MZF2342.xml Guide to the Don Binkowski Papers 1960-1992 Binkowski (Don) Papers Kim Allen Scott Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities Montana State University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Manuscript Collections 2009
P.O. Box 173320, Centennial Mall Montana State University Bozeman, MT 59717
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-11-16. Finding aid written in English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Montana State University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Manuscript Collections Don Binkowski papers Binkowski, Don, 1929- 2342 1.6 linear feet 1960-1992 The Don Binkowski Papers consist of research materials dealing with Philetus W. Norris, Binkowski's literary work, and personal correspondence. Most of the papers pertain to research conducted by Binkowski in preparation for his 1995 publication, Col P. W. Norris: Yellowstone's Greatest Superintendent. The research notes collected by Binkowski contain mostly letters and periodical articles that he transcribed from source materials. Also included in these papers are versions of the Norris biography and a copy of Binkowski's earlier article, "From Prairie Mound to Yellowstone National Park." Collection materials are in English

Judge Don Binkowski was born on October 29, 1929 in the Detroit suburb of Norris, which later became North Detroit. He attended Wayne State University and obtained his law degree in 1958. In 1961-62, he took part in Michigan's Constitutional Convention as a state Senator in the 2nd District and afterward moved to Warren, Michigan to begin his law practice. Binkowski served as Mayor Pro-Tem and later became a 37th District Court judge in Warren. In 1995, after years of research and collecting, Binkowski published a biography of Philetus W. Norris which he had undertaken as a hobby. Binkowski's other avocational interests include his Polish-American heritage and Native American culture, and environmental protection. Binkowski now lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina and is a member of the Yellowstone Association, Sierra Club, and the Wilderness Society.

Philetus Walter Norris was born in Palmyra, New York August 1821. He first worked as a land surveyor and also served in the Union Army during the Civil War as a spy. Norris gained his first position with the government by becoming the first Postmaster of Pioneer, Ohio. After being a state legislator and an unsuccessful bid for Senator, Norris moved to the Rocky Mountain west. In May 1877 he was appointed Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park where he served until 1882. Norris is best known for securing money for road building in the Park and naming numerous attractions.

The Don Binkowski papers consist of research materials dealing with Philetus W. Norris, Binkowski's literary work, and personal correspondence. Most of the papers pertain to research conducted by Binkowski in preparation for his 1995 publication, Col P. W. Norris: Yellowstone's Greatest Superintendent. The book began as a local history project about Binkowski's childhood home, but during the course of his research, Binkowski discovered Norris' Michigan homestead was just blocks away from this home and largely forgotten by the local residents. The research notes collected by Binkowski contain mostly letters and periodical articles that he transcribed from source materials. Also included in these papers are versions of the Norris biography and a copy of Binkowski's earlier article, "From Prairie Mound to Yellowstone National Park." Of particular importance among the correspondents are letters from Wilna Krisher, and Aubrey Haines. The collection has been arranged in topically labeled folders.

This collection is open for research.

Research papers created or collected by Don Binkowski were donated to Montana State University Special Collections in January 1996 with an additional shipment arriving in November 2002.

This collection was processed 2009 May 28

 Haines, Aubrey L.--Correspondence Krisher, Wilna L., 1914-2002-Correspondence--Correspondence Norris, Philetus W. (Philetus Walter), 1821-1885-Biography--Biography Yellowstone National Park--Officials and employees--Biographies Biographers--United States Native Americans Parks and Playgrounds Photographs Biographies Biographies Biography Photographs Photographs Transcribed news stories 1857-1865 1 1 Transcribed news stories 1870-1873 1 2 Transcribed news stories 1875 1 3 Transcribed news stories 1877 1 4 Transcribed news stories 1878-1879 1 5 Transcribed news stories 1880 1 6 Transcribed news stories 1881 1 7 Transcribed news stories 1882-1883 1 8 Transcribed news stories 1884-1885 1 9 Transcribed news stories 1886-1894 1 10 Transcribed Correspondence 1840s 1 11 Transcribed Correspondence 1850s 1 12 Transcribed Correspondence 1860-1888 1 13 Transcribed Correspondence, Miscellaneous 1 14 Transcribed Correspondence, Edwin Norris 1864-1876 1 15 Transcribed Correspondence, M. R. Waite 1 16 Genealogy of P. W. Norris 1 17 Master Manuscript 1977 2 1 Second Revision 2 2 Miscellaneous Notes 2 3 Outline and Synopsis 2 4 Chapters 1-3 and Appendix a 2 5 "From Prairie Mound to Yellowstone National Park" 1994 2 6 Finished Copy; Col. P. W. Norris: Yellowstone's Greatest Superintendent 2 7 Correspondence; Norris Homestead (cabin) 2 8 Miscellany 2 9 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1960-1972 3 1 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1973 3 2 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1974 3 3 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1975 3 4 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1976 3 5 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1977 3 6 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1978 4 1 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1983-1984 4 2 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1985-1986 4 3 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1989 4 4 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1990-1992 4 5 Correspondence, Aubrey Haines 1974-1991 4 6 Correspondence, Wilna Krisher 1965-1990 4 7 Native American Interests 4 8 Polish American Interests 4 9 Miscellaneous Photographs 4 10