Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Jerry De Santo papers, 1841-2010 (bulk 1901-1998)
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- De Santo, Jerry, 1928-
- Title
- Jerry De Santo papers
- Dates
- 1841-2010 (bulk 1901-1998) (inclusive)1841-20101841-2010
- Quantity
- 13.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 642
- Summary
- Jerry De Santo (Jerry DeSanto) was a Glacier National Park Ranger for 20 years and devoted a great deal of his time to studying the Park’s native plant life. He was a prolific writer after his retirement and published several books and articles on Glacier Park and Montana topics.
- 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. There is one restricted folder containing student papers that requires the archivist’s approval for access.
- Languages
- English.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Jerome Samuel De Santo (DeSanto) was born in Duluth, Minnesota on May 6, 1928. The third of five children, he was sent to the St. James orphanage for a period of time after the death of his mother. His father remarried and De Santo went to live with him and his new wife. In 1946, he joined the United States Air Force and served with the occupying force in Europe until he was honorably discharged in 1949. After he left the Air Force, De Santo travelled to Alaska with his brother and worked construction jobs and with the fire control service until the death of his father took him back to Minnesota.
Following his father’s death, De Santo studied geology at the University of Arizona for two years and then transferred to the University of Denver where he studied English and then to the University of Colorado Boulder where he received a B.A. in 1956 and a M.A. in Italian history in 1958. With the urging of his mentor, Dr. Harrison Thompson, De Santo travelled to Italy on a research fellowship and returned to Boulder and completed all of his requirements for a Ph.D. in history. However, he refused the degree he had earned and joined the National Park Service in 1965.
De Santo had done summer seasonal work in Yellowstone National Park from 1950 until joining the Park Service as a ranger in 1965; he initially was assigned to Yellowstone but was transferred to Glacier National Park in May of 1966. He worked at Belly River, Goat Haunt, and as a backcountry ranger until he was transferred to the Polebridge Ranger Station where he stayed until his retirement in 1986.
He retired to a cabin to Canada and began spending his time collecting, photographing, and cataloguing native plants. He also took time to research and write several books and articles including: Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta; Logan Pass: Alpine Splendor in Glacier National Park; Bitterroot: Montana State Flower.
De Santo contracted viral encephalitis in 2000, which severely affected his health. He stopped working on his research and writing projects and was no longer able to participate in strenuous physical activities. His retirement became much more sedentary as he attempted to recuperate from his serious illness and ultimately he lived at the Montana Veterans Home. He died in July of 2017.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains materials related to Jerry De Santo’s interest in Glacier National Park particularly its botany. There are many slides and photographs of the plants inhabiting the Park, as well as research materials including field notes, maps, and reports. Less prevalent but still a substantial part of the collection, De Santo collected information on important botanists of Montana and the Northwest. He also maintained files on the wildlife of both Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. His personal files include photographs, immigration information, passport information, correspondence, clippings, and get well cards from his 1983 bear attack. He kept extensive research files on Glacier National Park history, specifically, on the different peaks and the boundaries of the Park. The collection also contains research materials for his many writing projects as well as copies of drafts of his books and articles and a copy of his book Bitterroot: Montana State Flower.
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. Non-exclusive copyright transferred to The University of Montana--Missoula.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Jerry De Santo 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 four series:
Series I: Subject Files, 9 linear feet, 1841-1999
Subseries 1. Research, 6.5 linear feet, 1841-1999
Subseries 2. People, 2.5 linear feet, 1901-1999
Series II: Personal, 0.3 linear feet, 1962-1999
Series III: Publications, 0.5 linear feet, 1985-1999
Series IV: Photographs and Slides, 3.7 linear feet, 1861-1996
Location of Originals
Many of the photographs and research materials on Glacier National Park are available at the Montana Historical Society in Helena, Montana and the Glacier National Park Museum and Archive Collections in West Glacier, Montana.
Custodial History
The materials arrived in two separate accessions. The bulk of the donation was in the possession of the creator until it was transferred to Duane Hampton who brought the materials to Archives and Special Collections for a term of temporary storage in 2000. Jerry De Santo’s power of attorney, Karen Feather, permanently gifted the materials to Archives and Special Collections in 2002. The second accession was in the possession of the creator until it was collected from his home and car by Rachel Potter and donated to Archives and Special Collections in 2011.
Future Additions
There are no expected additions to this collection.
Processing Note
The creator’s original order was maintained wherever possible, many folders retain their original titles. At the same time, materials collected by individuals other than the creator and deposited in a later accession had no discernible order and were organized topically during processing. Slides were maintained in their original containers, while photographs were removed from envelopes and albums and placed in folders in their original groupings and order. Index cards were removed from six different filing containers and rehoused in their original order. All paper items were refoldered. Financial information, a PanaVue automatic slide viewer, maps, the book Sappers: the Royal Engineers in British Columbia and a certificate of commendation from the Park Service were removed from the collection. Digital materials were separated from the collection to determine long-term maintenance and access.
Separated Materials
A copy of Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta by Jerry De Santo was transferred from the collection to Special Collections. Groups of plant specimens and their background information were also removed from the collection and transferred to the University of Montana Herbarium. Three books, A Guide to Zermat and the Matterhorn by Edward Whymper, Scrambles Amongst the Alps in the Years 1860-1869 by Edward Whymper, and Edward Whymper by F.S. Smythe, and a folder containing De Santo’s Lee Creek property records were removed from the collection by Jerry De Santo’s power of attorney, Karen Feather. Digital material, containing cover art for his Bitterroot book, was removed from the collection during processing to determine long-term maintenance and access and will be added at a later date.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Subject Files, 1841-1999Return to Top
This series contains materials organized topically by De Santo's areas of interest.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Research 6.5 linear feet
This subseries contains subject files organized by research topic.
|
1841-1999 | |
| Box | ||
| 1/1 | 49th Parallel, Borderlands Project |
1987 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/2 | Alberta-British Columbia Boundary |
undated |
| 1/3 | Alpine Flora |
1969-1987 |
| 1/4 | Astragalus, Seeds, Fort Collins |
June 1998 |
| 1/5 | Backcountry Trips, Mountaineering |
1970-1980 and undated |
| 1/6 | Bears |
1954-1992 and undated |
| 1/7 | A Bibliography of Literature and Papers Pertaining to
Pre-Settlement Wildlife and Habitat of Montana and Adjacent Areas |
1993 |
| 1/8 | Big Trees |
1981-1990 |
| 1/9 | Birds |
1966-1990 |
| 1/10 | Bison |
1888-1996 |
| 2/1 | Bison |
1910-1990 and undated |
| 2/2 | Bison |
1986 and undated |
| 2/3 | The Bitter Root in Science and in History |
1929 |
| 2/4 | Bitterroot |
1841-1993 |
| 2/5 | Bitterroot |
1872-1997 |
| 2/6 | Blackfoot Reservation |
1896 and undated |
| 2/7 | Bogs |
1950-1997 |
| 2/8 | Botany |
1910-1990 and undated |
| 3/1 | Botany |
1928-1996 and undated |
| 3/2 | Botany |
1948-1995 and undated |
| 3/3 | Cabin |
1977 and undated |
| 3/4 | Canada |
1992 and undated |
| 3/5 | Chief Mountain |
1982-1992 and undated |
| 3/6 | The Composition and Behavior of the Bitter
Root |
1922 |
| 3/7 | Correspondence |
1991 and undated |
| 3/8 | Erigeron |
1947-1971 |
| 3/9 | Field Notes |
1984-1990 |
| 4/1 | Field Notes |
1991-1993 |
| 4/2 | Field Notes |
1994-1995 |
| 4/3 | Field Notes |
1996-1998 |
| 4/4 | Glaciation |
1969-1990 |
| 4/5 | Glacier National Park History |
1909-1992 and undated |
| 4/6 | Glacier National Park History |
1912-1997 and undated |
| 5/1 | Glacier National Park History |
1947-1995 and undated |
| 5/2 | Glacier National Park History |
1997-1998 and undated |
| 5/3 | Glacier National Park, Montana |
1932 |
| 5 | Glacier Park Bibliography |
undated |
| 5/4 | Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Preliminary
Flora of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area |
October 1996 |
| 5/5 | Granite Peak, Whitney and Boundary |
1980-1993 |
| 5/6 | Gravelly Range |
1992-1996 |
| 5/7 | Grinnell's Glacier, Thesis |
1990 |
| 5/8 | Heliograph |
1890-1986 |
| 6/1 | "The History of Waterton Lakes National Park,
1800-1937" |
1971-1979 |
| 6/2 | Humboldt National Forest |
1985-1991 |
| 6/3 | Indexed, Anotated Cartobibliography of the University
of Montana Mansfield Library Historical Map Collection |
1983 |
| 6/4 | Indian Legend of the Bitter-Root |
1984 |
| 6/5 | International Boundary, Glacier National
Park |
1980-1992 and undated |
| 7/1 | International Boundary, Glacier National
Park |
1984-1999 and undated |
| 7/2 | Kintla Lake |
1988 |
| 7/3 | Kutenai and Scarred Trees |
1954-1985 |
| 7/4 | Lewisia |
1992-1997 |
| 7/5 | Logan Pass Project |
1994 |
| 7/6 | Logging History |
1982-1990 and undated |
| 7/7 | Maps |
undated |
| 8/1 | Miscellaneous Papers |
1983-1995 and undated |
| 8/2 | Montana Champion Tree Program |
1996-1998 |
| 8/3 | Montana Register of Big Trees |
1996-1997 |
| 8/4 | North American Boundary Commission |
undated |
| 8/5 | Parasitic Plants |
1989 and undated |
| 8/6 | Photographic Subjects Notebook |
undated |
| 8/7 | Plant Species |
undated |
| 8/8 | Plant Species, Bog Collections |
1988 |
| 9/1 | Seeds |
1991-1993 |
| 18/3 | Student Papers - Restricted |
1979 and undated |
| 9/2 | Subalpine Larch of Glacier National Park |
1971 |
| 9/3 | United States Department of the Interior |
1990 |
| 9/4 | Waterton, Belly River |
1969 and undated |
| 9/5 | Wildlife Observation Reports |
1976-1991 |
| 9/6 | Wildlife Observation Reports |
1986-1998 |
| 9/7 | Yellowstone National Park |
undated |
| Box | ||
| 10 | General Research, Card File |
undated |
| 11 | Plant Research, Card File |
undated |
| 12 | Plant Research, Card File |
undated |
| 13 | Research for Flower Book and 49th Boundary Survey,
Card File |
undated |
Subseries 2: People 2.5 linear feet
This subseries contains materials related to De Santo's research on individual people.
|
1901-1999 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 14/1 | David Lyall |
1997 and undated |
| 14/2 | Edward Whymper |
1912-1991 and undated |
| 14/3 | Eugene Bourgeau |
undated |
| 14/4 | George Bird Grinnell |
1901-1991 |
| 14/5 | George Bird Grinnell |
1908 |
| 14/6 | Klaus Lackschewitz |
1979-1995 |
| 14/7 | Morton J. Elrod |
1901-1979 |
| 14/8 | Paul Standley |
1997-1998 |
| 14/9 | Ranger Hockett |
1927-1991 and undated |
| 14/10 | Robert Statham Williams |
1921-1999 and undated |
| 15/1 | Robert Statham Williams |
1995 |
| 15/2 | Sereno Watson |
1880-1995 and undated |
| 15/3 | Sereno Watson |
1997 and undated |
| 15/4 | Tulli Kerstetter and J.W. Blankinship |
1995-1998 |
| 15/5 | Wilhelm Nikolaus Suksdorf (1850-1932): Pioneer
Botanist of the Pacific Northwest |
March 1997 |
| Box | ||
| 16 | Edward Whymper Research, Card File |
undated |
Series II: Personal, 1962-1999Return to Top
This series contains personal materials from Jerry De Santo.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 15/6 | Bear Attack |
1983 |
| 17/1 | Correspondence |
1983-1999 |
| 17/2 | Diplomas and Certificates |
1965-1983 |
| 17/3 | Immigration |
1986-1987 |
| 17/4 | Outhouse Walls |
1998 and undated |
| 17/5 | Passport Information |
1962-1963 and undated |
| 17/6 | Personal Papers |
1960-1986 |
| Box | ||
| 30 | Retirement Plaque - Glacier National Park |
1986 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 17/7 | Wine |
1972-1993 |
Series III: Publications, 1985-1999Return to Top
This series contains materials written and published by Jerry De Santo.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 17/8 | Articles for Montana: The Magazine of Western
History |
1985-1995 |
| 17/9 | Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and
Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Manuscript |
1989 |
| 17/10 | Introduction, Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National
Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta |
1989 |
| 17/11 | History and Dispersal of Alpine Flora, Alpine
Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park,
Alberta |
1989 |
| 17/12 | Ecology, Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park,
Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta |
1989 |
| 17/13 | Distribution, Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National
Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta |
1989 |
| 17/14 | Identification, Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National
Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta |
1989 |
| 18/1 | The Montana State Flower: Bitterroot |
1993 |
| 18/2 | Yellowstone Stories, Manuscript |
March 1999 |
Series IV: Photographs and Slides, 1861-1996Return to Top
This series contains visual materials for the collection mostly pictures and slides from De Santo's research.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 19/1 | Agoseris |
undated |
| 19/2 | Alberta and British Columbia |
undated |
| 19/3 | Bailey Willis |
undated |
| 19/4 | Big Trees |
1930-1990 |
| 19/5 | Bitterroot |
undated |
| 19/6 | Boulder Glacier |
1932-1988 |
| 19/7 | Brown Pass |
August 23, 1990 |
| 19/8 | Chief Mountain |
1903-1990 |
| 19/9 | Chief Mountain |
1989-1990 and undated |
| 19/10 | Coyotes, Browning, Montana |
1947 |
| 19/11 | Erigeron, Slides |
undated |
| 19/12 | Eugene Bourgeaux |
2010 and undated |
| 19/13 | Extra Color Prints of Flowers |
January 14, 1990 |
| 19/14 | Flathead |
undated |
| 19/15 | From an Album |
undated |
| 19/16 | George Bird Grinnell |
1923-1990 and undated |
| 19/17 | George Bird Grinnell |
1923-1991 |
| 19/18 | Glacier National Park |
1900-1998 and undated |
| 19/19 | Glacier National Park |
1901-1932 and undated |
| 19/20 | Glacier National Park |
1908-1932 and undated |
| 19/21 | Glacier National Park |
1948 |
| 19/22 | Glacier National Park |
1990 |
| 19/23 | Glacier National Park |
1990 |
| 19/24 | Glacier National Park |
undated |
| 19/25 | Glacier National Park Chalets |
1971 and undated |
| 19/26 | Historic |
1897-1912 |
| 19/27 | Historic |
1902-1933 and undated |
| 19/28 | Historic, Butte Well Story |
1901 and undated |
| 19/29 | International Boundary, Glacier National
Park |
1861-1873 and undated |
| 19/30 | Jerry De Santo and Karen Feather with
Juniper |
undated |
| 20/1 | Kinnerly Peak, Kintla Lake |
undated |
| 20/2 | Negatives for Chapter 1 |
undated |
| 20/3 | North Fork Article |
1992 |
| 20/4 | Park Rangers |
1966-1976 and undated |
| 20/5 | Personal |
1910-1981 and undated |
| 20/6 | Personal |
1928-1983 and undated |
| 20/7 | Personal |
1928-1985 and undated |
| 20/8 | Photographic Record, Joe Halm |
1910 |
| 20/9 | Ranger Hockett, Jerry De Santo |
1983 and undated |
| 20/10 | Robert Statham Williams |
undated |
| 20/11 | Scarred Trees |
undated |
| 20/12 | United States Geological Survey |
1981-1991 and undated |
| 20/13 | United States Park Police |
June 8, 1971 |
| 20/14 | Used for Christmas |
1998 |
| 20/15 | "Whitehead" |
1931-1937 and undated |
| 20/16 | Yellowstone National Park, Saloons |
1884 |
| 20/17 | Untitled
|
|
| Box | ||
| 21 | Achillea-Eritrichium, Flowers 1 |
|
| 22 | Erythronium-Pyrola, Flowers 2 |
|
| 23 | Ranunculus-Zygaderus; Multiple Flowers; Ferns; Algae
Colony, Flowers 3 |
|
| 24 | Garden Plants; Prairie, Flowers 4 |
|
| 25 | Alden Watercolors; Rock City; Lemhi; Zimmerman; Lee
Creek; Trees; Oil Wells; Chief Crew; Carthew; Boulder |
|
| 26 | Jerry De Santos; Karen Feather; Skiers and Tracks;
Winter Scenics; Joe Prince Site; Winter Buildings and Cabins; Non-Glacier;
North Fork Homesteads; Scenic Trees; Animals; Indians |
|
| 27 | Scenics (not winter); Old Cars; People; Buildings (not
winter) |
|
| 28 | Graminae; Cyperaceae; Juncaceae |
October 1989 |
| 28 | Aguilegia |
Ocober 27, 1992 |
| 28 | Annu |
November 10, 1990 |
| 28 | Olsen Creek drainage |
August 15, 1995 |
| 28 | Larix slides for Lyall paper |
undated |
| 28 | Agla |
undated |
| 28 | Lichens, Needle Balls, Moss, Mushrooms |
October 1989 |
| 28 | Bonsai |
October 1989 |
| 28 | Papy |
October 22, 1992 |
| 28 | S & P, except Cast, I |
October 1989 |
| 28 | S & P, except Cast, II |
October 1989 |
| 28 | Bogs, Not plants-plants in Flowers 4 |
undated |
| 28 | Caro and Caun |
August 1993 |
| 28 | Henry and Garden |
November 27, 1995 |
| 28 | Ledi, Lema |
undated |
| 28 | Gravelly Range, Snowcrests |
July 1994 and July 1996 |
| 28 | Lebr; Lecol (2ssp); Lecot; Leke; Lele; Lene;
Leop |
undated |
| 28 | Lepyg; Lesti; Letr; Letw |
undated |
| 28 | Lere-all |
October 27, 1992 |
| 29 | Three rolls of unidentified negatives |
undated |
| 29 | One roll of undeveloped film |
undated |
| 29 | Twenty-three unidentified negatives |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Mountain plants--Alberta--Waterton Lakes National Park
Geographical Names
- Montana--Maps
- Yellowstone National Park
Finding aid prepared by Kellyn Younggren
2013
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
