Edward Earl Bennett Papers, 1900-1970

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bennett, Edward Earl, 1892-1970
Title
Edward Earl Bennett Papers
Dates
1900-1970 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.0 linear feet, (9 boxes and one oversize box)
Collection Number
Mss 493
Summary
Edward E. Bennett was a history professor at the University of Montana. The collection contains his personal and professional papers and documents his education, early career, teaching at the University, and community activities. It also contains a few materials related to his wife.
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 creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Edward Earl Bennett was born October 29, 1892 in Stafford, Kansas. He received a B.A. from the University of Kansas in 1916, and an M.A. (1923) and Ph.D (1925) from the University of Wisconsin. For five years he taught political science and history in Sterling, Kansas, high school; he was then principal of high schools in St. John and Hutchinson, Kansas. From 1922 to 1924 he was an assistant in history at the University of Wisconsin, specializing in American colonial history, but also worked on the history of the western United States. While a fellow at the Wisconsin Historical Society, he prepared a calendar of the Draper collection. In 1928, he did research at the Pennsylvania Historical Society library on Parliament in the American colonies.

He came to the University of Montana as an instructor in 1925 and retired as a professor in 1961 due to poor health. He taught both American and European history and for many years taught courses in Montana history and government. After retirement, he contined to teach U.S. history through the university's correpondence course program. His publications included The Congregational Church in Missoula, 1891-1966; a chronological sketch, prepared for the congregation's seventy-fifth anniversary; and One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968. He also wrote and regularly updated the article on the state of Montana for the Encyclopedia Britannica Book of the Year. He was a member of the American and Wisconsin Historical Societies, Phi Delta Kappa national education fraternity, Theta Chi social fraternity, Kiwanis, and the University Congregational Church. He was a master of Missoula Masonic Lodge 13. He also collected maps.

In 1921, he was married to Linda McCoy, a 1915 graduate of the Colorado College who taught in high schools before coming to Montana. They had one son, Hal. Bennett died June 16, 1970.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains Bennett's personal and professional papers and documents his education, early career, teaching at the University, and community activities. It also contains a few materials related to his wife, Linda M. Bennett. The collection includes Bennett's diaries, which offer close detail about his later years; correspondence, which includes personal exchanges and those related to his university service; research and writing, from his graduate work through later productions; and materials related to his teaching duties. There are many resources related to his service to the Theta Chi fraternity at Montana State University (The University of Montana), the University Congregational Church, and the Missoula Masonic Lodge No. 13. Materials from Mrs. Bennett relate to community activities and her education. There are also photographs of Dr. Bennett and of prominent Missoulians.

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], Edward Earl Bennett Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in nine series:

Series I: Biographical/Personal, 4 folders, and 1 oversize box, 1916-1969

Series II: Diaries, 1.0 linear foot, 1907-1970

Series III: Correspondence, 4 folders, 1902-1969

Series IV: Research and Writings, 0.5 linear feet, 1923-1952

Series V: University of Montana, 0.75 linear feet, 1921-1966

Series VI: Clippings, 0.25 linear feet, 1921-1969

Series VII: Community Activities, 0.75 linear feet, 1920-1969

Series VIII: Linda M. Bennett, 3 folders and oversize, 1915-1947

Series IX: Photographs, 10 items, circa 1920s

Series X: Florence M. Johnson, 1 item, 1900-1904

Acquisition Information

Date and source of acquisition unknown.

Processing Note

The original processors separated some materials from the collection, arranged it, numbered the collection UM 11, and produced a finding aid. In 2004, the collection was renumbered Mss 493, substantially rearranged and fully described. Two boxes of gradebooks were removed from the collection and destroyed.

Separated Materials

During original processing the following materials were separated: 1939 yearbook, Billings Polytechnic Insitutute; dance programs; post cards; and badges. Nine photographs were separated to the photograph collection, and two tokens were transferred to the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Biographical/Personal, 1916-1969Return to Top

4 folders and 1 oversize box

This series contains Bennett's personal financial, school, and legal records, which document primarily his school and teaching career. There are materials from both his time teaching high school and that at Montana State University (The University of Montana).

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
School records
1920-1925
1/2
State income taxes
1933-1960
1/3
Teaching contracts
1917-1944
1/4
Certificates
1916-1969
10OS
Certificates
1916-1925

Series II:  Diaries, 1907-1970Return to Top

1.0 linear foot

This series contains diaries that Bennett kept quite regularly throughout his life, beginning when he was fifteen years old and ending two days before his death. The earliest diary contains mostly quotations and notes relating to school work. Later diaries contain brief notes on daily events, expenses, and addresses of friends and family. Beginning with the 1954 volume, the entries become daily and offer considerable detail of his daily life, including bills, travels, medical appointments, and visitors.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/5
Diaries
1907, 1938
1/6
Diaries
1939
1/7
Diaries
1940
1/8
Diaries
1941
1/9
Diaries
1942
1/10
Diaries
1943
1/11
Diaries
1944
1/12
Diaries
1945
1/13
Diaries
1946
1/14
Diaries
1947
1/15
Diaries
1948
1/16
Diaries
1949
1/17
Diaries
1950
1/18
Diaries
1951
1/19
Diaries
1952
1/20
Diaries
1953
1/21
Diaries
1954
2/1
Diaries
1955
2/2
Diaries
1956
2/3
Diaries
1957
2/4
Diaries
1958
2/5
Diaries
1959
2/6
Diaries
1960
2/7
Diaries
1961
2/8
Diaries
1962
2/9
Diaries
1963-1964
2/10
Diaries
1965
2/11
Diaries
1954-1957
2/12
Diaries
1959-1962
3/1
Diaries
1963-1966
3/2
Diaries
1967-1970

Series III:  Correspondence, 1902-1969Return to Top

4 folders

This series contains Bennett's personal and professional correspondence. The earliest letters are to his wife-to-be, Linda McCoy; they carried on a consistent correspondence both before and during their marriage. There are also numerous exchanges concerning his employment as a high school teacher. Later exchanges focus on his service at Montana State University (The University of Montana), publications, and various aspects of his community service.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/3
Correspondence
1902-1926
3/4
Correspondence
1926-1939
3/5
Correspondence
1934-1958
3/6
Correspondence
1958-1969

Series IV:  Research and Writings, 1923-1952Return to Top

0.5 linear feet

This series contains Bennett's research and writings, beginning with his 1923 M.A. thesis, his 1925 Ph.D thesis, his 1928 Draper fellowship work, and continuing with his book reviews and work for the World Book Encyclopedia. It also contains materials that were apparently used for his research on the early history of Montana and the West, and materials for his work for Historical Abstracts.

The series is arranged in two subseries: Subseries 1: ResearchSubseries 2: Writings
Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Research
undated
Box/Folder
4/1
Diary of Mrs. F.L. Ainsworth
undated
4/2
Diary of Nellie G. Fletcher
undated
4/3
Pioneer Lumbering in Montana
A.M. Holter
undated
Subseries 2: Writings
1923-1952
Box/Folder
4/4
"Parliament and the English African Companies, 1663-1713"
[1928]
4/5
"Parliament and the English African Companies, 1663-1713"
[1928]
4/6
"The Story of Montana," World Book Encyclopedia
undated
4/7
Parliamentery Legislation and the American Colonies, M.A. thesis
1923
4/8
Parliament and the Colonies to 1715, Ph.D thesis, draft 1
[1924-1925]
4/9
Parliament and the Colonies to 1715, Ph.D thesis, draft 2
[1924-1925]
4/10
Parliament and the Colonies to 1715, Ph.D thesis, draft 3
[1924-1925]
4/11
Parliament and the Colonies to 1715, Ph.D thesis, final draft
1925
4/12
Book reviews
1940-1952
4/13
Historical Abstracts
1929-1930

Series V:  University of Montana, 1921-1966Return to Top

0.75 linear feet

This series contains the bulk of Bennett's papers that relate to his service to Montana State University (The University of Montana). It is divided into three subseries: Committees, Teaching, and Theta Chi, Beta Epsilon Chapter.

The Committees subseries contains materials on Bennett's involvement campus and associated committees. The most substantial materals relate to the Montana School of Religion and efforts to establish a department of religious studies on campus in the 1950s. A series of reports on grades across the university contains warnings from administrators on grade inflation in the 1920s through 1940s.

The Teaching subseries contains mostly student papers and lecture notes from courses that Bennett taught in Montana history and government, Candian history, and U.S. history. There are also sustantial mateirals from the correspondence courses in U.S. history that Bennett taught through the university's correspondence courses after his retirement.

The Theta Chi, Beta Epsilon Chapter subseries contains materials that relate to Bennett's long involvement with this Montana State University (University of Montana) social fraternity. He served on the fraternity's board of directors, and there are many materials relating to the group's efforts to secure a house in Missoula's University District neighborhood. Bennett's Masonic ties were in play here as well. There are also materials from Theta Chi's predecessor, Delta Sigma Lamda, Theta chapter.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Committees
1925-1966
Box/Folder
5/2
Alumni Association
1961-1965
5/3
Century Club
1960-1966
5/4
Committee on Names for Campus Buildings
1952-1953
5/5
Friends of the Library
1964-1965
5/6
Montana Teachers Retirement System
1939-1941
5/7
Montana School of Religion
1957-1961
5/8
Faculty newsletters
1963
5/9
University pamphets
undated
5/10
Distribution of grades by department
1925-1947
5/11
Faculty publication lists
1952-1959
Subseries 2: Teaching
1941-1961
Box/Folder
5/12
Exams
1960-1961
5/13
Term papers for Canadian history
undated
5/14
"Saleesh House"
[M. Catherine White?]
undated
5/15
"History of Bitterroot Valley"
Marjorie Reynolds
undated
5/16
U.S. History correspondence course
undated
5/17
U.S. History correspondence course
undated
6/1
Canadian history
undated
6/2
Montana history and government
1941
6/3
Montana history and government
1941
6/4
U.S. History: Civil Rights and Segregation
ca. 1957
6/5
Phi Alpha Theta paper, "The New Verendrye Theory"
John W. Smurr
undated
Subseries 3: Theta Chi, Beta Epsilon Chapter
1921-1964
Box/Folder
6/6
Correspondence
1937-1938
6/7
Correspondence
1937-1945
6/8
Financial records
1937-1938
6/9
Financial records
1938-1942
7/1
Legal documents
1931-1940
7/2
Membership lists
1938-1964
7/3
"Pine Cone," Montana State University (The University of Montana) Beta Epsilon newsletter
1945-1967
7/4
Articles of incorporation
undated
7/5
Theta Chi Bulletin
1938-1939
7/6
The Rattle of Theta Chi
1956-1960
7/7
Delta Sigma Lamda, Theta chapter
1921-1928
7/8
Certificates
1937-1962

Series VI:  Clippings, 1921-1969Return to Top

0.25 linear feet

This series contains newspaper clippings that Bennett collected. There is one file that relates to the McCoy-Bennett wedding, but the others focus mostly on events at Montana State University (The University of Montana), especially the turbulent events of the 1930s and 1940s.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
7/9
McCoy-Bennett wedding
1921
7/10
Phillip Keeney case
1935-1937
7/11
Paul Phillips case
1937-1940
7/12
Simmons case
1939-1941
7/13
Borden case
1963
7/14
Blouin case
1969
7/15
University of Montana history
undated
7/16
Miscellaneous University/Missoula/Montana
undated
7/17
University of Montana faculty
undated

Series VII:  Community Activities, 1920-1969Return to Top

0.75 linear feet

This series contains materials related to Bennett's community and other non-University activities. It is divided into two subseries.

Subseries 1, General, contains a wide range of materials, including the Missoula County Republican Club, Kiwanis, and the Missoula Rose Society. There are a number of papers from a community group interested in early Monatana history.

Subseries 2, Missoula Masonic Lodge No. 13, documents Bennett's long involvement with the Masons. It includes a considerable number of files relating to his 100-year history of the Masons, as well as other materials related to Lodge activities in which he was involved.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: General
1920-1969
Box/Folder
8/1
Alumni Association, University of Kansas
1952-1962
8/2
Author's Club
1946-1947
8/3
Committee for Paradise Dam
1962
8/4
Kiwanis Club of Montana
1956-1966
8/5
Missoula County Republican Club
1936-1966
8/6
Missoula Library Board
1962-1963
8/7
Missoula History
undated
8/8
Papers from Early Montana History Study Group
undated
8/9
Missoula Rose Society
1947
8/10
National Geographic Society
1920-1963
8/11
Phi Delta Kappa, correspondence
1926-1930
8/12
Phi Delta Kappa, membership
1929
8/13
United Givers
1965
8/14
University Congregational Church
1955-1969
8/15
Montana Historical Society
1954-1964
Subseries 2: Missoula Masonic Lodge No. 13
1944-1968
Box/Folder
8/16
One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, part 1
[1968]
8/17
One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, part 2
[1968]
8/18
One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, part 3
[1968]
8/19
One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, part 4
[1968]
8/20
One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, original copy
[1968]
8/21
One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, data first 50 years
[1968]
9/1
Correspondence
1944-1968
9/2
Notices of meetings
undated
9/3
Membership list
1963
9/4
Correspondence with George Washington University
1958-1964
9/5
Education and research committee
1951-1959
9/6
DeMolay
1946-1947
9/7
Communication of 20th Degree of Masonry
undated
9/8
Miscellaneous
undated
9/9
Miscellaneous
undated
9/10
Clippings (deaths of members)
1945-1951

Series VIII:  Linda M. Bennett, 1915-1947Return to Top

3 folders and oversize

This series contains mateirals relating to Linda M. Bennett that document her education and activitiy in Missoula organizations.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/11
Missoula Branch, Homemakers Department of the National Home Economics Association, minutes
1942
9/12
American Association of University Women
1947
9/13
Certificates
1916-1942
10OS
Certificates
1915

Series IX:  Photographs, [circa 1920s] Return to Top

10 items

This series contains one photograph that includes Bennett, and a group of portraits of prominent early Missoulians.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/14
493(IX):1: [Group that includes Clarence Bennett]
[ca. 1920s]
9/14
95-47 : J.B. Buker, Missoula, Montana
undated
9/14
95-48 : T.M. Pomeroy, Missoula, Montana
undated
9/14
95-49 : John Anderson, Missoula, Montana
undated
9/14
95-50 : Harry A. Lowe, Missoula, Montana
undated
9/14
95-51: Christopher P. Higgins, Missoula, Montana
undated
9/14
95-52: E.W. Spottswood, Missoula, Montana
undated
9/14
95-53: Frank H. Woody, Missoula, Montana
undated
9/14
95-54: Joseph M. Dixon, Missoula, Montana
undated
9/14
95-55 : F.C. Webster, Missoula, Montana
undated
9/14
95-56: 95-56 George T. Slack, Missoula, Montana
undated

Series X:  Florence M. Johnson, 1900-1904Return to Top

1 file

This series contains a diary by Florence M. Johnson. Her connection to the Bennett family is not documented.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/15
Diary
1900-1904

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Congregational churches--Montana--Missoula
  • Freemasonry--Montana--Missoula--History
  • Greek letter societies--Montana--Missoula
  • History--Study and teaching--Montana--Missoula

Corporate Names

  • Freemasons--Montana--Missoula--History
  • Freemasons. Missoula Lodge No. 13 (Missoula, Mont.)
  • Theta Chi. Beta Epsilon Chapter (University of Montana)
  • United Church of Christ--Montana--Missoula
  • University Congregational Church (Missoula, Mont.)
  • University of Montana--Missoula--Faculty

Geographical Names

  • Missoula (Mont.)--Church history
  • Missoula (Mont.)--Religious life and customs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries--Montana--Missoula
  • Personal papers--Montana -- Missoula
  • Photographs--Montana--Missoula

Occupations

  • College teachers--Montana--Missoula
  • History teachers--Montana--Missoula

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Bennett, Linda M.