Harry W. Fritz Papers, 1972-2002

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Fritz, Harry W., 1937-
Title
Harry W. Fritz Papers
Dates
1972-2002 (inclusive)
Quantity
71.0 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 514
Summary
Harry Fritz was a professor of American history at the University of Montana in Missoula for forty years. He also served several terms in the Montana State Legislature in the 1980s and 1990s. This collection contains office files from Fritz's career at the university from the 1960s to 2000s as well as materials from his time as a state legislator including correspondence with constituents, campaign materials, and video of legislative events.
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. These materials are unprocessed and require approval for access, please contact Archives and Special Collections for additional information.

Languages
English.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Harry William Fritz was born in Maryland on September 15, 1937. He was educated in Missoula, Montana and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1956. Fritz then attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, earning his undergraduate degree in chemistry. He went on to receive his Master's Degree in history from the University of Montana at Missoula and a Ph.D. in American history from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1967, Fritz returned to the University of Montana and Missoula to begin a career as a professor in the Department of History. He specialized in the early nationalist period of American history, military history, and the American Civil War. Dr. Fritz taught many of the large American history survey courses and served as chair of the department several times. In 1981, he took over the course on Montana history following the death of his colleague K. Ross Toole. Fritz found his niche as a western historian and authored two books on Montana history, Montana: Land of Contrast and The Lewis and Clark Expedition, as well as editing several western history anthologies.

Fritz was elected to serve in the Montana Legislature as a state representative for two terms, from 1985 to 1989, and as a state senator for one term, from 1991 to 1995. In 2003, he won the Governor’s Humanities Award and in 2004 was chosen by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education as their Montana Professor of the Year. He retired from full-time teaching in 2007 and is currently a Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Montana.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains materials generated by Harry Fritz's time in the Montana Legislature as both a state representative and a state senator. This includes constituent correspondence, legislative information, notes, clippings, reports, news releases, campaign materials, legislative journals, and election materials from the 1980s and 1990s. The collection also includes office files from Fritz's forty year career with the Department of History at the University of Montana including lecture materials, research notes, articles, speaking engagement notes, calendars, Montana centennial materials, and manuscript reviews. The collection also includes several VHS tapes of presentations and events associated with the Montana State Legislature.

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 was not transferred to the University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

Harry W. Fritz Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is unprocessed and retains its original order, files, and titles (when present). Inventories for some of the 17 accessions for the collection are available at the repository.

Custodial History

Materials were in the possession of their creator until their transfer to Archives and Special Collections in 17 different accessions.

Future Additions

There are no expected additions to this collection.

Processing Note

This collection was received as many different accessions with no rearrangement. Original titles and folders have been maintained.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Legislators--Montana

Personal Names

  • Fritz, Harry W., 1937--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Montana. Legislative Assembly. House of Representatives
  • United States. Congress. Senate

Geographical Names

  • Montana--Politics and government--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • Personal papers

Occupations

  • Legislators--Montana

Finding aid prepared by Kellyn Younggren
2016

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