Joseph Henry "Joe" Rawlins was born at Crow Agency, Montana on July 13, 1920. He was a proud member of the Crow tribe and his name in their language was Shikaakiiche (Good Boy). Joe joined the military in World War II and served as a pilot in that conflict and also Korea. He attended the University of Montana and graduated with a geology degree, working thereafter as a consultant to many of the major gas, oil, and coal companies operating in eastern Montana. His office was in Billings, and much of his work was done in that area and the adjacent Crow reservation. Joe married Gladys Habener on March 10, 1947 and the couple had two sons. Joe Rawlins died on January 20, 1997.
The Rawlins diaries consist of thirty one individual annual volumes dated from 1968 to 1997 (there are two for 1981). Information in the diaries includes appointments, travel, consultations, technical data, and some personal observations of Rawlins as he worked as a consulting geologist. Many of the named Rawlins contacts are members of the Crow tribe, and most of the locations described are on the Crow Reservation and elsewhere in eastern Montana. In addition to coal, gas, and oil exploration, Rawlins advised on water well locations for named individuals. A small amount of laid-in materials such as receipts and notations have been retained in those volumes where they were found.
This collection is open for research.
Original diaries created by Joseph Henry Rawlins were donated to Montana State University by Gail and Marie Habener of Dillon, Montana on May 24, 2013.
This collection was processed 2013 June 21