Orison Miles Family Papers

Orison Miles Family Papers, 1868-1901

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Miles, Orison, 1806-1897
Title: Orison Miles Family Papers
Dates: 1868-1901
18681901
Quantity: .2 linear feet
Collection Number: Collection 1169, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary: The Orison Miles Family Papers contains correspondence written between 1868 and 1900 to Miles or his daughter, Josie, from friends and relatives in Vermont, Illinois, and Montana. Also included are miscellaneous family papers, and four photographs, probably of Orison, Philander, and Louisa Miles, taken by photographer E. H. (Earl) Train of Helena, Montana.
Repository: Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Orison Miles (1806-1897) was an early pioneer of Gallatin County, Montana. He was born on July 3, 1806 in Croydon, New Hampshire and lived for a time in Plainfield, Illinois before leaving that place for the Montana gold fields in 1864. He prospected in the Virginia City and Helena areas in addition to practicing his trade as a blacksmith. In 1872 Miles moved to Bozeman where he lived the remainder of his life. He and his wife, Samantha, had 11 children, only four of which survived him including Josie Miles and Philander "Fred" Miles of Helena. Orison Miles died on March 6, 1897 at his home in Bozeman.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Orison Miles family papers include 21 letters written between 1868 and 1900 to Miles or his daughter, Josie, from friends and relatives in Vermont, Illinois, and Montana. Some of the letters were written by Philander while he lived in Helena with his wife, Louisa Russel Miles during the 1870s and 1880s. One letter, dated Helena, March 14, 1882, was written by Cornelius Hedges to Orison Miles to accompany a repayment of a debt. There are also two handmade Christmas cards sent to Josie Miles, an invitation from Mrs. Lester S. Willson for a reception at her home in 1899 which includes a calling card from Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle, miscellaneous family papers, and four photographs, probably of Orison, Philander, and Louisa Miles, taken by photographer E. H. (Earl) Train of Helena, Montana. The papers have been arranged in topically labeled folders. The letters have been numbered sequentially, with matching envelopes bearing the same letter number.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Letters, papers, and photographs collected or created by members of the Orison Miles family of Bozeman, Montana, were donated to Special Collections following their discovery the attic of the home of Josie Miles on South Black Street, Bozeman, Montana, by Merrill G. Burlingame in the fall of 1976.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 March 5

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Letters (1-7), 1868-1879Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/1

Letters (8-14), 1880-1889Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/2

Letters (15-18), 1890-1898Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/3

Letters, unmatched envelopes (19-21), 1900, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/4

Invitation from Mrs. Lester S. Willson, 1899Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/5

Miscellaneous documentsReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/6

Photographs, circa 1870-1880sReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/7

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	#1: [Orison Miles?]
	#2: [Philander Miles?]
	#3: [Louisa Russel Miles?]
	#4: [Louisa Russel Miles?]

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

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