Merrill G. Burlingame Papers

Merrill G. Burlingame Papers, 1956-1976

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Burlingame, Merrill G. (Merrill Gildea), 1901-1994
Title: Merrill G. Burlingame Papers
Dates: 1956-1976
19561976
Quantity: 5 folders
Collection Number: Collection 2057, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary: The Merrill G. Burlingame Papers consist of correspondence between Merrill G. Burlingame and the law firm of Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker, handwritten research notes and a folder of related printed materials, clippings, and maps.
Repository: Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Merrill G. Burlingame (1901-1994) was a history professor at Montana State University. In 1956 the law firm of Wilkinson, Cragun, Barker and Hawkins retained his services as a historical researcher for their litigation against the United States government on behalf of Montana's Blackfeet tribe. Burlingame assisted the firm by gathering pertinent materials from his research. By the summer of 1975, the firm was known as Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker and they asked Burlingame, in his capacity as their historical advisor, to give his advice and criticism of research materials they planned to use in a hearing before the United States Indian Claims Commission.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The papers consist primarily of correspondence between Merrill G. Burlingame and the law firm of Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker. The earliest letters, from 1956 to 1957, are largely contractual in nature, specifying the payment and duties expected of Burlingame by the law firm, although some historical evidence analysis is discussed. The letters from 1975-1976 concern critiques of manuscripts prepared by Michael F. Foley on the administration of the Fort Belknap and Blackfeet Indian reservations by the United States government, 1855-1950s. These manuscripts were prepared for the law firm as evidence for the plaintiffs in forthcoming hearing before the Indian Claims Commission. The collection also includes a folder of Burlingame's handwritten research notes and a folder of related printed materials, clippings, and maps.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

One folder of letters was donated to Special Collections by Merrill G. Burlingame sometime after 1976. The letters were maintained in a separate file and not incorporated into Burlingame's main collection of papers processed as Collection 2245. An additional folder of relevant materials, previously designated as Collection 732, was incorporated with these materials on October 17, 2011. This collection was reported to the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections in 1979 and assigned number 79-630.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2011 October 17

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Correspondence, 1956Return to Top

Container(s): Folder 1

Correspondence, 1957Return to Top

Container(s): Folder 2

Correspondence, 1975-1976Return to Top

Container(s): Folder 3

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	1: Letter: Jerry C. Straus for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker, to Dr. Merrill G. Burlingame	July 18, 1975
	2: Letter: Merrill G. Burlingame to Jerry C. Straus for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker (file copy)	July 22, 1975
	3: Letter: Merrill G. Burlingame to Jerry C. Straus for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker (file copy)	July 23, 1975
	4: Letter: Merrill G. Burlingame to Jerry C. Straus for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker (file copy)	July 28, 1975
	5: Letter: Jerry C. Straus for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker, to Dr. Merrill G. Burlingame	July 31, 1975
	6: Letter: Patricia L. Brown for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker, to Dr. Merrill G. Burlingame	August 2, 1975
	7: Letter: Merrill G. Burlingame to Jerry C. Straus for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker (file copy)	August 8, 1975
	8: Letter: Jerry C. Straus for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker, to Dr. Merrill G. Burlingame	August 25, 1975
	9: Letter: Merrill G. Burlingame to Jerry C. Straus for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker (file copy)	August 30, 1975
	10: Letter: Patricia L. Brown for Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker, to Dr. Merrill G. Burlingame	February 24, 1976
	11: Photocopies of covers of two Michael F. Foley monographs
	12: Copy of defendant's exhibit FB-577, Errata - Before the Indian Claims Commission

Handwritten notesReturn to Top

Container(s): Folder 4

Clippings, maps, printed reportsReturn to Top

Container(s): Folder 5

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Indian reservations-Montana
Sihasapa Indians-Montana
Sihasapa Indians-Montana-Claims
Sihasapa Indians-Montana-Government relations

Personal Names

Foley, Michael F.

Corporate Names

United States-Indian Claims Commission

Geographical Names

Blackfeet Indian Reservation (Mont.)
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation (Mont.)

Other Creators

Corporate Names
- Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker (creator)
- Wilkinson, Cragun, Barker and Hawkins (creator)

Archives West Finding Aid

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