Hazel Marsh Papers, 1866-1966

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Marsh, Hazel, 1906-1997
Title
Hazel Marsh Papers
Dates
1866-1966 (inclusive)
Quantity
3.75 linear feet and 3 oversize boxes
Collection Number
Mss 152 (collection)
Summary
Hazel Marsh was a resident of Missoula and Bearmouth, Montana. The collection contains records from the many Lannen family businesses in Bearmouth, Montana.
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

Hazel Chapin Marsh was born in Missoula, Montana, in 1913. Her father abandoned her and her brother with a family friend, Chris Lannen, in 1916. Though the Lannens never legally adopted Hazel and her brother, they accepted the children and treated them as their own. Hazel grew up on the Lannen homestead in Bearmouth, Montana, and remained connected to that land in some fashion throughout her entire life. Hazel was the only child in the Lannen household to receive an education, attending the Sacred Heart Academy in Missoula from 1928 to 1932.

Hazel married a mining engineer, George Marsh, in 1942. The two were often apart from each other. George traveled frequently for his job, and spent three years in Australia during WWII. After his return the couple lived in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington for various periods of time, always as a result of George's work. The two were divorced in the early 1950s, and Hazel moved back to Missoula to care for her dying foster parents and to attend the University of Montana. She eventually transferred to College of Great Falls. After graduation in 1958, Hazel completed a Masters degree in English at Notre Dame University. Upon returning to Missoula she was employed as a librarian at Sacred Heart Academy and rented out Bearmouth property to cattle ranchers. She died in 1993 in Missoula.

Hazel Marsh's foster father, Chris Lannen, was born 1866 on a homestead 13 miles east of Drummond, Montana. His father, John Lannen, was the first to settle the area now known as Bearmouth. According to family stories, John traded his Helena mining claim for a cow and began a ferry service across the Clark Fork River for travelers on the Mullan Road. Chris Lannen grew up with his three brothers on the Bearmouth farm, which soon became a staging point for travel to the mining town of Garnet, Montana. By the time Chris was a young man, the Lannen family owned land on both sides of the Clark Fork, a saloon, sawmill, hotel, and post office. The family also operated a gold exchange in Garnet for some time.

Around 1900, Chris Lannen's brother, Ed, moved away from the farm. His two oldest brothers had died as young men--one from an unknown disease and another from a gunshot wound. Chris decided to stay at Bearmouth and run the family business. He opened a general store near the Milwaukee Railroad station, and it remained open for the next fifty years. He married a woman named Kate from Kansas around 1908. The business slowly died off as the mining operations in and around Garnet, Montana ended. Chris Lannen died in Missoula, Montana in 1951, at the age of 85. In the late 1960s, U.S. Interstate 90 was built through the old Lannen homestead.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains records from the many Lannen businesses in Bearmouth. The post office, saloon, and general store ledger books are in the collection as well as financial records and legal documents from Christopher Lannen. School district records and voter registrations from Bearmouth are also in the collection. The collection also contains photographs and memorabilia.

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

[Name of document or photograph number], Hazel Marsh Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is divided into eleven series:

Series I: Post Office Records, 0.4 linear feet and partial oversize box, 1896-1924

Series II: Saloon Records, 0.4 linear feet and partial oversize box, 1891-1911

Series III: Lannen Brothers General Store, 1.2 linear feet and partial oversize box, 1888-1940

Series IV: General Correspondence, 1 folder, 1897-1966

Series V: Financial Records, 0.4 linear feet, 1866-1953

Series VI: Legal Documents, 0.8 linear feet, 1870-1959

Series VII: School Board Minutes, 0.1 linear feet, 1900-1911

Series VIII: Voter Registers, 1 oversize box, 1894, 1889-1892

Series IX: Lumber Mill and Livestock Ledger, 0.1 lienar feet, 1882-1889

Series X: Photographs, 0.25 linear feet, circa 1900-1942

Series XI: Artifact, 1 item, undated

Custodial History

Approximately one quarter of this collection remained with Hazel Marsh until she donated the materials in 1990. Tim Gordon acquired and donated two additional segments. Records regarding how and where Mr. Gordon acquired these materials could not be found during 1998 reprocessing. The fourth portion of this collection was donated to the Mansfield Library prior to systematic donor record procedures.

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Hazel Marsh, 1990, and Tim Gordon, 1996. An additional portion was donated to the Archives & Special Collections prior to Ms. Marsh's donation. The donor and exact date are unknown.

Processing Note

The actions of the original processor are unknown. In 1998 the donations from Hazel Marsh and Tim Gordon (formerly designated as LC 152, LC 226, and SC 346) were combined into one collection, Mss 152. In 2001, the additional portion from an unknown donor (formerly designated as SC 162) was integrated into this collection due to common origin. Many of the bound volumes in this collection were previously housed separately from the unbound documents. During re-processing all bound volumes were reintegrated into the collection. In 2003, additional materials were put into the collection.

Separated Materials

During original processing, the maps in Series X and the sheet music in Series XI were transferred to the Mansfield Library general collections.

Related Materials

James M. Scott conducted 12 interviews with Hazel Marsh between 1989 and 1990. The interviews are in the Archives & Special Collections oral history collection, OH 244.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Post Office Records , 1896-1924Return to Top

0.4 linear feet and partial oversize box

This series contains the Bearmouth post office records of Christopher Lannen, the town's postmaster. Two volumes of Matter Registered and Dispatched information of packages sent to Bearmouth and those sent from the town are in the series, and a Postmaster's Account and Record Book which consists of quarterly reports, supply numbers, monthly traffic information. A Record of Registered Matter Received and Delivered and Record of Registered Matter in Transit ledger books are also in the series. These ledger books contain the name the package was addressed to and from who it was sent. There are also seven volumes of Window Registration Books. These volumes were records of incoming and outgoing parcels and where the package was sent and by whom.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Matter Registered and Dispatched
1900-1902
1/2
Matter Registered and Dispatched
1902-1904
1/3
Postmaster's Account and Record Book
1896-1899
1/4
Record of Registered Matter Received and Delivered
1906-1907
OS1/1
Record of Registered Matter in Transit
1900-1902
OS1/2
Window Registration Book
1904-1905
OS1/3
Window Registration Book
1905-1906
OS1/4
Window Registration Book
1906
OS1/5
Window Registration Book
1906-0907
OS1/6
Window Registration Book
1907
OS1/7
Window Registration Book
1907-0908
1/5
Window Registration Book
1922-1924

Series II:  Saloon Records , 1891-1911Return to Top

0.4 linear feet and partial oversize box

The series consists of records from the Bearmouth Saloon, which was owned by Christopher Lannen. The volumes in the series include four charge ledgers that recorded the names and amounts that the people owed the saloon. Descriptions of the charge are also in the ledgers. Two Daily Cash ledgers, a monthly cash ledger, and an order book are also in the series.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/6
Charge Ledger
1891-1895
1/7
Charge Ledger
1894-1896
1/8
Charge Ledger
1899-1900
OS1/8
Charge Ledger
1901-1902
2/1
Daily Cash Book
1900-1901
2/2
Daily Cash Book
1904
OS1/9
General Ledger
1895-1896, 1891, 1901
2/3
Monthly Cash Book
1910-1911
2/4
Order Book
1901-1902

Series III:  Lannen Brothers General Store , 1888-1940Return to Top

1.2 linear feet and partial oversize box

The series contains a letter copying book, a credit balance ledger, two daily cashbooks, one daily payable account book, a general merchandise ledger, three order books, and five store charge ledgers from the general mercantile store in Bearmouth. Also included in this series are two letters written to Christopher Lannen regarding the store.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/5
Correspondence
1882-1883
2/6
Credit Balance Ledger
1915-1932
OS2/1
Daily Cash Book
1890-1897
OS2/2
Daily Cash Book
1904-1909
3/1
Daily Payable Account Ledger
1890-1891
3/2
General Merchandise Ledger
1888
3/3
Order Book
1895-1897
OS2/3
Order Book
1901-1902
3/4
Order Book
1930-1931
3/5
Charge Ledger
1873-1879
3/6
Charge Ledger
1895-1901
4/1
Charge Ledger
1897
4/2
Charge Ledger
1898
4/3
Charge Ledger
1910-1940
5/8
Miscellaneous Charge Ledger
1917-1929
5/9
Miscellaneous Charge Ledger
1932
4/4
Letter Copying Book
1909-1910

Series IV:  General Correspondence , 1897-1966Return to Top

1 folder

The series contains correspondence that deal with financial dealings of John and Christopher Lannen and Hazel Marsh. Marsh was executor of the Lannen Brothers Estate that included both Christopher and John Lannen. The majority of the correspondence is from attorneys concerning the Lannen estate.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
5/1
General Correspondence
1882-1966

Series V:  Financial Records , 1866-1953Return to Top

0.2 linear feet

The series consists of Christopher Lannen's banking statements and canceled checks, land, merchandise, and tax receipts from the Lannen mines and claims, and a general ledger of the Shamrock mine near Bearmouth. The ledger records the returns from the mine. Also in the series are stock certificates from Edward Lannen, Christopher's brother, John Stuart, a friend of the Lannens, and Christopher Lannen. They owned stock in various companies, including an insurance company and the Philipsburg State Bank. A ledger from another Lannen company, the Warm Springs Creek Ranch, is also in the series. The ledger is a daily receivable account of the ranch.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
5/2
Banking Checks and Book
1898-1902
5/3
Deposit bag
undated
5/4
Land, Merchandise, and Tax Receipts
1888-1953
5/5
Shamrock Mine, General Ledger
1898
5/6
Stock Certificates
1913, 1917, 1926, 1931
5/7
Warm Springs Creek Ranch
1866-1867

Series VI:  Legal Documents , 1870-1959Return to Top

0.8 linear feet

The series contains legal documents of Christopher Lannen and the claims that he acquired in Granite County. The abstracts of the placer mining claims and the township plots contain all the legal papers associated with the claims. The papers include disputes that may have happened, ownership rights, and transfer of the claim. Also in the series are land deeds that Lannen acquired from other people in the area. The power of attorney document that Christopher Lannen gave to Hazel Marsh over his estate is also included in the series.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
6/1
Abstract - Harvey Creek Placer Mining Claim
1891-1932
6/2
Abstract - Mouth of Bear Placer Mining Claim
1878-1939
6/3
Abstract - Sections in Township Ten, M.P.M. Granite County
1882-1921
6/4
Abstract - Sections in Township Ten, M.P.M. Granite County
1917-1921
6/5
Abstract - Township Eleven North, Range Fourteen West, M.P.M. Granite County
1887-1959
6/6
Abstract - Township Eleven North, Range Fourteen West, M.P.M. Granite County
1909-1932
7/1
Abstract - Township Eleven North, Range Fourteen West, M.P.M. Granite County
1919-1952
7/2
Deeds, Claims, and Power of Attorney papers
1920-1967
7/3
Homestead Deeds and Claims
1870-1919
7/4
Ownership of Elfers Placer Mining Claim
1928

Series VII:  School Board Minutes , 1900-1911Return to Top

0.1 linear feet

The minutes contain the names of the Bearmouth area school district board members, general school business, and monies spent.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
7/5
School Board Minutes
1900-1911

Series VIII:  Voter Registers , 1894, 1889-1892Return to Top

1 oversize box

The series contains voter registers for election district number 12, Deer Lodge County, election precinct number 16, Bearmouth, and school district number 12, Granite County. The registers contain the name of elector, age, place of birth, name of precinct, residence name, citizen of United States, date naturalized if applicable, and remarks. The registers are alphabetical.

The series is arranged alphabetically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
OS3/1
Official Register, School District Number 12, Granite County
1912
OS3/2
Official Register, School District Number 12, Granite County
1912
OS3/3
Election District number 12, Deer Lodge County
1889-1892
OS3/4
Official Register, Election Precinct number 16, Bearmouth, October
1884
OS3/5
Official Register, Election Precinct number 16, Bearmouth, November
1884

Series IX:  Lumber Mill and Livestock Ledger , 1882-1889Return to Top

0.1 linear feet

The series consists of John Lannen's lumber and livestock ledger book. The daily ledger contains the purchaser's name, products purchased, either lumber or beef, and amount.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
7/6
Ledger
1882-1889

Series X:  Photographs , ca. 1900-1942Return to Top

0.25 linear feet

The photographs in the series were taken in and around Bearmouth, Montana. Several photographs exhibit handwritten identifications inscribed onto the prints prior to archival donation. Several of the prints document the physical and cultural landscape of Bearmouth during the late stages of intense mining activity and attendant settlement. This collection also includes film negatives for Photos 152(X):12 through 152(X):24.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
8/1
152(X):1: Mother and her chickens
undated
8/1
152(X):2: Uncle John and Dad
undated
8/1
152(X):3: Uncle John, Dad, Mother, and Billy Kirby
1942
8/1
152(X):4: Uncle John and Mother
1942
8/1
152(X):5: Uncle John, Dad, and Billy
August 1942
8/1
152(X):6: Uncle John, Billy, and Katherine
1942
8/2
152(X):7: Billie on old pony, Button. Eddie on new pony
undated
8/2
152(X):8: Uncle Chris and Billy Kirby
1942
8/2
152(X):9: Billie going to school
undated
8/2
152(X):10: Billie Jo on shock of wheat
undated
8/2
152(X):11: Eddie standing on ground, Billie on wagon, Dad on truck
undated
8/3
152(X):12: Northern Pacific and Milwaukee Railroad lines through Bearmouth
ca. 1900
8/4
152(X):13: Bearmouth, Montana
ca. 1900
8/5
152(X):14: Female on sidewalk in front of General Merchandise Store and Post Office
ca. 1900
8/6
152(X):15: Hill in Bearmouth and the Clark Fork River
ca. 1900
8/7
152(X):16: Holdup Cut near Bearmouth
undated
8/8
152(X):17: Ground level view of Bearmouth
1900
8/9
152(X):18: Train Wreck near Bearmouth
ca. 1900
8/10
152(X):19: Train Wreck near Bearmouth
ca. 1900
8/11
152(X):20: People in front of home in Bearmouth
ca. 1900
8/12
152(X):21: View of Bearmouth
ca. 1900
8/13
152(X):22: Foot Bridge which crossed Clark Fork River, Bearmouth
ca. 1900
8/14
152(X):23: House in Bearmouth
ca. 1900
8/15
152(X):24: People in front of home in Bearmouth
ca. 1900

Series XI:  Artifact, undatedReturn to Top

1 item

This series consists of one mounted piece of gray, worn, slat wood with the words "Lannen, Bearmouth, Mont" stenciled in black.

Description Dates
152:1: "Lannen, Bearmouth, Mont" sign, mounted and framed
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Bars (Drinking establishments)--Montana--Bearmouth
  • General stores--Montana--Bearmouth
  • Gold mines and mining--Montana--Granite County
  • Mines and mineral resources--Montana--Granite County
  • Mining claims--Montana
  • Postal service--Montana--Bearmouth
  • Ranches--Montana
  • Sawmills--Montana--Bearmouth
  • School districts--Montana--Bearmouth
  • Schools--Montana--Bearmouth
  • Silver mines and mining--Montana--Granite County

Geographical Names

  • Bearmouth (Mont.)
  • Shamrock Mine (Granite County, Mont.)
  • Warm Springs Creek Ranch (Mont.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Artifacts
  • Business records--Montana--Bearmouth
  • Estate records--Montana--Granite County
  • Photographs
  • Voting registers--Montana--Bearmouth

Occupations

  • Businessmen--Montana--Bearmouth
  • Executors and administrators--Montana--Granite County
  • Ranchers--Montana

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Lannen, Christopher
    • Lannen, John
    Corporate Names
    • Lannen Bros. General Store (Bearmouth, Mont.)
    • Bearmouth Post Office (Bearmouth, Mont.)
    • Bearmouth Saloon (Bearmouth, Mont.)
    Family Names
    • Lannen family