Archives West Finding Aid

Photocopied historical research papers and printed articles created or collected by Worthen, or in collaboration with Lewistown, Montana attorney Oscar O. Mueller, in Worthen's capacity as a historian and high school teacher. The papers deal with the history of central Montana, especially Fergus County and the Judith Basin, the vigilante activity of 1884, the DHS Ranch, and the Lewis and Clark expedition. Originals are at the Montana Historical Society at Helena.

Photocopied and original papers created or collected by James Fergus or his son, Andrew, which had been in the possession of Cilfton B. Worthen. In 1969, Worthen's widow, Gladys, turned these materials over to Merrill G. Burlingame for transfer to the Montana Historical Society. Burlingame photocopied the majority of these pieces prior to depositing them with the MHS in Helena. Correspondents include: Granville Stuart, Cornelius Hedges, Wilbur F. Sanders, Patrick Dunlany, Phillip Shoule, S.C. Gilpatrick, D.A. Meagher, A.L. Randall, Theodore Lindsay, J.L Perkins, William Cantrell, S.M. Emery, S. Spain, B.P. Carpenter, J.E. Richards, William Fly, and W.H. Watson. Topics include: Montana politics and elections, ranching, the vigilante movement of 1884, the Society of Montana Pioneers, the winter of 1887 and its effect on ranching, the DHS Ranch, the history of central Montana and the Judith Basin, and relations with Montana Indians. The papers were calendared in at least four different accessions, and those descriptions have been transferred to the inventory below. An asterisk indicates the letter or document described is an original, documents transcribed by Merrill Burlingame have been so identified, and all materials have been chronologically arranged. Unless otherwise indicated, the calendared item is a letter.

Typed and handwritten transcriptions of original Fergus family papers in the possession of Hazel Fergus and prepared by her and Mrs. Allis Stuart for the Federal Writer's Project of the Works Progress Administration. Most of the original papers from which these transcriptions were taken were subsequently donated to the University of Montana at Missoula. The letters transcribed here were done in rough chronological order, although occasionally documents of widely different dates were included in one transcription. Most include annotations from Hazel Fergus or Allis Stuart placing the letter in historical context. The letters mostly pertain to James Fergus and his early life in Minnesota, his trip to the gold fields of Montana Territory, his family's subsequent move to join him, and the establishment of their ranch in what would become Fergus County, Montana. Included with the transcriptions are several biographical sketches prepared by Hazel Fergus or Allis Stuart, and a file of letters collected by M. G. Burlingame which document the transcription activity and provenance of the original documents.