Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Stanley Roland Davison Papers, 1850-1985
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Davison, Stanley Roland
- Title
- Stanley Roland Davison Papers
- Dates
- 1850-1985 (inclusive)18501985
- Quantity
- 4.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 151 (collection)
- Summary
- Stanley Davison was a Montana historian who taught at Western Montana College in Dillon, Montana. The collection includes research files, photos and general correspondence with people assisting Davison's research. Davison was interested in early Montana history, primarily postal history and Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce.
- 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
Stanley (Roland) Davison was born May 6, 1911, in East Helena, Montana, to Frank and Margaret Davison. After going to high school in Helena, Davison attended Montana State University in Missoula, Montana, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1932 and his master's degree in 1935. Davison continued his education at the University of California where he received his Ph.D in Social Science and History. He served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. After the Navy, he became a faculty member of Western Montana College in Dillon, Montana. During the thirty years he taught there he authored or co-authored many books. In 1980 he received the "History Medal" from the Daughters of the American Revolution for his contributions to Montana history, research, and study. Davison served on Montana's Historical Records Advisory Council, and was a member of the Montana Historical Society. He was active in the Beaverhead County Youth Programs and the Dillon American Legion. He died on May 14, 1986.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection includes research files and general correspondence with people assisting Davison's research. Davison was interested in early Montana history, primarily postal history and Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce. Davison collected newspaper clippings, photographs and books dealing with these topics. The collection includes working and final copies of Davison's dissertation, The Leadership of the Reclamation Movement, 1895-1902.
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], Stanley Roland Davison 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 seven series:
Series I: General Correspondence, 0.25 linear feet, 1954-1980
Series II: Writings, 0.25 linear feet, 1936, 1950, 1963, 1974
Series III: Research Materials, 2.5 linear feet, circa 1850s-1985
Series IV: Clippings, 0.3 linear feet, 1874-1981
Series V: Photographs and photograph albums, 1863-1948,1.2 linear feet,
Series VI: Miscellaneous, 2 folders, 1956-1969
Custodial History
Custodial history unknown.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Harry Fritz, date unknown
Processing Note
The materials in this collection were originally processed as two separate collections. In 1998 the two sets were combined into one collection with five series. Folders were evaluated, reorganized, and re-described.
Separated Materials
Books and maps that Davison used in his research were separated during original processing to the Mansfield Library Special Collections; the rest were transferred into the Mansfield Library general stacks. Maps were transferred to the Mansfield Library Maps department. At the same time, photographs of Bertie Lord, W.A. Graeter, Yellowstone National Park, and Montana landscapes were transferred to the archives general photographic collection; however, records were not retained and the specific numbers for Davidson photographs are not known.
Transferred to the Map Division:
Rand, McNally and Co.: Pocket Atlas of the World, 1889
Doan's Directory of the United States
Transferred to Special Collections:
Campbell's New Revised Complete Guide and Descriptive Book of the Yellowstone Park, 1913
Fifty Year History: Montana State Board of Health, 1901-1951
Eighty-one Years in the West, George A. Bruffey, 1925
Transferred to the General Collection:
History of the Oldest House, Saint Augustine, Florida; Under Four Flags, 1950
Simplified Surgery: For Use by the General Practitioner, 1913
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: General Correspondence , 1954-1980Return to Top
The series contains correspondence that Davison had with people regarding his research topics. Most of the correspondence was with Harry Fine, a fellow postal historian. Much of their correspondence centers on early Montana history and the early postal service. Other correspondence that Davison conducted was with other professors and historians.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Alex Blewett, Chief Joseph Pass
|
1965 |
1/2 | Mark Brown |
1963-1977 |
1/3 | Between Merrill Burlingame and
Rush Jordan, Battle of the Big Hole |
1954 |
1/4 | Harry H. Fine, Postal
|
1960-1966 |
1/5 | Harry H. Fine, Postal
|
1967-1980 |
1/6 | General Correspondence
|
1959-1969 |
1/7 | Bessie K. Monroe |
1955-1956 |
1/8 | Col. Kenneth M. Moore
|
1959-1964 |
1/9 | Edgar Stewart |
1960-1964 |
Series II: Writings , 1936-1974 and undatedReturn to Top
The series consists of Davison's dissertation, a working and a completed copy, entitled The Leadership of the Reclamation Movement, 1895-1902. Other writings by Davison include articles about the East Helena fire in 1919, the Montana fur trade, Lewis and Clark, and Chief Joseph.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/10 | Dissertation,
The Leadership of the Reclamation Movement,
1895-1902, completed copy |
1936 |
1/11 | Dissertation,
The Leadership of the Reclamation Movement,
1895-1902, working copy, chapters I-VI |
1936 |
1/12 | Dissertation,
The Leadership of the Reclamation Movement,
1895-1902, working copy, chapters VII-XII |
1936 |
1/13 |
John Wesley Powell and the Antecedents of the Reclamation
Movement
|
1950 |
1/14 | East Helena Fire |
1963 |
1/15 | The Fur Trade |
1974 |
1/16 |
Lewis and Clark in Northwestern
Montana
|
1974 |
1/17 | Missions |
1974 |
1/18 |
A Historical Guide for the Traveler
|
undated |
1/19 | Chief Joseph |
undated |
Series III: Research Materials , ca. late 19th century-1985Return to Top
Much of the research materials that Davison collected centered on three subjects; early Montana history, postal history and Native Americans, particularly the Nez Perce. Davison researched J.X. Biedler, a United States Deputy Marshal in Virginia City, and his vigilante day in Montana. This research includes a copy of Biedler's diary. Davison also interested himself in the different counties of Montana, including Yellowstone, Jefferson, Missoula, Beaverhead, and Ravalli. In Ravalli County, Davison researched Herbert "Bertie" Lord, a founder in the Bitterroot Valley and local fur trapper and trader.
Davison also had an interest in Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce. He collected information on both General Howard and General Mason, two of the men responsible for the capture of Chief Joseph. The research includes correspondence between the two men, general correspondence of General Mason and Mason's journal. The Montana schools of nursing and their history also interested Davison. He collected information on nursing from Billings, Great Falls, Helena, Lewiston, and Missoula. He also corresponded with the nursing schools in Missoula and Bozeman. A working draft of his article is included in the series. The majority of the research that Davison conducted was on Montana's postal history. Information on postmasters, early post offices, and how the mail was transferred was included. A draft of one of Davison's articles on the topic is included, as well as articles from other writers.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | 1st National Bank |
undated |
2/2 | Agricultural Experiment Station,
Montana State University |
1919 |
2/3 | J.X. Beidler, Chronology
|
undated |
2/4 | J.X. Beidler, Chronology
|
undated |
2/5 | J.X. Beidler, Diary |
1884 |
2/6 | J.X. Beidler, Letters
|
1963, 1965, 1966 |
2/7 | J.X. Beidler, Notes |
1970, 1975, 1977 |
2/8 | J.X. Beidler, Notes by Helena
Euands |
1977 |
2/9 | Big Hole Battlefield |
undated |
Map Drawer VII-5 | Eight ledger pages,
Boston-Montana Mining Corporation |
1922, 1925-1927, 1945-1947 |
2/11 | George Bruffey from James George
|
1897 |
2/12 | Census: County Data |
1940-1970 |
2/13 | Will Chapman, 7th Grade Diploma
|
1909 |
2/14 | Chief Joseph |
1962, 1965 |
2/15 | Victor Dahl, "The Americas"
|
1960-1961, 1963 |
2/16 | Victor Dahl Correspondence
|
1959, 1967-1969, 1974, 1976 |
2/17 | Victor Dahl, "Uruguay under Juan
Idiarte Borda: An American Diplomats Observations" |
1967 |
2/18 | Dillon and Beaverhead County
|
1972, undated |
2/19 |
Free Grass to Fences
|
undated |
2/20 | Frank Garver, "Montana as a Field
for Historical Research" |
undated |
2/21 | General Research |
1867, 1869, 1878, 1887 |
2/22 | Larry Gill, "Montana Stranglers"
|
undated |
2/23 | William Arthur Graeter,
handwritten diary "My Trip Through the Yellowstone National Park" |
1900 |
2/24 | William Arthur Graeter,
handwritten diary of 20 day trip "The Park Story" |
1904 |
2/25 | Hershfield Brothers |
1866-1881 |
2/26 | Historical Research |
1898, 1919 |
2/27 | Charles Huntley Correspondence
|
1867-1873 |
2/28 | Huntley Canceled Check
|
1868 |
2/29 | Guilo Ilges, "A Twinkling Star of
Success" |
1980 |
2/30 | Jefferson County Annual Report
|
1903 |
2/31 | Typed transcript of William T.
Leaward, Journal |
1863 |
2/32 | Hand drawn map of Lewis and
Clark, Portage of the Great Falls of the Missouri |
1959 |
OS-1/1 | Boston-Montana Mining Corp.
|
1922, 1925-1927, 1945-1947 |
3/1 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Bill of
Sale for rights |
1957 |
3/2 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord,
Correspondence |
1956-1967 |
3/3 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord,
Development of Medicine Hot Springs |
undated |
3/4 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Diary
|
1882 |
3/5 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Diary
|
1886-1889 |
3/6 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Diary
|
1891-1899 |
3/7 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, "Early
History of Ross Hole," Mrs. Jake Wetzsteon |
undated |
3/8 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, "Early
Recollections" |
undated |
3/9 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Envelopes
from Fur Companies |
1931-1947 |
3/10 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, First
Election in the Upper Bitterroot |
undated |
3/11 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Fur Sales
|
1886-1927 |
3/12 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Fur Sales
|
1929-1947 |
3/13 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Fur Tags
and Regulations |
undated |
3/14 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Bill Lang
|
1982 |
3/15 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Manuscript
|
undated |
3/16 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Map
|
1982 |
3/17 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, "The
Medicine Tree" |
undated |
3/18 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, Names of
Creeks |
undated |
3/19 | Herbert "Bertie" Lord, "The Story
of Bertie Lord," Bessie Monroe |
undated |
3/20 | Martin Maginnis, copies of
correspondence |
1874-1878 |
3/21 | General Edwin Mason,
Bannack-Piute Correspondence |
1878 |
3/22 | General Edwin Mason, "Battle of
the Big Hole" |
undated |
3/23 | General Edwin Mason,
Correspondence |
1877 |
3/24 | General Edwin Mason,
Correspondence with General Oliver Howard |
1895 |
3/25 | General Edwin Mason, Mrs. E.J.
Goltra Journal |
1853 |
3/26 | General Edwin Mason, Diary of
Frances Kingsbury Mason |
1867 |
3/27 | General Edwin Mason, Mason
Manuscript Publishing |
1963, 1966, 1977 |
3/28 | General Edwin Mason, Mason
Research |
undated |
3/29 | Mullan Road Research |
undated |
4/1 | Money Orders to Germany
|
1894 |
4/2 | Bessie K. Monroe, "Battle of the
Big Hole" |
undated |
4/3 | Nursing, Essays |
1964 |
4/4 | Nursing, General Research,
Nursing in Montana |
undated |
4/5 | Nursing, General Research
|
undated |
4/6 | Nursing, Hospitals |
1961 |
4/7 | Nursing, Montana Cities
|
1958, undated |
4/8 | Nursing, Official Documents
|
1940-1960 |
4/9 | Nursing, Schools of Nursing
|
1948, 1956-1962 |
4/10 | Nursing, Working Draft of
"Schools of Nursing" |
undated |
4/11 | Palaniuk Family Diary, copied
1961 |
|
4/12 | Edgar Samual Paxson |
undated |
4/12 | Edgar Samual Paxson |
undated |
4/13 | Postal,
The American Philatelist
|
1968 |
4/14 | Postal, Bannack Mail |
1863 |
4/15 | Postal, Butte-Helena Roads and
Service Notes |
undated |
4/16 | Postal, Malcolm Clark and John
VenClere |
1973, undated |
4/17 | Postal, Clippings |
1887 |
4/18 | Postal, Complaints on VC Mail
|
1866 |
4/19 | Postal,
Covers
|
1966-1967 |
4/20 | Postal, Draft Outline
|
1963 |
4/21 | Postal, Drivers |
1972 |
4/22 | Postal, Early Postal Service
Notes |
1953, 1970 |
4/22 | Postal, Early Postal Service
Notes |
1953, 1970 |
4/23 | Postal, Express Lines
|
1968 |
4/24 | Postal, Harry Fine |
1959, 1962 |
4/25 | Postal, Harry Fine |
1965-1970 |
4/26 | Postal, Harry Fine |
1974-1975 |
4/27 | Postal, "Descriptions of Postal
Stamps," Harry Fine |
undated |
5/1 | Postal, History Notes
|
1972-1974 |
5/1 | Postal, History Notes
|
1972-1974 |
5/2 | Postal, Huntleys |
1978-1980, undated |
5/3 | Postal, Idaho |
1962, 1965, undated |
5/4 | Postal, Indians |
undated |
5/5 | Postal, Investigation
|
1881 |
5/6 | Postal, Mail Damage |
1982, undated |
5/7 | Postal, Mail Delay |
1971, 1973, undated |
5/8 | Postal, Mail Volume |
1973 |
5/9 | Postal, Map Information
|
undated |
5/10 | Postal, Missoula Area
|
1965, undated |
5/11 | Postal, Montana Mail Routes
|
1969-1975 |
5/12 | Postal, Montana Territorial Post
Offices |
1864-1889 |
5/13 | Postal, Montana Territory History
|
1968, 1980, undated |
5/14 | Postal, Newspaper Notes
|
undated |
5/15 | Postal, Newspaper Notes
|
undated |
5/16 | Postal, Newspaper Notes
|
undated |
5/17 | Postal, Notes |
1971 |
5/18 | Postal, John and Nancy Owen
|
1971, undated |
5/19 | Postal, Postmasters, Early Data
|
1964, undated |
6/1 | Postal, Postmasters |
1954, 1967, undated |
6/2 | Postal, Postmaster's Job
|
1973 |
6/3 | Postal, Postmistress at Hayden
|
1956 |
6/4 | Postal,
Rand, McNally and Co. Shipper's Guide
|
undated |
6/5 | Postal, Routes and Contracts
|
1973, 1978, undated |
6/6 | Postal, Sketch |
1865-1870 |
6/7 | Postal, Eli A. Smith, U.S. Mail
Carrier and Musher |
1907 |
6/7 | Postal, Eli A. Smith, U.S. Mail
Carrier and Musher |
1907 |
6/8 | Postal, Stage Coach |
undated |
6/9 | Postal, Stage Coach Hardships and
Accidents |
undated |
6/10 | Postal,
Stamps
|
1966-1968 |
6/11 | Postal, Star Routes |
undated |
6/12 | Postal, Star Routes |
undated |
6/13 | Postal, Steamboats |
undated |
6/14 | Postal, Dale Tash, Postal
Historian Notes |
undated |
6/15 | Postal, Telegraph |
undated |
6/16 | Postal, Tolls |
undated |
6/16 | Postal, Tolls |
undated |
6/17 | Postal, Towns |
undated |
6/18 | Postal, Utah Northern Railroad
|
1925 |
6/19 | Postal, Virginia City Chronology
|
1973 |
6/20 | Postal, Virginia City Early
Express |
1950, 1971, undated |
6/21 | Postal, Wells Fargo |
undated |
6/22 | Powder River Home Protective
League |
1920 |
6/23 | Powder River Home Protective
League |
1920 |
6/24 | Railroad Company Stock
Certificate, Hot Springs and Smelter Railroad |
undated |
6/25 | Railroad Research |
undated |
6/26 | Railroad Freight Bill
|
1919 |
6/27 | Julia Rockwell |
1962, undated |
6/28 | Settlers Patent to Richard A.
Reynolds |
1876 |
6/29 | "Allis Isabelle Brown Stuart
Memoirs," Phyllis Twogood |
1958 |
6/30 | Granville Stuart |
undated |
6/31 | Yellowstone National Park
|
undated |
Series IV: Clippings , 1874-1981Return to Top
The series consists of newspaper articles that Davison used for his research. Most of the clippings are from Montana newspapers, such as the Townsend Star, Daily Ravalli Republican, Kalispell Weekly News, Great Falls Tribune, and Montana tour newspaper tour guides. Davison collected information on Frank B. Linderman from the Kalispell Weekly News. A June edition of an 1877 newspaper, Mexico Independent, is also included in the series.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
7/1 | "The Capital Law" |
1874 |
7/2 | "The Centennial's Product is in
Great Demand" |
1905 |
7/3 | Daly Mansion,
Daily Ravalli Republican
|
1968, 1971 |
7/4 | Harry Fine |
1968 |
7/5 | Fort Owen |
1982 |
7/6 | Frank B. Linderman,
Kalispell's Weekly News
|
1975 |
7/7 |
The Meagher County News
|
1973 |
7/8 |
Mexico Independent
|
1877 |
7/9 | "The Mine and the Smelter of the
Pittsmont" |
1905 |
7/10 | Montana's First Telegraph
|
undated |
7/11 | Montana History |
1965, 1974 |
7/12 | "The Noblest Red-man of Them
All," Allan Dickinger |
undated |
7/13 | "Rare Schnitzmeyer Photos are
Found at Polson" |
1960 |
7/14 | Stage Coach |
undated |
7/15 | "Story of the New Process and its
Application" |
1905 |
7/16 | Touring the Beaverhead
|
1981 |
7/17 | Townsend, Montana |
1963, 1972, undated |
7/18 |
Townsend Star
|
1899 |
Series V: Photographs, 1863-1948Return to Top
This series includes photographs related to some of Davison's research interests and also, three substantial Graeter family photograph albums illustrating the lives of family and friends around Dillon, Montana, as well as during recreational and vacation times in Yellowstone, Vancouver, B.C., and other locales.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
7/19 |
Granville Stuart and James Stuart
|
1864, 1869 |
7/20 |
Mr. and Mrs. Granville Stuart in
Uruguay
|
1895 |
7/21 |
Mason family
|
1876-1898 |
7/22 |
Thomas Adams
|
1865 |
7/23 |
Beaverhead Rock (stage) Station near Dillon,
Montana
|
undated |
7/24 |
Two forks of the Missouri River where Lewis and Clark
camped
|
undated |
7/25 |
Hammond Block fire, Missoula, Montana
|
1932 |
7/26 |
Mount Jumbo in winter with Clark Fork River, railway
bridge, and tracks in foreground, Missoula, Montana
|
circa 1910 |
7/27 |
Main Street, Missoula, Montana
|
circa 1910 |
7/28 |
Postal stamps
|
1863-1880 |
7/29 |
Map of Pony Express Routes in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and
Utah
|
undated |
7/30 |
Flood in Missoula, Montana
|
1948 |
7/31 |
Photos of original X. Beidler diary
pages
|
undated |
7/32 |
Mission Range Mountains
|
undated |
7/33 |
Utah & Northern railway engine and two cars with
personnel
|
circa 1900 |
7/34 |
Yellow Wolf, Yellow Bull, White Bird, and unknown Native
American man
|
undated |
7/35 |
Fire in Helena, Montana
|
1919 |
7/36 |
Earthquake in Helena, Montana
|
1935 |
7/37 |
Helena, Montana, natatorium
|
undated |
7/38 |
Dam constuction and miscellaneous
|
undated |
7/39 |
Montana postcards
|
1909-1940 |
7/40 |
Small Yellowstone Park photo album
|
|
7/41 |
Graeter family album including photos of Keller
family
|
undated |
8/1 |
Graeter family album
|
1906-1926 |
8/2 |
Photo album inscribed "Merry Xmas to William Arthur
Graeter from The Family 1928"
|
1928-1940 |
8/3 |
Graeter family photo album
|
1940-1948 |
Series VI: Miscellaneous, 1956-1969Return to Top
This series includes a 1956 press release and handwritten "Interim notes" from 1969.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
7/42 |
Press release regarding research grant
|
1956 |
7/43 |
Interim notes
|
1969 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Nez Percé Indians
- Fires--Montana--East Helena
- Fur trade--Montana--History
- Irrigation--United State--History
- Nez Percé Indians--Wars, 1877
- Nursing schools--Montana--History
- Postal service--Montana--History. Montana--History
Personal Names
- Beidler, John X., 1831-1890
- Graeter, William Arthur
- Howard, O. O. (Oliver Otis), 1830-1905
- Joseph, Nez Percé Chief, 1840-1904
- Lord, Herbert Watson, 1870-1963
- Mason, Edwin Cooley, 1831-1898
Corporate Names
- Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)
- Western Montana College--Faculty
Geographical Names
- Montana--History--Sources
Occupations
- Historians--Montana