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Yellowstone Park Company Records, 1892-1963

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Yellowstone Park Company
Title
Yellowstone Park Company Records
Dates
1892-1963 (inclusive)
Quantity
34 reels microfilm
Collection Number
Mss 181
Summary
The collection contains records of Yellowstone National Park companies involved in the operation of the Park including lodging, transportation, and recreational activities.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Northern Pacific Railroad, its subsidiary Northwest Improvement Company, and various private parties owned many of the concessions and other businesses that provided visitor services in the earliest years of Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone Park Company was incorporated under Minnesota law in the 1880s, in association with the Northern Pacific Railroad. Though the organization of this concession has resulted in a number of associated company names (such as Yellowstone Park Transportation Company, Yellowstone Park Camping company, Yellowstone Park Hotel Company, Yellowstone Park Lodge and Camps Company) they fall under the umbrella of the Yellowstone Park Company.

In 1892, Harry W. Child, with partners Silas S. Huntley, L.H. Hershfield, Aaron Hershfield, and others, established the Yellowstone National Park Transportation Company to provide stagecoach travel in the Park. In 1901 Child, Huntley, and E.W. Back purchased the stock of the Yellowstone Park Association to consolidate their control of the concessions. Later that year, Huntley died, leaving Child to control both companies. Child also operated Child & Anceny with C. L. Anceny; that business dealt in real estate and cattle ranching. In 1909 Child, his wife Adelaide D. Child, and their son Huntley Child reorganized the Yellowstone National Park Transportation Company into its constituent parts, the Yellowstone Park Transportation Company and the Yellowstone Park Hotel Company.

Child died in 1931, and his son-in-law William M. Nichols took over the operation of the concessions. In 1936 Nichols merged the park's transportation, hotel, camping, and boating operations into the new Yellowstone Park Company. World War II brought a decline in the concessions as government services to all parks were curtailed and gas rationing curtailed tourist travel. Close to bankruptcy during the 1940s, Nichols was financially unprepared for the tourist boom of the early 1950s. To meet the need for improved and expanded facilities, the government initiated "Mission 66," a joint government and private financial of new facilities, the most ambitious of which was the new Canyon Village, completed in 1957.

Yellowstone Park Company continued to operate in Yellowstone National Park until the United States Government purchased all associated property of the company and their lease to operate was terminated in 1980.

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Content Description

The collection consists of the personal records of Harry W. Child and the records of the Wylie Permanent Camping Company, Green Meadows Farm, the Yellowstone Park Association, Yellowstone Park Transportation Company, Yellowstone Park Company, Yellowstone Park Hotel Company, and Yellowstone Park Camping Company. It provides documentation of park visitors, employees, services, and the financial health of these companies.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Yellowstone Park Company Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is divided into eight series:

Series I: Harry W. Child, 5 volumes, 1893-1931

Series II: Wylie Permanent Camping Company, 1 volume, 1915-1917

Series III: Green Meadow Farm, 1 volume, 1919-1920

Series IV: Yellowstone Park Association, 1 volume, 1920-1921

Series V: Yellowstone Park Transportation Company, 29 volumes, 1892-1951

Series VI: Yellowstone Park Company, 5 volumes, 1900-1963

Series VII: Yellowstone Park Hotel Company, 22 volumes, 1905-1935

Series VIII: Yellowstone Park Camping Company, 17 volumes, 1918-1935

Location of Originals

Location of originals unknown.

Acquisition Information

The Yellowstone Park Company loaned the materials to The University of Montana in 1967 for microfilming. The originals remained in custody of the Company after microfilming was completed.

Processing Note

The materials were arranged before microfilming in 1967, and a finding aid was produced. In 2004, the materials were re-described.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Subject Terms

  • National park concessions--Yellowstone National Park

Geographical Names

  • Yellowstone National Park

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business records--Yellowstone National Park

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Child, Harry W.

    Corporate Names

    • Yellowstone Park Association
    • Yellowstone Park Camping Company
    • Yellowstone Park Hotel Company
    • Yellowstone Park Transportation Company
    • Green Meadows Farm
    • Wylie Permanent Camping Co.
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