Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Corwin M. Lee diaries, 1865-1872
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Lee, Corwin M., b. 1833
- Title
- Corwin M. Lee diaries
- Dates
- 1865-1872 (inclusive)18651872
- Quantity
- 0.2 linear ft.
- Collection Number
- Mss 409
- Summary
- The collection contains the two-volume diary of Corwin M. Lee, 1865-1872, spanning his experiences with the Sawyers Road Expedition and his settlement in Diamond City and Musselshell, 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.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
Finding aid in the repository.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Corwin M. Lee was born October 27, 1833. Before joining the Sawyers Expedition, he was a gunsmith on Pearl Street in Sioux City, Iowa. Upon his release from the expedition, Corwin M. Lee settled in Diamond City, Montana Territory, in August 1866, where he operated a gunsmithing shop. He sold his gunsmithing shop in February 1869 and settled at Musselshell on the Missouri River, where he built a gunsmithing shop and boarding house. In Montana, Lee spent time with a comrade, Jack Freebairn, trapping and hunting, especially buffaloes and wolves.
The Sawyers Road Expedition of 1865 was a wagon road survey from the mouth of the Niobara River in Iowa to Virginia City, Montana Territory. The expedition left Sioux City, Iowa on June 13, 1865. James A. Sawyers was appointed to lead the expedition from Sioux City. Sawyers's road-building party consisted of fifty-three men, with fifteen wagons pulled by yokes of oxen, and carrying six months worth of supplies. Lee was a teamster on this expedition. The party's escort consisted of 143 men. Accompanying the expedition were five emigrant wagons and a freight train of thirty-six wagons drawn by yokes of oxen. Although of different origins, the Sawyers Road Expedition became closely allied with the Powder River Campaign, a military party, when the two parties intersected on the Powder River. The Sawyers Road Expedition reached Virginia City on October 12, 1865 after five months and over 1000 miles.
Lee died November 17, 1888 in Eldora, Iowa.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains the original two-volume diary of Corwin M. Lee, 1865-1872, in addition to a typed transcript compiled by Joan L. Hasenclever. Volume one spans Lee’s experiences with the Sawyers Expedition, in addition to his settlement in Diamond City and Musselshell, Montana, 1865-1868. Volume two spans Lee’s experiences in Montana around Musselshell, Montana and his travels in the region, including hunting and trapping expeditions, and skirmishes with Native Americans. Joan Hasenclever’s typed transcript of Lee’s diaries includes references about the Sawyers Road Expedition and a summary of places and people named in volume one of Lee’s diaries.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
For some years this collection was known as the Charles M. Lee diaries. The transcriptions list the name as Charles M. Lee but the only author's name recorded in the original diaries is C.M. Lee. In 2011 research proved that Corwin M. Lee was the author of the diaires.
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.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Corwin M. Lee Diaries, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- American bison hunting--Montana
- Frontier and pioneer life--Montana--Diamond City
- Frontier and pioneer life--Montana--Musselshell
- Gunsmithing--Montana
- Indians of North America--Great Plains
- Indians of North America--Montana
- Overland journeys to Montana--Personal narratives
- Pioneers--Montana--Diamond City--Diaries
- Pioneers--Montana--Musselshell--Diaries
- Roads--Great Plains--Surveying
- Teamsters--Great Plains--Diaries
- Wolf hunting--Montana
Family Names
- Sawyers, James Alexander, 1824-1903
Geographical Names
- Great Plains--Description and travel
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries--Great Plains
- Diaries--Montana
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Finding aid prepared by
MarcEdit
2009
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
