Organized in 1971 and incorporated in 1972, the purpose of the Western Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society was to preserve the remnants of western Montana’s ghost towns. Don Miller, a professor at The University of Montana in the Journalism School, led the organization as president for the first few years. In addition to the preservation of ghost towns, the organization had the opportunity to preserve and begin restoration of one of the first buildings at Fort Missoula. While working on the building at Fort Missoula, the society became interested and involved in creating a county museum. This effort resulted in the creation of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. The organization also purchased Fraternity Hall and Gillian Hall in the ghost town of Elkhorn, Montana. After paying off a loan from the National Trust of Historic Places, the buildings were placed with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The organization ceased to exist in 2008.
The collection contains the correspondence, financial records, legal documents, reports, speeches and writings of the organization’s early years. After 1979, the records are incomplete and after 1983, non existent. The contents of the miscellaneous film is currently unknown.
The collection is divided into ten series:
Series I: General Correspondence, 1962, 1970-1995 1.0 linear foot
Series II: Minutes, 1971-1983, 0.2 linear feet
Series III: Financial Records, 1972-1978, 0.1 linear feet
Series IV: Legal Documents, 1972-1976, 1 folder
Series V: Reports, 1973-1979, 0.2 linear feet
Series VI: Speeches and Writings, 1936,1949, 1971-1977, 0.1 linear feet
Series VII: Subject Files, 1971-1975, undated, 0.1 linear feet
Series VIII: Clippings, 1972-1978, 2 folders
Series IX: Miscellaneous, 1974-1983, 1 folder
Series X: Photographs, 1968-1987, 5 folders
Series XI: Film, circa 1970s, 2 reels
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.
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.
Western Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Date and condition of original acquisition is not on record at Archives and Special Collections at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. An additional donation was discovered in a building at Fort Missoula and donated in 2010.
The collection was processed in 2009. A small group of additional materials received in 2010 was incorporated into existing series of correspondence, financial records, and photographs.
In 2015, a small addition of miscellaneous film materials was added. In 2021, the motion picture film reels were cleaned, cored, and rehoused for preservation purposes and processed into the collection. Films were viewed to create content descriptions where able. In 2022, 5 reels were removed from the collection because they duplicate contents of retained reels.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
This series contains both incoming and outgoing correspondence from the society, it is arranged chronologically.
This series contains meeting minutes from the society, it is arranged chronologically.
This series contains financial and tax records from the society, it is organized chronologically.
This series contains articles of incorporation, by-laws, legal agreements, and other legal documents pertaining to the creation and operation of the society.
This series contains reports generated by the operation and activities of the society, it is organized alphabetically.
This series contains publications and presentations generated by the society.
This series contains materials on various subjects of interest to the society, it is organized alphabetically by title.
This series contains various clippings on topics of interest to the society, it is organized alphabetically by title.
This series contains various certificates awarded to the society.
This series contains photographs of various projects and interests of the society, it is organized alphabetically by title.
The film in this series was likely produced by or for the Society. At 50 ft, the run time would be around 1 minute, so it is likely a promotional television commercial.
Reels 1 and 2 were both retained because it is indeterminable at this time whether their soundtracks are identical.
16mm
Color, 50 ft, Sound
16mm
Color, 50 ft, Sound