Myrtle May Crosby Letters

Myrtle May Crosby Letters, 1918

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Crosby, Myrtle May
Title: Myrtle May Crosby Letters
Dates: 1918
19181918
Quantity: 2 items
Collection Number: Collection 2605, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary: The Myrtle May Crosby Letters consists of two letters written by Crosby to her parents in April, 1918 describe her life on a homestead near Riedel. Additional topics discussed include teaching, family life, farm sales, and military service.
Repository: Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Myrtle May Crosby was born on March 21, 1888 in Illinois, one of at least seven children of Jacob N. and Lou Cook Crosby. Myrtle moved to Montana with some of her brothers during the homestead boom of the early twentieth century and they located a claim near Riedel (Blaine County) Montana. She taught school nearby and helped run the claim when two of her brothers were drafted to serve during World War I. She met another homesteader in the area, Frank H. Rivest (1889-1970), and they married at Kankakee County, Illinois on December 8, 1918. The couple returned to homestead in Blaine County after their marriage, but by 1930 they moved to Michigan where Rivest’s family lived. Myrtle died on February 19, 1980.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Two letters written by Myrtle May Crosby to her parents in April, 1918 describe her life on a homestead near Riedel. Crosby wrote specifically to her mother on the latter’s birthday and brought up some family memories, but also discussed her concern over her brothers in the army and their assignment to a remount station. She also described her school and teaching contract, discussing the upcoming elections that would determine a permanent site for the area schoolhouse. Her engagement to Frank Rivest, along with some information on his background, was also part of Crosby’s letters, along with news about horses that had strayed in the area, farm sales, and mention of her neighbors, the Volkman family.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Two original letters written by Myrtle May Crosby to her parents in Momence, Illinois were purchased from Kirby and Cindy Pringle of Tuscola, Illinois on August 14, 2015.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2016 January 29

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents