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Thomas Charles Power papers, 1867-1950

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Power, Thomas C. (Thomas Charles), 1839-1923
Title
Thomas Charles Power papers
Dates
1867-1950 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 55b (collection)
Summary
T.C. Power was a Montana merchandise, transportation, mining, ranching, banking, and real estate magnate; and U.S. Senator from Montana from 1890 to 1895. Collection (1867-1950) includes a transcript of a diary (1867) of his trip up the Missouri River; subject files (1873-1923), miscellany, and papers of his estate (1923-1950).
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 406-444-2681
Fax: 406-444-5297
mthslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

Thomas Charles Power was born at Dubuque, Iowa, May 22, 1839, the son of Irish immigrants, Michael W. Power and Catherine McLeer Power.

In 1867, he travelled up the Missouri River to Fort Benton, Montana Territory and opened a general mercantile firm in partnership with his brother, John W. Power. T.C. Power and Brother and I. G. Baker and Company dominated trade and freighting on the northern plains by the mid 1870's. In connection with this trade, T.C. Power and several associates were charged by the United States government with fraud. His associates were sent to prison but Power was exonerated.

Power was also active in politics. As a Republican, he served as a delegate to the abortive 1884 Constitutional Convention, ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1889, and was selected one of Montana's first U.S. Senators in a bitterly contended election in the Montana legislature.

Thomas C. Power married Mary Flanagan at Dubuque, Iowa, in 1867. The couple had one son, Charles Benton Power. T.C. Power died at Helena, Montana, March 16, 1923.

[For a longer biographical sketch see MC 55].

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Content Description

This addition to the T.C. Power Papers includes a transcript of a diary (1867) of Power's trip up the Missouri River by steamboat; a subject file, including files on his prosecution in 1873-1874 for alleged fraud in his dealings with the Blackfeet Indians and with the U.S. government, on his Senate career, the construction of his house in Helena and other matters; miscellany; and clippings. There are subgroups for the settlement of his estate and for his wife Mary Flanagan Power, including a minute book for the Helena Art Club, inventories of home furnishings, a diary of a trip abroad in 1889, and other items.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by subgroup and series. Some material housed in oversize folder in archives map case. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

2:7-1

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

Separated Materials

For related material see the Guide to the Thomas Charles Power papers, at the Montana Historical Society, MC 55. Also see the Guide to the Charles B. Power papers, at the Montana Historical Society, MC 55a.

See Guide to the Power family photograph collection, at the Montana Historical Society Photo Archives, Lot 006.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Thomas C. Power

    • Diaries

      • Description: Typescript of diary of trip up Missouri River
        Dates: 1867
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Diaries

    • Subject Files

      • Description: Dakota Territory Golden Anniversary (includes reminiscent letter by T.C. Power)
        Dates: 1911
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files
      • Description: Death of Mary G. Power (includes sympathy letters and cards, lists, etc.)
        Dates: July 1920
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3-7
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files
      • Description: Juveniles Club at Montana Club (re Solo card game)
        Dates: 1915-1916
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files
      • Description: North Montana Wool Growers Association
        Dates: 1902-1903
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files
      • Description: Residence (includes correspondence, contracts, construction specifications, and costs)
        Dates: 1888-1895
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10-11
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files
      • Description: Residence (includes blueprint showing placement of house on lot, by Willett and Pashley, architects); Miscellaneous Certificates; Map [Map Case]
        Dates: undated
        Container: Oversize Folder 1
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files
      • Description: Subscription biography publishers
        Dates: 1912-1923
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files
      • Description: Trip abroad (primarily financial)
        Dates: 1889
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files
      • Description: United States Senate (includes committee lists, reports, bills, T.C. Power's speeches, and testimonial to Vice President Levi P. Morton)
        Dates: 1893-1894
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14-16
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files
      • Description: United States vs. T.C. Power, H.D. Upham, C.E. Giddings, et al. (original case was 1873-1874 re alleged theft of property from U.S. Government and Blackfeet tribe; file concerns re-emergence of case as a political issue in T.C. Power's Senatorial career)
        Dates: 1873-1874, 1885-1894
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 17-19
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Subject Files

    • Miscellany

      • Description: Petition for bridge over Marias River at mouth of Teton River
        Dates: circa 1887
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Miscellany
      • Description: Republican State Convention proceedings
        Dates: 1904
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Miscellany
      • Description: Stock subscription for Placer Hotel
        Dates: 1911-1912
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Miscellany
      • Description: United States Corps of Engineers report on proposed Stubbs Ferry dam
        Dates: 1892
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Miscellany
      • Description: United States senators' calling cards
        Dates: circa 1890-1899
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Miscellany
      • Description: Washington. D.C. "at homes", invitations, etc.
        Dates: 1891-1894
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6-7
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Miscellany
      • Description: Wedding anniversary (50th) congratulations
        Dates: 1917
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Miscellany
      • Description: Miscellaneous (includes certificates, programs, membership cards, etc.; some certificates in OVERSIZE FOLDER 1)
        Dates: 1884-1920
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Miscellany

    • Clippings

      • Description: William A. Clark - Marcus Daly feud scrapbook
        Dates: 1898-1899
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Clippings
      • Description: Glacier National Park historical article by Ira Myers
        Dates: 1921
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Clippings
      • Description: Political
        Dates: 1889, 1894-1911
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Clippings
      • Description: Thomas C. Power (includes obituaries)
        Dates: 1902-1923
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
        Location: Thomas C. Power / Clippings

  • Thomas C. Power Estate

  • Mary G. Flanagan Power (Mrs. T.C. Power)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Blackfeet Indians--Trading posts
  • Steamboat travel--Missouri River

Personal Names

  • Power, Thomas C. (Thomas Charles), 1839-1923 (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Alaska--Description and travel
  • Glacier National Park (Mont.)
  • Marias River Valley (Mont.)
  • Missouri River--Description and travel
  • Stubbs Ferry Dam (Mont.)

Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau, 2005
2006

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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