MZFCollection2367.xml Guide to the A.W. Miles Family Records 1882-1997 Miles (A.W.) Family Records Kim Allen Scott, 2009. Updated by Heather Mulliner, 2022. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities Montana State University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Manuscript Collections 2022

P.O. Box 173320, Centennial Mall Montana State University Bozeman, MT 59717

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-09-19. Finding aid written in English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Montana State University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Manuscript Collections A.W. Miles Family Records 2367 9.6 linear feet 1882-1997 The A. W. Miles Family Records consists of correspondence, business documents, land and legal documents, insurance and financial records, and personal articles relating to the family and the various Miles businesses. Subjects include real estate transactions, property management concerns, lumber and coal business, and Yellowstone National Park. Collection materials are in English

This collection is open for research.

Personal and professional papers created or collected by members of the Miles family between 1882 and 1997 were donated to Special Collections by Elsie Miles of Billings, Montana on July 7, 1997.

Series 1 Correspondence, 1888-1997

Series 2 Literary Productions

Series 3 Insurance Documents

Series 4 Photographs

Series 5 Topical Files

Series 6 Land and Property Documents, 1886-1975

Series 7 Legal Documents, 1882-1984

Series 8 Financial Records, 1887-1982

Arthur Wellington Miles moved to Montana in 1880 while serving as Army paymaster at Fort Keogh near present-day Miles City. Following his resignation from the Army, Miles started a hardware business at Coulson, and by 1882 opened a similar business in Billings. Later in that year he joined Colonel A. L. Babcock in creating the Bozeman firm, Babcock and Miles. During the winter of 1882-1883, Miles opened his first business in Livingston. Miles and Babcock severed their partnership in 1893 and Miles concentrated his business ventures in Livingston and its surrounding communities. His operations in Livingston grew to include the A. W. Miles Lumber and Coal Company, the A. W. Miles Land and Investment Company, and the A. W. Miles Company. Miles also held a majority interest in the Thompson Company and the Park Ice and Storage Company. In addition to these businesses Miles owned an extensive sheep ranch and held a controlling interest in numerous companies across Montana. His buisness, the Miles Land and Investment Company, built several prominent buildings in Livingston, including the Livingston Theatre, the Park Hotel, and the Miles Building.

Beyond business interests, A. W. Miles played an important role in state and local politics. He was served two terms as Mayor of Livingston beginning in 1887. Between 1906 and 1909 Miles served as a state senator representing Park County. A. W. Miles married Idella M. Draper in 1885. Together the couple had four children: Louise Gertrude, Adena Josephine, Perry, and Daniel Nelson. By the late 1920s Daniel Miles took control of the companies as his father retired to Los Angeles, California. A. W. Miles died in 1933. Dan Miles continued operating the primary companies and other business interests including mining and ranching. Like his father, Dan Miles also played a significant role in local politics and civic organizations. In 1982, the A. W. Miles Company was dissolved.

This collection was processed 2009 April 20

The A. W. Miles papers include correspondence, business documents, land and legal documents, insurance and financial records, and personal articles relating to the family and the various Miles businesses. Subjects include real estate transactions, property management concerns, lumber and coal business, and Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park Coal trade-Montana Lumber trade-Montana Real estate management-Montana Real property--Montana Businessmen-Montana-Livingston Forestry and Forestry Products Mines and Mining Parks and Playgrounds Montana Family papers-Montana-Livingston Business records-Montana-Livingston Correspondence 1 1888-1997

This series contains letters to and from members of the Miles family. Much of the correspondence includes comments on the state of the various businesses controlled by the Miles family. Files in this series are arranged chronologically. At the end of the series are two files containing correspondence that is either incomplete or without a date.

1888-1926 1 1-30 1927-1940 2 1-14 1941-1969 3 1-27 1978-1997 4 1-8 undated 4 9-10 Literary Productions 2 circa 1923-1973

This series contains speeches, fiction, diaries, and journals by members of the Miles family. Also included in this series are pamphlets, leaflets, newspaper and magazine clippings which were either collected or written by a member of the Miles family. Under the miscellaneous heading are speeches or pieces of fiction of which a complete copy is not available. Of particular note are the typed manuscripts of the two children's books written by Dan Miles. Box 6 contains bound materials consisting of diaries, journals, and appointment books.

Partial Biography of Edward H. Moorman 5 1 Newspaper/Magazine articles collected by Miles family 5 2 Northern Herd News 5 3 Newspaper/Magazine articles by Miles family 5 4 Published articles about Miles family members 5 5 Yarns of Yellowstone--Rough Draft 5 6 A Lamb's Tale--Rough Draft 5 7 Miscellaneous, incomplete, unsigned fiction and speeches 5 8 Speeches & Papers delivered by A.W. Miles 5 9 Speeches & Papers delivered by Dan Miles 5 10 A.W. Miles Biography (2) 5 11 Dan Miles, Autobiographical sketch 5 12 Diary 1922 5 13 Address Book 1939 5 14 Diary 1926 6 1 Diary 1937 6 2 Diary 1952 6 3 Diary 1954 6 4 Address Book 1973 6 5 Appointment Book 1959 6 6 Insurance Documents 3 1891-1982

Series 3 contains all insurance related documents. Within the series documents are grouped into various subseries. These subgroups contain insurance summaries, insurance policies, payment receipts, insurance registers, and related correspondence. The summaries are compiled lists of policy coverage for business and personal interests and are filed chronologically. Policies, payment receipts, and correspondence are filed by company name. NOTE: It is likely that some insurance related correspondence will also be found throughout Series 1.

Insurance Summaries 1911, 1913-1915, 1925, 1928, 1951 7 1-7 Insurance Policies: American States Insurance Co. 7 8 Insurance Policies: Clayton and Working Agency 7 9 Insurance Policies: Commercial Union Insurance Co. 7 10 Insurance Policies: Firemen's Insurance Co. 7 11 Insurance Policies: Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. 7 12 Insurance Policies: Knoxville Fire Insurance Co. 7 13 Insurance Policies: Lloyd's of London 7 14 Insurance Policies: Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance 7 15 Insurance Policies: Montana Life Insurance Co. 7 16 Insurance Policies: Montana Livestock & Casualty Insurance Co. 7 17 Insurance Policies: The Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York 7 18 Insurance Policies: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. 7 19 Insurance Policies: Northwestern National Insurance Group 7 20 Insurance Policies: Reliance Insurance Co. 7 21 Insurance Policies: St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co. 7 22 Insurance Policies: The Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias 7 23 Insurance Policies: United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co. 7 24 Insurance Correspondence: Bankers Life Co. 7 25 Insurance Correspondence: C.E. Hildreth 7 26 Insurance Correspondence: Central Life Assurance Society 7 27 Insurance Correspondence: Continental Life Insurance Co. 7 28 Insurance Correspondence: Davis & Clayton Agency 7 29 Insurance Correspondence: The Equitable Life Assurance Society 7 30 Insurance Correspondence: Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance 7 31 Insurance Correspondence: The Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co. 7 32 Insurance Correspondence: Missouri State Life Insurance Co. 7 33 Insurance Correspondence: Montana Life Insurance Co. 7 34 Insurance Correspondence: The Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York 7 35 Insurance Correspondence: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. 7 36 Insurance Correspondence: The Supreme Lodge: Knights of Pythias 7 37 Insurance Correspondence: United Mutual Insurance Co. 7 38 Insurance Correspondence: United Agencies 7 39 Insurance Correspondence: Insurance Register 1933-1934 7 40 Insurance Correspondence: Miscellaneous Insurance Documents 8 1 Insurance Correspondence: Worker's Compensation Documents 1979-1982 8 2 Insurance Receipts: The Bankers Life Association 8 3 Insurance Receipts: Central Life Assurance Society 8 4 Insurance Receipts: Continental Life Insurance Co. 8 5 Insurance Receipts: The Equitable Life Assurance Society 8 6 Insurance Receipts: Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co. 8 7 Insurance Receipts: Montana Life Insurance Co. 8 8 Insurance Receipts: Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York 8 9 Insurance Receipts: New York Life Insurance Co. 8 10 Insurance Receipts: Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. 8 11 Insurance Receipts: The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. 8 12 Insurance Receipts: The Prudential Insurance Co. 8 13 Insurance Receipts: Supreme Lodge Knights of Pythias 8 14 Insurance Receipts: Royal Insurance Co. LTD 8 15 Insurance Receipts: United Agencies 8 16 Insurance Receipts: Western Life Insurance Co. 8 17 Photographs 4 1916-1970

This series includes one photo album and loose photographs taken from the early 1910s to the late 1970s. In most cases, no descriptions are written on the back of the photographs. Of particular note is the photo album which contains numerous pictures from the Livingston and Yellowstone area in 1916.

Photo Album 9 1 Loose Photographs, numbers #1-29 9 2 Topical Files 5

This series includes files that do not fit into any specific category within this collection. Documents (partial or complete) that could not be labeled to fit a specific category were placed in the final two folders entitled "Miscellaneous." File 13 contains various pieces of Miles memorabilia. This includes a company calendar, blank checks, and business stationary.

City Business License 1962-1963 9 3 Yellowstone Park travel statistics 9 4 Rotary Club information 9 5 Woodmen of the World 9 6 Mining Information 9 7 National Parks Highway Association 9 8 Chamber of Commerce Certificate 9 9 Livingston Tennis Club Meeting Notes (bound volume) 9 10 Miscellaneous (A) 9 11 Miscellaneous (B) 9 12 Display Items 9 13 Oversize Folder--Ancient Arabic Order Certificate 1 Land and Property Documents 6 1886-1975

Included in this series are deeds, mortgages, land abstracts, titles, building surveys, and leases all pertaining to property owned by the Miles family and connected businesses. Also included in this series are blueprints and maps marking property owned by the Miles Land and Investment Co. With the exception of the Building Survey folder, all documents are filed chronologically.

1886-1919 10 1-31 1920-1975 11 1-31 Building Surveys 11 32 Oversize Folder--Gallatin/Absaroka National Forest Maps 1 Oversize Folder--Park Hotel Blueprints 1 Oversize Folder--Unknown Store Plan 1 Legal Documents 7 1882-1984

Series 7 includes land contracts, letters of patent, employment, purchase and sale contracts, wills, bills of sale and any other documents of a legal nature. This series is arranged chronologically, followed with separate folders for wills, letters of patent, and meeting minutes.

undated 12 1 1882-1928 12 2-35 1929-1984 13 1-18 Last Will and Testament, Daniel N. Miles 13 19 Last Will and Testament, Arthur W. Miles 13 20 Minutes, Stockholders' Meetings 13 21 Meeting Minutes, The Thompson Co. (Bound) 1902-1911 13 22 Meeting Minutes, A.W. Miles Co. of Clyde Park, MT (Bound) 13 23 Letters of Patent 1892 13 24 Letters of Patent 1893 13 25 Letters of Patent 1895 13 26 Financial Records 8 1887-1982

Series 7 includes land contracts, letters of patent, employment, purchase and sale contracts, wills, bills of sale, and any other documents of a legal nature. This series is arranged chronologically, followed with separate folders for wills, letters of patent, and meeting minutes.

Financial Statements 1892-1948 14 1-49 Financial Statements 1960-1982, undated 15 1-12 Comparative Financial Statements 15 13 Business Appraisal 1976 15 14 Stock Certificates 15 15 Stock Certificates (Bound): A.W. Miles Mercantile Co. 15 16-18 Stockholders Ledger 15 19 Stockholders List 15 20 Chromium Products Corp., Financial Documents 1942-1945 15 21 Miscellaneous Receipts and Bills 15 22 Federal Tax Documents 1916-1919 16 1 Federal Tax Documents 1922-1926 16 2 Federal Tax Documents 1928-1933 16 3 Federal Tax Documents 1943-1947 16 4 Federal Tax Documents 1975-1983 16 5 Montana State Tax Documents 1895, 1916 16 6 Montana State Tax Documents 1929-1935 16 7 Montana State Tax Documents 1947-1949 16 8 Montana State Tax Documents 1979-1982 16 9 Park County Tax Documents 1896-1902 16 10 Park County Tax Documents 1917-1927 16 11-12 Park County Tax Documents 1974-1981 16 13 Check Stubs (A.W. Miles Lumber & Coal Co.) 1976-1978 16 14 Check Stubs 1975-1977 16 15 Bank Deposit Record Books 1976-1977 16 16-22 First Security Bank Statements 1978 16 23 First National Park Bank Statements 1978-1982 16 24 First National Park Bank Statements 1928-1929 16 25 National Bank of Montana Statements 1912, 1915 16 26 National Bank of Montana Deposit Book 1915 16 27 First State Bank Deposit Book 1913 16 28 Stillwater Valley Bank (Ohio) Deposit Book 1899-1901 16 29 Payroll Book 1904 January -1908 June 17 1 Payroll Book 1965 December-1971 October 17 2 Payroll Book 1975 17 3 Payroll Records 1977 17 4 Payroll Book 1977 17 5 Rent Book 1909-1914 17 6 Rent Book 1914-1917 17 7 Rent Book 1916-1923 17 8 Trial Balance & Rent Book 1922, 1954-1966 18 1 Miles Land & Investment Co. Appraisement 1936 18 2 Miles Land & Investment Co. Appraisement 1939 18 3 Business Journal 1930 18 4 General Store Ledger and Miscellaneous financial records 1948-1971 18 5 Bills Receivable 1887-1889 19 1 Bills Payable 1887-1888 19 2 Bills Payable 1890-1893 19 3 Bills Receivable 1890-1899 19 4 Bills Receivable 1900-1909 19 5 Bills Receivable 1910-1919 19 6 Bills Payable 1915-1918 19 7 Bills Receivable 1920-1929 19 8 Bills Payable 1920-1926 19 9 Bills Receivable 1930-1939 19 10 Bills Payable--Ledger 1916-1937 19 11 Bills Payable--Ledger 1910-1925 19 12 List of Outstanding Notes 19 13 Notes and Bills Receivable--Ledger 1909-1926 19 14 Curtis' Note Collection Register 1904-1913 19 15 Park Ice & Storage--Account Book 1927 20 1 Deposit Record Book 1915-1920 20 2 Personal Expense Book 1915-1916 20 3 Personal Expense Book/Ledger 1916 20 4 Personal Expense Book/Ledger--A.W. Miles 1899-1916 20 5 Personal Expense Book/Ledger 1919 20 6 General Expense Book 1957-1973 20 7 Cash Book 1915 21 1 Cash Book 1916-1917 21 2 Cash Book 1917 21 3 Cash Book 1914-1930 21 4 Cash Book 1929 21 5 Cash Book 1934 January 21 6 Ledger 1916-1917 22 1 Ledger 1922 22 2 Ledger 1914-1918 22 3 Ledger 1919-1921 22 4 Ledger 1966 23 1 Ledger 1967 23 2 Ledger 1968 23 3 Ledger 1969 23 4 Ledger 1970 23 5 Ledger 1971 23 6 Ledger 1972 24 1 Ledger 1973 24 2 Ledger 1974 24 3 Ledger 1975 24 4 Ledger 1976 24 5 Ledger 1977-1982 24 6 Ledger 1924 25 1 Checkbook Record 1923 January-1927 February 25 2 Ledger/Cash Journal 1914-1917 25 3 Invoice Record 1910 July-1911 March 1 Insurance Ledger 1907-1968 2 Cash Book 1919-1924 3 Cash Ledger 1917-1918 4 General Ledger 1913 5 Wage and Expense Ledger 1978 6