Montana Historical SocietyArchives
MC 429
Standish, John K., 1903-1967
J.K. Standish papers
circa 1926-1959
1 linear ft.
This collection consists mainly of the writings of J.K. Standish, a Montana newspaper man who wrote about Montana history.
The collection includes rough draft manuscripts, news clippings, as well as correspondence between Standish and the son of Judge L.L. Callaway in regards to
Callaway's own research and writing on Montana history.
91:2-4
English
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
John K. Standish was born in Halsey, Oregon, on June 20, 1903, the son of Daniel B. and Dora Standish. About 1915 the family homesteaded on land in Teton County, Montana, about
5 miles west of Power. In 1930 he was living in Red Lodge, Montana, with his wife Helen and two daughters: Margaret (age 3) and Patricia (age 1).
He worked for the Montana News Association in Great Falls from about 1931-1936. The MNA Inserts published numerous articles on George Armstrong Custer and other popular early Montana
topics. Standish returned to Oregon. In the 1940s he was living at Klamath Falls.
John K. Standish died in Linn County, Oregon, on February 1, 1967.
Llewellyn L. Callaway was born on December 15, 1868. Llewellyn was educated at the University of Michigan and received a degree in law. He returned to Montana to practice in Virginia
City and White Sulphur Springs. He was also a mayor of Virginia City and a justice of the Montana Supreme Court. In his spare time he wrote on the history of the state.
His intentions were to publish the material, but when he realized he would be unable to do so, he handed his papers off to John Standish. He died August 8, 1951.
The collection is divided into two subgroups: J.K. Standish Papers, and Judge L.L. Callaway Papers. The the J.K. Standish subgroup includes two series, writings and clippings.
Writings makes up the bulk of the collection and includes typed manuscript rough drafts (with edits) focusing mainly on
territorial era Montana history ranging from short articles to full length manuscripts. Short stories and opinion pieces are also included. The clippings consist of two folders of
Montana News Association Inserts articles. The second subgroup includes material relating to the writings of Judge L.L. Callaway and is divided into two series, correspondence and writings.
The Correspondence series (1956-1958) includes letters between Standish and Judge Callaway's son, L.L. Callaway Jr. discussing the publishing of his father's research. Also included
in the folder are news articles written by Standish relaying the stories of Callaway, published in the 1930s. Notes written on the articles suggest he used
them as guides in the publishing of a book. The Writings series includes two copies of what appears to be the same manuscript.
The collection is broken into two subgroups, which are arranged by series. The J.K. Standish subgroup consists of two series: 1. writings (see file plan for more); 2. clippings (chronological).
The L.L. Callaway subgroup is arranged by two series: 1. correspondence (chronological); 2. writings (chronological).
The first six folders in the collection house articles that were originally housed in six bound portfolios. Articles in these folders reflect the original order
of the portfolios. The titles of the writing are listing in the finding aid in the order they appear in their respective folders in the collection.
Collection open for research.
RESTRICTION: Literary rights and copyrights are undetermined. Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not
necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information
contact an archivist.
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request.
This collection is made up of combining an existing collection with a new acquisition in 2017. The initial accruals was originally processed into SC 1427. This material was combined with
the second acquisition to create this collection.
A number of J.K. Standish's articles are cited in the Index to Montana News Association Inserts.
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.
Standish, John K., 1903-1967
Callaway, Llewellyn Link, 1868-1951
Custer, George A., (George Armstrong), 1839-1876
Plassmann, Martha Edgerton, 1850-1936
Montana News Association
Non-discriminatory
Bannack (Mont.)--History
Virginia City (Mont.)--History
Little Bighorn, Battle of the, Mont., 1876
Electroencephalography
Cattle trade--Montana
Journalism
manuscripts
Historian
Journalists--Montana
J.K. Standish
Writings
1 / 1
Typed Rough Draft Manuscripts, Topics and Titles Include: Grand Tetons, "William 'Flipping Bill' Cantrell
and Montana's Last Vigilantes", "Sheephearder's Grave", Hugh Monroe, "Kit Carson, Paragon of Frontiersmen", "Amazing Adventures of
Hugh Glass", "The Swan Land & Cattle Company", Musselshell Country & Cattlemen, Cattle Industry, "Aleck Swan and the Swan
Land and Cattle Company", "Organization of Range Cattle Business in Eastern Montana", "The Cheyenne Club Members Were Men Who
Became Famous in National Affair", "How Mexico Came Under Spanish Rule in the Sixteenth Century", "Baker's Massacre on Marias River
Disgrace to U.S. Army", "Bents Fort, Oldest and Largest of Fur Trading Post of Great Plains", "Historic Santa Fe Trail was Greatest
Highway of Commerce West of Mississippi", "Overland Mail Route of 60's Spanned Wilderness and Was Mighty Influence in Pushing Back
Frontiers"
undated
1 / 2
Typed Rough Draft Manuscripts, Topics and Titles Include: "Fort Phil Kearny Stood Siege by Indian
Hordes Two Years", "Historic Santa Fe", Alexander Majors, Conrad Kohrs, "John Clay, Founder of Present Day Livestock Commissioner
Firm, Pioneered West with Industry in Hectic Days", Cattle Industry, "Pierre Raisson was Greatest Empire Builder and Explorer of
Frenchmen in Far West", "Free Trappers Explored Far West and Blazed Trails for Gold Seekers and Government Explorers", "Arrapoosh
was One of Crow's Greatest Chiefs", Frederick S. Remington
undated
1 / 3
Typed Rough Draft Manuscripts, Topics and Titles Include: "Swanson, the Swede, Won at Snap Faro,
but Left His Roll of $5,560", Justice Hezekiah L. Hosmer (written by Martha Edgerton Plassmann), Martha Edgerton Plassmann writing on Col.
Wilber Fisk Sanders and Leonard A. Gridley, Henry Plummer, "Thomas J. Dimsdale & 'The Vigilantes of Montana'", "Judge William
Y. Pemberton, Vigilante, Played Important Role in Establishing Law and Order", "Judge Francis M. Thompson was Friend of Henry
Plummer" (written by Martha Edgerton Plassmann), "Spectacular Death of Pizanthia, Days After Plummer's Execution" (written by Martha Edgerton
Plassmann), "Bummer Dan", "Pioneer Historian Recalls Seeing Ned Ray, Henry Plummer, and Other Road Agents When She was Young Lady
in Bannack", "Another Version of George Ives' Trial and Lawyers Took Defended the Accused", "George Ives Double-crossed Road Agents
to Save Milton After Moody's Life After He Befriended His Sweetheart", "Mystery of Henry Plummer's Wife Solved After Many Years"
(written by Martha Edgerton Plassmann), Bannack, Plummer & Road Agents, "X. Beidler, Evangelist to the Road Agents of Montana" (written
by Matt W. Alderson), "Hangman's Graveyard" (Virginia City), George Ives, "Beaverhead County Records Reveals Some of Sheriff Henry
Plummer's Activities in Office", "Col. Wilbur Sanders' Experience with Road Agents: Sheriff Henry Plummer and Jack Gallaher"
(written by Col. William F. Sanders
undated
1 / 4
Typed Rough Draft Manuscripts, Topics and Titles Include: "How the LaVerendryes, Canadian Voyagers
and Explorers, Searching for a Passage to a Mysterious Western Sea, Discovered the Rocky Mountains", John Clay, Rustlers, "Overland
Mail Route of the 60's Spanned Wilderness and was Mighty Influence in Pushing Back Frontiers", "Horse Revolutionized Life of Indians on
Plains", "A Romance of the Old Range Days", "Teddy Roosevelt was Not a 'Tenderfoot' In the Badlands of the Dakotas"
undated
1 / 5
"Captain John Albert Slade -- The Doctor Jekly and Mr. Hyde of Early West"
undated
1 / 6
Typed Rough Drafts Short Stories & Opinion Pieces
undated
1 / 7
Assorted Writings on American Indian Early Interaction with Whites
undated
1 / 8
Assorted Writings on Bannack & Vigilante Activities
undated
1 / 9
Assorted Writings on Bitter Root Valley
undated
2 / 1
Assorted Writings on Cattle Industry
undated
2 / 2
Assorted Writings on Kid Curry, Calamity Jane, Swanson the Swede
undated
2 / 3
Assorted Miscellaneous Writings
undated
2 / 4
Assorted Non-Montana Writings
undated
2 / 5
Assorted Short Stories
undated
2 / 6
Montana History
undated
2 / 7
Battle of Little Bighorn, Derived from Diaries & Writings of General Edward S. Godfry circa 1933
author unknown
circa 1933
2 / 8
Battle of Little Big Horn incl. Transcript of Diary of Mark Kellog, Bismark Tribune Correspondent,
author unknown
undated
2 / 9
"Excerpts from "Then & Now" re: Battle of Little Big Horn (1900)"
1900
Clippings
2 / 10
Re: Custer & the Battle of Little Big Horn [From
Montana News Inserts]
1926, 1929, undated
3 / 1
Clippings
undated
Judge L.L. Callaway
Correspondence
3 / 2
"Judge Callaway Correspondence Bazel, Baptise Charbonneau" [Letters between
J. K. Standish and L. L. Callaway Jr re: Works of Judge Callaway]
1956-1958
Writings
3 / 3
Writing on Early Montana History, by L.L. Callaway
1956-1958
3 / 4
"Captain James Williams...", by John Standish
undated