George R. Shepard Papers

George R. Shepard Papers, 1921-1944

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Shepard, George R., 1895-1944
Title: George R. Shepard Papers
Dates: 1921-1944 (inclusive)
19211944
Quantity: 10.25 linear feet, (19 archival boxes)
Collection Number: Mss 003
Summary: George R. Shepard was the attorney for the Missoula Mercantile in Missoula, Montana. This collection contains biographical materials, correspondence files, financial records, and legal documents relating to George Shepard and his professional endeavors.
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

George R. Shepard was born on October 25, 1895, in Concordia, Kansas. His father was a Baptist minister and served parishes in Salina and Iola, Kansas and Billings, Montana, where they moved in 1913.

Shepard graduated from Billings High School in 1914, taught in Yellowstone County, and was principal of Custer High School. While teaching he homesteaded a claim six miles north of Custer, Montana. In 1917, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until 1919. He entered the University of Montana--Missoula that same year and graduated in 1921 with A.B. and LL.B degrees. He taught school for another year, then became the general attorney for the Missoula Mercantile Company and operated a general law practice.

Shepard was a Republican and served in the 1928 state legislature, where he focused on child labor and state parks. He was a member of the Business Standards Committee of Montana, the Kiwanis Club, and the Baptist Church.

He married Gertrude Orr of Missoula in 1921. They had seven children: Helen, Dorothy, George Jr., Elizabeth, Patricia, John, and Carol. Shepard was struck by a drunk driver in Three Forks, Montana, and died in Bozeman, Montana, on September 18, 1944. Gertrude Shepard died on May 17, 1996, in Bremerton, Washington.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains biographical materials, correspondence files, financial records, and legal documents relating to George Shepard and his professional endeavors. Collection materials are predominantly correspondence files from 1920s and detail his interactions with many of Montana's most prominent business leaders, elected officials, government administrators, and small community citizens. On behalf of his clients, Shepard dealt with a great deal of property assessments, ownership histories, and boundary definitions. The correspondence files in this collection contain valuable information regarding property histories and narrative descriptions, particularly Missoula Mercantile Company holdings.

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], George R. Shepard Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series:

Series I: Biographical, 1944, 1 folder

Series II: Correspondence, 1921-1944, 10.25 linear feet

Series III: Financial and Legal, 1926-1930, 2 folders

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Olive Haugen, 1965.

Processing Note

The papers were first arranged and described around 1968. In 2004, the collection was re-described.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: Biographical, 1944Return to Top

1 folder

This series contains one newspaper clipping regarding George Shepard's death.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1		1944

Series II: Correspondence, 1921-1944Return to Top

10.25 linear feet

This series contains George Shepard's correspondence files. These materials primarily concern his legal practice; however, some personal correspondence is also present. Correspondence files are primarily from 1920s and detail Shepard's interactions with many of Montana's most prominent business leaders, elected officials, government administrators, and small community citizens. On behalf of his clients, Shepard dealt with a great deal of property assessments, ownership histories, and boundary definitions. The correspondence files in this collection contain valuable information regarding property histories and narrative descriptions, particularly Missoula Mercantile Company holdings.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/2	Dwight Mercantile	1921-1922
1/3	Gerlach, C.W.	1921-1922
1/4	Dwight Mercantile	1923
1/5	Gerlach, C.W.	1923
1/6	Beckwith Mercantile	1924
1/7	University of Montana, Beta Theta Pi	1924
1/8	General	1924
1/9	University of Montana, Missoula	1925
1/10	University of Montana, Beta Theta Pi	1925
1/11	General	1925
1/12	A	1926
1/13	Bauer, L. J.	1926
1/14	Beckwith Mercantile	1926
1/15	B	1926
2/1	B	1926
2/2	C	1926
2/3	C	1926
2/4	Deer Lodge County	1926
2/5	D	1926
2/6	E	1926
2/7	F	1926
2/8	Granite County	1926
3/1	G	1926
3/2	H	1926
3/3	H	1926
3/4	I	1926
3/5	J	1926
3/6	K	1926
3/7	Lake County, Assessor	1926
3/8	Lake County, Clerk and Recorder	1926
3/9	Lake County, Clerk of District Court	1926
3/10	Lake County, Sheriff	1926
3/11	Lake County, Treasurer	1926
3/12	L	1926
4/1	Mineral County, Clerk and Recorder	1926
4/2	Mineral County, Clerk of District Court	1926
4/3	Mineral County, Sheriff	1926
4/4	Missoula County, Assessor	1926
4/5	Missoula County, Clerk and Recorder	1926
4/6	Missoula County, Clerk of District Court	1926
4/7	Missoula County, Sheriff	1926
4/8	Missoula County, Treasurer	1926
4/9	M	1926
4/10	M	1926
4/11	M	1926
4/12	N	1926
4/13	O	1926
4/14	Powell County, Clerk and Recorder	1926
4/15	Powell County, Clerk of District Court	1926
4/16	Powell County, Sheriff	1926
4/17	Powell County, Treasurer	1926
4/18	P	1926
4/19	Ravalli County, Assessor	1926
4/20	Ravalli County, Clerk and Recorder	1926
4/21	Ravalli County, Clerk of District Court	1926
4/22	Ravalli County, Sheriff	1926
4/23	Ravalli County, Treasurer	1926
5/1	R	1926
5/2	Sanders County, Assessor	1926
5/3	Sanders County, Clerk and Recorder	1926
5/4	Sanders County, Clerk of District Court	1926
5/5	Sanders County, Sheriff	1926
5/6	Sanders County, Treasurer	1926
5/7	Silverbow County	1926
5/8	Speer, J. B.	1926
5/9	S	1926
5/10	S	1926
5/11	T	1926
5/12	United States, Federal Departments	1926
5/13	University of Montana, Missoula	1926
5/14	U	1926
5/15	V	1926
5/16	W	1926
5/17	Y	1926
6/1	A	1927
6/2	Badgely, E. Kirk	1927
6/3	Balotte, John	1927
6/4	Bank Failures	1927
6/5	Bauer, L. J.	1927
6/6	Beaverhead County	1927
6/7	Beckwith Mercantile, Sheriff	1927
6/8	Benton County, Clerk of Superior Court	1927
6/9	B	1927
6/10	B	1927
6/11	B	1927
6/12	C	1927
6/13	Daniels County, County Treasurer	1927
6/14	Deer Lodge County, Clerk of the Court	1927
6/15	D	1927
7/1	E	1927
7/2	Fergus County, County Assessor	1927
7/3	Flathead County, County Assessor, Sheriff	1927
7/4	F	1927
7/5	Gallatin County, Treasurer	1927
7/6	Granite County, County Assessor	1927
7/7	G	1927
7/8	H 1	1927
7/9	H 2	1927
7/10	I	1927
7/11	Jefferson County, County Assessor	1927
7/12	J	1927
7/13	K	1927
7/14	Lake County	1927
8/1	Lewis and Clark County, Clerk of the District Court, Sheriff	1927
8/2	L	1927
8/3	Madison County, Assessor	1927
8/4	Mineral County, Assessor	1927
8/5	Missoula County	1927
8/6	Montana, State Departments	1927
8/7	M 1	1927
8/8	M 2	1927
8/9	N	1927
8/10	O	1927
8/11	Powell County, County Assessor	1927
8/12	T. C. Power and Brother	1927
8/13	P	1927
9/1	Q	1927
9/2	Ravalli County, County Assessor	1927
9/3	R	1927
9/4	Sanders County, County Assessor	1927
9/5	Schiffman, J. C.	1927
9/6	Spaulding, C. A.	1927
9/7	Speer, J. B.	1927
9/8	Swan, J. M.	1927
9/9	Swee, John P.	1927
9/10	S	1927
9/11	Toole County. Clerk of the Court	1927
9/12	T	1927
9/13	University of Montana, Missoula	1927
9/14	University of Montana and Fraternity, Missoula	1927
10/1	University of Montana, Missoula, Homecoming	1927
10/2	United States, Federal Departments	1927
10/3	U	1927
10/4	Valley County, Sheriff	1927
10/5	V	1927
10/6	W	1927
10/7	Yellowstone County, Sheriff	1927
10/8	Z	1927
10/9	Agricultural and Livestock Credit Corporation	1928
10/10	Anderson, J. A.	1928
10/11	A	1928
10/12	Balette, John	1928
10/13	Bauer, L. J.	1928
10/14	Beckwith Mercantile	1928
10/15	B	1928
11/1	B	1928
11/2	C	1926
11/3	C	1928
11/4	Dixon, Joseph M.	1928
11/5	D	1928
11/6	Erickson, J. E.	1928
11/7	Evans, John M.	1928
11/8	E	1928
11/9	Federal Land Bank	1928
11/10	Flathead County	1928
11/11	F	1928
11/12	Granite County	1928
11/13	G	1928
12/1	Hazelbaker, Frank A.	1928
12/2	H	1928
12/3	I	1928
12/4	Judson, George A.	1928
12/5	J	1928
12/6	Kiwanis Club	1928
12/7	Kiwanis Club	1928
12/8	K	1928
12/9	Lake County	1928
12/10	Lewis and Clark County	1928
12/11	Liberty County	1928
12/12	L	1928
12/13	Madison County	1928
12/14	Mineral County	1928
12/15	Missoula County	1928
13/1	Montana, State Departments	1928
13/2	Musselshell County	1928
13/3	M	1928
13/4	M	1928
13/5	N	1928
13/6	O	1928
13/7	Powell County	1928
13/8	T. C. Power and Brother	1928
13/9	P	1928
13/10	Q	1928
13/11	Rankin, Wellington	1928
13/12	Ravalli County	1928
13/13	R	1928
13/14	Sanders County	1928
13/15	Schiffman, J. M.	1928
13/16	Silverbow County	1928
13/17	Slocum, John	1928
13/18	Spaulding, C. A.	1928
13/19	Speer, J. B.	1928
13/20	Swan, J. M.	1928
13/21	Swee, John P.	1928
14/1	S	1928
14/2	S	1928
14/3	T	1928
14/4	United States, Federal Departments	1928
14/5	United Transit Company	1928
14/6	University of Montana, Normal School, Dillion	1928
14/7	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/8	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/9	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/10	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/11	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/12	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/13	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/14	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/15	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/16	University of Montana, Missoula	1928
14/17	U	1928
14/18	Vermont Loan and Trust Company	1928
14/19	V	1928
14/20	Wheeler, Burton K.	1928
15/1	W	1928
15/2	Yellowstone County	1928
15/3	Y	1928
15/4	Z	1928
15/5	A	1929
15/6	Badgley, E. Kirk	1929
15/7	Balotte, John	1929
15/8	Bauer, L. J.	1929
15/9	Beckwith Mercantile	1929
15/10	Behrens, Otto	1929
15/11	Bonner Lumber Company	1929
15/12	Briggs, Mrs. Annie	1929
15/13	Buzzard, R. A.	1929
15/14	B	1929
15/15	B	1929
15/16	Clapp, C. H.	1929
15/17	C	1929
15/18	C	1929
15/19	Deer Lodge County	1929
15/20	Demers Mercantile	1929
15/21	Dixon, Joseph M.	1929
15/22	Dore, Harry	1929
16/1	D	1929
16/2	Evans, John M.	1929
16/3	E	1929
16/4	Federal Land Bank	1929
16/5	Flathead County	1929
16/6	F	1929
16/7	Granite County	1929
16/8	G	1929
16/9	Hammond, Andrew B.	1929
16/10	H	1929
16/11	H	1929
16/12	I	1929
16/13	J	1929
16/14	K	1929
16/15	Lake County	1929
17/1	L	1929
17/2	Meagher County	1929
17/3	Mineral County	1929
17/4	Missoula County	1929
17/5	Moise Mercantile	1929
17/6	Montana, State Departments	1929
17/7	M	1929
17/8	M	1929
17/9	Northern Pacific Railroad	1929
17/10	N	1929
17/11	Old National Bank	1929
17/12	O	1929
17/13	Powell County	1929
17/14	T. C. Power and Brother	1929
17/15	P	1929
17/16	Ravalli County	1929
18/1	Rosenberger, C. R.	1929
18/2	R	1929
18/3	Sanders County	1929
18/4	Slocum, John A.	1929
18/5	Speer, J. B.	1929
18/6	Stewart, William, M.	1929
18/7	Swan, J. M.	1929
18/8	Swee, John P.	1929
18/9	S	1929
18/10	S	1929
18/11	T	1929
18/12	United States, Federal Departments	1929
18/13	University of Montana, Missoula	1929
18/14	U	1929
18/15	Van Wart, Harry T.	1929
18/16	Vermont Loan and Trust Company	1929
18/17	V	1929
18/18	W	1929
18/19	W	1929
18/20	Yellowstone County	1929
18/21	Y	1929
19/1	General	1930
19/2	Balotte, John	1931
19/3	Simmons, George Finlay	1935
19/4	General	1942
19/5	General	1943
19/6	Ford, Sam C.	1944
19/7	Unidentified Correspondents	1928-1944

Series III: Financial and Legal, 1926-1930Return to Top

2 folders

This series contains personal financial and legal records related to George Shepard's endeavors.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
19/8	Financial Records	1927-1930
19/9	Legal Documents	1926-1928

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Practice of law--Montana
Property--Montana

Corporate Names

Missoula Mercantile Company
University of Montana-Missoula--Alumni and alumnae

Occupations

Lawyers--Montana--Missoula

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents