Linebarger Family papers

Linebarger Family papers, 1877-1945

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Linebarger Family
Title: Linebarger Family papers
Dates: 1877-1945 (inclusive)
18771945
Quantity: 2.0 linear feet
Collection Number: Mss 281 (collection)
Summary: This collection includes a broad range of correspondence and informal financial records for early Montana settler David H. Linebarger; correspondence and laundry account records for his wife, Dora Linebarger; minimal correspondence and a document for their son, Walter L.Linebarger; a recipe and general notebook for Della Meyers; W.P.A. documents and correspondence regarding Elmer C. Linebarger's work as a farmer, commodities clerk, and finally as an employee of the War Department; and a wide range of 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

David H. Linebarger was born in December 1837, in Missouri. By at least 1877, he resided in Montana and was active in community and state politics as Treasurer of Jefferson County, Montana, and his later work with the Democratic Executive Committee from his home in Gilt Edge, Montana. Although listed as a day laborer in the 1900 Montana census, prior to and after that time, David H. Linebarger worked as a miner and speculated in a variety of mining operations in and around Gilt Edge, Montana.

By 1900 David H. Linebarger had been married to Dora Linebarger for some time. Dora Linebarger was born in April, 1868, in Missouri. At the time of the 1900 census, the Linebarger's had a daughter, Maud, born in August, 1891, and a son, Walter L., born in 1893. The couple had at least one more son, Elmer Clinton, who was born March 12, 1905. Dora Linebarger likely worked as a laundress to support herself and family as David A. Linebarger, thirty years her senior, grew infirm and then died. By 1920, Dora, Walter, and fourteen-year-old Elmer Linebarger all lived in Garfield County, Montana. Twenty-seven-year-old Walter Linebarger listed his occupation as farmer in the 1920 Montana census. Dora Linebarger died in the early months of 1945.

By the time of the Great Depression, Elmer C. Linebarger still lived in Garfield County and in 1935 received a federal crop loan for his mother's farm, as well as one for his own farm in 1936. In 1936 Elmer Linebarger took a job as the Commodity Clerk for the Garfield County Relief Office. He held this position at least until 1940. Elmer and his wife Pearl had a baby girl, Doloris Jean, on October 28, 1939. In late 1942 through a war service appointment, he became a Driver Firefighter in the Fort Peck District of Montana. According to family correspondence, Elmer Linebarger and his family were still in Fort Peck, Montana, in 1945.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection includes a broad range of correspondence and informal financial records for David H. Linebarger from 1877 through 1909; correspondence and laundry account records for Dora Linebarger from 1908 up to 1930; minimal correspondence, an autograph album and a document for Walter L. Linebarger; an autograph album belonging to Maud Linebarger; a recipe and general notebook for Della Meyers; W.P.A. documents and correspondence regarding Elmer C. Linebarger's work as a farmer, commodities clerk, and finally as an employee of the War Department with a time span from 1935 through 1945; and a wide range of photographs likely from at least 1875 through 1910, most of which are unlabeled.

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], Linebarger Family 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 six series:

Series I: David H. Linebarger, 1870-1909, 0.6 linear ft.

Series II: Dora Linebarger, 1908-1930, 0.1 linear ft.

Series III: Walter L. Linebarger, 1907-1931, 3 folders

Series IV: Elmer C. Linebarger, 1936-1945, 0.2 linear ft.

Series V: Della Meyers, undated, 1 folder

Series VI: Photographs, 1875 - circa 1940, 1 linear ft.

Series VII: Maud Linebarger, 1907, 1 item

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. J.D. Heath, 1966.

Processing Note

The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2000, the collection was reprocessed. In 2009 the two autograph albums were removed from the Archives' general albums collection and reunited with this collection.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: David H. Linebarger , 1870-1909Return to Top

0.6 linear ft.

This series includes personal and business correspondence, legal documents regarding mining claims and water rights, ephemera, and a quantity of pocket-sized notebooks used primarily as relatively informal records of income and expenses for various mining ventures. The correspondence and legal documents have been arranged chronologically as a group after which the pocket-sized notebooks are similarly ordered.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Letter from Isaac Butts discussing, among other topics, Butts' courtship of a Dora Graham	1890
1/1	Letter from Clark & Co.	1893
1/1	Letter from W.W. Woods	1893
1/1	Letter from J.H. Foss	1893
1/1	Letter to J.H. Foss	1893
1/1	Letter from E.I. Stagner	1894
1/1	Letter from J.P. Hanck	1895
1/1	Telegram from Conway, birth announcement	1889
1/1	Letter from National Association Of Democratic Clubs	1900
1/1	Bill for Democratic State Central Committee	1900
1/1	Letter from Democratic Central Committee	1900
1/1	Letter From Democratic Executive Committee	1900
1/1	Note of expenses	undated
1/1	Two social invitations	1903 and undated
1/2	Report of Treasurer (D.A. Linebarger) of Jefferson County, Montana	1877
1/2	Misc. financial records, bills and receipts	1888-1905
1/3	Legal documents relating to mining claims	1884-1889
1/4	Legal documents pertaining to irrigation and water rights	1891
1/4	Mining claim assignment	1891
1/4	Loan collection records	1892
1/5	Clipping, legal notice regarding mine improvements	1885
1/6	Misc. lists of names & grocery lists	undated
1/7	Ephemera including social invitations, dance cards, Western Federation Miner's membership card, a wedding announcement, and a Utah tourist pamphlet	ca. 1903-1906
1/8	Pocket-size (1 1/2"X 4") notebook from IXL Bazaar (store) used for names, addresses, expenses, and probable investment figures	1884-1890
1/9	Notebook, 3"X 6" with grocery or grubstake lists, mining notes, and smaller notebook in back compartment	1886 and undated
1/10	First National Bank, Helena, Montana bankbook	1889
1/11	Pocket notebook listing expenses particularly grubstake costs	1889-1895
1/12	Time Book, mostly notes	1870-1886
1/13	Bank of Fergus County, Lewistown, Montana checkbook	1891
1/14	Pocket-size (1 1/2" X 4") calendar daybook from Fergus County Bank	1904
1/15	Kidder County State Bank, Steele, ND checkbook	1905
1/16	Notebook, 3" X 6", with grocery grubstake lists; records quantity of zinc mined; scribbled figuring on letter to D.A. Linebarger and family from N.E. Butts slipped into later pages of notebook	1897-1900
1/17	Notebook, 3" X 6", with miscellaneous expenses	1897
1/18	Notebook, 3" X 6", milk and other food expenses	1897
1/19	Notebook, 3" X 6", clothing and other expenses	1896 and 1897
1/20	Notebook, 3" X 5", boarding and food accounts	1897
1/21	Notebook, grubstake expenses and zinc mining record	1897
1/22	Notebook, boarding income	1897
1/23	Notebook, income and expense	1897
1/24	Notebook, grubstake expense	undated
1/25	Notebook, grubstake expenses and zinc mining record	1901
1/26	Notebook, grubstake expenses	undated
1/27	B.F. Avery & Sons Notebook, few notations	1888-1889
1/28	Pierce's Memorandum Account Book	1901
2/1	Notebook, miscellaneous financial notes	1903
2/2	Notebook, miscellaneous financial notes	1905
2/3	Notebook, miscellaneous egg & dairy income	1903-1907
2/4	Farmer's Rapid Calculator Notebook	undated
2/5	Springfield Fire & Insurance Co. Calendar Notebook	1909

Series II: Dora Linebarger , 1908-1930Return to Top

0.1 linear ft.

This series includes personal correspondence from a doctor and from Dora Linebarger's son and husband, a homestead patent from 1923, and sewing account books from 1908 through 1923. The group is arranged in chronological order.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2/6	Letter from Dr. J.J. Carroll	undated
2/7	Letter from son Walter	1930
2/8	Letter from D.H. Linebarger	1910
2/9	Homestead patent to Dora Linebarger	1923
2/10	Laundry Account Book	1908-1910
2/11	Laundry Account Book and other notes	1910-1923

Series III: Walter L. Linebarger , 1907-1931Return to Top

3 folders

This series includes one letter from 1926, one auto repair receipt from 1929, and one land sale contract from 1931 arranged in chronological order.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2/12	Letter written to E.C. Linebarger	1926
2/12	Auto repair receipt	1929
2/13	Land sale contract	1931
2/14	Autograph album	1907

Series IV: Elmer C. Linebarger , 1936-1945Return to Top

0.2 linear ft.

This series includes farm relief correspondence from 1935 and 1936, extensive correspondence and directives from the WPA of Montana, the Montana Relief Commission, and other organizations involved in distribution of goods to needy families during the Great Depression, Linebarger's appointment as a Department of Defense civilian employee in 1942, and a small amount of miscellaneous materials such as a family letter, birth information, and news clippings.

This series is arranged in chronological order.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2/15	Farm Relief Correspondence	1936
2/16	WPA Commodity Distribution Relief Correspondence to Elmer C. Linebarger, Commodity Clerk, Jordan, Montana	1936
2/17	Correspondence received from WPA of Montana, Montana Relief Commission and other organizations regarding relief commodities	1937
2/18	Correspondence received from WPA of Montana, Montana Relief Commission and other organizations regarding relief commodities	1938
2/19	Commodity container sale receipt	1939
2/20	I.D. Card for Surplus Commodities, WPA Employee Identification Card, one bid for commodity container	1940
2/21	Commodity distribution correspondence	undated
2/22	USDA Crop Allotment	1941
2/23	War Department Report of Field Personnel Action	1942
2/24	War Department Household Goods Receipt, Garfield County Property Tax Receipt and Garfield County Tax Receipt	1942
2/25	Letter to "Elmer and all" from a cousin Dona	1945
2/26	News clippings, articles, and a "Care of Baby" pamphlet with announcement of birth of daughter to Elmer Clinton and Pearl Eileen Linebarger	October 28, 1939

Series V: Della Meyers , undatedReturn to Top

1 folder

This series includes a single notebook with recipes and miscellaneous notes.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2/27	Notebook	undated

Series VII: Maud Linebarger , 1907Return to Top

1 folder

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2/28	Autograph album	1907

Series VI: Photographs , 1875-circa 1940 Return to Top

1 linear ft.

This series includes family photographs as well as individual portrait photos covering a span of time from approximately 1875 to as late as the 1940s. Most photos are not labeled with the names of the subjects, and only one is dated.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
3/1	281(VI):1: [Unidentified infant in christening gown]	[undated]
3/2	281(VI):2: [Father, mother, child]	[undated]
3/3	281(VI):3: [Unidentified woman]	[undated]
3/4	281(VI):4: [Unidentified woman, photo mount from Plank, Canastota, New York]	[undated]
3/5	281(VI):5: [Unidentified woman, photo mount from G.W. Fox, Sioux Falls, South Dakota]	[undated]
3/6	281(VI):6: [Two boys, unidentified, photograph mount from W.H. Culver, Lewistown, Montana]	[undated]
3/7	281(VI):7: [Unidentified man, photo mount from W. H. Culver, Lewistown, Montana]	[undated]
3/8	281(VI):8: [Unidentified man & woman, circa late 1800s]	[undated]
3/9	281(VI):9: [Unidentified woman, photo mount from W.H. Culver, Lewistown, Montana]	[undated]
3/10	281(VI):10: [Unidentified woman]	[undated]
3/11	281(VI):11: [Unidentified man & woman, wedding portrait, photograph mount from Raitt, Lewistown, Montana]	[undated]
3/12	281(VI):12: Full length photo, Miss Florence Hovis	undated
3/13	281(VI):13: [Unidentified woman, likely wearing a candy striper or nurse trainee uniform]	[undated]
3/14	281(VI):14: [Unidentified older man, blurred focus]	[undated]
3/15	281(VI):15: [Unidentified husband and wife, formal photo]	[undated]
3/16	281(VI):16: [Unidentified infant in pram]	[undated]
3/17	281(VI):17: [Same unidentified infant in pram with young girl alongside]	[undated]
3/18	281(VI):18: [Unidentified boys, probably brothers]	[undated]
3/19	281(VI):19: [Unidentified adults, one man, three women, formal photo]	[undated]
3/20	281(VI):20: [Unidentified infant in christening gown]	[undated]
3/21	281(VI):21: [Presumed but unidentified parents, son, and 3 daughters posed outdoors in front of house]	[undated]
3/22	281(VI):22: [Unidentified man (possibly Julian from inscription), photograph mount from Manhattan photograph Co., New York City]	[undated]
3/23	281(VI):23: [Unidentified woman, head shot in profile]	[undated]
3/24	281(VI):24: [Young girl, named Filarene Havis, per note on back]	[undated]
3/25	281(VI):25: [Young man in military uniform, named Bob per inscription]	[undated]
3/26	281(VI):26: Unidentified woman with infant and two young girls in front of house/cabin in forest]	[undated]
3/27	281(VI):27: [Unidentified man and woman, head shots, formal photograph]	[undated]
3/28	281(VI):28: [Unidentified older man, formal photograph]	[undated]
3/29	281(VI):29: Scenic photographof old bridge, labeled Indian Creek, Montana	undated
3/30	281(VI):30: [Unidentified man and woman, formal photograph, photograph mount from Tippett, Billings, Montana]	[undated]
3/31	281(VI):31: [Two unidentified men and two women, formal posed photograph with studio backdrop, women wearing long dresses]	[undated]
3/32	281(VI):32: [Unidentified man and woman, formal photograph, photograph mount from Coulter, Lewistown, Montana]	[undated]
3/33	281(VI):33: [Unidentified man in front of rustic cabin/house, photograph overexposed]	[undated]
3/34	281(VI):34: [Two unidentified men and two woman, formal posed photograph, women wearing long skirts, photograph mount from Coulter Studio, Lewistown, Montana]	[undated]
3/35	281(VI):35: [Glass-mounted photograph of unidentified girl and boy]	[undated]
3/36	281(VI):36: [Unidentified man, three women, girl, and boy posed in various spots in front of two-story frame house]	[undated]
3/37	281(VI):37: [Family photo, 4 unidentified men, 4 women, 2 boys, and 1 African American woman]	[undated]
3/38	281(VI):38: [Family photo, unidentified man, woman, young woman, female toddler, and 2 boys]	[undated]
3/39	281(VI):39: [Negative, unidentified man standing in front of rough wood door]	[undated]
3/40	281(VI):40: Martha Johnson	undated
3/41	281(VI):41: [Unidentified baby in christening gown]	[undated]
3/42	281(VI):42: [Unidentified woman]	[undated]
3/43	281(VI):43: [Unidentified man and woman, photograph marked from O.C. Bundy Studio]	[undated]
3/44	281(VI):44: [Unidentified young woman]	[undated]
4/1	281(VI):45: [Three unidentified men]	[undated]
4/2	281(VI):46: [Partial photo/postcard of woman in fancy hat]	[undated]
4/3	281(VI):47: Hazel Belle Sullivan	undated
4/4	281(VI):48: [Unidentified woman, small formal photograph in frame]	[undated]
4/5	281(VI):49: [Unidentified man, small formal photograph in frame]	[undated]
4/6	281(VI):50: [Unidentified boy, small formal photograph in frame]	[undated]
4/7	281(VI):51: Matty Whitner, toddler	undated
4/8	281(VI):52: Maggie Whitner, baby	undated
4/9	281(VI):53: [Unidentified but notably well-dressed older man]	[undated]
4/10	281(VI):54: [Unidentified baby]	[undated]
4/11	281(VI):55: [Unidentified man]	[undated]
4/12	281(VI):56: [Grandmother Linebarger and unidentified baby]	[undated]
4/13	281(VI):57: [Unidentified man]	[undated]
4/14	281(VI):58: [Unidentified man]	[undated]
4/15	281(VI):59: [Postcard/photograph of unidentified man and two unidentified women in car, (addressed to Dora Linebarger)]	[undated]
4/16	281(VI):60: [Unidentified young woman]	[undated]
4/17	281(VI):61: [Unidentified man]	[undated]
4/18	281(VI):62: [Family photograph #1, unidentified man (father?)]	[undated]
4/19	281(VI):63: [Family photograph #2, unidentified woman (mother?)]	[undated]
4/20	281(VI):64: Family photograph #3, Martha Johnson, girl	undated
4/21	281(VI):65: [Family photograph #4, Jacob, boy]	[undated]
4/22	281(VI):66: [Family photograph #5, unidentified girl]	[undated]
4/23	281(VI):67: [Family photograph #6, Mary Jane, girl]	[undated]
4/24	281(VI):68: [Family photograph #7, Cora Graham, girl]	[undated]
4/25	281(VI):69: [Family photograph #8, Charly Graham, boy]	[undated]
4/26	281(VI):70: [Family photograph #9, woman]	[undated]
4/27	281(VI):71: [Family photograph #10, small boy]	[undated]
4/28	281(VI):72: [Family photograph #11, Jebbie Johnson, small boy]	[undated]
4/29	281(VI):73: [Unidentified man]	[undated]
4/30	281(VI):74: [Unidentified man]	[undated]
4/31	281(VI):75: [Unidentified woman, full-length photo, long dress, W H. Culver Studio, Lewistown, Montana]	[undated]
4/32	281(VI):76: [Unidentified woman]	[undated]
4/33	281(VI):77: Mary Linebarger	undated
4/34	281(VI):78: [Unidentified man]	[Sept. 8, 1875]
4/35	281(VI):79: [Unidentified woman]	[undated]
4/36	281(VI):80: [Unidentified man]	[undated]
4/37	281(VI):81: [Unidentified woman]	[undated]
4/38	281(VI):82: [Unidentified man]	[undated]
4/39	281(VI):83: Rosey Linebarger with baby	undated
4/40	281(VI):84: Sarah A. Graham	undated
4/41	281(VI):85: [Two unidentified woman wearing long dresses, outdoors by tree]	[undated]
4/42	281(VI):86: [Unidentified young man]	[undated]
4/43	281(VI):87: [Unidentified girl, photo from M.A. Eckert, Artist, Helena, Montana]	[undated]
4/44	281(VI):88: [Unidentified woman]	[undated]

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Agriculture--Montana--Garfield County
Depressions--1929--Montana--Garfield County
Fire fighters--Montana--Fort Peck
Public welfare--Montana--Garfield County--Officials and employees
Sewing
Women--Employment--Montana--Garfield County
Women--Employment--Montana--Giltedge

Corporate Names

United States. War Dept.
United States. Work Projects Administration

Geographical Names

Fort Peck (Mont.)
Garfield County (Mont.)--Social conditions
Giltedge (Mont.)

Form or Genre Terms

Business records--Montana
Family papers--Montana--Garfield County
Family papers--Montana--Giltedge
Photographs--Montana
Recipes--Montana

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Linebarger, David H., b. 1837
- Linebarger, Dora, 1868-1945
- Linebarger, Elmer C. (Elmer Clinton), 1905-1967
- Linebarger, Maud, b. 1891
- Meyers, Della
- Meyers, Della

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