Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Louis "Montana Lou" Grill Papers, 1876-1969
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Grill, Louis, "Montana Lou," 1877-1953
- Title
- Louis "Montana Lou" Grill Papers
- Dates
- 1876-1969 (inclusive)18761969
- Quantity
- 3.25 linear feet and 1 oversize folder
- Collection Number
- Mss 150 (collection)
- Summary
- "Montana Lou" Grill was a Montana journalist. His collection contains general correspondence, writings, and photographs.
- 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
Louis "Montana Lou" F. Grill was born on March 13, 1877, in Fort Clinton, Ohio. He graduated form Valparaiso University in Indiana with a commercial major, which led him to a teaching career. He taught in many schools and colleges during his career, including Southern Minnesota Normal College, School of Commerce at Austin, South Dakota Baptist College and Christopher Business College. While in Austin, Grill headed the Commercial Department at the School of Commerce from 1897 to 1900 and became the a Field Solicitor for the Moron County Herald. He began his editorial career as a telegraph editor for the Sioux Falls Press while teaching at the South Dakota Baptist College and Christopher Business College.
In 1919, Grill unofficially started to work for the Miles City Daily Star; he was not officially hired until 1952. In 1921, Grill became the unofficial editor of the newspaper. Grill wrote the column "Passing Parade" as well as historical articles, many of them about Montana. Grill was given many awards for his writing during his career, including an honorary membership in Sigma Delta Chi, a Montana State University (University of Montana) National Journalism Fraternity. He was also awarded many honorary Native American memberships. Grill died on August 6, 1953.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains general correspondence, which includes both professional and personal. Grill's writings, including a diary, poetry and original articles, are also in the collection. The collection contains a vast number of research material and clippings that Grill used in his articles. Many of Grill's personal clippings are also included.
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 or photograph number], Louis "Montana Lou" Grill 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 five series:
Series I: General Correspondence, 7 folders, 1915-1967
Series II: Writings, 0.5 linear feet, 1897, 1931-1937
Series III: Research Files, 0.5 linear feet and 1 oversize folder, 1876-1948
Series IV: Clippings, 1.5 linear feet, circa 1910-1953
Series V: Photographs, 0.5 linear feet, 1884-1977
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mrs. Allan MacKenzie, 1988.
Processing Note
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 1998, the collection was reprocessed and redescribed.
Separated Materials
Photographs that came with the collection were transferred to the photo collection during the original processing.
Related Materials
The Montana Historical Society holds the Earl Talbot collection, which consists of one letter from Earl Talbot to Louis Grill, July 4, 1949.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: General Correspondence , 1915-1967Return to Top
The series consists of correspondence that Grill had with several people about whom he was writing. The persons involved were the actual subjects of Grill's articles, or experts on the subject. Correspondence that his son, Frederick, had that dealt with his father is also included. Sympathy cards that Grill's daughter, Dorothea, received upon the death of her father is in the series.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | General Correspondence
|
1915-1963 |
1/2 | To Mary, From Mary F. Shryoch
|
1934 |
1/3 | Mrs. Allan MacKenzie |
1953 |
1/4 | Frederick Grill |
1958-1959, 1965, 1967 |
1/5 | Elizabeth Harris-Dahl
|
undated |
Series II: Writings , 1897, and 1931-1937, and undatedReturn to Top
The series is divided into three sub-series, Diary, Poetry, and Articles, which were all written by Grill. The 1897 daily diary begins on January 1 and ends on Christmas day, December 25. A few articles and photograph copies were left within the pages. Grill was also a poet and the series contains many of his poems, including a scrapbook of his published pieces in the newspaper. Also in the series are original copies of Grill's articles that were written for many newspapers. The majority of the articles are from the Miles City Daily Star. Many of the copies are not dated.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Diary |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/6 | Daily Diary |
1897 |
Poetry |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/7 | General Poetry |
undated |
1/8 | Published Poetry |
1902-1909, undated |
Articles |
||
Box/Folder | ||
1/9 | Abandonment of the Reservations
|
1937 |
1/10 | American Horse |
undated |
1/11 | Bannock Indians on way from
|
undated |
1/12 | Boards of Survey Frequently
|
undated |
1/13 | The Death of California Joe
|
undated |
1/14 | Cattle Killing Indians
|
undated |
1/15 | The Dynasty of the Cattle King
|
undated |
1/16 | Sidelights on the Cheyenne
Indians |
undated |
1/17 | A Northern Cheyenne Indian
Treaty |
1937 |
1/18 | Cheyenne Indian
Characterizations; White Bull, Red Robe, and Bobtail Horse |
1937 |
1/19 | A Classic of the Hills Country
|
undated |
1/20 | Cold Lead |
undated |
1/21 | Cowboy Humor |
undated |
1/22 | Creation of a Reservation
|
undated |
1/23 | Crossing Missouri River with
|
undated |
1/24 | The Moving of the Crow Agency
|
undated |
1/25 | General Custer Died as he Lived
|
undated |
1/26 | Dead Man's Butte |
undated |
1/27 | Delays in Transit |
undated |
1/28 | Encounter with Hostiles on
|
undated |
1/29 | Feeding the Indian Fighters
|
1937 |
1/30 | Final Phases of Tragic Drama
|
undated |
1/31 | Chief Gall's Story of the
Custer Battle |
undated |
1/32 | General Articles |
undated |
1/33 | The Capture of Chief Gall
|
undated |
1/34 | Glendive Creek Stores moved
|
undated |
1/35 | Grass Grown Trails |
undated |
1/36 | Housekeeper for the Army
|
undated |
1/37 | Indian Depreciations
|
undated |
1/38 | Indian Police |
undated |
1/39 | An Indian who tried to Bribe a
Court |
undated |
1/40 | Little Joe-The Boy Scout
|
undated |
1/41 | When Justice Triumphed
|
undated |
1/42 | John Laefarr, A Survivor of the
Custer Fight |
undated |
1/43 | 01'Miz Lump, "Mon Tana Lou"
& Jean A. Cordell |
undated |
1/44 | Making a Treaty |
undated |
1/45 | Marquis de Mores |
undated |
1/46 | Colonel Miles meets the Bannock
Indians |
1937 |
1/47 | Colonel Miles and Chief Lame
Deer |
1937 |
1/48 | Colonel Miles and Crazy Horse
|
1937 |
1/49 | Miles Defeats Crazy Horse in
|
undated |
1/50 | Colonel Miles and Sitting Bull
|
undated |
1/51 | Miles Receives the Surrender
|
undated |
1/52 | Montana Indians had a Fondness
for Horses |
undated |
1/53 | Nez Perces Indians Approach
|
undated |
1/54 | Boat load Nez Perce Indians
|
undated |
1/55 | Nez Perce Indians en route to
|
undated |
1/56 | Nez Perce Indian Prisoners of
|
undated |
1/57 | Ogalallas under Lame Deer's
|
undated |
1/58 | Organization of Milk River
|
undated |
1/59 | Pictures taken by Christian
|
undated |
2/1 | The Piegan Indians |
undated |
2/2 | Population at Cantonment on
|
undated |
2/3 | Porcupine, Cheyenne Indian
|
undated |
2/4 | Prairie Chicken |
1936 |
2/5 | The Killing of James Pym
|
undated |
2/6 | Rain-in-the-Face Comes in
|
undated |
2/7 | Teton Jack |
undated |
2/8 | Theodore Roosevelt |
undated |
2/9 | Colonel H.C. Thompson
|
1937 |
2/10 | Tobacco Jack |
undated |
2/11 | Search for Hostiles in North
|
undated |
2/12 | Sitting Bull Sustains Second
|
undated |
2/13 | The Pursuit of Sitting Bull
|
1937 |
2/14 | The Son of Ot-Se-Ah-Ma
|
undated |
2/15 | Surrender, or Fight
|
1937 |
2/16 | Transporting War Materials
|
1937 |
2/17 | Wake O'Hare, Vigilante
|
undated |
2/18 | The Wealthy Crows |
1937 |
2/19 | Little Whirlwind |
1937 |
2/20 | White Bull, Orator |
|
2/21 | Disappearance of Private
Charles H. White |
undated |
2/22 | Parts of Writings |
undated |
Series III: Research Files , 1876-1948Return to Top
The series consists of subject files that Grill used in researching his articles. Many of the files deal with Native Americans and the armies that pursued them in the late 19th century, such as General George Custer. Other topics that interested Grill dealt with Montana, with special attention to Miles City and surrounding areas. Grill researched other authors and their topics to help him in his articles. Grill also relied on original documents, such as a menu from an officers dinner at Fort Keogh in 1881, and documents from the United States War Department in 1876 for information on containment on the Tongue River.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/23 | Mary Stuart Abbott |
undated |
2/24 | "Thar's Gold in th' Hills,"
Kathleen Berry |
undated |
2/25 | Poetry, John H. Bohling, Fort
Keogh |
1881 |
2/26 | Menu at Fort Keogh |
1881 |
2/27 | "The Siege of Fort Dilts," Virgil
Carroll |
undated |
2/28 | Samuel Charger |
1939 |
2/29 | Correspondence from Tongue River
|
1898-1903 |
2/30 | Correspondence from Tongue River
|
1903-1909 |
2/31 | Cole's Long March |
undated |
2/32 | Cowboy Terms/Cattle Brands
|
undated |
2/33 | "Herman, Frank," Leslie A. Cox
|
undated |
2/34 | "The Death of Custer," Mary L.
Huir Collin, P.C. Reyth |
undated |
2/35 | Custer's Battle Ground
|
undated |
2/36 | T.C. Elliott |
1931, undated |
2/37 | Endurance Ride, June 18
|
1948 |
Folder | ||
OS Folder 1 | Endurance Ride, Maps |
June 18, 1948 |
Box/Folder | ||
2/38 | Eulogy, G.S. Gupton |
undated |
2/39 | "The New Stuward Loop Loco
Mobile," Bill Hickcox |
undated |
2/40 | "As I Saw Miles City," Russell
Holt |
undated |
2/41 | "Isle of Dreams," Local Poetess
|
undated |
3/1 | United States Subsitence
Department, Fort Keogh, June 1 |
1883 |
3/2 | General King Defends Buffalo Bill
|
|
3/3 | "On the Ranch at Kinsey,"
Granddady Longlegs |
1924 |
3/4 | "H.L. Knight," C.O. Marcyes
|
undated |
3/5 | Grant P. Marsh |
undated |
3/6 | Ernest McCollum, Ingomar, Montana
|
undated |
3/7 | "Cowboy Anne," Frank McManigal
|
undated |
3/8 | "Battle Butte," Col. Miles
|
undated |
3/9 | Miles City, Montana State Guide
|
undated |
3/10 | Poetry, Edward Murray
|
undated |
3/11 | "Wagon Trails to the West,"
National Republic |
1932 |
3/12 | Northern Pacific Railway-First
Across State |
undated |
3/13 | W.H. Peters |
undated |
3/14 | A Black Sheep with a White
Fleece," Philson |
undated |
3/15 | Poetry |
undated |
3/16 | Powder River Expedition of 1865
|
1928 |
3/17 | Prescriptions, Miss MacKenzie
|
1940 |
3/18 | "Proposed Range Riders Museum"
|
|
3/19 | Rowland Willis |
undated |
3/20 | Sheep herders Monuments
|
undated |
3/21 | Poetry, Bessie T. Smith
|
undated |
3/22 | "Cambria, Ghost Town," Thomas
Edwin Smith |
undated |
3/23 | To the Veterans of the Spanish
American War |
undated |
3/24 | Suggested Projects upon which
Relief Funds may be Beneficially Expended |
undated |
3/25 | John Gibbon," Edwin Swergal
|
undated |
3/26 | Telephone office |
undated |
3/27 | They Shall Not Pass," undated
|
|
3/28 | Eulogy, Col. H.C. Thompson
|
1936 |
3/29 | Notes for Tourist Information
Classes |
undated |
3/30 | United States vs. Telokite
|
undated |
3/31 | United States War Department,
Containment in the Tongue River |
1876 |
3/32 | W.N.R. |
undated |
3/33 | Rufus Wallowing |
undated |
3/34 | Alvin Warrior |
undated |
3/35 | Whitman National Monument/St.
Mary's Mission |
undated |
Series IV: Clippings , ca. 1910-1953Return to Top
The series is divided into two sub-series, Personal Clippings and Research Clippings. Most of the articles written by Grill are historical portraits of Native Americans, Army officers, and prominent figures from Montana. The research clippings contain the same topics as his personal articles.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Personal Clippings |
||
Box/Folder | ||
4/1 | Abraham Wiley, Yellowstone Park
|
undated |
4/2 | General |
undated |
4/3 | General |
undated |
4/4 | General |
undated |
4/5 | General |
undated |
4/6 | General |
undated |
4/7 | Bill Nye General |
undated |
4/8 | Our Indian Question
|
undated |
4.9 | Willis Rowland |
undated |
5/1 | Scrapbook |
1950 |
5/2 | Scrapbook |
1951 |
Research Clippings |
||
Box/Folder | ||
6/1 | After 40 Days in the Trenches
at Caloocan, P.I. |
undated |
6/2 | W.H. Banfill |
undated |
6/3 | Jim Bridger |
undated |
6/4 | The Cattle Industry
|
1919, undated |
6/5 | Circle, Montana, MaCone County
Brief History |
undated |
6/6 | Grace Stone Coats |
undated |
6/7 | "Sign Talk," Dan Conway
|
undated |
6/8 | Miles City Courier |
1896 |
6/9 | Floyd A. "Cranny" Cranston
|
undated |
6/10 | "Life with Father," Jos
Culbertson |
undated |
6/11 | Custer |
undated |
6/12 | Elks |
undated |
6/13 | Elno |
undated |
6/14 | General Scrapbook |
undated |
6/15 | General |
undated |
6/16 | General King Defends Buffalo
Bill |
undated |
6/17 | "Vigilante Days," Albert J.
Gulan |
undated |
6/18 | "Verendrye," David Hilger
|
undated |
6/19 | David Hilger |
undated |
6/20 | "God's Test to Manhood," Dr.
J.D. Hughes |
undated |
6/21 | Indians |
1938 |
6/22 | "Porcupine, Cheyenne," Dr.
Thomas B. Marguis |
undated |
6/23 | Mary Abbott Matejeek
|
1955 |
6/24 | Nelson A. Miles |
undated |
6/25 | Montana Items |
undated |
6/26 | Col. Joe Montgomery
|
1969 |
6/27 | D.J. O'Malley |
undated |
6/28 | Albert J. Partoll |
undated |
6/29 | Mrs. M.E. Plassman |
undated |
6/30 | "A Perilous Ride," William H.
Randall |
undated |
6/31 | Range Riders |
1939 |
6/32 | Gladys Robinson |
undated |
6/33 | Jo Scanlan Obituary
|
1939 |
6/34 | A.L. Stone, Dean of Journalism,
Montana State University |
|
6/35 | Glendolin Damon Wagner
|
undated |
6/36 | Alvin Warrior, Assiniboine Sun
Dance |
undated |
6/37 | Elmo Scott Watson, Honoring
"the Indian Napoleon," undated |
|
6/38 | "Big Nose George," A.K. Yerkes
|
undated |
Series V: Photographs , 1884-1977Return to Top
This series consists of materials collected and produced by Grill, many in association with the newspaper. It includes several photos of small Montana towns, including Mildred, Ismay, Rosebud, Ekalaka, Broadus, that were taken in 1936. There are also photos of pioneer sites in Montana and notable early residents, including an undated photo of the dedication of a gold discovery monument that depicts E. S. Paxson, Tom McTague, Frank D. Brown, Granville Stuart, Robert Sutherlin. There are also photos of Grill and of family members. Two folders of photos are unidentified.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Dr. McKenzie |
1953 |
1/2 | Louis "Montana Lou" Grill
|
|
1/3 | Sheepherders Monument, Pearl
Dannie |
1933 |
1/4 | Fort Dilt grave markers
|
undated |
1/5 | Mary Stuart Abbott and Teddy Blue
Abbott |
undated |
1/6 | Dr. McKenzie at Fort McGinnis
|
1971 |
1/7 | Louis and Mrs. Grill and friends,
Fort Benton |
ca. 1940s |
1/8 | By Montana Lou Grill |
undated |
1/9 | Couer d'Alene Mission
|
undated |
1/10 | Whitman Mission |
1959 |
1/11 | Miles City, Star Silver
Anniversary Edition |
1936 |
1/12 | Mildred, Montana |
1936 |
1/13 | Ismay, Montana |
1936 |
1/14 | Rosebud, Montana |
1936 |
1/15 | Ekalaka, Montana |
1936 |
1/16 | Broadus, Montana |
1936 |
1/17 | Baker, Montana |
1936 |
1/18 | Jack Hawkins and friend
|
undated |
1/19 | Harvey Fischer |
undated |
1/20 | Happy New Year |
1897 |
1/21 | Pioneers at Dedication of Gold
Discovery Monument. Left to right: E.S. Paxson, Tom McTague, Frank D. Brown,
Granville Stuart, Robert Sutherlin |
undated |
1/22 | E.H. Skew Johnson, Miles City's
first mayer |
1887 |
1/23 | White Moon and friend (took part
in Custer battle) |
undated |
1/24 | Geo. K. and Miles City parade
|
1926 |
1/25 | Pictures taken in North Dakota,
Nyna's Aunt Belle |
undated |
1/26 | Father Ravalli, prescription
|
undated |
1/27 | First ball team to arrive,
Maiden, Montana |
1884 |
1/28 | Fire engine and squad
|
ca. 1910 |
1/29 | Round the World Army fliers
|
19224 |
1/30 | Businessmen of Miles City,
Montana |
1911 |
1/31 | Cheyenne Indian Agency
|
undated |
1/32 | Miles City, Montana, main street
|
1953 |
1/33 | Old Time Buffalo hunters
|
undated |
1/34 | Lou and friends |
undated |
1/35 | Postcards of Montana |
undated |
1/36 | Photos from Mrs. McDowell: Chic
Ramey, Mr. Johnson, Mr. McAmys, Fred Milzfeldt (1899), Mr. Rhode of the Old 5th
Infantry. |
|
1/37 | Miscellaneous |
|
1/38 | Miscellaneous |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Frontier and pioneer life--Montana
- Indians of North America--Montana--Biography
- Indians of North America--Montana--History
- Indians of North America--Montana--Photographs
- Pioneers--Montana--Photographs
Corporate Names
- United States. Army
- United States. Army--Officers--Biography
Geographical Names
- Broadus (Mont.)--Photographs
- Ekalaka (Mont.)--Photographs
- Ismay (Mont.)--Photographs
- Mildred (Mont.)--Photographs
- Miles City (Mont.)--History
- Miles City (Mont.)--Newspapers
- Montana--Biography
- Montana--History
- Montana--History, Military
- Rosebud (Mont.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Photographs--Montana
- Poems
Titles within the Collection
- Daily star (Miles City, Mont.)