Sarah Raymond Herndon papers, 1866-1912
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Herndon, Sarah Raymond, 1840-1914
- Title
- Sarah Raymond Herndon papers
- Dates
- 1866-1912 (inclusive)18661912
- Quantity
- 3 folders
- Collection Number
- 0225
- Summary
- Sarah "Sallie" Belle Raymond Herndon was a Montana pioneer and likely the first public school teacher in an organized school district in the Montana Territory. Her papers contain her 1866 diary of life in Virginia City, Montana Territory, including daily chores, social events, and descriptions of her school and pupils. There are also letters dated 1899 describing the first school in Virginia City, family obituaries, newspaper articles, a stallion catalog, and five family photographs.
- 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
- Collection materials are in English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
Biographical Note
Sarah "Sallie" Belle Raymond Herndon was born September 7, 1840, in Maryland, the daughter of Daniel Fitch Raymond (1786-1849) and Delilah Matlick Raymond (1812-1896). The family moved to Cincinatti, Ohio, in 1842, where Daniel published the Western Statesman newspaper and practiced law until his death in 1849. Following his death, the family moved to Missouri before traveling by wagon train to Virginia City, Montana Territory, arriving in September 1865. In addition to Sarah and her mother Delilah, younger brothers William Hillhouse Raymond (1842-1850) and Winthrop Raymond (1847-1912) made the journey. Mrs. Raymond started a boarding house and the boys soon had purchased a ranch they called Belmont Park. Sarah began teaching school in March 1866, likely the first public school teacher in an organized school district in the Montana Territory. After teaching for one school year, Sarah married James Madison Herndon (1833-1924) in May 1867. The couple had three children: Della Louise Herndon Wilcomb (1868-1940), Winthrop Hillhouse Herndon (1876-1961), and Rodney Raymond Herndon (1881-1947). Sarah published her diary of the overland journey in 1902 as "Days on the Road."She continued to teach, teaching Sunday School for forty years and was a founder of Band of Hope. She died in Virginia City, Montana, on March 20, 1914.
The Raymond family was prominent in Virginia City and Madison County. They began a successful freight company and the Raymond Brothers store. W. Hillhouse took over Belmont Park which became renowned for its trotters and Winthrop platted the town of Sheridan, Montana, where he was in banking and land development.
Content Description
The Sarah Raymond Herndon Papers document the Raymond family's life in Virginia City, Montana Territory, and Sarah's work as a teacher in the first formally established school in the territory. The diary, with daily entries for each day of 1866, describes life in Virginia City, Montana Territory, including weather, sewing, laundry, food, church services, letter writing and mail received, and feelings and moods. Social events are well documented including comings and goings within the town, parties, making and receiving calls, a wedding, deaths and funerals, and celebrating Christmas. Herndon also describes her school and pupils, suitors Ben and Judge McCullogh, and visits with Harriet P. Fenn Sanders. The back section of the journal contains continuations of longer entries, financial accounts, and a list of letters written and received. There is also a note with genealogical details for Herndon written at an unknown later date by grandson Howard Herndon Wilcomb.
The papers also include letters by Sarah Raymond Herndon dated 1899 to Mrs. Howie, Montana Superintendent of Schools, with an attached story of the first school in Virginia City. There are also family obituaries, newspaper accounts of the Raymond family, a catalog of Belmont Farms Stallions, and five family photographs with negatives.
Use of the Collection
Preferred Citation
[Creator Name], [Date of Creation], [Brief Description of Object], Folder [#], Box [#], [Collection Name], [Collection #], Montana State University (MSU) Library, Bozeman, MT
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Papers collected and created by Sarah Raymond Herndon were sent in 1964 by Mrs. J. Earl (Mary Raymond) Johnson of Sheridan, Montana, to librarian Minnie Paugh to photocopy and add to the newly established Montana Historical Manuscripts Collection of Montana State College Library in Bozeman. They consisted of newspaper articles and obituaries of family members, a horse catalog, photographs and a diary and letters written by Sarah Raymond Herndon who was Mrs. Johnson's aunt. Originals were returned to Mrs. Johnson and her family following their reproduction.
Processing Note
This collection was processed 2010 October 14
Preservation Note
The collection is comprised entirely of photocopies, copy negatives, and copy prints. The photocopy of the diary includes typed transcriptions on each page and handwritten margin notes. A microfilmed copy of the diary is also available.
Location of Originals
Some originals of the copies in this collection are located at the Montana Historical Society.
Detailed Description of the Collection
- Description: Letters to Mrs. Howie, and story of school beginningsDates: 1899Container: Folder 1
- Description: "Sallie Raymond's diary for 1866"Dates: 1866Container: Folder 2
- Description: Obituaries, stallion catalog, newspaper articles, and photographs with negativesContainer: Folder 3
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Women--Montana--Diaries
Personal Names
- Herndon, Sarah Raymond, 1840-1914--Diaries
Geographical Names
- Montana
- Virginia City (Mont.)--History--Primary sources
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries--Montana--Virginia City
