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Barthelmess Family papers, 1926-1971

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Barthelmess Family
Title
Barthelmess Family papers
Dates
1926-1971 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.0 linear feet
Collection Number
MC 266
Summary
This collection consists of two typewritten manuscripts (1968, undated) of Photographer on an Army Mule (also titled Shadow Catcher on an Army Mule), a biographical study of Christian Barthelmess. The manuscripts were written by Maurice Frink in collaboration with Casey E. Barthelmess Sr. Also included in the collection is a letter (1971) to Casey Barthelmess from Joseph Strittmatter re photographs (now housed in the Photograph Archives); a photocopy of a letter to Casey from May Billing re tales of "loot" from the Battle of the Little Big Horn; a photocopy of a letter (1926) from Casey Barthelmess Sr. to his mother describing 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Little Big Horn; and other photocopies of miscellaneous correspondence (1926-1966) including correspondents J.H. Price of Knowlton, Montana, F.H. Sinclair, Neckyoke Jones, and Orville Cochran. Also included is miscellany i.e. photocopies of notes concerning early Montana Horse Ranches.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 406-444-2681
Fax: 406-444-5297
mthslibrary@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

Christian Barthelmess was born in Klinfenberg, Bavaria, April 11, 1854. In his youth he studied music and German literature at Leipzig. Immigrating to the United States in the late 1870s, Christian joined the post-Civil War Regular Army. He subsequently served in the Sixth Cavalry, and Thirteenth, Twenty-second, and Second Infantry Regiments, from 1876 until his retirement in 1903. Christian Barthelmess was stationed in Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, and the Philippines. In Montana he served as chief musician for the Second Infantry, stationed at Fort Keogh. Throughout his military career Christian Barthelmess created an extensive photographic collection capturing the landscape of the American West, the lives of his fellow soldiers, and the experiences of the civilian populations he encountered, both Native American and Caucasian. In addition to his photographic talents, Christian also authored two articles based on his observations of Navaho Indian ceremonies for "Der Westen," a German language newspaper published in Chicago. Christian Barthelmess married Catherine Dorothea Hansen in 1886 in Silver City, New Mexico. They had seven children: Leo, Florence, Sophia, Fred, Adelaide, Marie, and Casey. Christian Barthelmess died, as the result of injuries sustained when a trench collapsed on him at Fort Keogh, April 10, 1906. Casey Barthelmess was born July 18, 1890, at Fort Keogh, namesake to his father's closest friend, Lieutenant Edward W. Casey. The Barthelmess family was stationed at Fort Keogh through Casey's childhood. As a youngster he was surrounded by the soldiers, scouts, buffalo hunters, mule skinners, Indians, and cowboys that populated the American West. At the age of fifteen Casey and two of his siblings quit school in order to help support the family following the death of their father. Casey took work with the LO Ranch on Mizpah Creek outside of present-day Miles City. He worked horses for the ranch until 1909 when he went to Chicago to study art. In 1914 he returned to Montana and went back to work for the LO, and attended business college in Miles City. Over the years Casey participated in the Montana rodeo circuit, served in the military at Fort Keogh and overseas during World War I, and built a successful ranch on Mizpah Creek. He was active in the state's various livestock organizations and was honored as Montana's Rancher of the Year in 1954. He retired in the late 1950s and moved to Miles City were he began work on a biography of his father. Casey Barthelmess and Maurice Frink co-authored Photographer on an Army Mule, published by the University of Oklahoma Press in 1965. In 1921 Casey Barthelmess married Ann Oby, a local school teacher. They had six children: Richard, Robert, Casey Jr., Rosemary, Leo, and Randall. Casey Barthelmess, Sr., died in Miles City in 1972. Ann Oby Barthelmess died in 1993.

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Content Description

This collection consists of papers relating to the Barthelmess family of Miles City. There are two subgroups: one for Casey Barthelmess, Sr.; one for Christian Barthelmess. The Casey Barthelmess, Sr., subgroup consists of Barthelmess family Biographical Materials (1854-1995), Incoming Correspondence (1931-1988), Outgoing Correspondence (1926), Writings (1961, undated), Miscellany (1904, 1919, 1926), and Clippings (1935, 1948, 1968). The Biographical Materials include a family tree, photocopies of marriage records for Christian, Casey E., and Catherine Barthelmess, death records for Catherine, and a citizenship certificate for Cort Hansen. Incoming Correspondence primarily regards family history and the writing of his father's biography. Outgoing Correspondence is to Catherine Barthelmess and Cort Hansen. The Writings series includes "Casey's Autobiography" and "Shadow Catcher on an Army Mule," the latter became Photographer on an Army Mule. The Miscellany series includes lists of men on the LO Ranch and photographs used in "Thirty Years in the Army." The Clippings are primarily letters to the editor authored by Casey Barthelmess and others regarding life in the Miles City area. The Christian Barthelmess subgroup includes Outgoing Correspondence (1878, 1890), Writings (undated), and Miscellany (1898, circa 1901). The Outgoing Correspondence is written in German to an unknown recipient. The Writings series consists of articles for "Der Westen"--a German language newspaper in Chicago--regarding Navaho Indian ceremonies. The Miscellany series includes a commission certificate from the U.S. Army, and sheet music used by Barthelmess to teach and conduct the Second Infantry U.S. Band at Fort Keogh.

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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 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.

Preferred Citation

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

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three subgroups: Barthelmess Family; Casey Barthelmess; and Christian Barthelmess. Each subgroup is arranged by series. Some material housed in Archives Map Case. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

13:6-3

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

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Subject Terms

  • German Americans--Montana--Miles City
  • Photographers--Montana--Miles City

Personal Names

  • Barthelmess Family (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Fort Keogh (Mont.)
  • Miles City (Mont.)
  • Mizpah Creek (Mont.)

Finding aid prepared by MTHS staff; Updated by Aaron Rau
2004; 2024

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

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