Francis Foster Powell Photographs of the Bitterroot Valley, Montana, 1910-circa 1922

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Powell, Francis Foster, 1885-1934
Title
Francis Foster Powell Photographs of the Bitterroot Valley, Montana
Dates
1910-circa 1922 (inclusive)
Quantity
13 photographs
Collection Number
Mss 968
Summary
The Francis Powell Photographs of the Bitterroot Valley, Montana consist of 13 images of orchard operations and irrigation techniques from 1910 to the early 1920s. A few additional photographs depict the Bitter Root Inn, which was commissioned by the Bitter Root Valley Irrigation Company and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1909.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

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.

Languages
visual

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Francis Foster Powell was born on September 17, 1885 in Oregon. Powell's father was a lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who specialized in irrigation, and Francis pursued a similar career path. Around 1909, he moved with his family to Stevensville, Montana in the Bitterroot Valley and worked as an orchard superintendent and irrigation engineer. There Powell helped organize the Bitter Root Irrigation District, which grew to become the largest private irrigation system in the country by 1922. In 1924, Powell and his family moved to Seattle, where he died on September 11, 1934.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Francis Powell Photographs of the Bitterroot Valley, Montana consist of 13 images of orchard operations and irrigation techniques from 1910 to the early 1920s. A few additional photographs depict the Bitter Root Inn, which was commissioned by the Bitter Root Valley Irrigation Company and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1909. The structure was ultimately destroyed by a fire in 1924. One other image shows the Lone Rock School, which opened in response to the apple boom. The format of the photographs is 4" x 5" negative.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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.

Preferred Citation

Francis Foster Powell Photographs of the Bitterroot Valley, Montana, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by photo number.

Custodial History

The collection was held by Marbeth Sedgwick Powell, daughter-in-law of Francis Powell, before she shared it with the University of Montana in 1981 for duplication. The original photographs were returned to the donor in 1982.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Marbeth Powell, November 1981.

Processing Note

The photographs in this collection were loaned to the University of Montana in 1981 for copying. The Archives made duplicates of the individual images, assigned each a photo number, and placed them into its general photograph collection. The originals images were returned to Marbeth Powell. In 2022, the photographs were processed as the Francis Foster Powell Photographs of the Bitterroot Valley, Montana (Mss 968).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
photo_number
82-0173 Bitterroot Inn near Three Mile Creek
Right to left: Bitterroot Inn, R. A. Terry residence, Union Church, Caldwell residence; photo taken two years before the inn burned down
circa 1922
82-0174 Bitterroot Inn
Inn was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Photo by Francis Powell. Powell's wife, Mildred, is seated besiside the driver of the wagon.
1910
82-0175 Ranch field hands and orchard crew
Mildred Powell at left with Mamie, the bunk-house cook, partly hidden behind her. 30 field hands and orchard crews working at the same time
circa 1910-1920
82-0177 Watering machines in fruit orchard
Western Triplex Merchantile Company
circa 1910
82-0178 Watering machines in fruit orchard circa 1910
82-0179 Orchards in Bitterroot Valley circa 1910
82-0181 Lone Rock School in the Bitterroot Valley
The Stevensville history states that the brick Lone Rock School at Three Mile is the third building since organization of the district in 1885. It adds, "Three Mile community had grown with the apple boom, and in 1913 bonds in the amount of $5,900 were sold... in 1915 an additional $1,700 was raised to complete and furnish the school."
1922
82-0182 Bitterroot Valley farms near Hamilton, Montana circa 1920
82-0183 Bitterroot Valley irrigation flume circa 1920
82-0185 Farmhouse and fruit trees in the Bitterroot Valley circa 1920
82-0186 Farm crew removing rocks in the Bitterroot Valley circa 1920
82-0187 Francis Powell (right) beside a cherry tree in the Bitterroot Valley
Other men unidentified
circa 1920
82-0188 Fruit packers in the Bitterroot Valley circa 1920

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Irrigation engineering--Montana--Bitterroot River Valley--Photographs
  • Orchards--Montana--Bitterroot River Valley--Photographs

Personal Names

  • Powell, Francis Foster, 1885-1934--Archives

Geographical Names

  • Bitterroot River Valley (Mont.)--Buildings, structures, etc.
  • Bitterroot River Valley (Mont.)--Photographs