MZFCollection2004.xml Guide to the George R. Safley Papers 1895-1915 Safley (George R.) Papers Kim Allen Scott, 2009 Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities 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 encoded by ArchProteus2012 Finding aid written in English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard) Montana State University 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 2004, MtBC, us Safley, George R. George R. Safley Papers 1895-1915 .8 linear feet and 1 volume The George R. Safley Papers consist mainly of canceled checks and check registers from his numerous business endeavors, but the bulk deals with his undertaking business. One unique item included in his undertaking papers is his cause of death book from 1904-1906. Other papers include his ledger from the furniture store and undertaking business, his farm lease and corresponding papers, a fire insurance policy for the Globe Theatre, a letter from his brother-in-law, Charles T. Shearer, regarding the farmland, and a letter from King Motor Car Company. Collection materials are in English Biographical Note

George R. Safley (1855-circa 1923) was born in Iowa to a native Scottish father. Safley journeyed to Montana in 1890 on his honeymoon and liked it so much he decided to stay. A man of great ambition, Safley often ran several businesses at one time. His longest running career was that of undertaker and licensed embalmer which also included custom picture framing. In addition to his undertaking business, Safley ran a furniture store, which he operated until 1907. He was also interested in farming and ranching, owning 660 acres in Gallatin Country which he devoted to growing grain. Safley also help establish and was vice-president and later president of the Manhattan Home State Bank. One of his shorter lived business ventures was the Globe Theatre, which was located in the same building as his undertaking business. Safley was also an organizer of the Gallatin Valley Electric Railroad and was a member of several Bozeman organizations. As a staunch Republican, he was elected to the eleventh state legislature that is noted for contributing to the creation of Glacier National Park. Safley sold his undertaking business in 1915, but continued on as president of the Home State Bank. His date of death is unknown.

The Safley papers consist mainly of canceled checks and check registers from his numerous business endeavors, but the bulk deals with his undertaking business. One unique item included in his undertaking papers is his cause of death book from 1904-1906. In it, he lists not only the cause of death, but also the age, gender, occupation, and place of birth of the deceased. Other papers include his ledger from the furniture store and undertaking business, his farm lease and corresponding papers, a fire insurance policy for the Globe Theatre, a letter from his brother-in-law, Charles T. Shearer, regarding the farmland, and a letter from King Motor Car Company. The collection has been arranged in topically labeled folders.

This collection is open for research.

Business papers created or collected by George R. Safley were donated to Special Collections by in October 1973.

This collection was processed 2009 March 17

 Shearer, Charles T. -Correspondence Globe Theatre (Bozeman, Mont.) King Motor Car Company (Detroit, Mich.) Furniture industry and trade-Montana-Bozeman Theaters-Montana-Bozeman Undertakers and undertaking-Montana-Bozeman Death records-Montana-Bozeman Financial records-Montana-Bozeman Business records-Montana-Bozeman Registers of births, etc. -Montana-Bozeman Businessmen-Montana-Bozeman Retail Trade Montana Bozeman 1/1 Business Correspondence 1913-1915 1/2 Embalming business papers and cause of death book 1904-1915 1/3 Miscellaneous Bozeman business receipts 1/4 Commercial Bank statements 1905-1914 1/5 Home State Bank statements 1912-1913 1/6 Deeds and insurance contracts 1/7 Blank business forms 2 Check book stubs from Home State and Commercial Bank accounts 1895-1915 2 Ledger 1910-1915 1 Daily cash journal March 1, 1906-March 31, 1915