MTLMC83.xml Guide to the Powder River Land and Cattle Company records 1911-1944 Powder River Land and Cattle Company records Finding aid prepared by MHS staff. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Montana Historical Society 2004
Helena, MT
Finding aid encoded by Ellie Arguimbau with assistance by Cuadra Assoc.2004 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2nd Edition) Montana Historical SocietyArchives MC 83 Powder River Land and Cattle Company Powder River Land and Cattle Company Records 1911-1944 1 linear feet of shelf space The Powder River Land and Cattle Company, incorporated by John T. Murphy, A.L. Smith, and John Tucker, operated ranches in Carter and Custer counties. Collection includes interoffice correspondence (1922-1923, 1935); incoming correspondence (1935); financial records including cattle sales records (1916-1935), monthly trial balances (1919-1935), payroll (1926-1935), etc.; and organizational records, including articles of incorporation, bylaws, and minutes (1911-1943). 5:4-2 English

The Powder River Land and Cattle Company was formed on October 14, 1911, by R.P. Heren, John T. Murphy, A.L. Smith, and John H. Tucker. Although the central office was in Helena, Montana, the principal ranch operations were located on 24,153 acres in Custer and Carter counties. The ranch headquarters were near Mizpah. Minor pasturage was also held in South Dakota near Faulkton, Midland, and Reliance. Under the foremanship of Charles Wiley, four to fourteen hired hands maintained a total herd which varied in size from approximately 2,300 to 13,000 head. In 1935, the stockholders voted to reduce the herd, ranch operations, and office activities to a minimum with the intention of liquidation the following year. However, the company managed to continue with reduced operations and increased financial aid from the stockholders until June 1938. At that time, the company agreed to a proposition from James H. Macklin of Los Angeles, to lease certain areas for the purpose of oil and gas exploration. In 1943, the corporation sold all existing leases and remaining lands to John McNierney of New Mexico. The Powder River Land and Cattle Company ceased operation in 1944.

Records. 1911-1944. 1 linear foot. The records consist primarily of organizational and financial records. Extensive information can be found in the monthly trial balances (1919-1935); cattle sales accounts (1916-1935); monthly payrolls (1926-1935); and the corporation's record book of minutes (1911-1943). There is some interoffice and incoming correspondence (1922-1923, 1935).

Arranged by series

Collection open for research.

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.

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

Acquisition information available upon request

Artifacts transferred to archives. See inventory below for more information.

Financial records for Powder River Land and Cattle Co. can also be located in MC 84, John T. Murphy papers

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.

Powder River Land and Cattle Company Carter County (Mont.) Custer County (Mont.) Livestock--Breeding Land Companies Montana Agriculture Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Interoffice Correspondence 1 / 1 Mizpah office to Helena office; Helena office to Mizpah office (correspondents include Charles Wiley, John H. Tucker, H.C.W. Richter) 1922-1923, 1935, undated Incoming Correspondence 1 / 2 Bank of Baker 1935 1 / 3 Rosenbaum Brothers and Company (includes cattle sales accounts) 1935 Financial Records 1 / 4 Cattle inventories 1918-1922 1 / 5-6 Cattle sales records 1916-1935 1 / 7-10 Checkbook registers and check stubs 1931-1933, 1939-1944 1 / 11 Journal of livestock accounts 1912-1929 1 / 12-14 Monthly trial balances 1919-1935 1 / 15 Payrolls 1926-1935 1 / 16-17 Receipts 1926, 1935 1 / 18 Tax returns 1933 1 / 19 Miscellaneous (includes totals of supplies, wages, freightage, etc.) 1919, undated Organization 2 / 1 Certificates of incorporation and extension of corporate existence 1911, 1918, 1932 2 / 2 Bylaws and amendments 1911-1943 2 / 3-4 Minutes 1911-1943 2 / 5 Notices of stockholders' meetings; proxies 1932-1942 2 / 6 Stock certificate book 1918-1935 Miscellany 2 / 7 List of artifacts transferred to Museum