MZFCollection0347.xml Guide to the M.J. Lott Papers1878-1908 M.J. Lott Papers Kim Allen Scott, 2016 Montana State University-Bozeman 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
Finding aid written in English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition) Montana State University-Bozeman 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 0347, MtBC, us Lott, Mortimer J. M.J. Lott Papers 1878-1908 .6 linear feet The M.J. Lott papers consist photocopied histories and reminiscences of the Twin Bridges area and original letterpress copybook, daybooks, and ledger pertaining to financial records of the family mercantile business created or collected by the Lott family. Collection materials are in English Biographical Note

Judge Mortimer H. Lott was born in December 1827 at Lottsville, Pennsylvania. He moved west in 1857 settling in Kansas and Colorado, prior to his move to Montana in 1862. Lott and his brother John helped build Fort Kearny in 1863. The brothers opened their first general store in Nevada City. In 1865, the Lott brothers moved to Twin Bridges. Judge Lott married Melvina J. Carson in 1880. Lott died October 4, 1920.

John S. Lott was born in Pennsylvania, November 1829. John was active in the formation of the vigilance committee in Montana. He served on the jury when George Ives was captured and sentenced. He also lead the party which arrested Sherriff Plummer, head of the Alder Gulch road agents, and took him to his place of execution. Lott with his brother Mortimer established the Lott Mercantile in Twin Bridges. John died May 23, 1910.

Melvina J. Lott née Carson was born in Pennsylvania, April 1854. Melvina moved to Twin Bridges in 1879 as a school teacher. Melvina and Mortimer Lott had two children, Mare E. Lott Comfort and Mortimer J. Lott. Melvina was active in the Twin Bridges Woman’s Club and helped Mortimer document the history of Twin Bridges. She died October 9, 1942.

Mortimer J Lott was born May 25, 1892 in Twin Bridges, Montana. Lott was a former member of the Montana House of representatives (1932-1936), state senator (1938-1954), one time Twin Bridges mayor, and son Twin Bridges founder Mortimer H. Lott. He also operated a stock ranch on the original Lott homestead. Senator Lott died November 3, 1957.

The Lott’s were founding members of Twin Bridges, Montana. In 1890, they had the town plated. They provided financial and moral support to the Montana State Normal University at Twin Bridges. They donated 100 acres of land to the State Orphan’s Home, as well as giving 45 acres for the county fair grounds and race track.

The M.J. Lott papers consist of an original letterpress copybook, daybooks, and a ledger pertaining to the Lott mercantile business in Twin Bridges. Also included in the collection are photocopies of histories of Madison County and Twin Bridges, organization papers for the Montana State Normal School at Twin Bridges, the State Orphan’s Home, the Madison County Fair Grounds, an autobiography of Mrs. M.H. Lott, and a diary kept by Mrs. M.H. Lott on a trip through Yellowstone National Park in 1880.

This collection is open for research.

Photocopied histories and reminiscences of the Twin Bridges area and original letterpress copybook, daybooks, and ledger pertaining to financial records of the family mercantile business created or collected by the Lott family. Items were donated to Special Collections by Mortimer J. Lott, Jr. of Twin Bridges, Montana May 8, 2003.

This collection was processed 2016 January 22

 Coates, Grace Stone, 1881-1976 -- Correspondence Coates, Grace Stone, 1881-1976 Cavanaugh, Miles, -1915 Lovely, J. A. Montana the best Anaconda (Mont.) -- History Butte (Mont.) -- History Montana -- Politics and government -- 20th century Montana -- Songs and music Montana Montana -- Anaconda Montana -- Butte Mines and mineral resources -- Montana Mines and mineral resources Politics and government Businesses and Corporations City and Town Life Elementary and Secondary Education National Parks Pioneers Retail Trade Sports and Recreation Women Montana Diaries Autobiographies Speeches, addresses, etc., American -- Montana -- Butte Personal papers -- Montana -- Butte Poems -- Montana -- Butte Autobiographies History Music Records and correspondence Poets, American -- Montana -- Butte 1/1 Picture list and research List of pictures: 2-252 Research done concerning picture 139 1/2 Diary September 1880

Diary Kept on Trip to Geysers of the Yellowstone in September 1880 by Mrs. M.H. Lott

 1/3 History of Madison County: Exploration of Montana (The Lewis and Clark Expedition) by Melvin J. Lott, Chapter 1-4 1/4 Lure of the West by Melvina J. Lott (pen name crossed out, Jane Carney Biddle), Chapter 1: Off for the West 1/5 Twin Bridges history, clippings, biographies History of Twin Bridges and Vicinity, Part 1 by Mrs. Melvina J. (M.H.) Lott, Historian for Twin Bridges Woman’s Club 1931 Clippings: County Clubs’ History Gets Hilger’s Praise; Ex-State Senator M.J. Lott Dead List and brief biographies of the first settlers and business’ of Twin Bridges 1/6 Twin Bridges and Madison County history, Orphan’s Home, Enabling Act, clippings, biography Enabling Act List of firsts for Twin Bridges (schools, buildings, positions, etc.) Rochester Gulch article Clippings: Cemetery Association will hold annual meeting, elect trustees, history is given; Who set Montana’s first sluice box? Commentary on the Orphan’s Home Bill and Home History of the Twin Bridges Woman’s Club by Mrs. Roy M. Austin Chapter 3 of unidentified manuscript by Mrs. Lott 1912 History of Madison County Handwritten biography of Augustus Edwin Learson 1/7 Schools-Twin Bridges 1/8 The Montana State Normal University Journal, Twin Bridges, Madison County, Montana, Volume 1, #1 September 9, 1889 1/9 Montana Normal School List of Donors 1890 List of Petitioners to locate the Normal School in Twin Bridges, missing the first 34 petitioners 1891 1/10 Montana Normal School Normal School location clippings circa 1893 1st and 2nd annual announcements 1889 1890 The Normal School Question Graduation Announcement 1894

Graduation Announcement, Class of 1894

 6th and 7th annual catalogue 1893-1894 1894-1895 1/11 Senate Bill #52 1892

(Orphans, Foundlings, and Destitute Children’s Home)

 1/12 Report of Commission Appointed to Examine the Accounts of the Late Auditor and Treasurer of the Territory April 2, 1866 1/13 Letterpress copybook circa 1884 1/14 Daybook September 30-November 13, 1878 2/1 Daybook October 1879-April 1884 2/2 Ledger 1881-1882