Thain White Papers, 1959-1971

Overview of the Collection

Title
Thain White Papers
Dates
1959-1971 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 containers, (1.5 linear feet)
Collection Number
Cage 125
Summary
A collection of articles and research notes of Thain White relating to Flathead Lake.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use. Copyright restrictions may apply.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Thain White, proprietor of Flathead Lake Lookout, Lakeside, Montana, ("Population 5 -- 2 peeps, 2 dogs, 1 cat"), turned his tourist museum on the shores of Flathead Lake into a consuming interest in the local history of his area. Since Flathead Lake has been the center of both Indian and white occupation and exploration, he uncovered much information useful to scholars outside the area. Lacking library resources, he spent considerable time in the field going over the ground of the earlier explorers. Backing this up with as much information and research as he was able to procure by mail, he (sometimes in collaboration with others) produced a lengthy series of brief articles on aspects of the history of western Montana. Many remained unpublished, available only in manuscript. A few were produced in mimeograph form in small quantities in order to make them more available to students and scholars.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

The suggested citation for the collection is: [Item Description] Thain White Papers Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections Washington State University Libraries Pullman, WA

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Thain White donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries between 1961 and 1973.

Processing Note

Jan Brzoska processed this collection in August, 1973.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Letter from Harry Stanford of Kalispell concerning a few trading posts in Montana. , May 9, 1926Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 1

Tipi Rings in the Flathead Lake Area, Western Montana , October, 1959Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 2

Illustrations

Seven Tipi Rings on the Frenchman River , September, 1960Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 3

Illustrations

Photographs

Steamboat Bill, "Vessels and History of Flathead Lake," Summer, 1970, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 92-101. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 4

Illustrations

Photographs

Medicine Rock , September, 1960Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 5

Illustrations

Photographs

A Search for the Site of Sitting Bull; where he spent the First Winter In canada After the Custer Massacre , September 29, 1960Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 6

Illustrations

Photographs

The Clearwater Battlefield - The Nez Perce War, 1877 (a preliminary survey) , September 29, 1960Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 7

By Gordon L. Pouliot & Thain White

Illustrations

Photographs

The Possible Site of the Rains Scouting Party Tragedy - Nez Perce War, 1877 , September 29, 1960Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 8

By Gordon L. Pouliot & Thain White

Illustrations

Photographs

An Artifact From the Location Where J. M. Dunn was Murdered by an Indian in September 1889 , 1962Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 9

Illustrations

Photographs

Relies from the Big Hole Battlefield, August 9-10, 1877 , March, 1962Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 10

Illustrations

Photographs

Artifacts From the Battle of the Rosebud, June 17, 1876 , circa 1962Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 11

Illustrations

Photographs

Artifacts from the Bear's Paw Battlefield, September 30-October 5, 1877 , circa 1962Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1, Folder 12

Illustrations

Photographs

Some observations at the Site of Fort C. F. Smith, 1866-1868 , 1962Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 13

Illustrations

Photographs

Relics From the Bear's Paw Battlefield - Book Two , circa 1962Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 14

Illustrations

Photographs

"Duncan McDonald Letter on Nez Perces War of 1877," The New Northwest, December 27, 1878, No. 26, p. 2, c. 5/6. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 15

Battle of Wolf Mountains, January 8, 1877 - A Visit to the Site in 1963. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 16

Illustrations

Photographs

Biography - Captain William Logan , circa 1963Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 17

Illustrations

Relics From Misery Hill - Nez Perce War 1877 , circa 1966Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 18

Illustrations

Photographs

Crow Rock , circa 1966Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 19

Illustrations

Photographs

A Visit to Chimney Coulee , 1967Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 20

Illustrations

Photographs

Two Blackfeet Indian Burials: John Don't Go Out and Four Horns , circa 1967Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 21

Illustrations

Photographs

A Brief History of the Steamboating on Flathead Lake in Western Montana, and Roster of Flathead Lake Steamer etc.., 1883-1951 , 1967Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 22

Bone Pickers , 1968Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 23

Photographs

Second Visit to Chimney Coulee , 1968Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 24

Illustrations

A Study of the Lithograph "Flathead Lake, Looking Southward" In Pacific Railroad Reports & Surveys, 1853-1854 , 1968Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 25

Illustrations

Photographs

A Study of a Few Indian Burials , 1968Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 26

Illustrations

Photographs

"Buffalo Soldiers" in the Flathead Valley 1890 , 1969Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 27

Photographs

A Few Livestock Brands Used on the Reservations in Montana by Indian and White Before 1900 , 1970Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 28

Photographs

A Few Photographs on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana, 1970. Taken by Ernest White in 1907, compiled by Thain White. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 29

Photographs

An Examination of Digging Sticks and Handles Used by Indians , 1970Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 30

Illustrations

Photographs

A Few Relics from the Rifle Pits of the Yellowstone Wagon-Road & Prospecting Expedition 1874. Rosebud Site. , circa 1971Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 31

Illustrations

Photographs

Fort Conrad , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 32

Illustrations

Photographs

Partial List of Military Posts, Forts, Fur Posts, Trading Posts, Houses & a Few Other Names Such as Towns & Settlements of the Earlier Era of Montana , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 33

Kutenai Message Service, n.d. by Carling I. Malouf and Thain White Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 34

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #1

The Origin of Archaeological Specimens on the West Shore of Flathead Lake: The Origin of Pictographs , 1953Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 35

by Carling I. Malouf and Thain White

Edited by Gillett Griswold

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #2

Recollections of Lasso Strasso , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 36

by Carling I. Malouf and Thain White

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #3

Firsts Among the Kutenai , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 37

By Babtise Mathias as told to Carling I. Malouf and Thain White.

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #4

The Lakeside Occupation Site (Site 24FH2) and An Archaeological Site at Swan Lake (Site 24LA6) , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 38

Edited by Gillett Griswold

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #5

Illustrations

Sheep Herders Dictionary of Blackfeet Indian Words , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 39

By Harold Prouty as told to Thain White

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #6

The Battle Pits of the Koyokees , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 40

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #7

Illustrations

Scarred Trees - Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #8 , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 41

Illustrations

Photographs

Kutenai Pipes , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 42

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #9

Illustrations;

Photographs

Early Kutenai History , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 43

by Carling I. Malouf and Thain White

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #10

Kutenai Place Names of the Flathead Lake Region in Northwestern Montana , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 44

Flathead Lake Lookout Museum #11

Miscellaneous Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 45

Container(s) Description Dates
Meuti Site
Illustrations Photographs
circa 1963
Photograph of steamboat Ocklahama and a windjammer (1900-1910)
December 21, 1965
Postcard from Thain White
U.S. battleship passing under San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
December 11, 1964
Notes for corrections and inserts by Thain White.

Big Game Perches (stands). Compiled by Thain White. [1974]; 36 p. typescript (carbon) illus. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 46

The 1974 Visit to Chimney Coulee. [by Thain White] 1974. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 47

An Early Crossing at Dayton Creek: West Shore of Flathead Lake, Montana. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 48

Another Visit to Chimney Coulee (third) , 1974Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 49

Cantonment Jordan, second and third visit, May, 1975. , [1975]Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 50

Also: Preliminary excavations to determine the location of Cantonment Jordan, reported by Alex Bourdeau et al., May 17, 1975.

pp. 1-10 (lacking pp. 7-9) typescript (photocopy)

A Search for Cantonment Jordan Established by Captain John Mullan, 1859. By D. Hampton & T. White. , 1974Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 51

A Study of an Old Trail that may be a Portion of the Northern Nez Perce Trail that Lewis and Clark used in 1805 and 1806. , August, 1975Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 52

Some Explorations at Chimney Coulee. June 1975. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 53

Lewis and Clark's Trail. Exploration of a Segment of the Northern Nez Perce Trail. September 1975. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 54

A study of some of Fort Owen window glass. , February, 1976Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 55

The Billings home-stead window glass comparison to Fort Owen window glass. , February, 1976Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 56

[Stage lines in Montana: notes] , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 57

Abstracts of passengers and way bills [from an unidentified station ledger] , undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 58

Thunder Mountain (Copied from Idaho Yesterdays, 8:4 (Winter 1964-1965) 22 and Idaho Historical Society Reference Series No. 20 (January 1966) Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 59

Gold, stage stations, robbery and history: a story as told by my parents, by Thain White. , 1971Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 60

[A stage coach scrapbook: photos, records, maps and other papers] Compiled by Thain White , 1976Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 61

approximately 100 items

A study of a few Indian canoes, by Thain White , 1976Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 62

Sixty years later, [by Thain White] 1978. Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2, Folder 63

Howse House: an historic and archaeological study, by A. Barry Braunberger and Thain White , 1962Return to Top

Container(s): Box 3, Folder 64

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Indians of North America -- Idaho -- History.
  • Kootenai Indians -- History.
  • Nez Percé Indians -- Wars, 1877.

Initially processed by Jan Brzoska in August, 1973.
April 21, 2015

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