MTGMss149.xml Guide to the Asa L. Duncan Papers 1886-1933 Duncan (Asa L.) Papers Finding aid prepared by Jannie Prawitz 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 ©1998
The University of Montana--Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Encoded by ArchProteus2003 Finding aid is 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 149 Duncan, Asa L. (Asa Leland), 1857-1937 Asa L. Duncan Papers 1886-1933 14.75 linear feet Asa Duncan was an early settler and attorney in Missoula, Montana. The collection contains Asa Duncan's professional and personal correspondence, financial records, and State Statistical Agent correspondence when Duncan held the position. The collection also contains Missoula school district information including a 1909 school census record, and legal documents from Duncan's law firms. Materials are in English Biographical Note

Asa L. Duncan was born in Hale Ford, Virginia, on September 10, 1857, to William E. and Sarah E. Duncan. Upon graduating from high school in 1876, Duncan taught public school for the next three years. In 1880, he entered the Virginia Military Institute, and graduated in 1883 with the rank of Captain. He taught at the Institute for two years and then decided to attend law school at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. In 1886, Duncan was admitted into the Virginia Bar Association. After studying law for a short time in Virginia, he moved to Missoula, Montana, in 1892. He practiced with Charles M. Crutchfield in Missoula until 1896 when he was elected Missoula County Attorney.

In 1898, Duncan was commissioned by the governor of Montana to serve as Captain of Company L., 1st Montana Infantry, W.S.V. during the Spanish-American War. He served in the Philippines until 1899, and in that same year was promoted to the rank of Major. In 1900, he was appointed Inspector General of the Montana National Guard.

On July 16, 1900, Duncan married Gertrude Hathaway. During that same year, he also returned to his law practice in Missoula. In 1912, he was elected to the judgeship for the Fourth Judicial District, holding that position until his retirement in 1937. Duncan died on July 9, 1937.

The collection contains Asa Duncan's professional and personal correspondence from 1895 to 1925, financial records, including account information and checkbook ledgers, from 1886 to 1933, and State Statistical Agent correspondence when Duncan held the position from 1911 to 1913. The collection also contains Missoula school district information including a 1909 school census record, and legal documents from Duncan's law firms from 1896 to 1927.

The collection is divided into five series:

Series I: General Correspondence, 11 linear feet, 1895-1925

Series II: Financial Records, 3 linear feet, 1886-1933

Series III: State Statistical Agent Correspondence, 1 folder, 1911-1913

Series IV: Missoula School District, 2 folders, 1903 and 1909

Series V: Legal Documents, 0.75 linear feet, 1896-1927

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], Asa L. Duncan Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Materials in this collection were held by several individuals under varying conditions until donation to the K. Ross Toole Archives.

The collection was donated to the archives in five increments. Nina Duncan donated three portions in 1980, 1990, and 1992; Mrs. Dennis Tate donated a portion in 1980; and Tracy O'Reilly donated the last increment in 1993.

The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 1998, all materials were combined from five separate collections (LC 147, LC 173, LC 180, and SC 233) into one integrated collection.

 Government statisticians--Montana Judges--Montana--Missoula Lawyers--Montana--Missoula Agriculture--Montana--Statistics Practice of law--Montana--Missoula School census--Montana--Missoula Schools--Montana--Missoula Montana. Dept. of Agriculture. State Statistical Agent Personal papers--Montana--Missoula Montana City and Town Life Series I General Correspondence 1895-1925 11 linear feet

This series divided into two parts, Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence. The incoming contains professional correspondence, with very few personal letters. The outgoing contains both professional and personal. Many of the letters in the incoming correspondence are legal matters that Duncan was handling or presiding over. A few letters are business, relating to the many real estate ventures that Duncan was involved in. He was in correspondence with many state senators and representatives for his professional and private business deals. There are some letters in the series with his wife Gertrude. Outgoing correspondence consists of copies placed in bound volumes. The volumes are divided into years, with both personal and professional correspondence in them. The majority of the letters, though, come from Duncan's law office.

The correspondence is divided into two subseries: Incoming Correspondence and Outgoing Correspondence. The series is arranged alphabetically within each year.

 Subseries 1: Incoming Correspondence 1/1 1906 1/2 1907 1/3 1909 1/4 1911 1/5 1912 1/6 1913 1/7 A 1914 1/8 Brandjord, Iver M. - Reservation Land and Lumber Co. 1914 1/9 B 1914 1/1 Collins, Jeremiah - Collins Land Co. 1914 1/11 C 1914 1/12 Donlan, E. 1914 1/13 Duncan, Gertrude 1914 1/14 D 1914 1/15 Evans, John M. 1914 1/16 E 1914 1/17 Faust, Leo H. 1914 1/18 F 1914 1/19 G 1914 1/20 H 1914 1/21 I 1914 1/22 Johnston, A.P. 1914 1/23 J 1914 1/24 K 1914 1/25 L 1914 1/26 Moser, Gust 1914 1/27 Myers, Henry L. - Senator, Committee on Public Lands 1914 1/28 M 1914 1/29 N 1914 1/30 O 1914 1/31 P 1914 1/32 Q 1914 1/33 R 1914 1/34 S 1914 1/35 T 1914 1/36 U 1914 1/37 V 1914 1/38 W 1914 1/39 Y 1914 2/1 A 1915 2/2 B 1915 2/3 Collins, Jeremiah 1915 2/4 C 1915 2/5 Duncan, Gertrude 1915 2/6 D 1915 2/7 Evans, John M. 1915 2/8 Ford, Sam C. 1915 2/9 F 1915 2/10 G 1915 2/11 H 1915 2/12 Jacobs, A.R. 1915 2/13 J 1915 2/14 K 1915 2/15 L 1915 2/16 Myers, Henry L. 1915 2/17 M 1915 2/18 N 1915 2/19 O 1915 2/20 P 1915 2/21 R 1915 2/22 Stewart, S. V. 1915 2/23 S 1915 2/24 T 1915 2/25 U 1915 2/26 V 1915 2/27 Walsh, Thomas J. 1915 2/28 W 1915 2/29 A 1916 2/30 Brandjord, Iver 1916 2/31 B 1916 2/32 C 1916 2/33 D 1916 2/34 E 1916 2/35 Faust, Leo H. 1916 2/36 F 1916 2/37 G 1916 2/38 H 1916 3/1 J 1916 3/2 K 1916 3/3 L 1916 3/4 Maury, Lowndes 1916 3/5 Moser, Gust 1916 3/6 Myers, Henry L. 1916 3/7 M 1916 3/8 N 1916 3/9 O 1916 3/10 P 1916 3/11 R 1916 3/12 S 1916 3/13 T 1916 3/14 U 1916 3/15 V 1916 3/16 Walsh, Thomas 1916 3/17 W 1916 3/18 A 1917 3/19 B 1917 3/20 C 1917 3/21 D 1917 3/22 Evans, John M. 1917 3/23 E 1917 3/24 F 1917 3/25 G 1917 3/26 H 1917 3/27 J 1917 3/28 K 1917 3/29 L 1917 3/30 Moser, Gust 1917 3/31 Myers, Henry L. 1917 3/32 M 1917 3/33 O 1917 3/34 P 1917 3/35 Rankin, Jeanette 1917 3/36 R 1917 4/1 S 1917 4/2 T 1917 4/3 U 1917 4/4 V 1917 4/5 Walsh, Thomas J. 1917 4/6 W 1917 4/7 A 1918 4/8 Brandjord, Iver M. 1918 4/9 Brantley, Theo 1918 4/10 B 1918 4/11 Collins, Jeremiah 1918 4/12 C 1918 4/13 Dixon, Joseph M. 1918 4/14 Dornblaser, Paul 1918 4/15 D 1918 4/16 Evans, John M. 1918 4/17 E 1918 4/18 F 1918 4/19 G 1918 4/20 H 1918 4/21 J 1918 4/22 K 1918 4/23 L 1918 4/24 Maury, Lowndes 1918 4/25 Moser, Gust 1918 4/26 Myers, Henry L. 1918 4/27 M 1918 4/28 N 1918 4/29 O 1918 4/30 P 1918 4/31 Rankin, Jeanette 1918 4/32 R 1918 4/33 S 1918 4/34 T 1918 4/35 U 1918 4/36 V 1918 4/37 Walsh, Thomas J. 1918 4/38 W 1918 4/39 A 1919 4/40 Bishop, Charity Fowler 1919 4/41 Brantly, Theo 1919 4/42 B 1919 4/43 C 1919 4/44 D 1919 4/45 Evans, John M. 1919 4/46 E 1919 5/1 F 1919 5/2 G 1919 5/3 Higgins, Ronald 1919 5/4 H 1919 5/5 J 1919 5/6 K 1919 5/7 L 1919 5/8 Moser, Gust 1919 5/9 Myers, Henry L. 1919 5/10 Ma 1919 5/11 Mc, Mac, Mr. 1919 5/12 M 1919 5/13 N 1919 5/14 P 1919 5/15 Rankin, Jeanette 1919 5/16 R 1919 5/17 S 1919 5/18 T 1919 5/19 U 1919 5/20 V 1919 5/21 Walsh, Thomas J. 1919 5/22 W 1919 5/23 A 1920 5/24 B 1920 5/25 C 1920 5/26 E 1920 5/27 F 1920 5/28 G 1920 5/29 H 1920 5/30 K 1920 5/31 L 1920 5/32 Moser, Gust 1920 5/33 Myers, Henry L. 1920 5/34 Ma 1920 5/35 Mc, Mac, Mr. 1920 5/36 M 1920 5/37 N 1920 5/38 O 1920 5/39 P 1920 5/40 R 1920 5/41 S 1920 5/42 T 1920 5/43 U 1920 5/44 V 1920 5/45 Walsh, Thomas J. 1920 5/46 W 1920 5/47 1921 5/48 1922 5/49 1923 5/50 1924 5/51 A 1925 5/52 Bishop, Charity Fowler 1925 5/53 B 1925 5/54 C 1925 5/55 D 1925 5/56 Erickson, J.E. 1925 5/57 Evans, John M. 1925 5/58 E 1925 5/59 F 1925 6/1 G 1925 6/2 H 1925 6/3 J 1925 6/4 K 1925 6/5 L 1925 6/6 McDonald, Duncan 1925 6/7 M 1925 6/8 N 1925 6/9 P 1925 6/10 R 1925 6/11 S 1925 6/12 T 1925 6/13 U 1925 6/14 V 1925 6/15 Walsh, Thomas J. 1925 6/16 W 1925 6/17 Y 1925 6/18 A 1926 6/19 Bishop, Charity Fowler 1926 6/20 B 1926 6/21 C 1926 6/22 Duncan, Gertrude 1926 6/23 D 1926 6/24 Evans, John M. 1926 6/25 E 1926 6/26 F 1926 6/27 G 1926 6/28 Higgins, Ronald 1926 6/29 H 1926 6/30 I 1926 6/31 J 1926 6/32 K 1926 6/33 L 1926 6/34 Maury, Lowndes 1926 6/35 McDonald, Duncan 1926 6/36 Ma 1926 6/37 Mc, Mac 1926 6/38 M 1926 6/39 N 1926 6/40 O 1926 6/41 P 1926 6/42 R 1926 6/43 S 1926 6/44 T 1926 6/45 U 1926 6/46 Walsh, Thomas J. 1926 6/47 W 1926 7/1 A 1927 7/2 B 1927 7/3 C 1927 7/4 D 1927 7/5 Erickson, J.E. 1927 7/6 Evans, John M. 1927 7/7 E 1927 7/8 F 1927 7/9 G 1927 7/10 H 1927 7/11 I 1927 7/12 J 1927 7/13 K 1927 7/14 L 1927 7/15 M 1927 7/16 N 1927 7/17 O 1927 7/18 P 1927 7/19 R 1927 7/20 S 1927 7/21 T 1927 7/22 U 1927 7/23 V 1927 7/24 Wheeler, Burton K. 1927 7/25 W 1927 7/26 Y 1927 7/27 A 1928 7/28 Bishop, Charity 1928 7/29 B 1928 7/30 C 1928 7/31 Duncan, Thomas 1928 7/32 D 1928 7/33 Erickson, J.E. 1928 7/34 Evans, John M. 1928 7/35 E 1928 8/1 F 1928 8/2 G 1928 8/3 H 1928 8/4 I 1928 8/5 J 1928 8/6 K 1928 8/7 L 1928 8/8 Mc, Mac, Mr. 1928 8/9 M 1928 8/10 N 1928 8/11 O 1928 8/12 P 1928 8/13 R 1928 8/14 S 1928 8/15 T 1928 8/16 U 1928 8/17 Wheeler, Burton K. 1928 8/18 W 1928 8/19 Y 1928 8/20 A 1929 8/21 Bishop, Charity 1929 8/22 B 1929 8/23 C 1929 8/24 D 1929 8/25 Evans, John M. 1929 8/26 E 1929 8/27 F 1929 8/28 G 1929 8/29 H 1929 8/30 J 1929 8/31 K 1929 8/32 L 1929 8/33 M 1929 8/34 N 1929 8/35 O 1929 8/36 P 1929 8/37 R 1929 9/1 S 1929 9/2 T 1929 9/3 U 1929 9/4 W 1929 9/5 A 1930 9/6 B 1930 9/7 C 1930 9/8 Duncan, Gertrude 1930 9/9 Duncan, Thomas 1930 9/10 D 1930 9/11 Evans, John M. 1930 9/12 E 1930 9/13 F 1930 9/14 G 1930 9/15 H 1930 9/16 I 1930 9/17 J 1930 9/18 K 1930 9/19 Leavitt, Scott 1930 9/20 L 1930 9/21 M 1930 9/22 N 1930 9/23 O 1930 9/24 P 1930 9/25 R 1930 9/26 S 1930 9/27 T 1930 9/28 U 1930 9/29 Walsh, Thomas 1930 9/30 W 1930 9/31 Y 1930 10/1 A 1931 10/2 B 1931 10/3 C 1931 10/4 Duncan, Thomas 1931 10/5 D 1931 10/6 Evans, John M. 1931 10/7 E 1931 10/8 G 1931 10/9 Hancock, Harrison 1931 10/10 Holland, Sallie 1931 10/11 H 1931 10/12 J 1931 10/13 K 1931 10/14 L 1931 10/15 Moir, Lula 1931 10/16 M 1931 10/17 N 1931 10/18 O 1931 11/1 P 1931 11/2 R 1931 11/3 S 1931 11/4 T 1931 11/5 U 1931 11/6 V 1931 11/7 Walsh, Thomas J. 1931 11/8 W 1931 11/9 Y 1931 11/10 A 1932 11/11 B 1932 11/12 C 1932 11/13 Dixon, Joseph M. 1932 11/14 Duncan, Thomas 1932 11/15 D 1932 11/16 Evans, John M. 1932 11/17 E 1932 11/18 F 1932 11/19 G 1932 11/20 Holland, Sallie 1932 11/21 H 1932 11/22 I 1932 11/23 J 1932 11/24 K 1932 11/25 L 1932 11/26 Mc, Mac 1932 11/27 Moir, Lula 1932 11/28 M 1932 11/29 N 1932 12/1 O 1932 12/2 P 1932 12/3 R 1932 12/4 S 1932 12/5 T 1932 12/6 U 1932 12/7 V 1932 12/8 Wheeler, Burton K. 1932 12/9 W 1932 12/10 B 1933 12/11 D 1933 12/12 Hancock, Harrison 1933 12/13 Holland, Sallie 1933 12/14 H 1933 12/15 J 1933 12/16 K 1933 12/17 M 1933 12/18 N 1933 12/19 A 1934 12/20 B 1934 12/21 D 1934 12/22 G 1934 12/23 Hancock, Frances 1934 12/24 Hancock, Harrison 1934 12/25 Hancock, Julia 1934 12/26 K 1934 12/27 L 1934 13/1 M 1934 13/2 S 1934 13/3 A 1935 13/4 B 1935 13/5 C 1935 13/6 D 1935 13/7 E 1935 13/8 F 1935 13/9 G 1935 13/10 Hancock, Harrison 1935 13/11 H 1935 13/12 I 1935 13/13 J 1935 13/14 K 1935 13/15 L 1935 13/16 Monaghan, Joseph P. 1935 13/17 M 1935 13/18 N 1935 13/19 O 1935 13/20 P 1935 13/21 R 1935 13/22 S 1935 13/23 T 1935 13/24 U 1935 13/25 V 1935 13/26 W 1935 13/27 B 1936 13/28 C 1936 13/29 D 1936 13/30 H 1936 13/31 K 1936 Subseries 2: Outgoing Correspondence 14/1 1893-1894 14/2 1895-1896 14/3 1897 15/4 1897-1898, 1900-1901 15/5 1900 15/6 1901-1902 16/7 June, 1902-Feb, 1903 16/8 Feb, 1903-Oct, 1903 16/9 Oct, 1903-Sept, 1904 17/10 Sept, 1904-Aug, 1905 17/11 Aug, 1905-April, 1906 17/12 April, 1906-Dec, 1906 17/13 Dec, 1906-June, 1907 18/14 Jan, 1909-March, 1910 18/15 March, 1910-Jan, 1911 18/16 Jan, 1911-Sept, 1911 19/17 May, 1911-April, 1912 19/18 Sept, 1911-Sept, 1912 19/19 Sept, 1912-April, 1915 20/20 Feb, 1913-March, 1919 20/21 April, 1915-Aug, 1916 20/22 Aug, 1916-Aug, 1918 21/23 March, 1918-Feb, 1923 21/24 March, 1918-Oct, 1921 21/25 Oct, 1921-Nov, 1925 22/26 Feb, 1923-March, 1929 22/27 Sept, 1927-Feb, 1931 Series II Financial Records 1886-1933 (3 linear feet)

The series contains business and personal financial records for Duncan and his offices. The business records consist of an account book containing the names of Duncan's clients, a collection docket of persons who owed attorney's fees to Duncan and the amount owed. An accounts payable ledger and a correspondence ledger dealing with accounts of Duncan are also included in the series. There are also numerous daily cashbooks dealing with Duncan's law offices, including Duncan and Wilber, Duncan and Dixon, and Duncan and Myers. The series also contains checkbook stubs and copies of checks written for Duncan's law offices. A city clerk's finance book is also included. The ledger contains monthly warrant collections, including the date, name, and amount of warrant. The series also consists of Duncan's personal daily cashbooks. The ledgers contain the amounts and the items that Duncan bought, such as groceries and house payments.

The series is arranged alphabetically.

 23/1 Accounts of A. L. Duncan 1896-1909 23/2 Accounts Payable 1901-1925 23/3 Collection Docket 1911-1913 23/4 Correspondence Ledger 1897-1889 24/1 Finance Ledger, County Claims 1895-1903 24/2 Finance Ledger, Duncan and Myers 1903-1905 24/3 Finance Ledger, MPM Company 1888-1901 24/4 Finance Ledger 1901-1905 24/5 Finance Ledger 1905-1907 25/1 Checkbook Stubs 1895-1897 25/2 Checkbook Stubs Oct, 1902-Jan, 1904 25/3 Checkbook Stubs Jan, 1904-Dec, 1904 25/4 Checkbook Stubs Dec, 1904-Jan, 1906 25/5 Checkbook Stubs Jan, 1906-Nov, 1906 25/6 Checkbook Stubs Nov, 1906-July, 1907 26/1 Checkbook Stubs July, 1907-June, 1908 26/2 Checkbook Stubs June, 1908-June, 1909 26/3 Checkbook Stubs June, 1909-April, 1910 26/4 Checkbook Stubs April, 1910-Dec, 1910 26/5 Checkbook Stubs Dec, 1910-Sept, 1911 27/1 Checkbook Stubs Sept, 1911-Aug, 1912 27/2 Checkbook Stubs Aug, 1912-July, 1913 27/3 Checkbook Stubs July, 1913-Sept, 1914 27/4 Checkbook Stubs 1927-1933 27/5 Checkbook Stubs, Duncan and Dixon 1907-1911 28/1 City Clerk's Finance Book 1889-1893 28/2 Duncan and Dixon Bank Book 1905-1908 28/3 Daily Cash Book 1901-1906 28/4 Daily Cash Book 1903-1923 28/5 Daily Cash Book 1906-1907 28/6 Daily Cash Book 1906-1913 Series III State Statistical Agent Correspondence 1911-1913 (1 folder)

The series contains copies of letters that Duncan wrote while he was the State Statistical Agent for Montana Department of Agriculture. Many of the letters are to other Department of Agriculture agents in the United States, including the secretary of the department. While Statistical Agent, Duncan duties included keeping records of Montana crops, harvest information, and weather to report to the Secretary of Agriculture.

 28/7 1911-1913 Series IV Missoula School District 1903 and 1909 (2 folders)

This series consists of Missoula School Census Ledger for 1909. The ledger includes the name of the child, age, date of birth, gender, name of father and mother, and address. Bids for painting of the Missoula schools from local painting companies is also in the collection. L.N. Simons submitted three bids to cover the four Missoula schools.

The series is arranged alphabetically.

 28/8 Missoula School Census Ledger 1909 28/9 Missoula School Painting Bids 1903 29/10 Missoula School Teaching/Legal Correspondence 1901-1906 Series V Legal Documents 1896-1927 (0.75 linear feet)

This series contains correspondence the Duncan sent to other attorneys and judges concerning the cases that he worked on. Many of the correspondences begin with the case number and names. The series also consists of Duncan's notes that he had on certain cases. The notes would include a working copy of the motion, or notes on a deposition. Copies of a few motions are in the series that Duncan drew up to be filed in the courts. A personal daily journal is also in the series.

 29/2 Correspondence 1903-1905 29/3 Correspondence 1906-1907 29/4 Correspondence 1910-1912 29/5 Daily Journal 1927 29/6 Motions undated 30/1 Notes 1896 30/2 Notes 1902-1909 30/3 Notes 1903