Location of originals unknown.
Samuel E. Johns was a Flathead Valley pioneer and founder of the Johns Hardware Store in Kalispell, Montana. Johns was born in Wales in 1866. He came to the Flathead Valley when he was twenty three years old. Shortly thereafter, he established a homestead near Flathead Lake. He later entered the mercantile business in Demersville, Montana. He moved to Somers, then to Kalispell in 1910, where he continued his business under the name Flathead Commercial Company.
Johns married Mary Agnes Jamison Pauline. They had a son, Samuel Douglas Johns who was born in 1905. In 1931 Johns and his son, Samuel Douglas, opened Johns Hardware in Kalispell. The elder Johns retired thirteen years later and died the following year on March 23, 1945. He left an extensive collection of historical notes concerning the Flathead Valley. He was also known for a large firearms collection containing many pieces of historical significance. A mountain peak, Mt. Johns, on the border of Flathead Lake was named in his honor shortly after his death.
The collection contains ten volumes of Sam E. Johns' compiled histories on Flathead Valley, Montana. These sketches contain news events, stories, and biographies, including many items pertaining to Flathead Indians in the region. Many of these historical sketches first appeared in the
Reel one (1080 frames) contains volumes one through seven of the collection. The second reel contains volumes eight through ten (687 frames). A 32 page subject index to all 10 volumes appears at the beginning of reel 1 and at the end of reel 2. There is also a paper copy of the index.
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.
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.
[Name of document or photograph number], Samuel E. Johns Journals, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
The collection was loaned for copying by Flathead County Library and Mabel Brewer, 1977.
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2001, the collection was re-described
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.