Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
John Joseph Holmes Papers, 1918-1962
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Holmes, John Joseph
- Title
- John Joseph Holmes Papers
- Dates
- 1918-1962 (inclusive)19082003
- Quantity
- 5 linear feet of shelf space
- Collection Number
- MC 378 (17:2-7)
- Summary
- John Joseph Holmes (1888-1962) was State Auditor for Montana from 1932-1962. His papers consist of scrapbooks containing photographs and clippings pertaining to his life and career; audio recordings; correspondence; photographs; newspaper clippings; writings and speeches by Holmes; tax records; and miscellanea.
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
John Joseph Holmes (1888-1962) was born to John and Mary Holmes on May 17, 1888 in Elphin, Roscommon County, Ireland. He came to New York City at age 19 with an aunt in 1905, and soon moved west to Montana. On November 7, 1913, Holmes married Katherine Gillespie, with whom he had eight children. During the first World War, Holmes served in the United States Army. Holmes was elected State Auditor for Montana in 1932, a position to which he would be continuously re-elected for the rest of his life, and over the course of his political career he also served as insurance commissioner, investment commissioner, and fire marshal. He died of cancer on May 12, 1962, at the age of seventy-three. At the time of his death, he was survived by five of his children: Pat Poppow, Peggy McDowell, Sheila Clark, Polly Weckler, and Jack Holmes. Governor Tim Babcock proclaimed an official state of mourning following Holmes’s death.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of eleven series: audio recordings (undated), consisting of recordings made by Holmes; correspondence (1918-1962), which includes general correspondence, consisting of the incoming and outgoing correspondence of John Joseph Holmes and miscellaneous correspondence, consisting of correspondence received by his widow in 1962; date books (1949-1952), consisting of four years of Holmes's personal date books; financial records (1929-1961), consisting of personal tax records, receipts, and miscellaneous financial records; memoranda (undated); printed material (undated), consisting of a pamphlet by Holmes and an issue of Democratic Women's Voice with a poem by Holmes; scrapbooks (1932-1961), consisting of six scrapbooks containing photographs, clippings, conference books, brochures, and correspondence regarding Holmes's life, career, and interests; speeches (1946-1950), consisting of speeches given by Holmes before professional and political associations and rallies; writings (undated), consisting of several drafts of "My Trip to Ireland," a number of short stories and examples of Irish folklore, and Holmes's argument in favor of establishing a lottery in Montana; miscellany (1937-1962), consisting of address cards, collected jokes, songs, and stories, religious materials, professional and political certificates, letters of introduction, materials from fraternal organizations, and a materials related to Holmes's death; and clippings (1935-1962), regarding insurance meetings, Montana politics, and the life and death of John J. Holmes.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Audio Recordings (transferred to Multi-Media Collection, note MM#)Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| MM 83 / 1 | Magnetic tape ("John J. Holmes recording" |
undated |
| MM 83 / 2 | Analog discs (6 discs, 78 rpm) |
undated |
CorrespondenceReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
General Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 1-2 | Personal and professional correspondence (arranged
chronologically: correspondents include family members Pat Poppow and Peggy, Joe,
and Katie McDowell; also fellow politicians, members of the insurance industry, and
acquaintances, particularly J. Hugo Aronson, James Farley, Father Edward J.
Flanagan, Sam C. Ford, Robert Hansen, James Murray, Edward Toomey, Walter
Weissinger, Burton K. Wheeler, and members of the Democratic National Congressional
Committee, among others) |
1918-1961 |
| 1 / 3 | Letters from VIPs (arranged chronologically:
correspondents include Michael Drury, Roy H. Glover, the Inaugural Committee, David
L. Lawrence, Cornelius F. Kelley, John F. Kennedy, Mike Mansfield, Frank Murray,
Donald G. Nutter, and Hugh J. Wade) |
1956-1962 |
Miscellaneous Correspondence (arranged
chronologically) |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 4-5 | Letters of condolence (to the widow of John J.
Holmes, regarding his death) |
1962 |
| 1 / 6 | Correspondence removed from funeral book (regarding
the death of John J. Holmes) |
1962 |
Date BooksReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2 / 1-2 | Date books |
1949-1952 |
Financial RecordsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8 / 1 | Income tax returns RESTRICTED
|
1929-1933 |
| 2 / 3-6 | Income taxes (tax returns, instructions, receipts, and
other relevant materials) RESTRICTED
|
1934-1961 |
| 2 / 7 | Tax receipts RESTRICTED
|
1931-1941 |
| 2 / 8 | North American Accident Insurance Company
(receipt) |
1949 |
| 2 / 9 | Miscellaneous financial records (removed from Holmes's
date book of 1950) |
1950 |
MemorandaReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3 / 1 | Memorandum regarding House Bill 176 |
undated |
Printed MaterialReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3 / 2 | Miscellaneous (including "The Professional Attitude";
issue of Democratic Women's Voice containing a poem submitted by Holmes) |
undated |
ScrapbooksReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3 / 3 | Scrapbook (includes clippings, photographs, and
telegrams regarding the 1932 race for State Auditor) |
1932 |
| 6 / 1 | Large scrapbook (includes clippings regarding Holmes's
career and related events and organizations) |
1933-1950 |
| 7 / 1 | Large scrapbook (includes clippings and photographs
with annotations) |
1939-1956 |
| 3 / 4 | Scrapbook with decorative cover (includes clippings,
photographs, conference booklets, and correspondence) |
1947-1949 |
| 3 / 5-6 | Scrapbook pages from binder (clippings, photographs,
fliers, and brochures regarding Holmes's career as Insurance Commissioner and State
Auditor for Montana) |
1959-1961 |
| 3 / 7 | Scrapbook with windmill on cover (clippings of jokes
and stories) |
undated |
SpeechesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 1 | Insurance Group |
undated |
| 4 / 2-3 | Miscellaneous speeches (to Life Underwriters; National
Association of Insurance Commissioners; "The Role of the Catholic Politician"; Mutual
Benefit Health and Accident Association; Royal Neighbors of America; Ways and Means
Committee; Sam W. Mitchell; St. Patrick's Day speech; Democratic Rally; suggested 1946
Memorial Day address for American Legion speakers; Rotary Club; unlabeled
speeches) |
1946-1950; undated |
WritingsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 4 | "My Trip to Ireland; autobiography" (handwritten
materials) |
undated |
| 4 / 5 | "My Trip to Ireland" (typed drafts/copies) |
undated |
| 4 / 6 | Roscommon Folklore; Exploits of John
Colter |
undated |
| 4 / 7 | Short stories |
undated |
| 4 / 8 | Arguments in favor of establishing a lottery in
Montana |
undated |
MiscellanyReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 9 | Address cards |
undated |
| 4 / 10 | Jokes and songs |
undated |
| 4 / 11 | Religious materials, insurance organizations, and
fraternal organizations |
undated |
| 8 / 2 | Certificates (elections; National Fire Protection
Association |
1937-1961 |
| 4 / 12-13 | "Keepsake File" (New Years 1919 booklet for Supply Co.
314 of the American Expeditionary Forces; songbooks; It Happened in Montana book of
cartoons; campaign literature; fraternal organizations) |
1919; undated |
| 4 / 14 | Certificates (Democratic party candidate for State
Auditor; Honorary Deputy Grand President; Fraternal Order of Eagles) |
1944-1960 |
| 4 / 15 | Letters of introduction (written by Montana officials
for Holmes's use abroad) |
1937-1961 |
| 5 / 1 | Senate Joint Resolution 7 (investigation into conduct
of John J. Holmes) |
1937 |
| 5 / 2 | Catholic materials and membership cards (Program
Manual for Parish Meetings; prayer cards; Montana Cowboys Association; American
Legion) |
1949-1956; undated |
| 5 / 3 | Pocket diary (few pages used, mostly for
addresses) |
1960 |
| 5 / 4 | Funeral book (death of John J. Holmes) |
1962 |
| 5 / 5 | Last Wills and Testaments; Proclamation of
Mourning |
1962; undated |
| 5 / 6-7 | Jokes, poems, and stories |
undated |
ClippingsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5 / 8 | Insurance meetings and Montana politics |
1935 |
| 5 / 9 | Miscellaneous clippings |
1952-1960; undated |
| 5 / 10 | Death of John J. Holmes |
1962 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Catholic Church
- Democratic Party (Mont.)
- Insurance
- Irish Americans
- Irish Americans--Folklore
- Politicians
Personal Names
- Holmes, John Joseph, 1888-1962 (creator)
Finding aid prepared by Kathryn Kramer
2012
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
