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Smith Drug Store (Missoula, Mont.) Records, 1904-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Smith Drug Store (Missoula, Mont.)
Title
Smith Drug Store (Missoula, Mont.) Records
Dates
1904-1990 (inclusive)
Quantity
30.6 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 199 (collection)
Summary
The Smith Drug Store operated in downtown Missoula, Montana, from 1897 to 1998. The collection contains prescription records, narcotic order forms, and pharmaceutical artifacts. Prescriptions are restricted for 80 years from their date of creation; contact Archives and Special Collections at the University of Montana for details.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

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. All prescriptions are restricted for 80 years after their creation - contact Archives and Special Collections for details.

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

The Smith Drug Store was one of the oldest downtown Missoula, Montana businesses, operating in essentially the same location for over a hundred years. David C. Smith came to Missoula in 1894 and learned his trade during a three-year apprenticeship with George Freisheiner. In 1897, he went into business with L.N. Simons and so began "Smith & Simons" at 307 North Higgins. Three years later Smith bought his partner's interest in the business and changed its name to Smith Drug. Many owners have since operated Smith Drug, but the name remained unchanged. N. Burton (Red) Mathews originally assumed ownership from Smith. Since the original sale, owners have included Si Muller, Lud Polich (1950), and Greg Hall and Gerry Raunig (1965). The most recent owners, Byron Dodd and Walter Dodd, acquired Smith Drug in 1972 and operated the pharmacy and drug store until it closed in 1998.

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Content Description

The collection contains prescription records from the Smith Drug Company dating from 1904 to 1990. Not all prescriptions from this period are contained in the collection. The first group, #7000-152000, includes prescriptions from 1904 to 1932, and separate series of narcotic prescriptions from 1914 to 1968. A more current set of prescriptions, #439000-532000, dates from 1973 to 1990 and is included in the narcotic prescription series. Additional prescriptions from Peek's Pharmacy (located in Missoula), #120000-212000, from 1954 to 1966, are included. Prescriptions from Western Pharmacy (also located in Missoula), #216000-225000, from 1969 to 1974, finish the collection. Also contained in the collection are narcotic order forms dating from March 1942 to March 1971. All prescriptions are restricted for 80 years after their creation. Artifacts in the collection, are a white lab coat, glass bottles, and metal prescription file boxes.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document], Smith Drug Store Records, Archives and Special Collections, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is divided into seven series:

Series I: Prescriptions, 10.0 linear feet, 1904-1932

Series II: Narcotic Prescriptions, 15.5 linear feet, 1915-1968, 1973-1990

Series III: Peek's Pharmacy Prescriptions, 2.0 linear feet, 1954-1966

Series IV: Peek's Pharmacy Narcotics, 0.3 linear feet, 1959-1963

Series V: Western Pharmacy, 0.8 linear feet, 1969-1974

Series VI: Order Forms, 1.0 linear foot, 1942-1971

Series VII: Artifacts, 1.0 linear foot, undated

Custodial History

The materials in this collection remained on the premises of the pharmacy until donation to Archives and Special Collections.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Byron Dodd, 1994.

Processing Note

The original processors arranged the records as two collections, LC 199 and LC 200. In 1998, all materials from the Smith Drug Company site were integrated into one collection and re-described. By integrating collection materials, most gaps in the prescription numbers were filled, however, a few gaps remain. In 2015, the collection was reassessed. Materials in Series VI were moved to new folders and additional materials were restricted.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Subject Terms

  • Drugstores--Montana -- Missoula

Form or Genre Terms

  • Artifacts--Montana -- Missoula
  • Business records -- Montana--Missoula
  • Prescriptions--Montana --Missoula

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Peek's Pharmacy (Missoula, Mont.) (creator)
    • Western Pharmacy (Missoula, Mont.) (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Jannie Prawitz
1998

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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