 opened a similar business in Billings. Later in that year he joined Colonel A. L. Babcock in creating the Bozeman firm, Babcock and Miles. During the winter of 1882-1883, Miles opened his first business in Livingston. Miles and Babcock severed their partnership in 1893 and Miles concentrated his business ventures in Livingston and its surrounding communities. His operations in Livingston grew to include the A. W. Miles Lumber and Coal Company, the A. W. Miles Land and Investment Company, and the A. W. Miles Company. Miles also held a majority interest in the Thompson Company and the Park Ice and Storage Company. In addition to these businesses Miles owned an extensive sheep ranch and held a controlling interest in numerous companies across Montana. His buisness, the Miles Land and Investment Company, built several prominent buildings in Livingston, including the Livingston Theatre, the Park Hotel, and the Miles Building.

Beyond business interests, A. W. Miles played an important role in state and local politics. He was served two terms as Mayor of Livingston beginning in 1887. Between 1906 and 1909 Miles served as a state senator representing Park County. A. W. Miles married Idella M. Draper in 1885. Together the couple had four children: Louise Gertrude, Adena Josephine, Perry, and Daniel Nelson. By the late 1920s Daniel Miles took control of the companies as his father retired to Los Angeles, California. A. W. Miles died in 1933. Dan Miles continued operating the primary companies and other business interests including mining and ranching. Like his father, Dan Miles also played a significant role in local politics and civic organizations. In 1982, the A. W. Miles Company was dissolved.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The A. W. Miles papers include correspondence, business documents, land and legal documents, insurance and financial records, and personal articles relating to the family and the various Miles businesses. Subjects include real estate transactions, property management concerns, lumber and coal business, and Yellowstone National Park.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1 Correspondence, 1888-1997

Series 2 Literary Productions

Series 3 Insurance Documents

Series 4 Photographs

Series 5 Topical Files

Series 6 Land and Property Documents, 1886-1975

Series 7 Legal Documents, 1882-1984

Series 8 Financial Records, 1887-1982

Acquisition Information

Personal and professional papers created or collected by members of the Miles family between 1882 and 1997 were donated to Special Collections by Elsie Miles of Billings, Montana on July 7, 1997.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 April 20

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

1: Correspondence, 1888-1997Return to Top

This series contains letters to and from members of the Miles family. Much of the correspondence includes comments on the state of the various businesses controlled by the Miles family. Files in this series are arranged chronologically. At the end of the series are two files containing correspondence that is either incomplete or without a date.

Container(s)		Dates
Box	Folder
1	1-30	1888-1926
2	1-14	1927-1940
3	1-27	1941-1969
4	1-8	1978-1997
4	9-10	undated

2: Literary Productions, circa 1923-1973Return to Top

This series contains speeches, fiction, diaries, and journals by members of the Miles family. Also included in this series are pamphlets, leaflets, newspaper and magazine clippings which were either collected or written by a member of the Miles family. Under the miscellaneous heading are speeches or pieces of fiction of which a complete copy is not available. Of particular note are the typed manuscripts of the two children's books written by Dan Miles. Box 6 contains bound materials consisting of diaries, journals, and appointment books.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
5	1	Partial Biography of Edward H. Moorman
5	2	Newspaper/Magazine articles collected by Miles family
5	3	Northern Herd News
5	4	Newspaper/Magazine articles by Miles family
5	5	Published articles about Miles family members
5	6	Yarns of Yellowstone--Rough Draft
5	7	A Lamb's Tale--Rough Draft
5	8	Miscellaneous, incomplete, unsigned fiction and speeches
5	9	Speeches & Papers delivered by A.W. Miles
5	10	Speeches & Papers delivered by Dan Miles
5	11	A.W. Miles Biography (2)
5	12	Dan Miles, Autobiographical sketch
5	13	Diary	1922
5	14	Address Book	1939
6	1	Diary	1926
6	2	Diary	1937
6	3	Diary	1952
6	4	Diary	1954
6	5	Address Book	1973
6	6	Appointment Book	1959

3: Insurance Documents, 1891-1982Return to Top

Series 3 contains all insurance related documents. Within the series documents are grouped into various subseries. These subgroups contain insurance summaries, insurance policies, payment receipts, insurance registers, and related correspondence. The summaries are compiled lists of policy coverage for business and personal interests and are filed chronologically. Policies, payment receipts, and correspondence are filed by company name. NOTE: It is likely that some insurance related correspondence will also be found throughout Series 1.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
7	1-7	Insurance Summaries	1911, 1913-1915, 1925, 1928, 1951
7	8	Insurance Policies: American States Insurance Co.
7	9	Insurance Policies: Clayton and Working Agency
7	10	Insurance Policies: Commercial Union Insurance Co.
7	11	Insurance Policies: Firemen's Insurance Co.
7	12	Insurance Policies: Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co.
7	13	Insurance Policies: Knoxville Fire Insurance Co.
7	14	Insurance Policies: Lloyd's of London
7	15	Insurance Policies: Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance
7	16	Insurance Policies: Montana Life Insurance Co.
7	17	Insurance Policies: Montana Livestock & Casualty Insurance Co.
7	18	Insurance Policies: The Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York
7	19	Insurance Policies: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
7	20	Insurance Policies: Northwestern National Insurance Group
7	21	Insurance Policies: Reliance Insurance Co.
7	22	Insurance Policies: St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co.
7	23	Insurance Policies: The Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias
7	24	Insurance Policies: United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co.
7	25	Insurance Correspondence: Bankers Life Co.
7	26	Insurance Correspondence: C.E. Hildreth
7	27	Insurance Correspondence: Central Life Assurance Society
7	28	Insurance Correspondence: Continental Life Insurance Co.
7	29	Insurance Correspondence: Davis & Clayton Agency
7	30	Insurance Correspondence: The Equitable Life Assurance Society
7	31	Insurance Correspondence: Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance
7	32	Insurance Correspondence: The Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co.
7	33	Insurance Correspondence: Missouri State Life Insurance Co.
7	34	Insurance Correspondence: Montana Life Insurance Co.
7	35	Insurance Correspondence: The Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York
7	36	Insurance Correspondence: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
7	37	Insurance Correspondence: The Supreme Lodge: Knights of Pythias
7	38	Insurance Correspondence: United Mutual Insurance Co.
7	39	Insurance Correspondence: United Agencies
7	40	Insurance Correspondence: Insurance Register	1933-1934
8	1	Insurance Correspondence: Miscellaneous Insurance Documents
8	2	Insurance Correspondence: Worker's Compensation Documents	1979-1982
8	3	Insurance Receipts: The Bankers Life Association
8	4	Insurance Receipts: Central Life Assurance Society
8	5	Insurance Receipts: Continental Life Insurance Co.
8	6	Insurance Receipts: The Equitable Life Assurance Society
8	7	Insurance Receipts: Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co.
8	8	Insurance Receipts: Montana Life Insurance Co.
8	9	Insurance Receipts: Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York
8	10	Insurance Receipts: New York Life Insurance Co.
8	11	Insurance Receipts: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
8	12	Insurance Receipts: The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.
8	13	Insurance Receipts: The Prudential Insurance Co.
8	14	Insurance Receipts: Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias
8	15	Insurance Receipts: Royal Insurance Co. LTD
8	16	Insurance Receipts: United Agencies
8	17	Insurance Receipts: Western Life Insurance Co.

4: Photographs, 1916-1970Return to Top

This series includes one photo album and loose photographs taken from the early 1910s to the late 1970s. In most cases, no descriptions are written on the back of the photographs. Of particular note is the photo album which contains numerous pictures from the Livingston and Yellowstone area in 1916.

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
9	1	Photo Album
9	2	Loose Photographs, numbers #1-29

5: Topical FilesReturn to Top

This series includes files that do not fit into any specific category within this collection. Documents (partial or complete) that could not be labeled to fit a specific category were placed in the final two folders entitled "Miscellaneous." File 13 contains various pieces of Miles memorabilia. This includes a company calendar, blank checks, and business stationary.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
9	3	City Business License	1962-1963
9	4	Yellowstone Park travel statistics
9	5	Rotary Club information
9	6	Woodmen of the World
9	7	Mining Information
9	8	National Parks Highway Association
9	9	Chamber of Commerce Certificate
9	10	Livingston Tennis Club Meeting Notes (bound volume)
9	11	Miscellaneous (A)
9	12	Miscellaneous (B)
9	13	Display Items
folder-os
1		Oversize Folder--Ancient Arabic Order Certificate

6: Land and Property Documents, 1886-1975Return to Top

Included in this series are deeds, mortgages, land abstracts, titles, building surveys, and leases all pertaining to property owned by the Miles family and connected businesses. Also included in this series are blueprints and maps marking property owned by the Miles Land and Investment Co. With the exception of the Building Survey folder, all documents are filed chronologically.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
10	1-31		1886-1919
11	1-31		1920-1975
11	32	Building Surveys
Folder
1		Oversize Folder--Gallatin/Absaroka National Forest Maps
1		Oversize Folder--Park Hotel Blueprints
1		Oversize Folder--Unknown Store Plan

7: Legal Documents, 1882-1984Return to Top

Series 7 includes land contracts, letters of patent, employment, purchase and sale contracts, wills, bills of sale and any other documents of a legal nature. This series is arranged chronologically, followed with separate folders for wills, letters of patent, and meeting minutes.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
12	1		undated
12	2-35		1882-1928
13	1-18		1929-1984
13	19	Last Will and Testament, Daniel N. Miles
13	20	Last Will and Testament, Arthur W. Miles
13	21	Minutes, Stockholders' Meetings
13	22	Meeting Minutes, The Thompson Co. (Bound)	1902-1911
13	23	Meeting Minutes, A.W. Miles Co. of Clyde Park, MT (Bound)
13	24	Letters of Patent	1892
13	25	Letters of Patent	1893
13	26	Letters of Patent	1895

8: Financial Records, 1887-1982Return to Top

Series 7 includes land contracts, letters of patent, employment, purchase and sale contracts, wills, bills of sale, and any other documents of a legal nature. This series is arranged chronologically, followed with separate folders for wills, letters of patent, and meeting minutes.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
14	1-49	Financial Statements	1892-1948
15	1-12	Financial Statements	1960-1982, undated
15	13	Comparative Financial Statements
15	14	Business Appraisal	1976
15	15	Stock Certificates
15	16-18	Stock Certificates (Bound): A.W. Miles Mercantile Co.
15	19	Stockholders Ledger
15	20	Stockholders List
15	21	Chromium Products Corp., Financial Documents	1942-1945
15	22	Miscellaneous Receipts and Bills
16	1	Federal Tax Documents	1916-1919
16	2	Federal Tax Documents	1922-1926
16	3	Federal Tax Documents	1928-1933
16	4	Federal Tax Documents	1943-1947
16	5	Federal Tax Documents	1975-1983
16	6	Montana State Tax Documents	1895, 1916
16	7	Montana State Tax Documents	1929-1935
16	8	Montana State Tax Documents	1947-1949
16	9	Montana State Tax Documents	1979-1982
16	10	Park County Tax Documents	1896-1902
16	11-12	Park County Tax Documents	1917-1927
16	13	Park County Tax Documents	1974-1981
16	14	Check Stubs (A.W. Miles Lumber & Coal Co.)	1976-1978
16	15	Check Stubs	1975-1977
16	16-22	Bank Deposit Record Books	1976-1977
16	23	First Security Bank Statements	1978
16	24	First National Park Bank Statements	1978-1982
16	25	First National Park Bank Statements	1928-1929
16	26	National Bank of Montana Statements	1912, 1915
16	27	National Bank of Montana Deposit Book	1915
16	28	First State Bank Deposit Book	1913
16	29	Stillwater Valley Bank (Ohio) Deposit Book	1899-1901
17	1	Payroll Book	1904 January -1908 June
17	2	Payroll Book	1965 December-1971 October
17	3	Payroll Book	1975
17	4	Payroll Records	1977
17	5	Payroll Book	1977
17	6	Rent Book	1909-1914
17	7	Rent Book	1914-1917
17	8	Rent Book	1916-1923
18	1	Trial Balance & Rent Book	1922, 1954-1966
18	2	Miles Land & Investment Co. Appraisement	1936
18	3	Miles Land & Investment Co. Appraisement	1939
18	4	Business Journal	1930
18	5	General Store Ledger and Miscellaneous financial records	1948-1971
19	1	Bills Receivable	1887-1889
19	2	Bills Payable	1887-1888
19	3	Bills Payable	1890-1893
19	4	Bills Receivable	1890-1899
19	5	Bills Receivable	1900-1909
19	6	Bills Receivable	1910-1919
19	7	Bills Payable	1915-1918
19	8	Bills Receivable	1920-1929
19	9	Bills Payable	1920-1926
19	10	Bills Receivable	1930-1939
19	11	Bills Payable--Ledger	1916-1937
19	12	Bills Payable--Ledger	1910-1925
19	13	List of Outstanding Notes
19	14	Notes and Bills Receivable--Ledger	1909-1926
19	15	Curtis' Note Collection Register	1904-1913
20	1	Park Ice & Storage--Account Book	1927
20	2	Deposit Record Book	1915-1920
20	3	Personal Expense Book	1915-1916
20	4	Personal Expense Book/Ledger	1916
20	5	Personal Expense Book/Ledger--A.W. Miles	1899-1916
20	6	Personal Expense Book/Ledger	1919
20	7	General Expense Book	1957-1973
21	1	Cash Book	1915
21	2	Cash Book	1916-1917
21	3	Cash Book	1917
21	4	Cash Book	1914-1930
21	5	Cash Book	1929
21	6	Cash Book	1934 January
22	1	Ledger	1916-1917
22	2	Ledger	1922
22	3	Ledger	1914-1918
22	4	Ledger	1919-1921
23	1	Ledger	1966
23	2	Ledger	1967
23	3	Ledger	1968
23	4	Ledger	1969
23	5	Ledger	1970
23	6	Ledger	1971
24	1	Ledger	1972
24	2	Ledger	1973
24	3	Ledger	1974
24	4	Ledger	1975
24	5	Ledger	1976
24	6	Ledger	1977-1982
25	1	Ledger	1924
25	2	Checkbook Record	1923 January-1927 February
25	3	Ledger/Cash Journal	1914-1917
Volume
1		Invoice Record	1910 July-1911 March
2		Insurance Ledger	1907-1968
3		Cash Book	1919-1924
4		Cash Ledger	1917-1918
5		General Ledger	1913
6		Wage and Expense Ledger	1978

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Businessmen-Montana-Livingston
Coal trade-Montana
Lumber trade-Montana
Real estate management-Montana
Real property--Montana

Geographical Names

Yellowstone National Park

Form or Genre Terms

Business records-Montana-Livingston
Family papers-Montana-Livingston

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