This collection is open for research.
Donated by Douglas Coffman in October 2023.
This collection has been arranged into six series by format. The first two series are arranged topically. These files have been maintained in the order in which they were received by the donor. The first series reflects how the organization maintained their operating files and documented their organizing activities. Correspondence in the second series has been compiled and arranged chronologically by Big Open Secretary Doug Coffman. Photographs in Series 3 have likewise been maintained in the order in which they were received from the donor and are arranged in roughly chronological order based on the trips documented in each group of images. Audio recordings have been arranged chronologically by the archivist. Maps have been arranged alphabetically by the archivist.
Arrangement: Series 1: Organizational Files
Series 2: Correspondence
Series 3: Photographs and Slides
Series 4: Audio Recordings
Series 5: Maps
Series 6: Archived Website
Douglas G. "Doug" Coffman is an independent business owner and researcher based in Eugene, Oregon. He received a BA in Anthropology from the University of Montana (1973), and an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Oregon (1976). Since the 1980s he has pursued a special interest in American bison researching the history, ecology, and evolution of the species. In 1996, Coffman completed a decade-long effort to locate and restore six bison specimens collected by the Smithsonian's Chief Taxidermist William Hornaday in 1886. The location of the specimens, known as the Hornaday bison group, was previouly unknown after the Simthsonian deaccessioned them in the 1950s. Coffman's research led him to identify the location of the bison at the Fort Benton Museums and Heritage Complex in Fort Benton, Montana. In 2013, he published
Coffman served on the board of directors of Montana Big Open, Inc. from 2000 to November 2003 as secretary/treasurer and operations director of the organization's Wild Bison Recovery Initiative. After leaving the board, he continued to research bison and document the history of the Montana Big Open, Inc. and its role advocating for ecological restoration on the great plains.
Montana Big Open Inc. was a non-profit organization that operated between 2000 and 2005 to advocate for the creation of a wild bison range and grassland restoration project in northeastern Montana. The organization's founders began researching and promoting the idea of the Big Open beginning in the late 1980s. Robert B. (Bob) Scott, Montana Big Open founder and president, first introduced the concept during a speech at the Institute of the Rockies in Missoula, MT in 1987. The organization's officers included Bob Scott as president, Joe Gutkoski as vice president, Doug Coffman as secretary/treasurer, William Cunningham, Roger Dunsmore, and Stanford Horowitz. Its advisory board changed over time, and included Dr. Charles Jonkel, Donald Woerner, Paul Sneed, Robert Derek, Jack Drew, Marv Hoffer, Lonnie Red Dog, Richard Smith, and Jim Strittholt.
Montana Big Open, Inc.'s core project focused on the Wild Bison Recovery Initiative, which called for a restoration of the great plains ecosystem, including the restoration of a free and open range for bison and other large species like deer, elk, antelope, and Audubon's bighorn. Montana Big Open envisioned a network of public and private land with conservation easements and rights to use land for wildlife conservation in a proposed area covering 15,000 square miles across Phillips, Valley, McCone, Prairie, Custer, Rosebud, Treasure, Fergus, Garfield and Petroleum counties in Montana. The organization referred to this area as the Big Open, a term first coined by photographer L.A. Huffman in 1880 to describe the open prairie of eastern Montana.
Montana Big Open's activities focused on publications, education, and public promotion of their idea. Organizers conducted research on historic bison ranges, met with private landowners, and other conservation organizations interested in restoring ecosystems on the northern great plains. They traveled throughout eastern Montana and met with ranchers in the hopes of purchasing land that would provide the first portion of the Big Open project. They collaborated with other organizations through the Northern Plains Conservation Network (NPCN) and corresponded with other organizations pursuing bison restoration including the American Prairie Foundation and World Wildlife Fund.
Montana Big Open Inc. scaled back much its activities in late 2003 after the organization's failure to secure major funding and an unsuccessful attempt to purchase property in eastern Montana. Other organizations also made significant strides toward restoring bison habitat at this time. In February 2004, NPCN published its conservation plan for the northern great plains Oceans of Grass, demonstrating a shared commitment to a bison restoration plan. That same year American Prairie Foundation purchased its first parcels of land that would eventually become the American Prairie Reserve. Bob Scott continued to represent Montana Big Open on the NPCN steering committee through 2005, but the organization showed less and less activity over time.
Creator Name], [Date of Creation], [Brief Description of Object], Folder [#], Box [#], [Collection Name], [Collection #], Montana State University (MSU) Library, Bozeman, MT
This collection consists of organizational files, research, correspondence, photographs, maps, audio recordings, and an archived website documenting Doug Coffman's research on American bison and his work with Montana Big Open. The bulk of the collection consists of organizing and administrative files for the Montana Big Open, Inc. These files feature research for programming and lectures supported by the organization, vision and history document, the Big Open budgets, resolutions, and mission documents. It also includes the organization's articles of incorporation featuring infomation about its board of directors and advisory board members. These files document the organization's activities, finances, and operational goals.
The collection also contains correspondence collected by Coffman dated 1999-2021 and consisting of letters and emails among members of Montana Big Open, Inc. A set of correspondence also documents Montana Big Open's work with the Northern Plains Conservation Network (NPCN) and some correspondence with operators of the Milroy Ranch.
Photographs in the collection document locations in northeast Montana toured by organizers of the Big Open project for a prospective bison range. Locations include the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Winnett, and ranches in Garfield County and along the Missouri River Breaks. Audio recordings document Montana Big Open, Inc. meetings, workshops and public presentations. There are also interviews with Big Open founders and other bison range advocates including Bob Scott, Jack Drew, Joe Gutkoski, and Frank Popper. Maps document historic bison ranges and species diversity, and proposed areas for the Big Open project.
The collection also contains the archived website for the Coffman's book
Donor transferred copyright of unpublished items in the collection to the public domain in 2023.
Files in this series are arranged in the order in which they were received from the donor.
This series contains organizing and administrative files of Montana Big Open, Inc., which includes the organization's articles of incorporation and information about its board of directors and advisory board. Although organization officially operated between 2000 and 2005, files in this series date from 1981 to 2017, which document the planning and research Montana Big Open's organizers engaged in prior to the formation of the organization and after its dissolution.
Files feature research and notes related to the development of the Big Open concept and the organization's vision. Other documents included in this series include notebooks for the Wild Bison Recovery Initiative dated 1999-2002, collected press coverage related to the Big Open, content for the organization's website, and notes for planning meetings.
The series also documents Montana Big Open's collaboration with other conservation groups like American Prairie Foundation and the Northern Plains Conservation Network (NCPN).
Correspondence in this series has been arranged chronologically by Coffman.
This series contains correspondence dated 1999-2021 collected by Doug Coffman. Correspondence in this series documents the communications and organizational activities among members of Montana Big Open between 1999 and 2021, the bulk of which dates from 2001-2005. A small portion dated after 2005 documents Coffman's work to preserve the history of Montana Big Open and continued interest by former members of the organization in the development of bison ranges in eastern Montana.
A set of correspondence also documents Big Open's work with the Northern Plains Conservation Network (NPCN), which was a loose affiliation of conservation groups working to restore ecosystems in the northern great plains. Montana Big Open participated in this organization between 2001 and 2005.
Correspondence with operators of the Milroy Ranch document the organization's efforts to purchase the ranch, which they hoped would serve as the first stage of the Big Open project, and includes letters and emails between the ranch owners and among members of Montana Big Open regarding the prospect of the purchase.
Photographs are arranged in chronological groupings by trip. Photographs have been maintained in the order in which they were received by the donor
Photographs in the collection document Montana Big Open members' tours of locations in northeast Montana to research bison habitat and identify properties for a prospective bison range. Locations include the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Winnett, and ranches in Garfield County, and along the Missouri River Breaks.
Photographs document the landscape of ranches and range land in eastern Montana, but also include images of events including a bison hunt on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Montana Big Open retreats, and copies of map outlining the area envisioned for the Big Open project.
Images documented in the negatives are duplicated in photographic prints in box 13. MSU recommends that researchers access the photographic prints. Negatives have been preserved as master copies of the original images.
Audio recordings have been arranged topically by the archivist into groups of interviews, workshops and conferences, trips, and board meetings.
Audio recordings document Big Open, Inc. meetings, workshops and public presentations. As well as interviews with Big Open founders and other bison range advocates including Bob Scott, Jack Drew, Joe Gutkoski, and Frank Popper.
Many of these recordings are dated prior to the formation of Montana Big Open, Inc. and document events and trips in which members of the organization began planning and advocating for the implementation of the Big Open project. Recordings of board meeting most heavily document Montana Big Open's meetings in 2002.
Audio recordings are currently inaccessible due to format. Reseachers may request access copies, however, reproduction fees may apply.
Maps have been arranged alphabetically by the archivist.
This series features maps documenting historic bison ranges, species diversity, and proposed areas for the Big Open project. The historical maps were used by Montana Big Open as research for the proposed area. Other maps in this series include drafts and final versions of the proposed area for the Big Open project, with annotations and notes by project organizers.
This series features the archived website for Doug Coffman's book