Montana Historical Society
Archives
MC 55b
Power, Thomas C. (Thomas
Charles), 1839-1923
Thomas Charles Power papers
1867-1950
1.5 linear feet of shelf space
T.C. Power was a Montana merchandise, transportation,
mining, ranching, banking, and real estate magnate; and U.S. Senator from Montana from 1890
to 1895. Collection (1867-1950) includes a transcript of a diary (1867) of his trip up the
Missouri River; subject files (1873-1923), miscellany, and papers of his estate (1923-1950).
2:7-1
English
Thomas Charles Power was born at Dubuque, Iowa, May 22, 1839, the son of Irish immigrants,
Michael W. Power and Catherine McLeer Power.
In 1867, he travelled up the Missouri River to Fort Benton, Montana Territory and opened a
general mercantile firm in partnership with his brother, John W. Power. T.C. Power and
Brother and I. G. Baker and Company dominated trade and freighting on the northern plains by
the mid 1870's. In connection with this trade, T.C. Power and several associates were
charged by the United States government with fraud. His associates were sent to prison but
Power was exonerated.
Power was also active in politics. As a Republican, he served as a delegate to the
abortive 1884 Constitutional Convention, ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1889, and was
selected one of Montana's first U.S. Senators in a bitterly contended election in the
Montana legislature.
Thomas C. Power married Mary Flanagan at Dubuque, Iowa, in 1867. The couple had one son,
Charles Benton Power. T.C. Power died at Helena, Montana, March 16, 1923.
[For a longer biographical sketch see MC 55].
This addition to the T.C. Power Papers includes a transcript of a diary (1867) of Power's
trip up the Missouri River by steamboat; a subject file, including files on his prosecution
in 1873-1874 for alleged fraud in his dealings with the Blackfeet Indians and with the U.S.
government, on his Senate career, the construction of his house in Helena and other matters;
miscellany; and clippings. There are subgroups for the settlement of his estate and for his
wife Mary Flanagan Power, including a minute book for the Helena Art Club, inventories of
home furnishings, a diary of a trip abroad in 1889, and other items.
Arranged by subgroup and series. Some material housed in oversize folder in archives map case. See
inventory below for more information.
Collection open for research.
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.
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers.
Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request
For related material see the Guide to the Thomas Charles Power papers, at the Montana Historical Society, MC
55. Also see the Guide to the Charles B. Power papers, at the Montana Historical Society, MC
55a.
See Guide to the Power family photograph collection, at the Montana Historical
Society Photo Archives, Lot 006.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society
Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places
should search under these terms.
Power, Thomas C. (Thomas
Charles), 1839-1923
Alaska--Description and travel
Glacier National Park (Mont.)
Marias River Valley (Mont.)
Missouri River--Description and travel
Stubbs Ferry Dam (Mont.)
Blackfeet Indians--Trading posts
Steamboat travel--Missouri River
Alaska
Montana
Native
Americans
Parks and
Playgrounds
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection
Thomas C. Power
Diaries
1 / 1
Typescript of diary of trip up Missouri River
1867
Subject Files
1 / 2
Dakota Territory Golden Anniversary (includes
reminiscent letter by T.C. Power)
1911
1 / 3-7
Death of Mary G. Power (includes sympathy letters
and cards, lists, etc.)
July 1920
1 / 8
Juveniles Club at Montana Club (re Solo card game)
1915-1916
1 / 9
North Montana Wool Growers Association
1902-1903
1 / 10-11
Residence (includes correspondence, contracts,
construction specifications, and costs)
1888-1895
1
Residence (includes blueprint showing placement of
house on lot, by Willett and Pashley, architects); Miscellaneous Certificates; Map [Map Case]
undated
1 / 12
Subscription biography publishers
1912-1923
1 / 13
Trip abroad (primarily financial)
1889
1 / 14-16
United States Senate (includes committee lists,
reports, bills, T.C. Power's speeches, and testimonial to Vice President Levi P.
Morton)
1893-1894
1 / 17-19
United States vs. T.C. Power, H.D. Upham, C.E.
Giddings, et al. (original case was 1873-1874 re alleged theft of property from U.S.
Government and Blackfeet tribe; file concerns re-emergence of case as a political
issue in T.C. Power's Senatorial career)
1873-1874, 1885-1894
Miscellany
2 / 1
Petition for bridge over Marias River at mouth of
Teton River
circa 1887
2 / 2
Republican State Convention proceedings
1904
2 / 3
Stock subscription for Placer Hotel
1911-1912
2 / 4
United States Corps of Engineers report on proposed
Stubbs Ferry dam
1892
2 / 5
United States senators' calling cards
circa 1890-1899
2 / 6-7
Washington. D.C. "at homes", invitations, etc.
1891-1894
2 / 8
Wedding anniversary (50th) congratulations
1917
2 / 9
Miscellaneous (includes certificates, programs,
membership cards, etc.; some certificates in OVERSIZE FOLDER 1)
1884-1920
Clippings
2 / 10
William A. Clark - Marcus Daly feud scrapbook
1898-1899
2 / 11
Glacier National Park historical article by Ira
Myers
1921
2 / 12
Political
1889, 1894-1911
2 / 13
Thomas C. Power (includes obituaries)
1902-1923
Thomas C. Power Estate
Court Papers
3 / 1
Decree of final distribution
1949
Financial Records
3 / 2
Journal
1936-1950
3 / 3
Ledger
1936-1950
3 / 4
Trial balances
1931-1932, 1949
Subject Files
3 / 5
Butte-Jardine Mining Company
1922-1926
3 / 6-9
T.C. Power's death (includes sympathy cards and
letters, commemorative booklet)
March 1923
Mary G. Flanagan Power (Mrs. T.C. Power)
Incoming Correspondence
3 / 10
Miscellaneous (correspondents include T.C. Power,
L.B. Davidson, Charles B. Power, grandchildren)
1878-1920
Diaries
3 / 11
Diary of trip abroad
1889
Financial Records
3 / 12
Promissory notes, etc.
1942-1945
Legal Documents
3 / 13
Will [rough draft?]
1918
Writings
3 / 14
Notebooks
undated
Miscellany
3 / 15
Address book
undated
3 / 16
Helena Art Club minute book
1882-1884
3 / 17
Inventories of home furnishings
undated
3 / 18
Lists of visits with other United States Senate
wives
1891-1894
Clippings
3 / 19
John R. Watson article: "Octogenarian, Trip No. 1"
(re trip across United States, through Helena, to Alaska) [map in OVERSIZE FOLDER 1]
1920