Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame
Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT 59717-3320
United States
Phone (406) 994-4242
Fax (406) 994-2851
http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/
University Archivist
spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Collection 2057, MtBC, us
Burlingame, Merrill G. (Merrill
Gildea), 1901-1994
Merrill G. Burlingame Papers
1956-1976
5 folders
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.
Collection materials are in English
Historical Note
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.
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.
This collection is open for research.
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.
This collection was processed 2011 October 17
Foley, Michael F.
United States-Indian Claims
Commission
Wilkinson, Cragun and
Barker
Wilkinson, Cragun, Barker and
Hawkins
Blackfeet Indian Reservation
(Mont.)
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation
(Mont.)
Indian reservations-Montana
Sihasapa Indians-Montana
Sihasapa Indians-Montana-Claims
Sihasapa Indians-Montana-Government
relations
Native
Americans
Montana
Maps
1
Correspondence
1956
2
Correspondence
1957
3
Correspondence
1975-1976
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
July 22, 1975
(file copy)
3
Letter: Merrill G. Burlingame to Jerry C. Straus for
Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker
July 23, 1975
(file copy)
4
Letter: Merrill G. Burlingame to Jerry C. Straus for
Wilkinson, Cragun and Barker
July 28, 1975
(file copy)
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
August 8, 1975
(file copy)
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
August 30, 1975
(file copy)
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
4
Handwritten notes
5
Clippings, maps, printed reports