Archives West Finding Aid

The collection consists of five subgroups: Teddy Blue Abbott, Mary Stuart Abbott, Mary Inez Abbott Swanson Matejcek, Robert and Granville Abbott, and Katie Stuart. The Teddy Blue Abbott Subgroup contains ten series: Incoming Correspondence (1889-1946, undated), Outgoing Correspondence (1888-1939), Miscellaneous Correspondence (1909-1939, undated), Court Papers (1910), Diaries (1887-1890), Financial Records (1907-1963), Legal Documents (1888-1941), Writings (1938, undated), Miscellany (1888-1939, undated), and Clippings (1920-1939, undated). The Incoming Correspondence includes letters from Abbott family members, the Democratic Central Committee for Fergus County, Kenneth M. Ireland, Oscar O. Mueller, D.J. O'Malley and Mary Alicia O'Malley, Margot Pringle, Charles M. Russell, Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle), Mary Stuart before she married Teddy Blue, and Johnnie W. Young. The Outgoing Correspondence includes letters to Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle) and Mary Stuart before she married Teddy Blue. The Miscellaneous Correspondence includes letters between the U.S. General Land Office and the U.S. Land Office in Lewistown, from publisher Farrar and Rinehart to Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle), and from James Fergus to the Lewistown "Argus" concerning the funeral of Mrs. Granville Stuart. The Court Papers consist of the testimony of Stephen E. Suitor in his trial for the murder of Tom Burke and miscellaneous other cases. The Legal Documents include mortgages, warranty deeds, leases, recorded brands, and a homestead certificate. Some plats and land descriptions can be found in the Miscellany series. The Diaries series contains four diaries: 1887-1888, 1888-1889 (includes entries at the end from 1910, 1912, 1938, and a list of his children and when they were born), 1889 (includes a list of wedding expenses), and 1890 (includes an extensive list of expenses, some from 1889). The Miscellany series contains 18 notebooks, which also include diary entries and financial notations. The Financial Records contain check stub books (1907-1923), insurance policies, promissory notes, tax statements, a list of brands, and miscellaneous bills of sale, receipts, and invoices. The Writings series consists of handwritten and typed drafts of We Pointed Them North. A promotional pamphlet for We Pointed Them North can be found in the Miscellany series. Also in the Miscellany series is a campaign statement by E.C. Abbott as a candidate for the state legislature, a legislative bill for the disposition of strays, and precinct lists of registered voters. The Clippings series contains miscellaneous newspaper articles by Abbott; obituaries of Abbott, and of brother-in-law Edward Stuart and son Charles E. Abbott, Jr.; and historical articles.

The Mary Stuart Abbott Subgroup consists of a General Correspondence series (1888-1951, undated), Financial Records series (1899-1948), Legal Documents series (1909-1938), and a Miscellany series (1885-1934). Correspondents include Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle), Abbott and Stuart family members, and D.J. O'Malley. Financial records include tax statements, bank statements, and Land Office receipts. The miscellaneous legal documents include seed liens, crop mortgages, and land patents. The miscellany series contains an autograph book (1885) and invitations (1918-1934).

The Mary Inez Abbott Swanson Matejcek Subgroup consists of a General Correspondence series (1931-1953), Court Papers series, Financial Records series, and a Miscellany series. The correspondents include Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle) and Jack Abbott. The court papers consist of a subpoena (1949) and the financial records contain a tax assessment list (1952). The miscellany series contains a sketching instruction book (1857) and a sketchbook (undated) used by Mary and by James and Granville Stuart.

The Robert and Granville Abbott Subgroup contains two series, Incoming Correspondence, consisting of a postcard (undated) from a friend to Granville Abbott, and Miscellany, consisting of notebooks (1915-1919) of Robert and Granville.

The Katie Stuart Subgroup contains Katie Stuart's autograph book (1881-1887). Katie Stuart was Mary Stuart Abbott's older sister. She died of tuberculosis and the Abbotts postponed their wedding for six months out of respect for her.