David B. Christie Family Letters, 1883-1920

Overview of the Collection

Title
David B. Christie Family Letters
Dates
1883-1920
Quantity
.2 linear feet
Collection Number
Collection 1365, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The David B. Christie Family Letters were written by David and Emma or sent to them by other family members. The letters predominantly reflect the sharing of family information within the context of their daily lives. Most of the letters between David and Emma reveal the dreams, goals, and struggles of moving to Montana.
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
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

David B. Christie was born in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1848 of Scottish immigrants who came to the United States about 1847. David was the fourth of four children of James and Eliza Reid Christie. On July 4, 1870 David married Mary Emma Stratten also of Watertown, Wisconsin. While living in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Emma gave birth to seven children, with their first child dying within two years. David Christie suffered from asthma, and for this reason came west to Montana Territory beginning in 1883 to explore the possibility of relocating himself and his family. For three consecutive summers David work for the Godwin Ranch near Cherry Creek in Madison County, while exploring Montana to find a place to homestead. In 1885, David found land in Bridger Canyon, about 12 miles from Bozeman, where he built a home and move his family there in October. Once settled in Bridger Canyon, farming, dairying, and stock raising maintained the Christie homestead, and Emma gave birth to three more children. Five of his sons also homesteaded within the region. David Christie remained at his Bridger Canyon homestead until his death in 1920, with Emma dying the following year.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Christie letters, except for five, were written by David and Emma or sent to them by other family members. The majority of the letters are between David and Emma, and David and his older brother Alexander, who is often referred to as Sandy. The letters predominantly reflect the sharing of family information within the context of their daily lives. The collection chronologically organized with each folder representing a particular time period or specific event. Most of the letters between David and Emma reveal the dreams, goals, and struggles of moving to Montana. A long letter from David's oldest brother Thomas, tells of his experience as a missionary living in Turkey, where he spent most of his life. Beginning in 1898, Alexander corresponded to the Christie family through David of his travels to Alaska during the Klondike gold rush.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

The David B. Christie collection consists of 106 photocopies or typed transcriptions of original letters owned by Lawrence G. Christie of Bozeman, Montana and provided by him to Special Collections in 1978 and 1983.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 March 11

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Rapidan, Minnesota February-June 1883
1/2 Godwin Ranch August-October 1883
1/3 Rapidan Minnesota November, 1883-May 2, 1884
1/4 Godwin Ranch May 15-August 1884
1/5 Godwin Ranch August-September 1885
1/6 Bridger Canyon September 16, 1885-July 1920
1/7 Thomas Christie March 9, 1890
1/8 Alexander Christie April 1898-April 1901

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Frontier and pioneer life-Montana

Family Names

  • Christie family

Geographical Names

  • Gallatin County (Mont.)-History

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Christie, David B (creator)
    Family Names
    • Christie family (creator)