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James Brownlee Rankin Research Collection : Charles M. Russell, 1910-1962

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Rankin, James Brownlee, 1900-1962
Title
James Brownlee Rankin Research Collection : Charles M. Russell
Dates
1910-1962 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 162
Summary
James Brownlee Rankin--a New York and San Bernadino, California, teacher and historian--collected information concerning Montana artist Charles M. Russell in preparation for a Russell biography and an illustrated catalog of his work. The collection consists primarily of correspondence concerning Russell's life and work as remembered by his friends, acquaintances, and art owners. The collection also contains photographs, clippings, and research notes. [Selected photographs transferred to the Photograph Archives.]
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
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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Biographical Note

James Brownlee Rankin was born in Denver, Colorado, January 31, 1900, the son of Reverend James Doig Rankin and Daisy Meloy Rankin. Rankin's father had been assigned to Denver to begin a mission. Eventually, he was to build and be pastor of the United Methodist Church in that city. Rankin and his sister attended schools in Denver, but soon were sent to their parents' original home, Chicago, to study in that city's Latin schools. At the age of ten, James Rankin and his sister were sent to Europe for four years and studied in schools in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. Returning home at the outbreak of World War I, Rankin attended the Horace Mann School in New York City in preparation for entering Princeton. Mr. Rankin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from Princeton and subsequently a Master of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In his college years James Rankin developed a great love for books and for the rest of his life collected rare books and first editions. Somewhat later he also developed an interest in art, and particularly western art. This avocation led him to begin a collection of books illustrated by western artists, notably Charles M. Russell and Frederic Remington. Rankin's first employment after completing his education was a position at the Collegiate School for Boys in New York City. He remained at this school until 1939. With his summers free, Rankin could pursue his many interests: travel, book collecting, western art, and history. By 1936, he had developed a very strong interest in the work and life of Charles M. Russell, and that summer, he decided to research and write a biography of the artist and produce an illustrated catalog of all of Russell's known works. This was his primary goal and the object of all of his free time until 1940. He took advertisements in national and regional newspapers as well as pertinent magazines. From this, he developed a wide range of contacts who had known Russell or knew of or owned works by the Montana artist. He made extensive trips to interview individuals and to catalog Russell's art. Rankin moved to Pasadena, California, in 1939, to be closer to his father and to pursue his teaching and research interests. He married Josephine Crenshaw of New York City in 1940. He never lost his lifelong interest in Russell, but did not continue working on the biography/catalog after that year. Ultimately he destroyed his manuscript after the publication of a Russell biography by a friend who, Rankin believed, had plagiarized much of his earlier work. The one piece Rankin did publish on Russell is a bibliography of published works illustrated by the artist which appeared in American Book Illustrations in 1938. James Brownlee Rankin died at San Bernardino, California, August 2, 1962.

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Content Description

Research Collection. 1910-1969. 2 linear feet. The collection centers solely on Rankin's research on the life and work of Charles M. Russell. One series, General Correspondence, constitutes eighty percent of the collection. It also is the most valuable for research on Russell and on ranching and cowboy life in the open range era. Many friends and acquaintances of Russell corresponded extensively with Rankin, and their reminiscences would have been the basis of his book. Other correspondents discussed the Russell paintings and sculpture in their collections. The letters also reflect the provenance of much of the artist's work, kinds of shows that it appeared in, and methods by which it was acquired. The Research Notes series of the collection contains listings of paintings, notes on interviews, and transcriptions of letters of Russell and others. Also, there are several photographs of pieces of Russell's work owned by various institutions and individuals at that time. The collection is completed by a series of Clippings gathered by Rankin which generally concern Russell's life. Selected photographs were separated to the Photograph Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

by series

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information:

available upon request

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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

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: A [correspondents include E. G. Abbott, Alex Aitken, Alice Albright, Edward L. Albright, P. G. Allard, D. W. A. Allen, O. P. Andrews]
      Dates: 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: John R. and Leslie Foote Barrows
      Dates: 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: C. A. Beil
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: James W. Bollinger
      Dates: 1936-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: H. E. Britzman
      Dates: 1937-1944
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: B [correspondents include George C. Baer, C. L. Bartholomew, Jewel W. Beard, Theodore Bolton, C. F. Bouldin, B. M. Bower, John Brendel, Walter C. Brenner, E. A. Brininstool, Ralph Budd, A. J. Buel]
      Dates: 1936-1939; 1946
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Grace Stone Coates
      Dates: 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Philip G. Cole
      Dates: 1936-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Bud Cowan
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: C [correspondents include Calgary Expedition and Stampede, M. S. Campbell, Rachel Campbell, Marion Caming, Charles W. Carson, Frederick A. Chadbourn, Edland C. Clement, Irvin S. Cobb, College of Great Falls, C. D. Conrad, Angelo B. M. Corrubia, C. M. Cotton, L. D. Cram, Lucy R. Crenshaw, Irving S. Cutter]
      Dates: 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: I. F. "Finch" David
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: J. Frank Dobie
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: D [correspondents include Fred T. Darvill, C. Kier Davis, Mary Davis, Lee Dennis, Maynard Dixon, Dudley R. Dobie, C. E. Dobson, Doubleday Doran and Company, A. G. Douglass, Ves Downs, H. H. Durston
      Dates: 1936-1942
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: E [correspondents include Fred Edmunds, C. J. Ellis]
      Dates: 1936-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Louise Fernald
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: F [correspondents include Douglas Fairbanks Pictures, L. E. Falk, W. R. Felton, William A. Flower, Lee M. Ford, F. E. French, C. Wellington Furlong]
      Dates: 1930-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Mrs. M. C. Goodell
      Dates: 1937-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: G [correspondents include Great Falls Lodge No. 214 BPOE, Great Northern Railway Company]
      Dates: 1936-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Jake Hagenson
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: William S. Hart
      Dates: 1936-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Emma M. Henderson
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: N. B. Holter
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Lila M. Houston
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Wallis Huidekoper
      Dates: 1936-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: H [correspondents include Hiram Henry, Mrs. Roy Hopkins, C. E. Hubbard, Mrs. Frank V. Hurley]
      Dates: 1937-1942
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: I [correspondents include Will Irwin]
      Dates: 1936
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: J [correspondents include J. W. Jackson, S. E. Johns, Sid W. Johns, Mrs. B. T. Johnson, Della Jones, Mrs. R. O. Jones, A. M. Joys, J. Edward Jones]
      Dates: 1930-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Henry Keeton
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 14
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Theodore A. Koetzli
      Dates: 1938-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 15
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: K [correspondents include Kansas City Art Institute, Walter G. Kendall, Otillie Kraemer]
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 16
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Reginald and Gladys Laubin
      Dates: 1938-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 17
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Alexander Leggat
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 18
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Walter Lehman
      Dates: 1936-1941
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 19
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Frank B. Linderman
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 20
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: L [correspondencts include Tom Lea, Great Falls Leader, Earl LeFebure, J. B. Lincoln]
      Dates: 1936-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 21
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Mina Mathey
      Dates: 1936-1939, 1944
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 22
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Edward Mead
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 23
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Fergus Mead
      Dates: 1938-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 24
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Churchill Mehard
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 25
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Mac, Mc [correspondents include Helen R. Mackay, H. F. McDonald, Bessie MacGregor, Mary A. McGuire, Lila B. McKinley, J. F. McNamara]
      Dates: 1936-1941
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 26
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: M [correspondents include J. N. Major, H. E. Manville, Alice H. Marchand, Sam Martel, James W. Masterson, Mrs. M. G. Meeks, Richard K. Mellon, Albert Milch, W. St. J. Miller, Grace A. Miracle, Harry B. Mitchell, Montana Historical Society, Montana State University--Missoula, Edith Ellis Morrison]
      Dates: 1932-1951
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 27
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Alick C. Newton
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: N [correspondents include W. W. Newton, C. Raymond Noyes]
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: O [correspondents include J. D. O'Donnell, B. V. Older]
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: James Pearson (includes Charles Russell letter, non-illustrated]
      Dates: 1937-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Cassandra O. Phelps
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 5
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Con Price
      Dates: 1936-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 6
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: P [correspondents include Albert J. Partoll, Harry W. Peterson, Frank Phillips Ranch, City of Pittsburgh, T. G. Portis]
      Dates: 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 7
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Daisy M. Rankin
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Josephine Rankin
      Dates: 1940
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 9
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Charles Reymershoffer
      Dates: 1938-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 10
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Vesta Robbins
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 11
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Sophia Ruskin
      Dates: 1937-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 12
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Florence M. N. Russell
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 13
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Jack Russell
      Dates: 1937, 1941
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 14
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Nancy C. Russell
      Dates: 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 15
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: R [correspondents include K. E. Rasmussen, Clara M. Reeder, William D. Reese, D. E. Riley, Mary Roberts Rinehart, E. C. Robert, Ben R. Roberts, O. W. Robertson, C. V. Rubottom, Basil G. Rudd]
      Dates: 1928-1945
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 16
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: James Willard Schultz
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Harry P. Stanford
      Dates: 1937-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Allis B. Stuart
      Dates: 1937, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Luke D. Sweetman
      Dates: 1937-1952
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: S [correspondents include Mary P. Sleicher, Coy P. Smith, C. Owen Smithers, E. T. Spencer, J. O. Spreen, Charles R. Steedman, E. L. Stendahl, Robert E. Strahorn Agnes E. Sweet]
      Dates: 1933-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 5
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Earl Talbott
      Dates: 1936-1946
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 6
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Josephine Trigg
      Dates: 1937-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 7
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Mrs. Pat Tucker
      Dates: 1936-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 8
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: T [correspondents include Charles P. Taft, Robert Taft, Louise J. Thomas, Mrs. T. R. Thorn, Bernard Tomm, Elizabeth Troyke]
      Dates: 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 9
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: U [correspondents include Universal - International PIctures, Univesity of Washington Library]
      Dates: 1936-1954
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 10
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: V [correspondents include Ruth Van Meter, Virginia Historical Society, Jessie Wiley Voils]
      Dates: 1936-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 11
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Norma Linderman Waller
      Dates: 1937-1942
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 12
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Phil Weinard
      Dates: 1937-1942
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 13
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Laura Whittemore
      Dates: 1938-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 14
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Sid Willis
      Dates: 1936-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 15
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: W [correspondents include Rose M. Wadsworth, Eliza E. Walker, H. P. Webster, Mrs. John M. Wenneis, John A. Willard, Eugene E. Wilson, Windsor Castle, Kathearine W. Winston, M. A. Witofsky, Ted Worrall, Cushing F. Wright]
      Dates: 1936-1945
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 16
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Y [correspondents include Karl Yost, N. J. Young, Mrs. William A. Young]
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 17
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Frank Zahn
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 18
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Clippings

    • Description: Charles M. Russell: art and shows
      Dates: 1926-1957, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Charles M. Russell: memorials, publicicity, honors, etc.
      Dates: 1939-1962
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 2
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Charles M. Russell: reminiscences of Russell by acquintances
      Dates: 1936-1939, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Charles M. Russell: reviews of works concerning Russell
      Dates: 1933-1957
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 4
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Charles M. Russell: statue controversy
      Dates: 1956-1957
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 5
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Charles M. Russell: miscellaneous
      Dates: 1926-1939, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 6
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Cowboy reunions
      Dates: 1939-1940, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 7
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Montana history
      Dates: 1934-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 8
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Nancy C. Russell
      Dates: 1937-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 9
      Location: Clippings
    • Description: Rankin project
      Dates: 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 10
      Location: Clippings

  • Photographs

    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by J. W. Bollinger
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 11
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by Amon Carter
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 12
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by Great Falls Elks Lodge
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 13
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by William S. Hart
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 14
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by Charles M. Joys (includes positive and negative photostats of one drawing, "Young Louse"; of five untitled paintings; and of one writing, "The Enemys Country")
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 15
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by Newhouse Galleries
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 16
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by Alick C. Newton
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 17
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by Harry Stanford
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 18
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by Phil Weinard
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 19
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works owned by various collectors
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 20
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: Charles M. Russell works unidentified as to ownership
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 21
      Location: Photographs
    • Description: List of photographs separated to the Photo Archives
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 22
      Location: Photographs

  • Research Notes

    • Description: Informational notes taken from publications and interviews
      Dates: c. 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 23
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Listings and descriptions of Charles M. Russell works in various collections
      Dates: c. 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 24
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Names and addresses of contacts and informants
      Dates: c. 1936-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 25
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Notebook containing art collection descriptions, notes on history, trancripts of letters
      Dates: c. 1936-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 26
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Notebook containing art collection descriptions, information notes, source notes, book descriptions, transcripts of letters
      Dates: c. 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 27
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Notes on sources
      Dates: c. 1936-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 28
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Drafts of bibliography of published works illustrated by Charles M. Russell
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 5a / 1
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Drafts of first chapter of Charles M. Russell biography
      Dates: c. 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 5a / 2
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Items acquired in course of research
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5a / 3
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Typescript copies of articles and reminiscences
      Dates: 1901-1937, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 5a / 4
      Location: Research Notes
    • Description: Typescript and photographic copies of Charles M. Russell letters
      Dates: 1910-1926
      Container: Box/Folder 5a / 5
      Location: Research Notes

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • History--Research
  • Ranch life
  • Sculpture
  • West (U.S.) in Art

Personal Names

  • Russell, Charles M. (Charles Marion), 1864-1926

Geographical Names

  • Great Falls (Mont.)
  • Judith Basin County (Mont.)
  • Lake McDonald (Glacier National Park, Mont.)


April 21, 2015

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