University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
The University of Montana—Missoula
Missoula, MT 59812
406-243-2053
http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc
library.archives@umontana.edu
Mss 268
Asbridge, Joseph L., 1860-1935
Joseph L. Asbridge Diary and Photographs
1884-circa 1920
1 folder and 34 photographs
The Joseph L. Asbridge Diary and Photographs collection consists of 34 glass plate negative images of the Asbridge family at Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana and excerpts from Asbridge's diary written during the winter of 1884-1885.
Some materials are in English and others are visual.
Biological Note
Joseph L. Asbridge was born on January 9, 1860 in Cockermouth, Cumberland County, England. In 1883, he immigrated to Billings, Montana, and established a 160-acre homestead west of Roundup on Willow Creek not long after. There, Asbridge started the firm Hightower, Asbridge, and Battams and became an extensive cattle and sheep raiser. His ranch came to be known as Lazy X Ranch, because "X" on his sign did not stand straight.
In 1908, Asbridge was elected to the Montana State Legislature. As a representative from Fergus County, he introduced a bill to establish a grain testing lab in Bozeman. The measure was controversial at the time, because many out-of-state seed houses used Montana as a dumping ground for low grade seed. Asbridge then became active in the organization of Musselshell County and was elected its first state senator in 1912. In 1915, he was appointed as a U.S. Marshall by President Woodrow Wilson. Asbridge and his family subsequently left Lazy X Ranch and moved to Helena, Montana.
Asbridge was married twice and had eight children. He died on December 6, 1935 in Lakeside, Montana.
The Joseph L. Asbridge Diary and Photographs collection consists of 34 glass plate negative images of the Asbridge family, animals, and sheep rearing operations at Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana, captured circa 1900 through 1920. The collection also includes excerpts from Asbridge's diary written during a hunting trip in the winter of 1884-1885.
The collection is arranged in two series:
Series I: Hunting Diary, 1884-1885, 1 folder
Series II: Lazy X Ranch Photographs, circa 1900-1920, 34 images
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.
Joseph L. Asbridge Diary and Photographs,
Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The
University of Montana-Missoula.
The collection was held by Gladys A. Sather, granddaughter of Joseph L. Asbridge, before she donated it to the University of Montana in 1989.
Gift of Gladys A. Sather, 1989.
In 1990, the donor provided captions and the Archives assigned photo numbers to each image. In 2022, the collection was processed as the Joseph L. Asbridge Diary and Photographs (Mss 268).
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.
Asbridge, Joseph L., 1860-1935--Archives
Asbridge family
Lazy X Ranch (Mont.)
Willow Creek (Mont.)
Musselshell County (Mont.)
Ranching--Montana
Ranch life--Montana
Hunting--Montana
Montana
Ranching
Diaries
Photographs
Ranchers--Montana
Legislators--Montana
Series I
Hunting Diary
1884-1885
1 folder
Series I contains typed excerpts of Joseph Asbridge's diary from a hunting trip in eastern Montana and Wyoming. Entries in the diary detail the harsh weather, camp conditions, and the various animals killed by the hunting party.
Items in this series are organized chronologically.
1Hunting Diary1884-1885
Series II
Lazy X Ranch Photographs
circa 1900-1920
34 images
Series II contains photographs of the Asbridge family, animals, and sheep rearing operations at Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana.
Items in this series are organized by photo number
90-0134 Frances and Hazel Asbridge playing on a teeter-totter on the Lazy X Ranch on Willow creek near Roundup, Montana circa 1910
90-0135 Baby Ruth Asbridge with Mother Aimee Asbridge on the Lazy Z Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1912
90-0136 Cattle on the Lazy X Ranch on Willow Creek near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0137 Frances Asbridge playing on a teeter-totter with a cat and a dog on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1910
90-0138 A flock of sheep on the Joseph L. Asbridge, Lazy X Ranch on Willow creek noar Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0139 Vern, Hazel and Joseph Asbridge at the Willows, the home place, on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900
90-0140 Little Robert Asbridge in a baby carriage at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1911
90-0141 Ruth Asbridge sitting on steps at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1913
90-0142 Hazel Asbridsge sitting on a horse at the Willows on Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1905
90-0143 Dorothy and cousin Edna Asbridge standing on top of a wood pile at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1912
90-0144 A flock of sheep at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0145 Joseph and Vern Asbridge at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900
90-0146 Ruth Asbridge at the Willows on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1914
90-0147 Dorothy Asbridge sitting in a wagon at the Willows on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1911
90-0148 Frances and Hazel Asbridge at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1910
90-0149 A dead deer probably killed by an Asbridge at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0150 Vern Asbridge sitting on top of a hay raker at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1910
90-0151 The firewood pile at the Laxy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0152 An unknown hunter probably at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0153 Robert, Mrs. J. L. Asbridge, cousin Edna, and Dorothy Asbridge at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1911
90-0154 Horses on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0155 Ranch hands at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0156 A dead deer probably killed by an Asbridge at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0157 Harvest time with old steam tractor at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0158 The firewood crew on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900
90-0159 An unknown group of people probably at the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0160 A jackrabbit on the prairie near the Lazy X Ranch circa 1900-1915
90-0161 A flock of sheep on the area around the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0162 The sheep shearing crew on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0163 A flock of sheep on the area around the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0164 A tugboat on Flathead Lake, Montana, with a boom of logs circa 1920
90-0165 The firewood crew on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0166 A horse and her colt on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1900-1915
90-0167 Robert C. Asbridge, Dorothy Asbridge, and cousin Edna from Pennsylvannia on the Lazy X Ranch near Roundup, Montana circa 1910