McDonald Family collection

McDonald Family collection, 1885-1957

Overview of the Collection

Creator: McDonald Family
Title: McDonald Family collection
Dates: 1885-1957 (inclusive)
18851957
Quantity: 10 documents and 8 photographs
Collection Number: Mss 814
Summary: This collection consists of documents and photographs by and about the McDonald family of Ravalli, 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

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Angus McDonald was an agent of the Hudson Bay Trading Company and established Fort Connen (Connah) near Ravalli, Montana. McDonald and his wife, Catherine, raised 12 children including Angus Pierre who was the son of a Okanogan woman in Canada but raised as one of their own from the age of 14. Another son, Duncan McDonald, is well known for his knowledge of Native American history and mythology. All of the McDonald children were raised with a strong emphasis on education.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection includes documents and notes on the history of the McDonald family starting with Angus McDonald and the Hudson Bay Company. Also included are transcripts of documents about the history of the fur trade in the Northwest, family history, anecdotes, a list of the children's names, and cemetery plot diagrams. Also included is a strongly worded letter from Angus P. McDonald to the Secretary of the Interior regarding his citizenship, and a publication of "An Indian Girl's Story of a Trading Expedition to the Southwest about 1841." The photographs are a mix of copy prints, original snapshots, and an original cartes de visite of Catherine McDonald.

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 Univerisity of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], McDonald Family Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two folders.

Custodial History

The custodial history of this collection is unknown.

Acquisition Information

The date of acquisition of this collection by the Archives is unknown.

Processing Note

Photographs and documents are housed in separate folders.

Related Materials

Another collection in this repository, Mss 172, contains the original Angus Pierre McDonald letter to the Secretary of the Interior, 1914 and a transcript.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Folder
1		McDonald family documents, history, anecdotes. Copy of article entitled "An Indian Girl's Story of a Trading Expedition to the Southwest about 1841," edited by Winona Adams.	1885-1931
	photo_number
2	814.001	Hudson's Bay Company outpost at Fort Colville, Stevens County, Washington, photograph	May 1888
2	814.002	Catherine McDonald, 1827-1902. Cartes de visite by M. B. Karlow.	undated
2	814.003	Angus McDonald, 1816-1889, photograph	undated
2	814.004	Duncan McDonald's house in Ravalli, Montana, photograph	undated
2	814.005	Duncan McDonald's house and orchard in Ravalli, Montana, photograph	undated
2	814.006	Duncan McDonald and John A. Chisholm at the grave of Eleanor McDonald-Hiltson-Grant at Saint Ignatius, Montana.	April 30, 1925
2	814.007	Close-up of Eleanor McDonald-Hilston-Grant's headstone at the cemetery in Saint Ignatius, Montana.	April 30, 1925
2	814.008	John A. Chisholm of Cornwall, Ontario, at the grave stone of Thomas A. McDonald at the cemetery in Kettle Falls, Washington.	October 6, 1926

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Fur trade--Northwest, Pacific--History
Indians of North America--West (U.S.)--Commerce
Salish Indians--Biography

Personal Names

McDonald, Angus P. (Angus Pierre)--Correspondence
McDonald, Angus, 1816-1889
McDonald, Catherine, 1815-1902
McDonald, Duncan, 1847-1937

Corporate Names

United States. Dept. of the Interior
Hudson's Bay Company

Family Names

McDonald family--Archives

Geographical Names

West (U.S.)--Description and travel

Form or Genre Terms

Family Papers
Photographs

Archives West Finding Aid

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