Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Harry Oscar Bell Papers, 1905-1972
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Bell, Harry Oscar, 1884-1971
- Title
- Harry Oscar Bell Papers
- Dates
- 1905-1972 (inclusive)19051972
- Quantity
- 10.9 linear feet and 39 reels of film
- Collection Number
- Mss 283 (collection)
- Summary
- Harry Oscar Bell was the owner of a successful Ford automobile dealership in Missoula, Montana from 1915 until about 1970. He also owned and operated the Bar Lazy B Ranch near Ronan, Montana, specializing in Arabian horses. This collection consists of publications, financial records, photographs, correspondence, artifacts and films relating to H.O. Bell, his family, his ranch, and his Ford dealership.
- 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. Funding for laboratory preservation work for a selection of films from the collection was provided by the National Film Preservation Foundation.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Harry Oscar Bell was born to William Jefferson Bell and Susan Marie (Mullet) Bell on December 4, 1884, in Coshocton, near Columbus, Ohio. He had an older brother, James, a younger brother, William Jr., and a younger sister, Mary Arl. When Harry was seven, the family moved to a 40 acre farm outside of Athens, Ohio. His father died when he was twelve and Harry was forced to leave school after the sixth grade. At thirteen, he moved to Indiana to live on his uncle Daniel Mullet's farm. In his later teens, Harry worked as a mechanic for Carl Fisher, who later founded the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He traveled with Fisher and Earl Kaiser as a mechanic in 1904 and 1905. He also designed a safety plug for the acetylene tanks used to illuminate early headlights. The plugs stopped dangerous explosions, a problem with early cars.
In 1906 he moved to Spokane, Washington, where he opened a car dealership and drove race cars at the Spokane Fairgrounds track. He married Grace Tyler on Nov. 20, 1909, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Their first daughter, Dorothy Leora, was born on Oct. 3, 1910. The couple's other child, Betty, was born in January 1931.
H.O. Bell moved with his family to Missoula, Montana, in 1915 and borrowed money from a friend to buy Floyd J. Logan's Ford auto dealership. The company was small in the beginning, with Bell and two employees servicing and selling the popular Fords. Within ten years, he employed 36 workers at his agency in the 600 block of South Higgins Avenue. When he opened his modern building across the street in 1929, the celebration attracted 10,000 motorists. A guest during the opening was noted pilot Nick Mamer and his Ford Tri-Motor airplane; Bell had a life-long interest in aviation as well as automobiles. In the mid-1920s, Bell was named chairman of the Missoula County Airport Board, a position he held until retiring in 1957. Missoula's modern airport is named Johnson-Bell Field in his and pilot Bob Johnson's honor.
In 1968, Bell was re-elected to his 3rd term as president of the Montana Auto Association. He also served in the Montana and national auto dealers' associations. In the Missoula community, Bell was president of the Chamber of Commerce, active in the Rotary Club, and a member of the board of directors of the Western Montana National Bank for 34 years. He was also on the Florence Hotel board of directors and involved himself in a host of other activities, including hospital fund-raising and the Boy Scouts. In 1969, after he had been selling and servicing Fords for 54 years, he received the coveted Benjamin Franklin Quality Dealer Award at the annual convention of the National Automobile Dealers Association, in Houston, Texas.
Bell served as a member of the Governor's Interim Highway Committee and on the National Highway Safety Committee under President Dwight Eisenhower. In later years, he spent considerable time at his cherished Bar Lazy B Ranch near Ronan, Montana, breeding Arabian horses and polled Hereford cattle. After the death of his first wife, Grace (Tyler) Bell, in 1950, he married businesswoman Mary Mista in Missoula in 1952.
H.O. Bell passed away in October 1971 in Missoula; Mary died in August 2000.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes incomplete runs of the The Ford Dealer News and The Dearborn Independent, from the 1920s as well as other automobile related publications. There are also financial records from the H.O. Bell Ford Dealership in Missoula from 1917 to 1942. Also included in the collection are H.O. Bell's personal films, in 39 reels of film and three videos, that include logging, fishing, hiking, horse shows, and University of Montana athletic events. Preservation copies and DVD copies of four of these films (1, 2, 10 and 11) were created in 2007 with funding provided by the National Film Preservation Foundation. The collection also contains personal and business correspondence, photographs, personal records, scrapbooks, and clippings from H.O. Bell and his family.
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. Photographs in the collection are currently in processing and researchers should contact Archives and Special Collections regarding access.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document, photograph, or film number], Harry Oscar Bell Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Alternative Forms Available
Films in Series X are available in multiple formats.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is divided into 11 series:
Series I: Magazines, 1.7 linear feet, 1921-1971
Series II: Personal Documents, 0.2 linear feet, 1913-1971
Series III: Correspondence, 0.4 linear feet, 1907-1971
Series IV: Financial Records, 2.5 linear feet, 1913-1972
Series V: Legal Documents, 0.2 linear feet, 1908-1957
Series VI: Memorabilia, 0.4 linear feet, 1923-1979
Series VII: Newspaper Clippings, 1.5 linear feet, 1915-1979
Series VIII: Photographs, 3.0 linear feet, 1905-1970
Series IX: Scrapbooks, 0.5 linear feet, 1932-1969
Series X: Film and Film Duplicates, 39 reels of film, 3 videos, 1 DVD, circa 1920-1939, 1960
Series XI: Artifacts, 1.5 linear feet, 1932-1971
Custodial History
The first accession remained in the possession of the creator, H.O. Bell, until donation to The University of Montana Library in 1966. An addition to the collection was in the possession of Bell's daughter, Betty Skibsted, following his death and was donated to Archives and Special Collections in 2000.
Acquisition Information
Gifts of H.O. Bell, 1966 and Betty Skibsted, 2000.
Processing Note
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2000, the collection was reprocessed and re-described and in 2009 additional materials were added and the collection was again re-described. Photographs in Series VIII were processed separately in 2015 and integrated into the collection.
Separated Materials
Archives and Special Collections also holds tape recordings of interviews with H. O. Bell (OH 024)
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Magazines, 1921-1971Return to Top
This series includes original copies of the magazines The Ford Dealer News from December 31, 1927 to February 25, 1928 and The Dearborn Independentfrom October 1921 to December 1926. It also includes issues of Automobile Facts and Figures from 1924 to 1945 and issues of Automobile Old Timers News from 1944 to 1971. None of these magazines are a complete run and the collection only includes scattered issues between the indicated years.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
OS 17/1 | The Dearborn Independent |
October-December 1921 |
OS 17/2 | The Dearborn Independent |
January-April 1922 |
OS 17/3 | The Dearborn Independent |
July-December 1922 |
OS 17/4 | The Dearborn Independent |
January-April 1924 |
OS 18/1 | The Dearborn Independent |
May-August 1924 |
OS 18/2 | The Dearborn Independent |
January-February 1925 |
1/1 | The Dearborn Independent |
May 1925-June 1925 |
1/2 | The Dearborn Independent |
June 1925-September 1925 |
1/3 | The Dearborn Independent |
September 1925-November 1925 |
1/4 | The Dearborn Independent |
February 1926-April 1926 |
1/5 | The Dearborn Independent |
April 1926-June 1926 |
1/6 | The Dearborn Independent |
June 1926-October 1926 |
1/7 | The Dearborn Independent |
October 1926-December 1926 |
2/1 | Ford Dealers News |
December 1927-February 1928 |
2/2 | Ford Dealers News |
1953, 1958, 1970 |
2/3 | Old Timers News |
1944-1969 |
2/4 | AOT News |
1971 |
2/5 | Automobile Facts and Figures |
1924-1945 |
Series II: Personal Documents, 1913-1971Return to Top
This series contains documents generated by H.O. Bell's personal life, including school report cards, fishing and hunting licenses, as well as personal reminiscence and obituaries.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/6 | Public School Report Cards |
undated |
2/7 | Hunting and Fishing Licenses |
1934 and 1956 |
2/8 | Social Security Record Book |
1937 |
2/9 | Government Issued Documents |
1913 and 1955 |
2/10 | Resignation Letter to the Missoula Airport Board |
undated |
2/11 | Interviews about H.O. Bell |
undated |
2/12 | H.O. Bell Obituary Documents |
1968-1971 |
Series III: Correspondence, 1907-1971Return to Top
This series contains correspondence regarding H.O. Bell's personal and professional interests.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/13 | Correspondence |
1907-1954 |
2/14 | Correspondence |
1955-1956 |
2/15 | Correspondence |
1957 |
3/1 | Correspondence with the Ford Motor Company |
1933-1934 |
3/2 | Correspondence |
1958-1971 |
3/3 | Correspondence |
undated |
3/4 | Christmas Cards |
1970 and undated |
Series IV: Financial Records, 1913-1972Return to Top
This series contains financial records related to H.O. Bell's businesses and investments including accounting ledgers, vehicle inventories, and tax information.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3/5 | Balance Sheets |
1931-1956 |
3/6 | Tax Documents |
1926-1969 |
3/7 | “Notice of Bankruptcy” Documents |
1933 |
3/8 | Stock Certificates |
1925-1930 |
3/9 | Miscellaneous Financial Records |
1913-1939 |
3/10 | Miscellaneous Financial Records |
1953-1972 |
3/11 | Miscellaneous Financial Records |
undated |
8/1 | Cash Book |
1925-1956 |
8/2 | Ledger Book |
1920-1929 |
4/1 | General Ledger |
1921-1927 |
5/1 | General Ledger and Payroll |
1928 |
5/2 | Accounts Payable Ledger |
1926-1927 |
6/1 | Accounts Receivable Ledger |
1918-1923 |
7/1 | Accounts Receivable Ledger |
1922-1923 |
7/2 | Sales Journal |
1925-1934 |
8/3 | Financial Records and a Sales Journal |
1925-1933 |
8/4 | Record of Vehicles Received |
1917-1918 |
8/5 | Accounts Ledger and Record of Vehicles Received |
1918-1923 |
OS 18/3 | Accounts Ledger |
1923-1929 |
Series V: Legal Documents, 1908-1957Return to Top
This series contains mortgages, titles, and contracts.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
8/6 | Mortgages and Titles |
1913-1952 |
8/7 | Contracts |
1908-1957 |
Series VI: Memorabilia, 1923-1979Return to Top
This series contains collectibles of various origins that H.O. Bell acquired, most relate to automobiles or his personal ventures.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
9/1 | American Automobile Association |
1967 and undated |
9/2 | Automotive Old Timers |
1964-1973 |
9/3 | Bank Publications |
1925, 1955, and undated |
9/4 | Bar Lazy B Ranch |
1970-1971 and undated |
9/5 | Boy Scouts |
undated |
9/6 | Community Hospital (Missoula) |
1971 |
9/7 | Ford, Edsel Bryant |
1943 |
9/8 | Ford, Henry |
1938-1947 and undated |
9/9 | Ford Motor Company |
1957 and undated |
9/10 | Hell Gate Lodge 383 |
1956 |
9/11 | H.O. Bell Company |
undated |
9/12 | Jack Root Testimonial Dinner |
undated |
9/13 | Johnson-Bell Field (Missoula County Airport) |
1979 |
9/14 | Missoula Chamber of commerce |
1923 and 1968 |
9/15 | Montana Automobile Association |
1952-1971 and undated |
9/16 | National Highway Users Conference |
1952 |
9/17 | Northern Pacific Railway |
1957 |
9/18 | Pennsylvania Motor Oil |
1934 |
9/19 | Politics |
1937-1961 and undated |
9/20 | Rancheros Visitadores |
1956-1970 |
9/21 | Studebaker Corporation |
1942 |
9/22 | “Your Car” (The Story of) |
1953 |
9/23 | Ward’s Automotive Reports |
1956-1957 |
Series VII: Newspaper Clippings, 1915-1979Return to Top
This series contains newspaper articles about H.O. Bell and his various interests.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
9/24 | Johnson-Bell Field (Missoula County Airport) |
1949-1979 and undated |
9/25 | Bar Lazy B Ranch |
1958-1970 |
9/26 | Miscellaneous Clippings about H.O. Bell |
1928-1971 and undated |
9/27 | Miscellaneous |
1915-1963 |
Series VIII: Photographs, 1905-1970Return to Top
This series contains photographs of H.O. Bell, his family, businesses, properties, and various activities.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
10/1 | Bell Ranch |
undated |
10/1 | Ranch equipment, tractors |
1930s |
10/1 | Unidentified people haying |
undated |
10/1 | Outdoor landscape photos |
undated |
10/1 | Unidentified location - logging |
undated |
10/1 | Cars driving on snowy roads |
undated |
10/1 | Unknown groups of men cooking outdoors |
undated |
10/1 | Unknown groups of men posing for photos |
undated |
10/1 | Man in front of truck with 45 bails of hay |
undated |
10/2 | Ranch equipment, tractors |
undated |
10/2 | Snowed in cabin with car parked in front |
1930s |
10/2 | Close ups of wheels and tires, ranch equipment |
undated |
10/2 | H.O. Bell with unidentified group of men |
undated |
10/2 | Car with windshield cracked |
undated |
10/3 | H.O. Bell 's sailor cousin, Bette Bell at Kerr Dam |
1942-1945 |
10/3 | Anaconda Company logging camp |
1930s |
10/3 | Kerr Dam landscape (before dam was built) |
1942-1945 |
10/3 | Bonner logging camp |
1930s |
10/3 | Woodworth logging camp |
1930s |
10/3 | Two unidentified men fishing in river |
undated |
10/3 | Poker game, unidentified men |
undated |
10/3 | Unidentified men eating, drinking |
undated |
10/4 | Mary Bell and Harry (H.O.) Bell with horse |
undated |
10/4 | Harry Bell with horse riding in carriage |
undated |
10/4 | Harry Bell with horse riding in carriage |
undated |
10/4 | Aerial photo of Lazy B Ranch - Ronan, MT |
undated |
10/4 | Horse named Shabura |
undated |
10/4 | Lazy B Ranch |
1961 |
10/4 | Arabian horse in costume |
undated |
10/4 | First foundation stallion bought in 1948 |
undated |
10/4 | Interior of barn at Lazy B Ranch |
1963 |
10/4 | Men haying |
undated |
10/4 | Pregnant horses |
1963 |
10/5 | Colored photos of horse competition |
undated |
10/5 | Horses in full costume at competition |
undated |
10/5 | Bob Watt with horse at show |
undated |
10/5 | Aerial photo of Lazy B Ranch - Ronan, MT |
1967 |
10/6 | Unidentified men in front of building |
undated |
10/6 | Photo of men with killed goose |
undated |
11/1 | Portraits of H.O. Bell and family |
1900s, 1960s |
11/1 | H.O. Bell as a young boy |
undated |
11/1 | H.O. Bell |
undated |
11/1 | H.O. Bell in his late 20s |
undated |
11/1 | Mary Bell |
undated |
11/1 | Myrna Loy |
undated |
11/1 | Margaret Bennett Gough, "old time Missoula" |
undated |
11/2 | Mary and Harry (H.O.) Bell |
1953-1954 |
11/2 | McLeod's wedding |
1962 |
11/2 | H.O. Bell home exterior |
undated |
11/2 | Harry holding Betty's baby |
1955 |
11/2 | Susan Marie (H.O. Bell's mother) holding Thomas Ruth |
undated |
11/2 | H.O. Bell on horse |
early 1900s |
11/2 | H.O. Bell family home, in winter |
undated |
11/2 | H.O. Bell and Uncle Dan Mullet |
1902 |
11/2 | Unknown man in old Model T |
early 1900s |
11/2 | Two unidentified women by unknown river |
undated |
11/3 | Mary Bell with horse |
1957 |
11/3 | Aerial photo of Lazy B Ranch - Ronan, MT |
1968 |
11/3 | Lazy B Ranch - "Karra" the horse |
undated |
11/3 | Susan Marie with Mary and child |
undated |
11/3 | Susan Marie with Harry's sister |
undated |
11/3 | Harry's sister with husband, Clifford Ruth |
undated |
11/3 | Mary Bell |
undated |
11/3 | Duck Shack at Nine Pipes |
undated |
11/3 | Unnamed horses |
undated |
11/3 | Mary Bell with costumed horse |
undated |
11/3 | Bob Watt, horse trainer, with ribbons and trophies |
undated |
11/4 | Various photos of exterior at H.O. Bell family home |
undated |
11/5 | Dog with duck in its mouth |
undated |
11/5 | "Stonewall Jackson" at Duck Shack, Nine Pipes |
undated |
11/5 | Several unidentified people at Nine Pipes |
undated |
11/5 | Unidentified men posing with guns and their ducks |
undated |
11/5 | Woman by river |
undated |
11/5 | H.O. Bell fishing on unidentified river |
undated |
11/6 | Wildlife photos, elk, deer, bear, goats, beaver, rams |
undated |
11/6 | Unidentified mountain lakes |
undated |
11/6 | Close up of baby fawn |
undated |
11/6 | Bull Moose in lake |
undated |
11/7 | Car on riverboat |
undated |
11/7 | Washed out road, unknown location |
undated |
11/7 | Aerial photo of Kerr Dam |
undated |
11/7 | Nine Pipes |
undated |
11/7 | Group of unidentified people and location |
undated |
11/7 | H.O. Bell with unidentified group of men |
undated |
11/7 | Group of men: (L to R) Charley Pierce, Harry Bell,Dixon Little, Al Wilkenson, Jim Finlen, Boo Mcgilvery |
undated |
12/1 | Photo Negatives of the contents of Box 1 and 2 |
undated |
12/2 | Photo Negatives of the contents of Box 1 and 2 |
undated |
12/3 | Vacation photos |
undated |
13/1 | Vacation photos - Yellowstone Park part I |
undated |
13/2 | Vacation photos - Yellowstone Park part II |
undated |
13/3 | Vacation photos - South Africa, "Orient" |
undated |
13/4 | Photos taken from photo book - outdoor hiking, wildlife photos, camping photos |
1937 |
13/5 | Mostly outdoor photos in winter |
undated |
13/5 | Groups of people outdoors |
undated |
13/5 | Ovando, MT, street scene |
undated |
13/5 | Streets of Saltese, MT, flooded out |
April 18 1938 |
13/5 | Bridge near Saltese that was washed out |
April 18, 1938 |
13/5 | Highway washed away near Saltese |
April 18, 1938 |
13/5 | Northern Pacific Train Wreck in Missoula |
July 7, 1938 |
13/6 | Christmas Cards |
1950s-1960s |
13/7 | Indianapolis Speedway, Carl Fisher at speedway |
1905 |
13/7 | Carl Fisher Indianapolis showroom |
1905 |
13/7 | Early photos of Indianapolis Speedway |
1900s |
13/8 | Miscellaneous photo negatives |
1900s to 1960s |
13/9 | Photo slides of Glacier Park |
April 29, 1905 |
14/1 | Exterior of H.O. Bell Dealership |
undated |
14/1 | Bell and Reinbold dealership |
undated |
14/1 | H.O. Bell laughing at woman picketing dealership |
undated |
14/1 | Bell and Holt exterior of building |
undated |
14/1 | H.O. Bell receiving award |
undated |
14/1 | L to R: Earl Franks, Mr. Holt, Ora Simmons, Leonard Burnnett, Kenneth Stromme, Harold Carpenter |
1928 |
14/1 | Ira Chapman, Edith Maguire, Emma Maguire |
undated |
14/2 | H.O. Bell receiving Benjamin Franklin Quality Award |
undated |
14/2 | H.O. Bell's first dealership in Missoula |
1920s |
14/2 | Picture of H.O. Bell and two other men |
1956 |
14/2 | Stampede Parade, man on car |
undated |
14/2 | Daily's Meats |
undated |
14/2 | Men in front of dealership |
undated |
14/2 | Interior of H.O. Bell garage |
undated |
14/2 | Senator Jim Murray with H.O. Bell |
undated |
14/2 | H.O. Bell and Mary Bell |
undated |
14/2 | H.O. Bell parts department |
undated |
14/2 | Benjamin Franklin Quality Dealer Award |
1969 |
14/2 | Grand opening of new show room |
1929 |
14/3 | H.O. Bell, Rod McCall, Holly Wilkenson (L to R) |
1950s |
14/3 | Men at a bar/banquet |
1950s |
14/3 | Group photograph of several men at banquet |
1950s |
14/3 | H.O. Bell and Mary at National AAA office |
undated |
14/3 | 1950 Ford Outstanding dealership award |
1950 |
14/4 | State Convention of County Officials |
January 19, 1937 |
14/5 | Court of Honor member - Western MT Council |
1967 |
14/5 | Group photograph (identified on back of photo) |
undated |
14/5 | Group photo of Anaconda Company Reps |
undated |
14/5 | Exterior of H.O. Bell dealership |
undated |
14/6 | Photo negatives of the contents of professional photographs - exterior and interior of dealership, and awards |
1920s to 1960s |
14/7 | Fishing photo - framed |
undated |
15/1 | Different trucks, tractors, wreckers, plows |
undated |
15/1 | H.O. Bell Wrecker Service Truck |
undated |
15/1 | Post Cards of Schramm Compressor Products |
undated |
15/1 | Post Cards of AMSCO tractor products |
undated |
15/1 | Photo of a hearse |
undated |
15/1 | Mountain Tractor Company Trust truck |
undated |
15/1 | Wenzel and Co. Consulting Engineers truck |
undated |
15/1 | Snow plow |
undated |
15/2 | Unknown groups of people in unknown location |
undated |
15/3 | Higgins Avenue, Bob Johnson driving carriage |
1909 |
15/3 | Portrait of Carl Fisher |
undated |
15/3 | Indianapolis Speedway, Carl Fisher at speedway |
undated |
15/3 | General MacArthur in Korea |
November 24, 1950 |
15/3 | Dwight D. Eisenhower at dedication of smokejumper facility |
undated |
15/3 | U of M football star "Wild Bill" Kelly |
undated |
15/4 | Undated outdoor photos at unknown location |
undated |
15/4 | Old ranch house, unknown people and location |
undated |
15/5 | Outdoor photos and unknown location |
undated |
15/5 | Unidentified groups of people and unknown location |
undated |
Folder | ||
OS 23 | First Annual Shoot-Off, Spokane Press Skeet Tournament Panorama
|
May 3, 1936 |
Series IX: Scrapbooks, 1932-1969Return to Top
This series contains scrapbooks with letters, clippings, and photographs of H.O. Bell's various interests and his Benjamin Franklin Quality Dealer Award in 1968.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
OS 19/1 | Newspaper Clippings and Photograph Scrapbook |
1932-1948 |
OS 19/2 | Newspaper Clippings Scrapbook |
1940-1941 |
OS 20/1 | Scrapbook |
1931-1954 |
OS 20/2 | The Benjamin Franklin Quality Dealer Award Nomination Letters Scrapbook |
1968-1969 |
OS 20/3 | The Benjamin Franklin Quality Dealer Award Scrapbook |
1968 |
Series X: Film, ca. 1920-1939, 1960Return to Top
This series contains H.O. Bell's personal film collection which is mostly home movies of his family and Missoula area events and activities. These films include logging, fishing, hiking, horse shows, and University of Montana athletic events. These movies are primarily from the 1920s and 1930s.
During original processing, films 1-19 were duplicated onto 3/4-inch video format. Prior to 2007, a digital copy was made of films 1-19 (probably from the 3/4 inch video). In 2007, a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation enabled Archives and Special Collections to have a preservation copy and a master DVD copy produced for four of the films: 1, 2, 10 and 11.
In 2021, all motion picture film reels were cleaned, cored, and rehoused for preservation purposes.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Films |
||
Reel | ||
1 | Logging the Blackfoot Images of logging camp along river
16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1938-1939 |
2 | Logging the Blackfoot Images of logging camp and hoses pulling logs down skid
16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
3 | Logging the Blackfoot Images of piles of logs, camp office, a Missoula Home, and the H.O. Bell homeVHS Copy Available
16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
4 | Parade in Missoula- Downtown with Streetcars, UM Football 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound VHS Copy Available
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
5 | Football Butte vs. Gonzaga football game, Missoula track meet
16 mm
Black and White, 175 ft, No Sound VHS Copy Available
Digital copy available
|
1926 and 1928 |
6 | Lolo Pass / Lochsa Images of scenery around Lolo Pass and Lochsa
16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
7 | Lolo Pass / Lochsa Images of scenery around Lolo Pass and Lochsa
16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
8 | Lochsa - fishing and camping 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
9 | Lochsa - Labor Day Fishing and Camping 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
10 | Clearwater - Horseback Riding and Packing 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
11 | Clearwater - Camping and Packing 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
12 | Powell Ranger Station 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
13 | Clearwater - Camping, Pack Train, and Home Interior 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
1928 |
14 | Clearwater Pack Trip 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
1928 |
15 | Forest Lookout 16 mm
Black and White, 250 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
16 | Georgetown Lake - Fish Hatchery 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
1926 |
17 | Georgetown Lake Fish Hatchery 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
1926 |
18 | Moose in Lake 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1936 |
19 | Graves Peak - Horseback Riding and Pack Train 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
Digital copy available
|
circa 1920-1939 |
20 | Kelly Creek - Goat Mountain, Scenic, and Pack Train 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
|
circa 1920-1939 |
21 | People in Woods Images of people in woods, canoeing, swimming, and a summer home
16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
|
circa 1920-1939 |
22 | Clearwater - Fishing 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
|
circa 1920-1939 |
23 | Deer, Fishing, Camping, and Burned Over Area "Idaho - Clearwater, Hidden Lake, Wind Lakes"
16 mm
Black and White, 400 ft, No Sound
|
circa 1920-1939 |
24 | Pop Warner - People, Bell Home, Missoula Homes 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
|
1929 |
25 | H.O. Bell - Home in Winter and Fred Sterling Home 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
|
circa 1920-1939 |
26 | Fred Sterling Party 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
|
1928 |
27 | Model A Ford, Waterworks Hill, Whitlock 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
|
1928 |
28 | Family, Betty 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
|
1935 |
29 | Family, Betty 16 mm
Black and White, 100 ft, No Sound
|
1932 |
30 | Small Child This film reel is approximately 1/2 blank
16 mm
Color, 100 ft, No Sound
|
undated |
31 | Horses - Show Outdoor horse show filmed from stands / seating area, spliced film showing a mare and foal in a pasture.
16 mm
Color, 50 ft, No Sound
|
undated |
32 | Horses, Baby, Ranch, Cattle Images of dogs in snow, cattle ranch in snow, horses in snow, children playin in snow by farm equipment, shots of ranch in winter. Images of sprintime, baby on grey horse with man holding horse, horses in green pasture with foal, shots of street with Florence Hotel, shots of children playing in yard.
16 mm
Color, 375 ft, No Sound
|
circa 1959 |
33 | Horses - Cattle Branding Images of cattle on ranch, calves in pen, cattle branding, cattle crush / squeeze chute, horses and foals, family and dogs, baby, horse show / competition, and sheep.
16 mm
Color, 200 ft, No Sound
|
circa 1950s |
34 | Horses - Horses, Cattle, and Buggy Races Images of horses in snow, dogs in snow, cattle in snow, family on ranch, man lunging horse, buggy races, and a horse show / competition
16 mm
Color, 300 ft, No Sound
|
undated |
35 | Horses - Pullman Show, Ranch Horses Images of a horse show / competion, buggy races, horse in pasture after show, horses on ranch, cattle, and a cutting horse
16 mm
Color, 400 ft, No Sound
|
circa late 1950s -1960s |
36 | Horses - Show 1957 "YaPrend's(?) Show 1957" Images of 2 individuals riding horses, horses and foals in pasture, horse show mares and foals, and horse show.
16 mm
Color, 300 ft, No Sound
|
1957 |
37 | Horses - Horse Show Shots of horse show in an Undated location and of buggy races
16 mm
Color, 150 ft, No Sound
|
circa late 1950s -1960s |
38 | Horses - Scottsdale Horse Show 16 mm
Color, 400 ft, No Sound
|
1960 |
39 | Horses - California "Guy Hazelton" Shots of family at beach, landscape, zoo, California street, man feeding bear, and woman dancing
16 mm
Black and White, 400 ft, No Sound
|
undated |
Series XI: Artifacts, 1932-1971Return to Top
These series contains items collected by H.O. Bell from conferences and openings he attended, awards he received, and organizations he supported.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
16/1 | Appreciation Signature Book |
1950 |
16/2 | Montana Inter Scholastic Name Tag |
1947 |
16/3 | N.A.D.A. Convention and Equipment Exhibit Name Tag |
1948 |
16/4 | AAA 65th Annual Meeting Name Tag |
1967 |
16/5 | Montana Automobile Dealers “President 1932-1936” Plaque |
undated |
16/6 | Montana University Club Donation Pledge Cards |
undated |
16/7 | KGVO “Outstanding Citizen” Award |
1967 |
16/8 | B.S.A. “Court of Honor Member” |
1967 |
21/1 | The Benjamin Franklin Quality Dealer Award |
1969 |
21/2 | AOT “Distinguished Service Citation” Award |
1971 |
21/3 | NADA Certificate in Honor of H.O. Bell's death |
1971 |
21/4 | Certificate Announcing the Naming of the Missoula county Airport as the Johnson-Bell Airport |
1968 |
Box | ||
22 | Address Book |
undated |
22 | Signature Stamp |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Automobile dealerships--Montana--Missoula
- Ford automobile
Corporate Names
- Ford Motor Company--Periodicals
- H.O. Bell Company (Missoula, Mont.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Business records--Montana--Missoula
- Magazines (periodicals)
- Motion pictures
Occupations
- Automobile dealers--Montana--Missoula