The Big Timber Pioneer began publication in November 1890. Over the next 22 years the paper had numerous different publishers. In April, 1900, the paper was incorporated as the Pioneer Printing and Publishing Co., by J. E. Sheridan, R. H. Bemis, and L. C. Olmstead. It later reverted to its original name. In 1912 Jerome Williams purchased the paper. On the death of Williams in 1943, his widow Grace briefly ran the paper and then sold it to Raymond G. Beck and his brother Lamont Beck. The paper is still being published.
Jerome Williams was born on July 27, 1869, in Memphis, Missouri, son of Eugene and Mary (Work) Williams. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1887, Jerome came to Montana, but traveled in Idaho and British Columbia working at various trades. He returned to Montana in 1889 and began working for Livingston attorney A. J. Campbell. He then began editing for the Livingston Enterprise. In 1897 he became a court reporter in Livingston and continued in that profession until 1912, when he purchased the Big Timber Pioneer from previous owner Jean P. Decker. In 1923 he married Grace Martin who assisted in running the paper. Jerome Williams died December 13, 1943.
Raymond G. Beck was born in Eureka, Utah, on March 13, 1912, the oldest of four children of Raymond and Ethel Beck. Young Raymond studied journalism at the University of Idaho, and subsequently worked for a variety of papers around the West. He and his brother Lamont bought the Big Timber Pioneer in June 1944 from Grace Williams. They ran the paper together until 1967, when Lamont Beck took over its operation. Ray Beck married Ruth E. Bright in 1942. They divorced in 1967. Raymond Beck died on October 2, 2001.
This collection consists of financial records (1892-1967) for the paper and job printing business. The records include advertising receipt journals and ledgers, job printing journals, and journals of receipts and expenditures.
This collection is arranged into two series: Financial Records (1892-1966) and Miscellany (1906, undated).
Collection open for research.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives 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.
[item description and date]. Name of Collection. Collection Number. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request.
Processed in 2011.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.