Ruby Scofield Doyle diaries and photographs

Ruby Scofield Doyle diaries and photographs, 1922-1924

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Doyle, Prewett, Ruby Scofield Doyle, approximately 1899-1966.
Title: Ruby Scofield Doyle diaries and photographs
Dates: 1922-1924 (inclusive)
19221924
Quantity: 0.2 linear feet
Collection Number: Mss 855
Summary: This collection contains four diaries written by Ruby Scofield Doyle from January 1922 to December 1923. Doyle was living on a ranch in Clearwater, Missoula County, Montana with her parents and her husband. She writes of daily home and ranch work as well as raising her child, Dorma Ruth. The collection also includes twelve images, which were found with the diaries and are very likely of the Doyle family, and images identified as Dorma Ruth.
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: 4062432053
Fax: 4062434067
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: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Ruby V. Scofield was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, on August 27, 1897 to George and Carrie Scofield. She was married to Thomas J. Doyle on December 25, 1917, in Saco, Michigan. According to the 1920 Census she was living at that time with her parents, her husband and her sister Ruth P. Scofield in School District 11, Phillips County, Montana. By 1922 she is living on a ranch in Clearwater, Missoula County, Montana with her parents and her husband, Thomas J. Doyle. Her daughter, Dorma Ruth, is born on March 16, 1922. In the 1930 Census the Scofields, the Doyles (including a new daughter Verdonna), and Ruth and her husband, Hubert Hunt, are living in Powell County, Montana. In the 1940 Census, Ruth is married to Philemon Prewett and they live in Cascade County. Dorma and Verdonna live with them, along with a lodger, Harold Hardy.

Phil and Ruby Prewett and Dorma and Verdonna Doyle are all living in Missoula, Montana by the early 1940s. Dorma Ruth Doyle and Harold Hardy married on June 18, 1947 in Kalispell, Montana. According to obituaries, Phil J. Prewett died on August 14, 1952 at the state hospital in Galen. Ruby Scofield Doyle died in Missoula on October 16, 1966. Dorma Ruth Doyle Hardy died in Missoula on September 25, 2015.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of four daily diaries written by Ruby Scofield Doyle from January 1922 to December 1923. They provide a detailed account of the daily activities of women and men living on and working a ranch. Ruby describes cleaning, cooking, sewing, spending time with family, visitors to their home, the work of the men in the field and with the animals, and caring for her child, Dorma Ruth. The collection also includes digital copies of twelve images which were found with the diaries and are very likely of the Doyle family, two images in which Dorma Ruth is identified, and two additional images.

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. Intellectual property rights not transferred to the University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

Ruby Scofield Doyle Diaries and Photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The diaries in this collection have been arranged in chronological order. Photographs have also been arranged in chronological order.

Custodial History

According to the proprieter of Circle Square Second Hand Store in Missoula, Montana, these diaries and original negatives were found in a dumpster. The diaries and scans of the negatives were purchased from Circle Square by Pei-Lin Yu in 2013. Original images of Dorma Ruth were held by Dorma Ruth Hardy until her death.

Acquisition Information

The diaries were donated to the University of Montana by Pei-Lin Yu in April 2014. Original images in the collection were donated by the caregivers for Dorma Ruth Hardy following her death.

Related Materials

Pei-Lin Yu created a blog about the diary, "Secrets From a Historic Diary," which includes transcriptions of diary content. The blog is available at http://peilinyu.wordpress.com/.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Diary	January 1, 1922-April 30, 1922
1/2	Diary	May 1, 1922-December 30, 1922
1/3	Diary	January 1, 1923-April 30, 1923
1/4	Diary	May 1, 1923-December 31, 1923
1/5	Unidentified photographs Prints created by Archives and Special Collections of photographs received electronically	undated
1/6	Dorma Ruth being held by Sophie Moiese, who is on horseback. John Moiese is on horseback beside them.	1924
1/7	Dorma Ruth being held by a Salish woman on horseback. Two other woman on horseback beside them.	circa 1924
1/8	Unidentified man and woman	undated
file
electronic files	Photographs	undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Family Names

Doyle family
Scofield family

Archives West Finding Aid

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