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Arthur Trenerry Papers, 1899-1969

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Trenerry, Arthur, 1881-1962
Title
Arthur Trenerry Papers
Dates
1899-1969 (inclusive)
Quantity
19.0 linear feet, (14 boxes, 51 oversize volumes, and 2 reel of microfilm)
Collection Number
Mss 038
Summary
This collection contains correspondence, financial, legal, organizational, photographic, and architectural records generated and collected by the Billings Brewing Company as well as personal records reflecting Arthur Trenerry's involvement with Billings, Montana, civic organizations.
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.
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Biographical Note

Arthur Trenerry was born in Wales in 1881 and emigrated to Butte, Montana, with his parents in the late nineteenth century. He worked as a bookkeeper, then became manager of the Billings Brewing Company plant in Butte. He held the same position at the Billings plant from 1908 to 1915, when he became president of the Billings Brewing Company.

The Billings Brewing Company was founded in 1900 in Butte by Henry Mueller, Louis Best, and Philip Grein, and constructed a state-of-the-art brewery in Billings. The brewery marketed beer from the Wyoming border north to Lewistown, Montana, and from Livingston, Montana, east to the North Dakota border. It owned and operated several bars in Billings, as well as the Gage Hotel.

Trenerry enjoyed success as president until the Prohibition movement strengthened in the late 1910s, with strong anti-German sentiment fueling the movement in Montana. Prohibition went into effect in Montana in 1918. The brewery had to dispose of hundreds of gallons of beer and closed several bars that it owned in 1919.

The company changed its name to the Advance Manufacturing Company and produced Tip Top soda in the bottling house. Trenerry operated an insurance business and managed the brewery's properties. 1920s prosperity helped erase the considerable debts, and former bars were used as hardware stores, cafes, and other businesses including a brothel. He served two terms as mayor of Billings, in 1927 and 1929.

After repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Trenerry was determined to resume the brewing business. The brewery and its equipment needed many costly repairs. But in the meantime, legal and economic forces had given large East Coast-based corporations a distinct advantage, and small breweries could no longer compete. Sales of Old Fashion Beer, the brewery's signature product, were disappointing. Trenerry continued to sell beer to dealers who were seriously delinquent in their payments. World War II brought restrictions on necessary materials--metals, paper, and grain--and business declined further, only to take a leap after 1942. Throughout this period, Trenerry assured stockholders that business was fine, and continued to pay dividends. In 1948, sales fell again as corporate breweries built new plants throughout the nation, and by 1950, the loss for the year was more than $59,000. In the 1951 stockholder's meeting, Trenerry was demoted and replaced as president. The brewery introduced a new beer, Tap Beer, and no longer produced Old Fashion Beer. Still, it was unable to survive, and closed as a brewery later that year. The company continued its real estate business. Trenerry was bitter about the closure, and fought the new board of directors. He retained considerable stock in the company, which became profitable by returning to real estate.

Trenerry served as secretary-treasurer of the Montana state Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, served on the Billings Athletic Commission, and was secretary of the Billings Rod and Gun Club. He died in Billings in 1962 at the age of eighty-one.

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Content Description

This collection contains correspondence, financial, legal, organizational, photographic, and architectural records generated and collected by the Billings Brewing Company as well as personal records reflecting Arthur Trenerry's involvement with Billings, Montana civic organizations. Collection materials document procedures and finances within the brewing company; professional relationships with product distributors, industry representatives, other regional breweries, suppliers, elected officials, and government regulators; and the internal operations of several Billings civic groups during the first half of the 20th Century. These records provide insights into rural Montana brewing businesses preceding and following the Prohibition era, the Great Depression, World War II, and the dramatic economic and cultural transformation of the American west in the 1950s and 1960s. Additionally, collection materials document the early 20th century landscape of downtown Billings and civic group activities during the Great Depression and World War II.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Some portions of the financial records are available only on microfilm.

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], Arthur Trenerry Papers, Archives and Special Collections, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three subgroups and sixteen series:

Subgroup 1: Billings Brewing Company

Series I: Correspondence

Series II: Clippings

Series III: Financial Records

Series IV: Legal Documents

Series V: Organization

Series VI: Printed Material

Series VII: Shoshone Bottling Works

Series VIII: Photographs

Subgroup 2: Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (Montana)

Series IX: Correspondence

Series X: Clippings

Series XI: Financial and Legal

Series XII: Minutes

Series XIII: Reports

Series XIV: Printed Material

Subgroup 3: Other Community Interests

Series XV: Billings Athletic Commission

Series XVI: Billings Rod and Gun Club

Custodial History

The board of directors of the Billings Brewing Company approved the gift of Trenerry's papers in 1969.

Acquisition Information

Gift of F. B. Slade, 1969.

Processing Note

The specific actions of the original processors was not documented. The collection was originally numbered LC 38 and named the Billings Brewing Company Papers. During 2004 reprocessing, the collection was re-numbered Mss 038, re-named the Arthur Trenerry Papers, distinct series were applied to collection materials, items were reorganized for consistent identification and access, and the full collection was extensively re-described.

Bibliography

David F. Slade. History of the Billings Brewing Company. MA Thesis, University of Montana, 1971

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Athletics--Montana -- Billings
  • Breweries--Montana -- Billings
  • Brewing industry--Montana --Billings
  • Clubs--Montana -- Billings
  • Community life--Montana --Billings
  • Friendly societies -- Montana
  • Hunting and fishing clubs --Montana--Billings
  • Prohibition -- Montana
  • Real estate business -- Montana--Billings
  • Welsh Americans--Montana --Billings

Geographical Names

  • Billings (Mont.)--Economic conditions--20th century
  • Billings (Mont.)--History
  • Billings (Mont.)--Social life and customs
  • Montana--Economic conditions--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business records -- Montana--Billings

Occupations

  • Businessmen--Montana --Billings
  • Civic leaders--Montana --Billings

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Advance Manufacturing Company
    • Billings Athletic Commission (Billings, Mont.)
    • Billings Brewing Company
    • Billings Rod and Gun Club (Billings, Mont.)
    • Elks (Fraternal order)

Finding aid prepared by Jodi Allison-Bunnell and Jack Rowan (2004)
2004

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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