William Simonton Bell was born February 13th, 1894, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He entered the Polytechnic College of Pennsylvania in January of 1867, graduating with a degree in ministry in June of 1869. Mr. Bell came to Helena, Montana, in 1887 to assume leadership of the Congregational Sunday School and Congregational Home Missionary Society. In 1907 Mr. Bell was hired by the Montana Historical Society to replace Laura Howey as head librarian. He served in that capacity for three years. He then transferred to Spokane, Washington, to become an ordained minister for the Presbyterian Synod of Washington. William married Mary Amelia Kingsbury in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on October 4, 1887. The couple remained in Sioux Falls for a short time, but moved to Helena later in the year. The couple had their first and only child, Martha Bell, on January 18, 1894. William S. Bell died in Baltimore, Maryland, May 23, 1920 Martha was educated in the Helena area grade schools, but completed high school in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She earned a masters degree from Columbia University and a certificate of library science from Simmons College. She served as librarian for many university colleges across the country, but retired from Randolph-Macon Woman's College after 35 years of service. Martha Bell never married. She died on her 102nd birthday, February 13th, 1997, in Roanoke, Virginia.
This collection consists of papers (1846, 1887-1997) from various members of the Bell Family of Helena, Montana, including William S. Bell (father), Mary "Millie" Bell (mother), and Martha Bell (Daughter). Papers include biographical materials (1927, 1997, undated) consisting of an article on William Bell's missionary work, an obituary for Martha Bell, and a general family history (Simonton and related families); correspondence (1846-1920) primarily between Mary and William; diaries (1887-1914) kept by Mary "Millie" and Martha, primarily discussing life in Helena; and writings by William Bell concerning the history of congregational churches in Montana, and an annual report for the Montana Historical Society. The writings also include an article by Martha Bell entitled "Special Women's Collections in United States Libraries".
This collection is arranged into four series: Biographical Materials (1887-1997, undated); General Correspondence (1846-1920); Diaries (1887-1914); and Writings (1907-1909, 1959, undated).
Collection open for research.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives 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 Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request.
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.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection