Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Collection
-
Biographical Note
- Content Description
- Administrative Information
-
Detailed Description of the Collection
- Fort Assinniboine Research
- Camp Baker/Fort Logan Research
- Fort C.F. Smith Research
- Fort Custer Research
- Fort Ellis Research
- Fort Keogh Research
- Fort Lewis Research
- Fort Maginnis Research
- Fort Missoula Research
- Fort Shaw Research
- Miscellaneous Research Notes and Materials
- Fort Research Photographs
- Microfilm Records from the National Archives and Original Holdings of the Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois
- Names and Subjects
Raymond A. Mentzer papers, 1974-1979
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Mentzer, Raymond A.
- Title
- Raymond A. Mentzer papers
- Dates
- 1974-1979 (inclusive)19741979
- Quantity
- 1.2 linear feet
- Collection Number
- 2428
- Summary
- The Raymond A. Mentzer Research Papers consist of photocopied journal articles, transcripts of interviews, copies of published and unpublished papers, and newspaper articles on the history and physical descriptions of 19th century forts in Montana. Other items include photocopies of the 1880 census and official government documents of the Department of the Army pertaining to Montana forts, copy photographs of the original forts and soldiers, hand-drawn maps, diagrams and plans, copy slides of Camp Baker, Fort Logan, Fort Ida Thoroughman, Fort Howie, and Fort Maginnis portraying surveys of the physical locations and remaining structures of these forts in the 1970s. The primary concentration of this research is the location, layouts and structural content of the original forts and their conditions at the time of the research, but there is also substantial information on the social and military experiences of the soldiers assigned to Montana forts during the active period of the 1860s -1890s including the era of the Indian Wars.
- 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
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Raymond A. Mentzer, Jr. was born in Pittsburgh PA on September 20, 1945. He was married in 1968 and has two children. He received his AB in European History from Fordham University in 1967; he earned his M.A. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1970 and his PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1973. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1973-78. He became an Associate Professor in History at Montana State University in 1978. He was an American Council of Learned Society fellow from 1975-76 and a fellow of the National Endowment of Humanities 1981-82. Memberships include the AHA; Renaissance Society of America; and the Society of French History Studies. His research concentrated on French Protestantism and French legal history. He is the author of Heresy Proceedings in Languedoc, 1500-1560 (1983) and Blood and Belief: Family Survival and Confessional Identity among the Provincial Huguenot Nobility (1994). He also authored numerous papers in assorted professional journals. He is now retired from Montana State University.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The papers consist of photocopied journal articles, transcripts of interviews, copies of published and unpublished papers, and newspaper articles on the history and physical descriptions of 19th century forts in Montana. Photocopies of the 1880 census and official government documents of the Department of the Army pertaining to Montana forts including: legal proceedings, medical records and letters sent to and from various forts to their departments, photocopied maps, plans and drawings of physical structures of forts of Montana. Posts described are Fort Assiniboine, Camp Baker (Fort Baker)/Fort Logan, Fort C.F. Smith, Fort Custer, Fort Ellis, Fort Keogh, Fort Maginnis, Fort Missoula, and Fort Shaw. Copy photographs of the original forts and soldiers, hand-drawn maps, diagrams, and plans are complimented by both original slides by Raymond A. Mentzer and Lawrence C. Heberle, and copy slides of Camp Baker, Fort Logan, Fort Ida Thoroughman, Fort Howie, and Fort Maginnis portraying surveys of the physical locations and remaining structures of these forts in the 1970s. The primary concentration of this research is the location, layouts, and structural content of the original forts and their conditions at the time of the research; however there is also substantial information on the social and military experiences of the soldiers assigned to Montana forts during the active period of the 1860s -1890s including the era of the Indian Wars. Some original 1970 pamphlets and newspaper clippings are included, but most of the material is photocopied or transcribed. Correspondence about the disposition of the buildings at Fort Maginnis; photocopied bibliographies and inventories, and handwritten research notes by Raymond Mentzer are included.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Series 1 Fort Assinniboine Research
Series 2 Camp Baker/Fort Logan Research
Series 3 Fort C.F. Smith Research
Series 4 Fort Custer Research
Series 5 Fort Ellis Research
Series 6 Fort Keogh Research
Series 7 Fort Lewis Research
Series 8 Fort Maginnis Research
Series 9 Fort Missoula Research
Series 10 Fort Shaw Research
Series 11 Miscellaneous Research Notes and Materials
Series 12 Fort Research Photographs
Series 13 Microfilm Records
Acquisition Information
Research materials and notes, microfilm, and photo slides on research of Montana Military Installations were donated to Special Collections on June 8, 2001 by Ray Mentzer. The research was conducted in the early 1970s for the Bicentennial History Project while Mentzer was a member of the 50th Military History Detachment of the U.S. Army Reserve.
Processing Note
This collection was processed 2009 April 21
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
1: Fort Assinniboine ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of maps, official documents, unpublished papers, newspaper articles, and excerpts of articles pertaining to Ft. Assinniboine.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 1 | Census |
| 1 | 2 | History - newspaper supplement ( includes maps) |
| 1 | 3 | History - 3 term papers |
| 1 | 4 | Hardiman, Nicholas P. "Brick Stronghold on the Border: Ft. Assiniboine, 1879-1911." (Article in MWH) |
| 1 | 5 | MHS Inventory |
| 1 | 6 | Newspaper articles (photocopies) |
| 1 | 7 | WPA Writer Project Transcripts: Senator Cowan, L.K. Devlin, Gustavus C. Doane letter |
2: Camp Baker/Fort Logan ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of maps, official government letters, reports, and documents, locations, newspaper articles, unpublished papers, pertaining to Camp Baker/Ft. Logan. Oversize materials retained in separate file have been indicated with an asterisk (*).
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 8 | Census |
| 1 | 9 | History - 2 papers by Lawrence S. Heberle |
| 1 | 10 | Intro; Location and pictures; Morning Reports; Present site |
| 1 | 11 | Letters from GSA; Report from Acting Surgeon General 1976; Report from W. Walton 1958; The Gaddis Ranch; Misc. newspaper articles; Reports from: Old Forts of the Northwest 1963; Hart forts of the west 1965; Frazer |
| 1 | 12 | Letters; Bibliographies; Map lists; Official letters; Old Army press information |
Map of hospital (photocopy) |
||
Maps of Carpenter, Tinsmith and Saddlery Shops (photocopies) |
||
3: Fort C.F. Smith ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of unpublished papers and newspaper articles pertaining to Ft. C.F. Smith.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 15 | History - 2 term papers |
| 1 | 16 | Newspaper articles on history of fort |
4: Fort Custer ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of unpublished papers, newspaper articles and physical plans pertaining to Ft. Custer.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 17 | History of Ft. Custer - term papers |
| 1 | 18 | Newspaper articles on history of fort |
| 1 | 19 | Plans with descriptions |
5: Fort Ellis ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of maps; official government correspondence, documents and reports; unpublished papers; newspaper articles; and reminiscences pertaining to Ft. Ellis. Oversize material retained in separate file (*).
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 20 | Army letter from officer's wife - hailstorm |
| 1 | 21 | Census |
| 1 | 22 | Description of post with drawing; US Surgeon General Medical Reports |
| 1 | 23 | History - term papers |
| 1 | 24 | Letters sent / received |
| 1 | 25 | Letters sent-inventory |
Map of compound |
||
| 1 | 27 | Misc. Fort file RG-77 - inventory of fort plans |
| 1 | 28 | Newspaper articles-history of fort |
| 1 | 29 | Post Returns - US Adjutant General's Office |
| 1 | 30 | Reports of the Secretary of War |
6: Fort Keogh ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of official government reports, maps, and newspaper articles pertaining to Ft. Keogh.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 2 | 1 | Census 1880 |
| 2 | 2 | Newspaper articles on history of fort and photocopied maps |
| 2 | 3 | Photocopy of reports of General of the Army, and Secretary of War |
7: Fort Lewis ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of unpublished papers and map pertaining to Ft. Lewis.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 2 | 4 | Dissly, Robert: The military and mid-Montana |
| 2 | 5 | Koury, Michael, Cpt.: Guarding the Carrol Trail, Camp Lewis |
| 2 | 6 | Map-Carrol Trail |
8: Fort Maginnis ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of maps, descriptions of buildings, architectural styles, equipment, plans, official documents, newspaper articles, unpublished papers, and oral history pertaining to Ft. Maginnis. Correspondence on disposition of buildings. Monument proposal pamphlet. Oversize material retained in separate file (*).
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 2 | 7 | Building measurements and hand-drawn sketches |
| 2 | 8 | Burke, Frank: Letters from the wild west |
| 2 | 9 | Disposition of buildings |
| 2 | 10 | Equipment descriptions-photocopies of utensils, etc. |
| 2 | 11 | Historic building descriptions-architectural designs |
| 2 | 12 | Letters regarding disposition of buildings |
| 2 | 13 | Map list and prices RG-153;393;77 |
Map w/ insert maps of area |
||
| 2 | 15 | Maps-photocopies |
| 2 | 16 | MHS Archives RS 29-descriptions of disposition of buildings |
| 2 | 17 | Misc. request forms for research |
| 2 | 18 | Misc. notes, photograph photocopies and correspondence about research |
| 2 | 19 | Mueller, Oscar: Central Montana Raids of 1884 |
| 2 | 20 | Notes from Fergus County Argus-1897 on sale of fort buildings |
| 2 | 21 | Plans w/ Geological survey photos |
| 2 | 22 | Poetter, Frank: Interview |
| 2 | 23 | Post Returns |
| 2 | 24 | State monument proposal |
| 2 | 25 | Upton, Dell: Traditional Timber Framing |
9: Fort Missoula ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of unpublished paper, bibliography, and article on Fort Missoula. Hand-drawn map and pamphlet.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 2 | 26 | History of Fort Missoula: Col. P.H. Mullay |
| 2 | 27 | Historical Museum pamphlet |
| 2 | 28 | Map, hand-drawn |
| 2 | 29 | MHRC Bibliography |
| 2 | 30 | Thomas E. Blades and John W. Wike: Fort Missoula |
10: Fort Shaw ResearchReturn to Top
Photocopies of unpublished papers, newspaper, articles and bibliography of Fort Shaw.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 2 | 31 | History term papers |
| 2 | 32 | MHRC bibliography |
| 2 | 33 | Newspaper articles on history of fort |
11: Miscellaneous Research Notes and MaterialsReturn to Top
Assorted research materials including photocopies of unpublished papers; journal articles; maps, newspaper clippings; bibliographies; official documents pertaining to soldier's lifestyles and disciplinary actions; physical descriptions of various forts in Montana in the 19th century. Oversize materials retained in separate file (*).
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 3 | 1 | Articles on soldiers' lives in Montana |
| 3 | 2 | Burlingame, Merrill: Health and Hospitals in the Gallatin 100 years ago |
| 3 | 3 | Discipline - miscellaneous articles on conditions and legal actions against soldiers at Montana forts |
| 3 | 4 | Discipline - General Court Martial records; lists of soldiers |
| 3 | 5 | Discipline - Research notes on soldiers' military records and life styles |
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper - Indian Campaign in Montana 1881 and Ft. Assiniboine 1887 |
||
Harper's Weekly - Sketches of General Miles' Winter Campaign 1877 and the Sioux Campaign: July 22, 1876 |
||
| 3 | 8 | History of the 10th Calvary |
| 3 | 9 | MHRC bibliography: Ft. Ellis/Logan with margin notes |
| 3 | 10 | MHRC bibliography: Ft. Ellis/Logan photocopy |
| 3 | 11 | Military history letters; fort descriptions; articles on military in the west; misc. fort information, maps |
| 3 | 12 | Miscellaneous notes; articles; pamphlets; maps, newspaper clippings about forts |
| 3 | 13 | Miscellaneous research materials about Montana forts |
| 3 | 14 | Miscellaneous pages from essays |
| 3 | 15 | Report on the forts of Montana in 1880 by Peter D. Quay |
| 3 | 16 | SHPO Inventory |
Fort Yellowstone - photocopies of 12 maps of compound and individual buildings |
||
12: Fort Research PhotographsReturn to Top
Copy photographs from the US Army Military History Institute, National Archives, Bureau of Land Management, and slide copies from the Montana Historical Society of selected forts in Montana in the 19th century including buildings, interiors, and soldiers. Copies of aerial photos of fort site. Original slides taken by Raymond Mentzer and Lawrence Heberle showing surveys of fort sites and existing buildings in the mid-1970s.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 4 | 1 | Fort Assiniboine - Photographs: 19th century. Photographs #1-3 |
| 4 | 2 | Fort Custer - Photographs: 19th century. Photographs #4-10 |
| 4 | 3 | Fort Keogh - Photographs: Cutting ice on the Yellowstone. Photograph #11 |
| 4 | 4 | Fort Keogh - Photographs: photocopies. Photographs #12-29 |
| 4 | 5 | Fort Maginnis - Aerial photographs. Photographs #30-37 |
| 4 | 6 | Fort Maginnis - Photographs of buildings - 1970s. Photographs #38-108 |
| 4 | 7 | Fort Maginnis - Photographs: 19th century - buildings, soldiers. Photographs #109-119 |
| 4 | 8 | Fort Missoula - Photographs: 19th century. Photographs #120-127 |
| 4 | 9 | Slides: sleeves #1-11: Camp Baker/Ft. Logan; Ft. Maginnis; Asst. unidentified locations |
| 4 | 10 | Negatives of photographs #47-108; 117-119 |
13: Microfilm Records from the National Archives and Original Holdings of the Newberry Library, Chicago, IllinoisReturn to Top
Microfilm copies pertaining to correspondence, medical histories, courts martial, circulars, and rosters for various Montana Forts in the 19th century.
| Container(s) | Description |
|---|---|
| Box | |
| 5 | Selected letters received 1867-1886, Ft. Ellis, MT. RG-98 NARA |
| 6 | Record of medical history of posts-Camp Cooke, Fort Ellis. RG-94 NARA |
| 7 | Records of medical history of posts-Camp Baker, Fort Benton, Fort Fetterman. RG-98 NARA |
| 8 | Records of medical history of posts-Fort Maginnis. RG-98 NARA |
| 9 | US Army, Dept. of Dakota 1868-1872: G. O. ; Circulars; Rosters, records of General Courts Martial. From Newberry Library |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976-Montana
- Fortification-Montana-History
- Fortification-Montana-Photographs
- Frontier and pioneer life--Montana
- Indians of North America-Wars-Montana
- Military historians-Montana
- Soldiers-Montana
Personal Names
- Heberle, Lawrence S.
Corporate Names
- Montana State University--Bozeman--Faculty
- United States-Army-History
- United States-Army-Military life
Geographical Names
- Camp Baker (Mont.)
- Fort Assiniboine (Hill County, Mont.)-History
- Fort C.F. Smith (Mont.)-History
- Fort Custer (Mont.)-History
- Fort Ellis (Mont.)-History
- Fort Howie (Mont.)
- Fort Ida Thoroughman (Mont.)
- Fort Keogh (Mont.)-History
- Fort Logan (Mont. : Fort)-History
- Fort Maginnis (Mont.)-History
- Fort Missoula (Mont.)--History
- Fort Shaw (Mont. : Fort)-History
- Montana--History, Military--19th century
Form or Genre Terms
- Maps-Montana
- Photographs--Montana
Kim Allen Scott, 2009. Updated by Heather Mulliner, 2022.
2022
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
