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Thomas Cruse papers, 1841-1956

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Cruse, Thomas, 1836-1914
Title
Thomas Cruse papers
Dates
1841-1956 (inclusive)
Quantity
10 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 36
Summary
Thomas Cruse was a Helena, Montana, miner, banker, and businessman. This collection (1841-1956) consists of incoming correspondence; legal and financial records; maps; reports; and miscellany. Records for Cruse's various enterprises are divided into nine subgroups including the Thomas Cruse Savings Bank; Thomas Cruse Estate; Thomas Cruse Mining and Development Company; etc.
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
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

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

Thomas Cruse was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1836. He immigrated to America in 1856, spent seven years in New York, and then traveled to California by steamer in 1863. He prospected for gold throughout the California, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana mining regions for several years without success. In 1876, he discovered a rich lode, at Marysville, Montana, which became famous as the Drumlummon Mine and yielded millions in gold and silver. Cruse sold the mine in 1882 to the London Company Associated in England for nearly one and one-half million dollars. This company reorganized as Montana Company, Limited to operate the mine. Cruse formed the Thomas Cruse Savings Bank in Helena in 1887 and expanded his investment and mining enterprises into cattle and sheep ranching and oil speculation in Montana. Cruse married the sister of Montana's Senator Thomas H. Carter, Margaret Carter, in 1886. Cruse became one of the leading philanthropists in Montana. He was noted especially for his large contribution toward the construction of the Saint Helena Cathedral in Helena. Thomas Cruse died December 21, 1914.

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Content Description

This collection contains incoming and outgoing correspondence, financial records, legal documents, reports, and miscellany dealing with Cruse's various activities (1882-1914), including the Thomas Cruse Savings Bank and the N Bar Ranch. The collection also documents the Thomas Cruse Estate and the Thomas Cruse Mining and Development Company, which was formed from many of the Cruse holdings. Other subgroups represent key individuals active in the various Cruse organizations: Fred T. Cruse, Mamie T. Cruse, Richard Cruse, William J. Cruse, William Scallon, and William J. Sweeney. The collection documents mining activity in Montana (1879-1956), Montana banking (1887-1916), and Montana cattle and sheep ranching (1890-1913).

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society 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.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by subgroup and series. Some material housed in oversize folder in archives map case. Some material housed in manuscript volumes. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

2:3-6

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Separated Materials

Photographs, selected printed material, and artifacts were transferred from this collection to the M.H.S. Photo Archives, Library, and Museum respectively.

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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

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cattle Raising--Montana [Central]
  • Mines and mineral resources--Montana--Lewis and Clark County
  • Banks and banking--Montana--Helena

Personal Names

  • Cruse, Thomas, 1836-1914 (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Drumlummon Mine (Marysville, Mont.)
  • Gallatin County (Mont.)
  • Helena (Mont.)--Commerce
  • Helena (Mont.)--Religious life and source=lcsh"> Marysville (Mont.)
  • N Bar Ranch (Mont.)
  • Park County (Mont.)
  • St. Helena Cathedral (Helena, Mont.)

Finding aid prepared by MHS staff.
2004

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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