MTGMss008.xml Guide to the James R. Dilworth Papers 1861-1939 Dilworth (James R.) Papers Finding aid prepared by Dale Johnson (1968) and Jodi Allison-Bunnell (2004) Funding for creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula © 2004
The University of Montana—Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Finding aid encoded by Jodi Allison-Bunnell 2004 Finding aid written in English. University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
The University of Montana—Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Mss 008 Dilworth, James R. (James Ronaldson) James R. Dilworth Papers 1861-1939 0.25 linear feet 1 box James R. Dilworth was a cattleman who directed a cattle drive from The Dalles, Oregon, to Miles City, Montana, in 1881-1882. The collection consists mostly of his correspondence back to his wife during that drive, as well as other family correspondence. Materials are in English Biographical Note

James R. Dilworth left the furniture business in Fort Scott, Kansas, in February 1881 to become a cattleman. Leaving behind his wife, Addie Dilworth, and his son, he traveled by rail to San Francisco, California, and then by steamer to Oregon. There, he and his partners purchased 2,150 head of cattle. They drove the cattle from The Dalles, Oregon, to just south of Bozeman, Montana. They rested the herd in Bozeman for the winter and travelled the last 300 miles, arriving near Miles City, Montana, in August 1882. Dilworth and his family settled in Bozeman, and later in Billings, Montana.

Most of the collection contains Dilworth's postcards and letters to his wife describing the 1881-1882 cattle drive. The earliest letters are those from and to his brother, George M. Dilworth, who was a farmer and had served in the Union Army during the Civil War. There is also a letter from James' son, George D., while he was a student at Swarthmore College; a letter to George D. from his uncle E.L. Wilson; letters regarding the transfer of this collection; a poem that may have been part of a school exam; and hand-drawn maps of the Bozeman and Bridger Trails.

Materials are arranged chronologically.

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], James R. Dilworth Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana—Missoula.

The materials remained in the custody of the family until time of donation to the Archives.

Gift of Mrs. Carl Boettner through the Friends of the Library, 1965.

The original processor arranged the collection and produced a finding aid. In 2004, that finding aid was encoded with minimal revisions.

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.

Dilworth, Addie--Correspondence Dilworth, George D.--Correspondence Dilworth, George M.--Correspondence Wilson, E. L.--Correspondence Swarthmore College--Students--Correspondence Bozeman Trail--Maps Bridger Pass Overland Trail (Colo. And Wyo.)--Maps Cattle breeders--Montana--Correspondence Cattle drives--West (U.S.) Family papers--Montana Maps Poems Postcards Montana Oregon Maps Agriculture 1/1 Correspondence 1861 1/2 Correspondence 1862 1/3 Correspondence 1863 1/4 Correspondence February 1881 1/5 Correspondence March 1881 1/6 Correspondence April 1881 1/7 Correspondence May 1881 1/8 Correspondence June 1881 1/9 Correspondence July 1881 1/10 Correspondence August 1881 1/11 Correspondence September 1881 1/12 Correspondence 1882 1/13 Correspondence 1883 1/14 Correspondence 1884 1/15 Correspondence 1885 1/16 Correspondence 1916-1939 1/17 Poem 1891 1/18 Maps undated