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Earle and Sara Wright Strain Family papers, 1889-1953

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Strain, Earle, 1866-1953
Title
Earle and Sara Wright Strain Family papers
Dates
1889-1953 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.2 linear feet
Collection Number
MC 249 (collection)
Summary
Earle Strain was a Great Falls, Montana, physician and one of the discoverers of the cause of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Papers consist of genealogical and biographical information; correspondence (1895-1946) of Strain and his wife Sara; a diary by Sara Wright Strain kept while they were in Europe; household financial records; memorabilia; and clippings.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English, French, German
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

Earle Strain was born in Flesherton, Ontario, May 24, 1866, the third of eleven children of William and Eliza Jane (Bell) Strain. Earle began the study of medicine at the University of Toronto, but in 1888 transferred to the University of Pennsylvania. After graduation in 1890, he established a practice in Minot, North Dakota. In January 1895 Strain and his wife travelled to Europe where he studied medicine in Berlin and Vienna. The couple also travelled widely, and took advantage of the cultural opportunities of Europe. In 1896, following his return from Europe, Strain accepted an appointment as company physician for the Boston and Montana Consolidated Copper and Silver Mining Company in Great Falls. He later established a private practice there. In 1901, in cooperation with Dr. A.F. Longeway, Dr. Strain began a study of Rocky Mountain spotted fever which led to the recognition that the disease was carried by the wood tick. Dr. Strain was active in the Montana State Medical Association and numerous other professional associations, as well as the Round Table Club, and the Masons. Sara Eliza Wright was born in Flesherton, Ontario, November 22, 1868, the fourth of five children of Thorpe E. and Eliza (James) Wright. She attended the University of Toronto. During her residence in Great Falls she was active in the Methodist Church and in the Travel Club. Dr. Earle Strain and Sara Eliza Wright were married December 11, 1894, in Flesherton, Ontario. Sara died October 1, 1943. Earle died June 1, 1953.

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Content Description

Papers. 1889-1953. 1.2 linear feet. Papers consist of incoming correspondence (1889-1918) from Jerome Billiet, a Belgian war orphan and others; general correspondence (1896-1953); outgoing correspondence (1895-1896) from Sara Wright Strain in Berlin, Vienna, and London to relatives in the United States and Canada; household and medical practice financial records (1896-1904); photographs and postcards (1895-1896) from Europe; printed material (1895-1896) consisting primarily of souvenirs from Europe; subject files on Rocky Mountain spotted fever and on the Round Table Club of Great Falls; miscellany (including articles by others on medicine and science, school materials, membership cards, certificates)

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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. The Society 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 Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by series: Biographical Material; Incoming Correspondence; General Correspondence; Outgoing Correspondence; Diaries; Financial Records; Maps, Photographs; Printed Material; Subject Files; Miscellany; and Clippings.

Location of Collection

13:2-2

Location of Collection

5:8-5 (oversize box)

Preservation Note

Sara Wright Strain outgoing correspondence housed in folders 1 / 7-9 are fragile. Use copies can be found in folders 1 / 10-12. See inventory below for more information.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

Separated Materials

Artifacts separated to Museum. Printed Material separated to Library. See inventory below for more information.

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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

  • Biographical Material

    • Description: Genealogical and biographical information on Strain and Wright families
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: Biographical Material
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes obituaries, forms for published biographical dictionaries)
      Dates: 1930-1953
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: Biographical Material

  • Incoming Correspondence

    • Description: Jerome Billiet, Belgian godchild (includes letters from "Pour les Enfants" a relief agency for Belgian war orphans)
      Dates: 1917-1918
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: L. Schmidt Deserieux [in French]
      Dates: 1895-1896
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Hattie and Sallie Taylor
      Dates: 1889-1892
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: Incoming Correspondence

  • General Correspondence

  • Outgoing Correspondence

    • Description: Sara Wright Strain [in Berlin] to family members in Canada and United States [restricted: fragile, use transcripts in folder 10]
      Dates: 1895 January-November
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence
    • Description: Sara Wright Strain [in Vienna] to family members in Canada and United States [restricted: fragile, use transcripts in folder 11]
      Dates: 1895 November- 1896 April
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence
    • Description: Sara Wright Strain [in London] to family members in Canada and United States [restricted: fragile, use transcripts in folder 12]
      Dates: 1896 April-July
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence
    • Description: Sara Wright Strain [in Berlin] to family members in Canada and United States [typescripts]
      Dates: 1895 January-November
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence
    • Description: Sara Wright Strain [in Vienna] to family members in Canada and United States [typescripts]
      Dates: 1895 November- 1896 April
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence
    • Description: Sara Wright Strain [in London] to family members in Canada and United States [typescripts]
      Dates: 1896 April-July
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence

  • Diaries

    • Description: Sara Wright Strain diary on travel to England, France, and Germany [also used by Earle Strain for medical lecture notes]
      Dates: 1895 January-August
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
      Location: Diaries

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Business licenses: Great Falls and Cascade County
      Dates: 1897-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: furniture
      Dates: 1897-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 15
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: house repairs at 317 1st Avenue North, Great Falls
      Dates: 1900-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 16
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: household expenses
      Dates: 1896-1904
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 17
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: medical and scientific books
      Dates: 1899-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 18
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: medical instruments
      Dates: 1899-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 19
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: newspaper and city directory advertisements
      Dates: 1900-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 20
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: optical supplies
      Dates: 1900-1904
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 21
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: rent payments to Boston and Montana Consolidated Copper and Silver Mining Company for house on Smelter Hill
      Dates: 1899-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 22
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: telephone
      Dates: 1900-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 23
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices and receipts: utilities
      Dates: 1900-1904
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 24
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Property taxes
      Dates: 1900
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 25
      Location: Financial Records

  • Maps

    • Description: "Map of a portion of Western Montana showing area infected by Spotted Fever," by Finkelnburg and Catlin [Oversize Box]
      Dates: undated
      Container: Oversize Folder 4 / 1
      Location: Maps

  • Photographs

    • Description: Postcards and photographs: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France
      Dates: 1895-1896
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: Photographs

  • Printed Material

    • Description: German and French language books
      Dates: circa 1895
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: Methodist hymn book
      Dates: 1884
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: Opera programs and librettos
      Dates: 1895-1896
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: Printed Material
    • Description: Souvenir travel books
      Dates: 1895-1896
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: Printed Material

  • Subject Files

    • Description: Rocky Mountain spotted fever
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Round Table Club, Great Falls: history of the Club
      Dates: 1916-1936
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Round Table Club, Great Falls: discussion papers on religion and philosophy
      Dates: 1922, 1928, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Subject Files

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Articles on gland disease
      Dates: 1935-1936, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Articles on physicians and scientists (includes Walter Reed, Theodore Billroth, George Miller Sternberg, William Henry Welch, Ivan Pavlov)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Articles on science and medicine
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Calling cards, invitations
      Dates: 1895-1896, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Certificates: Montana and North Dakota medical licenses, declaration of intent, citizenship, marriage, Orden der Hermanns-Soehne membership, War Dept. Medical Advisory Board, Masonic Lodge, et al.
      Dates: 1891-1944
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Certificates: Washington (State) medical license, Masonic membership, academic certificates, Veterans Association of Great Northern Railway [Oversize Box]
      Dates: 1890-1936
      Container: Oversizebox folder 4 / 2
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Course notes
      Dates: circa 1890-1899
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Course notes: charts on diseases [Oversize Box]
      Dates: undated
      Container: Oversizebox folder 4 / 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Membership cards and receipts
      Dates: 1900-1953
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Notebooks on German grammar, addresses, itinerary
      Dates: 1895
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 5
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Poem (toast to a bride) [in German]
      Dates: circa 1895
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 6
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Railroad schedules and rates
      Dates: 1906-1910
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 7
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: University of Pennsylvania Dept. of Medicine school records and memorabilia
      Dates: 1887-1904
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: University of Toronto School of Medicine school records and memorabilia
      Dates: 1886-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 9
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes medical course tickets, post office information, advertisements, etc.) [in German]
      Dates: 1895-1896
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 10
      Location: Miscellany

  • Clippings

    • Description: Great Falls (Mont.) and Minot (N.D.) history
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 11
      Location: Clippings

  • Transfers

    • Description: List of printed material transferred to Library
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 12
      Location: Transfers
    • Description: List of artifacts transferred to Museum
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 13
      Location: Transfers

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Physicians

Personal Names

  • Strain, Earle, 1866-1953 (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Austria--Description and travel (subejct)
  • Belgium (subejct)
  • Germany--Description and travel (subejct)

Finding aid prepared by MHS staff
1994

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

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