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Forestvale Cemetery Association records, 1890-1988

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Forestvale Cemetery Association (Helena, Mont.)
Title
Forestvale Cemetery Association records
Dates
1890-1988 (inclusive)
Quantity
10 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 240 (collection)
Summary
The Forestvale Cemetery Association operates a cemetery in Helena, Montana. Records (1890-1988) of the Association and its predecessor, the Helena Cemetery Association, include correspondence, financial records, legal documents, burial registers, minutes, maps, a card file, and lot books.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research. .

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 original Helena Cemetery Association was incorporated on June 11, 1887, by Andrew J. Fisk, Ansalem J. Davidson, William Muth, and others, in response to a lack of space available in existing cemeteries. A year later the Helena City Council appointed a committee to study the matter. In May 1890, after several years of considering various proposals for locations and facilities, F.R. Wallace, as trustee for the City of Helena, purchased the present site of the cemetery from Evan and Amelia Harris for $22,220. In August 1890 a second Helena Cemetery Association was incorporated by P.D. Grommon, John B. Clayberg, A.M. Thornburgh and E.C. Richards to acquire land; improve and beautify it; lay out and construct lots, roadways, and water systems; sell lots; and all other acts "connected with the maintenance and operation of a Cemetery..." The Association was incorporated for $250,000 and stockholders included many of the most prominent names in Helena society. One of the first acts of the new Association was to purchase the property for the cemetery from trustee F.R. Wallace, for "$1 and other valuable considerations" among which was the full $250,000 worth of capital stock. Wallace then transferred back to the Association $61,000 worth of stock to be sold as needed to finance improvements. One such improvement was a street railway to the site, constructed by Peter Winne. Under the leadership of Winne, who became President in December 1892, the association developed the site, installed a water system, planted trees and shrubs, and sold lots. A permanent Endowment Fund and a Perpetual Care and Improvement Fund were also established.

The Helena Cemetery was renamed the Forestvale Cemetery around 1901. The Helena Cemetery Association's corporate charter expired in 1910, but the affairs of the Association were never formally closed. The Association continued to meet until 1913. Secretary and Manager Henry Winter had by this time acquired, through direct ownership and proxies, control of over 99% of the stock. He assumed personal management of the property. In May 1918, in response to rapidly rising lot prices, poor maintenance, and accusations of mismanagement, William Muth and other trustees of the Permanent Care and Improvement Fund and Endowment Fund filed suit against Henry Winter and other trustees to force them to account for the funds. Muth and other lot owners and relatives of people buried in the cemetery met in June of 1919 to form a new association. They selected the name Forestvale Cemetery Association and proceeded to file a condemnation suit to force Winter to sell the property. The court eventually set the price at $35,000 and the property was conveyed to the Forestvale Cemetery Association. Over the years the endowment funds which were based on a percentage of the original lot purchase prices became inadequate to maintain the cemetery, which fell into serious disrepair.

In 1965 a concerted effort was made to clean up the grounds by removing excess trees and shrubs, improving the irrigation system, filling sunking plots, etc. However by the late 1980s the cemetery was again in poor condition. In a special election on April 2, 1991, School District #1 voted to fund a cemetery district to provide permanent upkeep by Lewis and Clark County.

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Content Description

Records. 1890-1988. 10 linear feet. Records of the Forestvale Cemetery Association, and its predecessor the Helena Cemetery Association, include correspondence (1891-1911, 1952-1988) regarding general operation of the Forestvale Cemetery, and with lot owners and relatives about burials and lot maintenance; court papers (1894-1978); financial records (1921-1982); legal documents (1890-1958) including abstracts of title, agreements, deeds, etc.; maps (1926-1981); minutes (1890-1913, 1919-1986); organizational records (1891-1986) including annual reports of corporations, bylaws, rules, certificate of incorporation, and miscellany; a subject file (1961-1964) on the sprinkler system; and miscellany (1890-1974). The miscellany series contains the real heart of the collection, consisting of burial index cards (1890s-1940s) including a section on Chinese burials, burial registers (1890-1971), a lot book (1890-1963), lot owner index cards (1890s-1940s), lot owners books (1890-1930), and miscellany. [Collection should be used in conjunction with the Forestvale Cemetery book compiled by the Lewis and Clark County Genealogical Society, in the catalogued Library Collection.]

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by series. Some material housed in Archives Manuscript Volumes, Archives Map Case, and oversize boxes. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

12:7-3

Location of Collection

5:5-5 (oversize boxes 4, 5, 7)

Location of Collection

5:8-5 (oversize boxes 23)

Location of Collection

146:4-2 (volumes 1-4)

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

Processing Note

The Forestvale Cemetery Association records include materials in many forms, sizes, and shapes. In order to protect the often fragile records, bound volumes have been placed in boxes whenever possible. The bound volumes, index card boxes, and other odd-sized materials are arranged by series and alphabetically within each series. This results in many split runs of box/folder numbers in the typed inventory.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Journal
      Dates: 1970-1982
      Container: Volume 1
      Location: Financial Records

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Burial registers, No. 1-2 (includes name of deceased, place born, residence, date of death, cause of death, age of deceased, undertaker, lot owner, lot and section, and remarks)
      Dates: 1882-1930, 1930-1971
      Container: Volume 2-3
      Location: Miscellany

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Deed book
      Dates: 1909-1921
      Container: Volume 4
      Location: Miscellany

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: A-Z (primarily with lot owners and relatives concerning burials, maintenance of lots, etc.)
      Dates: 1957-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1-15
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Miscellaneous (re general operation of cemetery)
      Dates: 1891-1911, 1952-1988
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 16-18
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Court Papers

    • Description: In re "The Helena Cemetery Association" and the Trustees of the "Permanent Care and Improvement Fund" and "Endowment Fund" of said Association
      Dates: 1925
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: Court Papers
    • Description: In the matter of I.O.O.F. Cemetery Association
      Dates: 1969
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Court Papers
    • Description: In the matter of the Estate of Velma Weiss Spurlock, deceased
      Dates: 1962
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: Court Papers
    • Description: In the matter of the Forestvale Endowment Fund
      Dates: 1974
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: Court Papers
    • Description: Montana National Bank vs. George S. VanLaw, et al. (re Helena Cemetery Association stock)
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: Court Papers
    • Description: Eileen E. Richey vs. ... The Endowment Funds of the Forestvale Cemetery Association ...
      Dates: 1978
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: Court Papers

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Accounts receivable [scattered]
      Dates: 1964-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Advance sales
      Dates: 1965
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Audits
      Dates: 1948-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Bank books, cancelled checks, etc. [scattered]
      Dates: 1961-1983
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Donations
      Dates: 1987
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Employee earning statements
      Dates: 1962-1963
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Employee timebook
      Dates: 1973-1976
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Endowment Fund and Permanent Care and Improvement Fund collections
      Dates: 1921-1928, 1937-1945
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 14-16
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Financial reports of Trustees of the Endowment Fund, Perpetual Care and Improvement Fund and John H. Shober Memorial Fund
      Dates: 1936-1983
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 17-19
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Financial statements
      Dates: 1924-1930, 1959-1988
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 20-21
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: General ledger
      Dates: 1929-1979
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1-3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Gross sales
      Dates: 1929-1933
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Insurance policy
      Dates: 1950
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal
      Dates: 1927-1928
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: General ledger [Oversize Box]
      Dates: 1921-1929
      Container: Oversizebox folder 4 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal [Oversize Box]
      Dates: 1921-1927
      Container: Oversizebox folder 4 / 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal [Oversize Box]
      Dates: 1940-1941
      Container: Oversizebox folder 4 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal [Oversize Box]
      Dates: 1941-1970
      Container: Oversizebox folder 5 / 1-3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Monthly recapitulations and closing entries [Oversize Box]
      Dates: 1961-1963
      Container: Oversizebox folder 5 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Promissory note
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Return of organization exempt from income tax

      RESTRICTED

      Dates: 1965-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Trial balance sheets [scattered]
      Dates: 1923-1934
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 4
      Location: Financial Records

  • Legal Documents

    • Description: Abstracts of title (includes many court papers re the cases of Forestvale Cemetery Association against the Helena Cemetery Association and Henry Winter)
      Dates: 1890, 1931
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 5
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Agreements, deeds, mortgages
      Dates: 1890-1941
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 6
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Conditional sale contracts: A-T
      Dates: 1957-1958
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 7
      Location: Legal Documents

  • Maps

    • Description: Improvements of the Forestvale Cemetery
      Dates: 1926
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 8
      Location: Maps

  • Minutes

    • Description: Minute book: Helena Cemetery Association
      Dates: 1890-1913
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 9
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Minute book: Forestvale Cemetery Association (includes articles of incorporation, bylaws, financial statements, legal documents, etc.)
      Dates: 1934-1986
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 10
      Location: Minutes

  • Organization

    • Description: Annual meetings (includes correspondence, notices, agendas, proxies, and other material removed from minute book for preservation)
      Dates: 1899-1913, 1936-1986
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 11-12
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Annual report of corporation
      Dates: 1972, 1975
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 13
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Bylaws and rules
      Dates: 1922
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 14
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Certificate of incorporation: Helena Cemetery Association [typescript copy]
      Dates: 1890
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 15
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Reports to trustees
      Dates: 1957, 1964
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 16
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: 1891-1898
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 17
      Location: Organization

  • Subject File

    • Description: Sprinkler system
      Dates: 1961-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 18
      Location: Subject File

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Accident reports to Industrial Accident Board
      Dates: 1958-1963
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 19
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Associate membership lists
      Dates: 1958-1963
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 20
      Location: Miscellany

  • Minutes

    • Description: Minute book: Forestvale Cemetery Association (includes articles of incorporation, bylaws, financial statements, legal documents, etc.)
      Dates: 1919-1934
      Container: Oversizebox folder 7 / 1
      Location: Minutes

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Burial index cards, A-Z, Chinese (includes name of person buried, date of burial, lot number and location, lot book page number, lot owners name)
      Dates: circa 1890-1949
      Container: Cardbox 8-15
      Location: Miscellany

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Burials in Woodlawn Section
      Dates: 1884-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 1
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Endowed lot owners list (includes money paid in)
      Dates: 1923
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 2
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: "Forestvale Cemetery: a cemetery is hallowed ground" by M. Greenfield (re sale of land to Schroeder Brothers)
      Dates: 1964
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lot owners list (includes alphabetical list or owners, list by cemetery area, and list of veterans)
      Dates: 1908-1910
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 4
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lot owners list (includes alphabetical list or owners, with location of lot)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 5
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lot owners list (lists unpaid accounts)
      Dates: 1958-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 6
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Masonic Home of Montana minutes (includes report of Grand Lodge, A.F. and A.M. of Montana on proposed purchase of land for cemetery from Forestvale Cemetery Association)
      Dates: 1927 September 3
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 7
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Pamphlet on perpetual card fund
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 8
      Location: Miscellany

  • Clippings

    • Description: Clippings (re original city council plans for cemetery, cemetery improvements, etc.)
      Dates: 1888, 1961-1965
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 9
      Location: Clippings

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Lot owners index cards, A-Z (includes name of lot owner, lot section and number, and record of burials in lot)
      Dates: circa 1890-1949
      Container: Box/Folder 17 / 22
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lot book (arranged by cemetery section and date of sale; includes purchaser's name, price, payments made, and remarks) [Oversize Box]
      Dates: 1890-1963
      Container: Oversizebox folder 23 / 1
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lot owners index (includes a few notations of burials from the 1930s to the 1950s) [Oversize Box]
      Dates: 1890-1930
      Container: Oversizebox folder 23 / 2
      Location: Miscellany

  • Maps

    • Description: Maps and drawings of Forestvale Cemetery [Oversize: See Archives Map Case]
      Dates: 1911, 1934, 1940, 1981, undated
      Container: Oversize Folder 1
      Location: Maps

Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau, 1992
2005

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