Jay Carr Papers, 1905-1919

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Carr, Jay
Title
Jay Carr Papers
Dates
1905-1919 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.5 linear feet, (1 box)
Collection Number
Mss 567
Summary
Jay Carr was a businessman in Taft, Montana; Hamilton, Montana; and Ronan, Montana. The collection contains records relating to his various businesses, especially Carr & Peck of Ronan, Montana; and personal papers, including correspondence, a diary, and photographs.
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 creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Jay Carr came from northern Idaho to the railroad town of Taft, Montana, in August 1907 and entered the restaurant business there. Shortly after, he started a saloon in association with that restaurant, and in 1909 sold the saloon to Earl V. Peck, who was to become a longtime business partner. In July 1909 the restaurant was closed, and Carr prospected and worked in saloons and cafes in western Montana and northern Idaho. In 1910, he settled in Hamilton, Montana, and in 1911, he and Peck opened the Pure Food Cafe there. In 1912, the cafe closed, and Carr and Peck moved to Ronan where they operated the freighting and contracting firm of Carr & Peck, which soon branched into the logging business. In 1918, Carr left Ronan and moved to Tarkio. He was married to Alice F. Carr.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains records relating to his various businesses, especially Carr & Peck of Ronan, Montana; and personal papers, including correspondence and a diary. The Carr & Peck materials include financial and legal agreements, correspondence with suppliers, and financial records that include customer names in Ronan. Personal materials include personal letters between Carr and family members, his diary from 1905 to 1915, and his personal impressions of Taft, Montana. Photographs include images of Taft, Hamilton, the Bitterroot Valley, and Elkhorn, Montana.

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 or photograph number], Jay Carr Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Gift of A.M. Sterling family, date unknown.

Processing Note

This collection was originally processed as LC 25. The original processors arranged the collection, separated photographs to the photograph collection, and produced a finding aid; one folder of photographs remained unprocessed. In 2004, photographs were re-united with the collection, unprocessed photographs were processed, and a new finding aid was produced.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Correspondence 1908-1919
1/2 Carr and Peck, Accounts receivable ledger 1913-1916
1/3 Carr and Peck order book 1916-1918
1/4 Carr and Peck, financial and legal 1911-1917
1/5 Financial and legal 1907-1915
1/6 Diary 1905-1915
1/7 Description of Taft, Montana undated
1/8 Map of St. Joe River, Idaho undated
1/9 Printed materials and bookmark undated
1/10 Photographs
1/10 72-0001: Winter view of a street in Taft, Montana ca. 1910
1/10 72-0002: Winter view of Elkhorn, Montana, with Elkhorn Mill ca. 1913
1/10 72-0003: View of the Bitterroot Valley, showing irrigation ditch, near Hamilton, Montana ca. 1910
1/10 72-0492: House on Castle Court Ranch near Ronan, Montana undated
1/10 72-0493: Orchard and garden on Castle Court Ranch near Ronan, Montana undated
1/10 72-0494: View of Hamilton, Montana, from east side of Bitterroot Valley, Bitterroott Mountains in background ca. 1910
1/10 72-0495: Anaconda Company's mill and pond at Hamilton, Montana, in the Bitterroot Valley ca. 1891-1917
1/10 72-0496: Main Street in Hamilton, Montana ca. 1910
1/10 72-0497: Head of Blodgett Canyon, west of Hamilton, Montana, in the Bitterroot Mountains ca. 1910
1/10 72-0498: Rock Creek emerging from Lake Como in the Bitterroot Valley ca. 1910
1/10 72-0652: Hamilton, Montana, taken from roof of Ravalli Hotel undated
1/10 78-0003: Taft, Montana undated
1/10 567:1: House under construction, no location
Note on back: This is a house I worked on last summer. I was foreman on the job in their ....(illegible)
undated
1/10 567:2: Woman in military uniform undated
1/10 567:3: R.J. Maynard, Taft, Montana 1907

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Bars (Drinking establishments)--Montana--Taft
  • Business Enterprises -- Montana--Ronan
  • Freight and freightage -- Montana--Ronan
  • Logging--Montana -- Ronan
  • Restaurants--Montana -- Hamilton (Ravalli County)

Geographical Names

  • Bitterroot River Valley (Mont.)--Photographs
  • Elkhorn (Jefferson County, Mont.) -- Photographs
  • Hamilton (Ravalli County, Mont.)--Photographs
  • Ronan (Mont.)
  • Taft (Mont.)--History
  • Taft (Mont.)--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business records -- Montana
  • Diaries -- Montana
  • Photographs -- Montana

Occupations

  • Businessmen -- Montana

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Peck, Earl V.
    Corporate Names
    • Carr & Peck