Walter A. Cameron Papers

Walter A. Cameron Papers, 1885-1906

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Cameron, W. A. (Walter Almanzor), b. 1862
Title: Walter A. Cameron Papers
Dates: 1885-1906 (inclusive)
18851906
Quantity: 1 reel microfilm
Collection Number: Mss 026
Summary: This collection consists of a series of journals kept by Walter A. Cameron of Montana from the year 1885 to 1906.
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

Walter Cameron was born in 1862 in Boston, Massachusetts, and lived mostly in Nova Scotia. His parents, James M. and Frances H. (Dodge) Cameron, were Scots. In 1881, Walter moved west to Minneapolis, where he was a farmer and teamster. He arrived in Montana later that year and worked as a teamster during the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad from Miles City to Helena. From 1883 to 1902 he homesteaded in Custer County, and supplemented his income by herding sheep and doing odd jobs. He then moved near Terry, but kept his homestead as a summer home. He was a prominent businessman and owned a laundry. He also served on the school board and the county commission. In 1892 Walter married Frances E. Sweeney, and they had five children. His date of death is unknown.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of a series of journals kept by Cameron from the year 1885 to 1906. These journals contain a great deal of information. First, there are a variety of lists containing things such as people who performed work for Cameron and items Cameron purchased for himself and his crew at the local store. In addition to these lists, there are many entries into the journal discussing what happened on each particular day. The entries are all very short and discuss things like the weather, work that was performed, illnesses, social activities, and jury service. Cameron had an interest in mathematics and some of his attempts at problem-solving are also contained within these diaries.

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], Walter A. Cameron Papers, Archives and Special Collections, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Received from an unknown source, date unknown.

Processing Note

The actions of the original processors are unknown; the collection was numbered SC 55. In 2000, the collection was reprocessed and re-numbered Mss 026. In 2004, the finding aid was encoded.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Scottish Americans -- Montana

Geographical Names

Montana--Social life and customs

Form or Genre Terms

Diaries -- Montana

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents