Clarence L. Oliver was born in Ennis, Montana on January 6, 1881. His father, Joseph Oliver, came to the Madison River Valley in 1879 and established a dairy farm. Clarence eventually went into business with his father operating livery stables in Joliet, Bridger, and Red Lodge, Montana. Oliver also spent time in Cody, Wyoming, where he worked on a ranch owned by William F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill"). Eventually Oliver returned to Madison County, Montana and he lived on Meadow Creek near McAllister. Oliver died in September 30, 1973.
In 1964, Montana State University Librarian Minnie Paugh contacted Oliver to solicit manuscripts for the newly established Montana History Collection. Oliver had no material to donate, but he sent several handwritten reminiscences and a poem about his childhood and early life in the Ennis and McAllister areas of Madison County. Most of Oliver's writings concerned neighbors and acquaintances who lived in the area. The collection consists of Oliver's essays and is supplemented with two newspaper clippings, an interview and published letter by Oliver concerning his work with Cody and an incident involving Martha Jane Canary ("Calamity Jane").
This collection is open for research.
Reminiscence essays and newspaper clippings created or collected by Clarence L. Oliver of McAllister, Montana were donated to Montana State University in several installments from 1964 to 1966.
This collection was processed 2010 April 6