Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Homer E. Geis papers, 1885-1973 (bulk 1915-1945)
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Geis, Homer E. (Homer Edgar) 1890-1973
- Title
- Homer E. Geis papers
- Dates
- 1885-1973 (bulk 1915-1945) (inclusive)18851973
- Quantity
- 1.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 868
- Summary
- Homer Geis was a lawyer and active community member in Winnett, Montana who eventually relocated to Los Angeles, California. This collection includes numerous materials related to his legal practices in Winnett and in California throughout the early 1900s as well as additional materials from his military service during World War I and his membership in various civic organizations.
- 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.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Homer Edgar Geis was born on January 26, 1890 in Frontier County, Nebraska. He was one of six sons born to John and Kate Geis. He graduated from Moorefield High School in Moorefield, Nebraska in 1906 and attended Lincoln Business College in Lincoln, Nebraska for one year. Geis then went on to the National University School of Law in Washington D.C. and eventually Georgetown University where he earned his LLB, LLM, and MPL degrees. He was admitted to the bar in Washington D.C. in 1911. He settled in Montana after finishing at Georgetown and in 1913 he was admitted to the State Bar of Montana and began practicing law in Lewistown. He moved to Winnett, Montana in 1914 and began practicing law there. He bought investment properties and in 1920 entered into oil speculation in locales across Montana. Geis also owned the Winnett Times newspaper from 1917 to 1919.
In 1918, Geis joined the United States Naval Reserve in Annapolis, Maryland as the United States entered World War I. After sustaining a knee injury he returned to Winnett, where he continued to serve as a Naval Reserve officer. After World War I, Geis joined several fraternal organizations including the American Legion and the Montana Grande Voiture of La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux. He also associated himself with the YMCA and the Royal Arch Masons.
Homer Geis married Gladys Geiger on June 12, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois. The couple would have two daughters, Mary and Barbara. In 1923, he joined his law office with Ray Wiedman before moving to Los Angeles, California where he continued practicing law.
In 1942, after the United States entered World War II, Gies attempted to enlist into military service but his petition was denied due to his age and the long span of time not spent in active duty.
Homer Geis died on December 25, 1973 in Los Angeles, California.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Homer Geis papers provide insight into the professional and economic life of a small town Montana lawyer. The bulk of this collection consists of correspondence and documents from Geis’s law practice. These documents trace his movement from Lewistown, Montana to Winnett, Montana to Los Angeles, California. Many of the documents consist of one-time dealings with clients, although he did maintain a professional relationship with Walter Winnett. Materials also include records of land and oil speculating and documents relating to his ownership of the Winnett Times for two years. There are also records a court case against Geis brought by the Monarch Lumber Company in 1927.
After World War I, correspondence shows that he joined the American Legion. He also joined La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux (“The Society of 40 Men and 8 Horses”) and may have been a founding member of the local Voiture (“Boxcar”) of which he was a part. Although his membership in the society tapered off when he moved to California, in 1973 he sent letters to the Montana Grande Voiture seeking to reinstate his membership in the Butte Voiture. Some professional materials are written in shorthand.
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 status is unknown.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Homer Geis 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 three series:
Series I: Law Practice, 0.8 linear feet, 1908-1967
Series II: Naval Reserve, 0.2 linear feet, 1911-1945
Series III: Personal, 0.5 linear feet, 1885-1973
Series IV: Photographs and Postcards, 2 folders, 1916-1950s
Custodial History
The materials were in the possession of their creator until his death when they passed to his oldest daughter, Mary Louise Geis Downer, and her husband Daniel Downer.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Daniel Downer in 1996.
Future Additions
There are no expected additions to this collection.
Processing Note
The collection required extensive organization as many of the documents had only been grouped according to the document type, such as letters or court cases, and many other documents were not in any discernable order. Series and folders were created according to common themes and logical groupings following important people and activities in Geis’s life. Original groups created according to document type were maintained whenever possible, as was the original order of the documents.
Many documents are fragile and were placed in folders to maintain their physical integrity. Rusty paperclips and staples were removed. During processing, duplicate materials, envelopes, miscellaneous newspaper clippings, receipts, and checks received during everyday activities were removed from the collection.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Law Practice, 1908-1964Return to Top
This series contains materials relating to Homer Geis's legal practice and his education as a lawyer. It includes correspondence with clients, various legal documents related to cases he worked, one of his assignments from law school, his application and supporting materials for admittance to the California Bar Association, and correspondence with the Montana Bar Association.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1\1 | Amanda Siddons Correspondence |
1917-1918 |
| 1\2 | Bar Association |
1917-1964 |
| 1\3 | Bohn v. Miller |
1920-1921 |
| 1\4 | First Methodist Church |
1915 |
| 1\5 | Flatwillow Cemetery |
1915-1917 |
| 1\6 | Land-Related Law Documents |
1914-1920 |
| 1\7 | Land-Related Law Documents |
1914-1923 |
| 1\8 | Law School |
Undated |
| 1\9 | Court Cases |
1914-1917 |
| 1\10 | Court Cases |
1914-1918 |
| 1\11 | Court Cases |
1915-1918 |
| 1\12 | Court Cases |
1916-1918 |
| 1\13 | Legal Correspondence |
1913-1933 |
| 1\14 | Legal Documents |
1908-1926 |
| 1\15 | Paul Chrisman Correspondence |
1916-1918 |
| 2\1 | Politics |
1914-1922 |
| 2\2 | Post Office |
1914-1921 |
| 2\3 | Ray Wiedman |
1921-1925 |
| 2\4 | School District |
1915-1920 |
| 2\5 | Transportation Companies |
1915-1921 |
| 2\6 | Walter Winnett |
1916-1924 |
| 2\7 | Woodford Distilling Company |
1913-1915 |
| 2\8 | Young v. Conrad |
1924-1925 |
Series II: Naval Reserve, 1911-1945Return to Top
This series contains materials relating to Homer Geis's time in the United States Naval Reserve during World War I and his continued inactive service.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2\9 | General Correspondence |
1911-1943 |
| 2\10 | Official Correspondence |
1918-1944 |
| 2\11 | Official Documents |
1918-1945 |
Series III: Personal, 1885-1965Return to Top
This series contains materials relating to Homer Geis's personal life and investments, it includes correspondence, ledgers, and certificates. Also included are materials related to his involvement in various civic and fraternal organizations.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2\12 | Bank Investments |
1923-1925 |
| 2\13 | Correspondence |
1915-1973 |
| 2\14 | Civic Engagements |
1916-1921 |
| 3\1 | Financial |
1915-1937 |
| 3\2 | Fraternal Organizations |
1917-1973 |
| 3\3 | Land Investments |
1915-1965 |
| 3\4 | Land Investments |
1916-1927 |
| 3\5 | Ledgers |
1899-1916 |
| OS 4 | Maps Fergus County - Deeded Land for Sale [multiple maps], undated; Fergus County and its proposed dismemberment, 1921; Clason's Guide Map of Montana, 1920; Bonner's Map of the Central Montana Oil Fields, 1920
|
1920s |
| 3\6 | Miscellaneous |
1885-1965 |
| 3\7 | Monarch Lumber Company v. Geis |
1927 |
| 3\8 | Oil Investments |
1920-1935 |
| 3\9 | Personal Correspondence |
1912-1927 |
| 3\10 | Stockholding |
1917 |
| 3\11 | Winnett Times |
1917-1919 |
Series IV: Photographs and Postcards, 1916-1950sReturn to Top
This series contains photographs of Homer Geis and a series of postcards from Winnett, Montana.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3\12 | Photographs and Postcards |
1916-1950s |
| OS 5 | Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota Veterans, Back from France on S.S. "Mauretania" |
April 7, 1919 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Practice of law--California--Los Angeles
- Practice of law--Montana--Lewistown
- Practice of law--Montana--Winnett
Personal Names
- Geis, Homer E. (Homer Edgar) 1890-1973--Archives
- Winnett, Walter
Corporate Names
- American Legion
- Monarch Lumber Company
- Société des quarante hommes et huit chevaux. Butte voiture.
- Société des quarante hommes et huit chevaux. Montana grande voiture.
Titles within the Collection
- Winnett Times
Finding aid prepared by James Vaughn
2015
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
