MTGMss493.xml Guide to the Edward Earl Bennett Papers 1900-1970 Bennett (Edward Earl) Papers Finding aid prepared by Jodi Allison-Bunnell Funding for creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula © 2004
The University of Montana--Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Finding aid encoded by Jodi Allison-Bunnell 2004 Finding aid written in English. University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
The University of Montana--Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Mss 493 Bennett, Edward Earl, 1892-1970 Edward Earl Bennett Papers 1900-1970 5.0 linear feet 9 boxes and one oversize box Edward E. Bennett was a history professor at the University of Montana. The collection contains his personal and professional papers and documents his education, early career, teaching at the University, and community activities. It also contains a few materials related to his wife. Materials are in English Biographical Note

Edward Earl Bennett was born October 29, 1892 in Stafford, Kansas. He received a B.A. from the University of Kansas in 1916, and an M.A. (1923) and Ph.D (1925) from the University of Wisconsin. For five years he taught political science and history in Sterling, Kansas, high school; he was then principal of high schools in St. John and Hutchinson, Kansas. From 1922 to 1924 he was an assistant in history at the University of Wisconsin, specializing in American colonial history, but also worked on the history of the western United States. While a fellow at the Wisconsin Historical Society, he prepared a calendar of the Draper collection. In 1928, he did research at the Pennsylvania Historical Society library on Parliament in the American colonies.

He came to the University of Montana as an instructor in 1925 and retired as a professor in 1961 due to poor health. He taught both American and European history and for many years taught courses in Montana history and government. After retirement, he contined to teach U.S. history through the university's correpondence course program. His publications included The Congregational Church in Missoula, 1891-1966; a chronological sketch, prepared for the congregation's seventy-fifth anniversary; and One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968. He also wrote and regularly updated the article on the state of Montana for the Encyclopedia Britannica Book of the Year. He was a member of the American and Wisconsin Historical Societies, Phi Delta Kappa national education fraternity, Theta Chi social fraternity, Kiwanis, and the University Congregational Church. He was a master of Missoula Masonic Lodge 13. He also collected maps.

In 1921, he was married to Linda McCoy, a 1915 graduate of the Colorado College who taught in high schools before coming to Montana. They had one son, Hal. Bennett died June 16, 1970.

This collection contains Bennett's personal and professional papers and documents his education, early career, teaching at the University, and community activities. It also contains a few materials related to his wife, Linda M. Bennett. The collection includes Bennett's diaries, which offer close detail about his later years; correspondence, which includes personal exchanges and those related to his university service; research and writing, from his graduate work through later productions; and materials related to his teaching duties. There are many resources related to his service to the Theta Chi fraternity at Montana State University (The University of Montana), the University Congregational Church, and the Missoula Masonic Lodge No. 13. Materials from Mrs. Bennett relate to community activities and her education. There are also photographs of Dr. Bennett and of prominent Missoulians.

The collection is arranged in nine series:

Series I: Biographical/Personal, 4 folders, and 1 oversize box, 1916-1969

Series II: Diaries, 1.0 linear foot, 1907-1970

Series III: Correspondence, 4 folders, 1902-1969

Series IV: Research and Writings, 0.5 linear feet, 1923-1952

Series V: University of Montana, 0.75 linear feet, 1921-1966

Series VI: Clippings, 0.25 linear feet, 1921-1969

Series VII: Community Activities, 0.75 linear feet, 1920-1969

Series VIII: Linda M. Bennett, 3 folders and oversize, 1915-1947

Series IX: Photographs, 10 items, circa 1920s

Series X: Florence M. Johnson, 1 item, 1900-1904

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.

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.

[Name of document or photograph number], Edward Earl Bennett Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Date and source of acquisition unknown.

The original processors separated some materials from the collection, arranged it, numbered the collection UM 11, and produced a finding aid. In 2004, the collection was renumbered Mss 493, substantially rearranged and fully described. Two boxes of gradebooks were removed from the collection and destroyed.

During original processing the following materials were separated: 1939 yearbook, Billings Polytechnic Insitutute; dance programs; post cards; and badges. Nine photographs were separated to the photograph collection, and two tokens were transferred to the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Bennett, Linda M. Freemasons--Montana--Missoula--History Freemasons. Missoula Lodge No. 13 (Missoula, Mont.) Theta Chi. Beta Epsilon Chapter (University of Montana) United Church of Christ--Montana--Missoula University Congregational Church (Missoula, Mont.) University of Montana--Missoula--Faculty Missoula (Mont.)--Church history Missoula (Mont.)--Religious life and customs Congregational churches--Montana--Missoula Freemasonry--Montana--Missoula--History Greek letter societies--Montana--Missoula History--Study and teaching--Montana--Missoula Diaries--Montana--Missoula Personal papers--Montana -- Missoula Photographs--Montana--Missoula Montana Photographs City and Town Life Colleges and Universities International Relations Religion Women College teachers--Montana--Missoula History teachers--Montana--Missoula Series I Biographical/Personal 1916-1969 4 folders and 1 oversize box

This series contains Bennett's personal financial, school, and legal records, which document primarily his school and teaching career. There are materials from both his time teaching high school and that at Montana State University (The University of Montana).

 1/1 School records 1920-1925 1/2 State income taxes 1933-1960 1/3 Teaching contracts 1917-1944 1/4 Certificates 1916-1969 10OS Certificates 1916-1925 Series II Diaries 1907-1970 1.0 linear foot

This series contains diaries that Bennett kept quite regularly throughout his life, beginning when he was fifteen years old and ending two days before his death. The earliest diary contains mostly quotations and notes relating to school work. Later diaries contain brief notes on daily events, expenses, and addresses of friends and family. Beginning with the 1954 volume, the entries become daily and offer considerable detail of his daily life, including bills, travels, medical appointments, and visitors.

1/5 Diaries 1907, 1938 1/6 Diaries 1939 1/7 Diaries 1940 1/8 Diaries 1941 1/9 Diaries 1942 1/10 Diaries 1943 1/11 Diaries 1944 1/12 Diaries 1945 1/13 Diaries 1946 1/14 Diaries 1947 1/15 Diaries 1948 1/16 Diaries 1949 1/17 Diaries 1950 1/18 Diaries 1951 1/19 Diaries 1952 1/20 Diaries 1953 1/21 Diaries 1954 2/1 Diaries 1955 2/2 Diaries 1956 2/3 Diaries 1957 2/4 Diaries 1958 2/5 Diaries 1959 2/6 Diaries 1960 2/7 Diaries 1961 2/8 Diaries 1962 2/9 Diaries 1963-1964 2/10 Diaries 1965 2/11 Diaries 1954-1957 2/12 Diaries 1959-1962 3/1 Diaries 1963-1966 3/2 Diaries 1967-1970 Series III Correspondence 1902-1969 4 folders

This series contains Bennett's personal and professional correspondence. The earliest letters are to his wife-to-be, Linda McCoy; they carried on a consistent correspondence both before and during their marriage. There are also numerous exchanges concerning his employment as a high school teacher. Later exchanges focus on his service at Montana State University (The University of Montana), publications, and various aspects of his community service.

 3/3 Correspondence 1902-1926 3/4 Correspondence 1926-1939 3/5 Correspondence 1934-1958 3/6 Correspondence 1958-1969 Series IV Research and Writings 1923-1952 0.5 linear feet

This series contains Bennett's research and writings, beginning with his 1923 M.A. thesis, his 1925 Ph.D thesis, his 1928 Draper fellowship work, and continuing with his book reviews and work for the World Book Encyclopedia. It also contains materials that were apparently used for his research on the early history of Montana and the West, and materials for his work for Historical Abstracts.

The series is arranged in two subseries:

Subseries 1: Research

Subseries 2: Writings

 Subseries 1 Research undated 4/1 Diary of Mrs. F.L. Ainsworth undated 4/2 Diary of Nellie G. Fletcher undated 4/3 A.M. Holter Pioneer Lumbering in Montana undated Subseries 2 Writings 1923-1952 4/4 "Parliament and the English African Companies, 1663-1713" [1928] 4/5 "Parliament and the English African Companies, 1663-1713" [1928] 4/6 "The Story of Montana," World Book Encyclopedia undated 4/7 Parliamentery Legislation and the American Colonies, M.A. thesis 1923 4/8 Parliament and the Colonies to 1715, Ph.D thesis, draft 1 [1924-1925] 4/9 Parliament and the Colonies to 1715, Ph.D thesis, draft 2 [1924-1925] 4/10 Parliament and the Colonies to 1715, Ph.D thesis, draft 3 [1924-1925] 4/11 Parliament and the Colonies to 1715, Ph.D thesis, final draft 1925 4/12 Book reviews 1940-1952 4/13 Historical Abstracts 1929-1930 Series V University of Montana 1921-1966 0.75 linear feet

This series contains the bulk of Bennett's papers that relate to his service to Montana State University (The University of Montana). It is divided into three subseries: Committees, Teaching, and Theta Chi, Beta Epsilon Chapter.

The Committees subseries contains materials on Bennett's involvement campus and associated committees. The most substantial materals relate to the Montana School of Religion and efforts to establish a department of religious studies on campus in the 1950s. A series of reports on grades across the university contains warnings from administrators on grade inflation in the 1920s through 1940s.

The Teaching subseries contains mostly student papers and lecture notes from courses that Bennett taught in Montana history and government, Candian history, and U.S. history. There are also sustantial mateirals from the correspondence courses in U.S. history that Bennett taught through the university's correspondence courses after his retirement.

The Theta Chi, Beta Epsilon Chapter subseries contains materials that relate to Bennett's long involvement with this Montana State University (University of Montana) social fraternity. He served on the fraternity's board of directors, and there are many materials relating to the group's efforts to secure a house in Missoula's University District neighborhood. Bennett's Masonic ties were in play here as well. There are also materials from Theta Chi's predecessor, Delta Sigma Lamda, Theta chapter.

 Subseries 1 Committees 1925-1966 5/2 Alumni Association 1961-1965 5/3 Century Club 1960-1966 5/4 Committee on Names for Campus Buildings 1952-1953 5/5 Friends of the Library 1964-1965 5/6 Montana Teachers Retirement System 1939-1941 5/7 Montana School of Religion 1957-1961 5/8 Faculty newsletters 1963 5/9 University pamphets undated 5/10 Distribution of grades by department 1925-1947 5/11 Faculty publication lists 1952-1959 Subseries 2 Teaching 1941-1961 5/12 Exams 1960-1961 5/13 Term papers for Canadian history undated 5/14 "Saleesh House" [M. Catherine White?] undated 5/15 "History of Bitterroot Valley" Marjorie Reynolds undated 5/16 U.S. History correspondence course undated 5/17 U.S. History correspondence course undated 6/1 Canadian history undated 6/2 Montana history and government 1941 6/3 Montana history and government 1941 6/4 U.S. History: Civil Rights and Segregation ca. 1957 6/5 Phi Alpha Theta paper, "The New Verendrye Theory" John W. Smurr undated Subseries 3 Theta Chi, Beta Epsilon Chapter 1921-1964 6/6 Correspondence 1937-1938 6/7 Correspondence 1937-1945 6/8 Financial records 1937-1938 6/9 Financial records 1938-1942 7/1 Legal documents 1931-1940 7/2 Membership lists 1938-1964 7/3 "Pine Cone," Montana State University (The University of Montana) Beta Epsilon newsletter 1945-1967 7/4 Articles of incorporation undated 7/5 Theta Chi Bulletin 1938-1939 7/6 The Rattle of Theta Chi 1956-1960 7/7 Delta Sigma Lamda, Theta chapter 1921-1928 7/8 Certificates 1937-1962 Series VI Clippings 1921-1969 0.25 linear feet

This series contains newspaper clippings that Bennett collected. There is one file that relates to the McCoy-Bennett wedding, but the others focus mostly on events at Montana State University (The University of Montana), especially the turbulent events of the 1930s and 1940s.

7/9 McCoy-Bennett wedding 1921 7/10 Phillip Keeney case 1935-1937 7/11 Paul Phillips case 1937-1940 7/12 Simmons case 1939-1941 7/13 Borden case 1963 7/14 Blouin case 1969 7/15 University of Montana history undated 7/16 Miscellaneous University/Missoula/Montana undated 7/17 University of Montana faculty undated Series VII Community Activities 1920-1969 0.75 linear feet

This series contains materials related to Bennett's community and other non-University activities. It is divided into two subseries.

Subseries 1, General, contains a wide range of materials, including the Missoula County Republican Club, Kiwanis, and the Missoula Rose Society. There are a number of papers from a community group interested in early Monatana history.

Subseries 2, Missoula Masonic Lodge No. 13, documents Bennett's long involvement with the Masons. It includes a considerable number of files relating to his 100-year history of the Masons, as well as other materials related to Lodge activities in which he was involved.

 Subseries 1 General 1920-1969 8/1 Alumni Association, University of Kansas 1952-1962 8/2 Author's Club 1946-1947 8/3 Committee for Paradise Dam 1962 8/4 Kiwanis Club of Montana 1956-1966 8/5 Missoula County Republican Club 1936-1966 8/6 Missoula Library Board 1962-1963 8/7 Missoula History undated 8/8 Papers from Early Montana History Study Group undated 8/9 Missoula Rose Society 1947 8/10 National Geographic Society 1920-1963 8/11 Phi Delta Kappa, correspondence 1926-1930 8/12 Phi Delta Kappa, membership 1929 8/13 United Givers 1965 8/14 University Congregational Church 1955-1969 8/15 Montana Historical Society 1954-1964 Subseries 2 Missoula Masonic Lodge No. 13 1944-1968 8/16 One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, part 1 [1968] 8/17 One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, part 2 [1968] 8/18 One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, part 3 [1968] 8/19 One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, part 4 [1968] 8/20 One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, original copy [1968] 8/21 One hundred years of Masonic history, 1868-1968, data first 50 years [1968] 9/1 Correspondence 1944-1968 9/2 Notices of meetings undated 9/3 Membership list 1963 9/4 Correspondence with George Washington University 1958-1964 9/5 Education and research committee 1951-1959 9/6 DeMolay 1946-1947 9/7 Communication of 20th Degree of Masonry undated 9/8 Miscellaneous undated 9/9 Miscellaneous undated 9/10 Clippings (deaths of members) 1945-1951 Series VIII Linda M. Bennett 1915-1947 3 folders and oversize

This series contains mateirals relating to Linda M. Bennett that document her education and activitiy in Missoula organizations.

9/11 Missoula Branch, Homemakers Department of the National Home Economics Association, minutes 1942 9/12 American Association of University Women 1947 9/13 Certificates 1916-1942 10OS Certificates 1915 Series IX Photographs [circa 1920s] 10 items

This series contains one photograph that includes Bennett, and a group of portraits of prominent early Missoulians.

 493(IX):1 9/14 [Group that includes Clarence Bennett] [ca. 1920s] 95-47 9/14 J.B. Buker, Missoula, Montana undated 95-48 9/14 T.M. Pomeroy, Missoula, Montana undated 95-49 9/14 John Anderson, Missoula, Montana undated 9/14 95-50 Harry A. Lowe, Missoula, Montana undated 9/14 95-51 Christopher P. Higgins, Missoula, Montana undated 9/14 95-52 E.W. Spottswood, Missoula, Montana undated 9/14 95-53 Frank H. Woody, Missoula, Montana undated 9/14 95-54 Joseph M. Dixon, Missoula, Montana undated 9/14 95-55 F.C. Webster, Missoula, Montana undated 9/14 95-56 95-56 George T. Slack, Missoula, Montana undated Series X Florence M. Johnson 1900-1904 1 file

This series contains a diary by Florence M. Johnson. Her connection to the Bennett family is not documented.

9/15 Diary 1900-1904