Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Washington J. McCormick Papers, 1866-1918
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- McCormick, Washington J., 1835-1889
- Title
- Washington J. McCormick Papers
- Dates
- 1866-1918 (inclusive)18661918
- Quantity
- 4 folders
- Collection Number
- Mss 276 (collection)
- Summary
- Washington J. McCormick was an early resident and attorney in Missoula, Montana. His collection consists mostly of legal documents from his practice but also includes some family papers and ephemera.
- 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 encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Washington J. McCormick, a founder of Missoula, Montana, was born in 1835 in the town of Muncie, Indiana. He attended Asbury (Depauw) University, where he received a law degree in 1856. McCormick decided to move to Utah a year later. He quickly became involved in local politics, and established a small law practice. McCormick moved to the capital of the Montana Territory, Virginia City, in 1863. After serving in the First Territorial Legislature and as the secretary of the 1866 Constitutional Convention, he moved to the Missoula area to settle down and practice law.
McCormick became associated with Judge Worden and "Captain" Christopher Higgins, both of whom are noted for planning and building the city of Missoula. Higgins and McCormick eventually became successful law partners. McCormick married Higgins' sister, Kate, in 1869. Together they had seven children, the most notable being W.J. McCormick, Jr., a prominent Missoula attorney born in 1884.
McCormick is remembered for his active life as a strong advocate for the growth and development of the Missoula area. Besides the time he spent in the legislature, McCormick briefly served as the superintendent of the Flathead Reservation north of Missoula. His influence was also instrumental in the decision to route the Northern Pacific Railroad through Missoula, which helped to provide an avenue for future growth and prosperity for the city. McCormick died in February 1889 due to injuries sustained in a windstorm at Fort Owen.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains documents that span from McCormick's early days in Montana to after his death and the settling of his estate. Many are legal documents from the firm of Higgins and McCormick, which was in business until his death in 1889. Included in the collection are several receipts, letters, and official documents pertaining to McCormick's estate, which was managed by his wife Kate and son, W. J. McCormick, Jr.
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
Washington J. McCormick Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged thematically.
Custodial History
The collection was originally acquired by the University of Montana Museum.
Acquisition Information
Transferred from The University of Montana Museum and George Weisel, 1969. Additional ephemera donated by Thula Weisel in 2023.
Processing Note
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2000, the collection was redescribed. In 2023, additional ephemera was added to the collection.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Folder | ||
| 1 | Legal Papers This folder contains legal documents from McCormick's life. They
range from mining deeds obtained while McCormick lived in Virginia City to the
will of his sister-in-law, Maria Higgens. Many of the documents are from
McCormick's law firm.
|
1866-1883 |
| 2 | Estate Settlement Documents This folder contains the documents pertaining to McCormick's death
in 1889. His wife, Kate, was heavily involved in the settlement of his estate.
Though there are official documents included in the series, it primarily
consists of personal letters and receipts from bills.
|
1889 |
| 3 | Mining deeds and Settlement This folder contains Washington J. McCormick's original mining
deeds from 1866, and a series of correspondence between his son and Montana
Senator W.A. Clark. They discuss the future of the old claims and the
possibility of Kate McCormick selling her husband's mines to other
interests.
|
1917-1918 |
| 4 | Ephemera This folder contains wedding cards for Washington J. McCormick and Kate Higgins, a receipt for flour from Reilly and Corbett, and a receipt for stagecoach tickets from Corrine, Utah, to Deer Lodge, Montana from the Office of Gilmer and Salisbury.
|
circa 1869-1889 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Law firms--Montana--Missoula
- Practice of law--Montana -- Missoula
Personal Names
- McCormick, Washington J., 1835-1889--Estate
Form or Genre Terms
- Estate records--Montana--Missoula
Occupations
- Lawyers--Montana--Missoula
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- McCormick, Kate Higgins
- McCormick, Washington J., 1884-1949
Corporate Names
- Higgins and McCormick (Missoula, Mont.)
Finding aid prepared by Brendon
Cechovic
2000
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
