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Fisk Family Papers, 1858-1901

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Fisk Family
Title
Fisk Family Papers
Dates
1858-1901 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.4 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 31
Summary
The Fisk Family gained prominence in Montana as emigrant guides and prominent newspapermen. Collection consists of correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, and photographs. Topics presented include the Civil War, the Fisk expeditions of the 1860s, newspaper publishing in Helena, Montana, local politics, and pioneer life.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

These papers center on four of the six sons of James B. and Jerusha T. Fisk, namely, Andrew Jackson, James Liberty, Robert Emmett, and Van Hayden Fisk, and on Robert's wife, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Chester Fisk. The brothers' involvement in Montana politics and their accomplishments in private enterprise combine with their work as emigrant guides to make the Fisks one of Montana's more historically notable families. Through her extensive letters to her family in the East, Lizzie Fisk documented the activities of her family and the milieu in which they lived.

Born ca. 1835, the eldest of the Fisk brothers, James Liberty Fisk, is noted primarily for organizing and leading emigrant expeditions from Minnesota to Montana, 1862-1866, using the "Northern Route." He was accompanied on one of these expeditions by his wife, Lydia (Burson) Fisk, and his daughter Dell. James was editor of the Helena Herald for a period in 1867 and was also active in the Montana militia. Withdrawing from the newspaper, he later promoted various projects in Montana, Dakota, Minnesota, and Washington. He died at the Minnesota Soldiers Home in Minneapolis in 1902.

Robert E. Fisk was born in Pierpont, Ohio, in 1837. He spent his early life as a newspaperman in Indiana and New York before becoming an officer in several New York volunteer regiments, beginning in 1861. During the Civil War, he corresponded with Miss Elizabeth Chester of Vernon, Connecticut, and she later became his wife. He served as second-in-command under James during the 1866 Fisk Expedition to Montana and arrived in Helena in September of that year. He was an owner and editor of the Helena Herald for 36 years and actively promoted the Republican cause in Montana. He died in Berkeley, California, in 1908.

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Chester Fisk was born February 18, 1846, in East Haddam, Connecticut, of staunch Presbyterian and Republican parents. Following her marriage to Robert in 1867, Lizzie settled with him in Helena, and while running a large household, which included six children, she managed to write long, detailed letters to her family in Connecticut. Her correspondence, described her daily life in Helena and such occurrences as the fires that periodically devastated Helena's downtown area, vigilante lynchings, political crises and scandals, and major social events. Lizzie Fisk died April 21, 1927, in Berkeley, California, having spent her last 25 years in that state.

Andrew Jackson Fisk was born in Cattaraugus County, New York, in 1849. After military service, he too arrived in Helena with the 1866 Fisk Expedition. He soon entered into a partnership agreement with Robert, and together they began publishing the Helena Herald in November 1866. Andrew married Clara A. Wilcox on July 26, 1873. In 1898, he was appointed postmaster of Helena by President McKinley. He also served as adjutant general of Montana Territory during the administration of Governor B.P. Carpenter. He was very active in fraternal organizations, the Montana Department of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Society of Montana Pioneers. He died February 3, 1910, in Helena.

Van Hayden Fisk was born in Ohio, December 19, 1840. An active soldier and frontiersman, he accompanied his brother James on two of the Fisk expeditions and served as wagon master in 1866. In Montana, he engaged in mining and farming and also worked at the Helena Herald in various capacities. He was at one time owner and publisher of the Townsend Tranchant. He died April 19, 1890, in Helena.

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Content Description

The collection consists primarily of intrafamily correspondence, the largest percentage of which is the incoming and outgoing correspondence (1857-1906) of Elizabeth Chester Fisk. The collection also contains correspondence (1859-1905) of Robert Fisk including letters from Montana Territorial Secretary James E. Callaway and Governor Benjamin F. Potts; the Civil War letters (1862-1865) of Robert and Van Hayden Fisk; letters (1870-1891) between Robert and Lizzie Fisk's children (Asa, Florence, Grace, James K., and Robert) and Elizabeth's mother, Mrs. Isaac Chester; and a photocopy of a letter (1864) to James L. Fisk from the Secretary of War, appointing him to lead an expedition via Fort Benton. Also included are diaries (1864-1873) written by Andrew J. Fisk, chronicling the Fisk expeditions (see also Microfilm 81 for 1864-1873 diaries), and photocopies of writings (1858-1860) by James Liberty Fisk.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by subgroup and series, oversized material housed in archives map case. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

1:3-4

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau
2005

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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