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Grace Vance Erickson Papers, 1863-1958

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Erickson, Grace V. (Grace Vance), 1873-1962
Title
Grace Vance Erickson Papers
Dates
1863-1958 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 286
Summary
Grace Vance Erickson was a Helena, Montana, area, amateur historian and the wife of Governor John Edward Erickson. This collection consists of biographical information; general correspondence, including personal letters from J. E. Erickson; miscellaneous correspondence; diaries; press releases; speeches; subject files containing notes on her historic research; miscellany, including an autograph book, a guestbook, and scrapbooks including one on the Community Council of Kalispell and the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defense; and clippings. The collection also includes information on A. M. Vance, Grace Vance Erickson's father.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

Grace Vance was born around 1873 in LaGrange, Iowa, the daughter of Andrew M. and Ellen Cooper Vance. She received a degree in literature from the University of Michigan. She moved to Choteau, Montana, in the mid 1890s to work as a teacher. In June of 1898 she married John E. Erickson, a Choteau attorney. The couple moved to Kalispell in 1915. John E. Erickson served two full terms as Governor (1924-1933) and, following his re-election to a third term, resigned to replace Thomas J. Walsh, in the U.S. Senate. He was replaced by James W. Murray in 1934. Grace Vance Erickson was active in the Democratic Party, the Montana Natural History Association, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Presbyterian Church. She was an active amateur historian, anthropologist and archaeologist and was involved with the preservation of historic sites. She died July 16, 1962.

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Content Description

Papers. 1863-1958. 2 linear feet. These papers consist of general correspondence, including personal letters from J. E. Erickson; miscellaneous correspondence; diaries concerning Grace Vance Erickson's life in Iowa, at the University of Michigan, and as the wife of the governor; press releases; speeches; subject files regarding her work as an amateur historian; writings; miscellany including a scrapbook concerning the Community Council of Kalispell and the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defense; and clippings.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

by series

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

Separated Materials

Photographs, and artifacts transferred to the Photo Archives and Museum, respectively.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Biographical Material

    • Description: Chronologies, genealogical chart
      Dates: n.d., 1937
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: Biographical Material

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: A - Z (correspondents include: J. E. Erickson, Belle Fligelman, S. H. Knowles, Jeannette Rankin, Al Vance, A. M. Vance)
      Dates: n.d., 1890-1958
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2-4
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Miscellaneous Correspondence

    • Description: Neither from nor to Grace Vance Erickson (correspondents include: Ellen Erickson, J. E. Erickson, Al Vance, A. M. Vance)
      Dates: 1902-1929
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: Miscellaneous Correspondence

  • Diaries

    • Description: Diary (re: life in Iowa)
      Dates: 1889
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: Diaries
    • Description: Diary (re: life at the University of Michigan)
      Dates: 1891-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: Diaries
    • Description: Diaries (re: life as wife of Governor J. E. Erickson)
      Dates: 1925-1926, 1932
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8-9
      Location: Diaries

  • Press Releases

    • Description: Press Notice (re: recitals)
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
      Location: Press Releases

  • Speeches

    • Description: Eureka Women's Club (re: women's role in World War II)
      Dates: 1918
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
      Location: Speeches

  • Subject Files

    • Description: Frederick Conrad
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: William Davenport
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Fergus County
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: First Families of Flathead (re: Father Pierre J. De Smet and St. Ignatius Mission)
      Dates: n.d., 1930-1941
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 15
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Governor's Mansion
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 16
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Helena (re: Atlas Block, Pioneer Cabin)
      Dates: n.d., 1939-1957
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 17
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Historic preservation
      Dates: 1930-1936
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 18
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: James Jackson
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 19
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Livingston (re: Benson's Landing, Ghost City and Yellowstone City)
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 20
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Historic sites in Montana
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 21
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: St. Peter's Mission
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 22
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: David Thompson
      Dates: n.d., 1923-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: Subject Files

  • Writings

    • Description: "A Star in the East"
      Dates: n.d., 1952
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Writings

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Autograph Book
      Dates: 1882-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Ephemera (including certificates, Christmas cards, invitations, name cards, passport, and programs)
      Dates: n.d., 1891-1951
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Ephemera (re: Ellen Erickson, J. E. Erickson, and A. M. Vance
      Dates: 1863-1928
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Guestbook
      Dates: 1929-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Montana Oil Conservation Board
      Dates: n.d., 1951
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Notes
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Oro Fino Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
      Dates: 1938-1942
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Scrapbook
      Dates: 1890-1914
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Scrapbook "Historical Expeditions"
      Dates: 1925-1926
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Scrapbook (re: Community Council of Kalispell and the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defense): See Box 3
      Dates:
      Container: Box/Folder 2 /
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Scrapbook (re: Community Council of Kalispell and the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defense)
      Dates: 1917-1918, 1934-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Scrapbook "Touring the Circuit"
      Dates: 1928
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Scrapbook of Wives of the Cabinet Officers
      Dates: 1933-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 2
      Location: Miscellany

  • Clippings

    • Description: Clippings (re: Grace Vance Ericksone, J. E. Erickson, Al Vance, and A. M. Vance)
      Dates: n.d., 1935-1949
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 3
      Location: Clippings

Finding aid prepared by Molly Miller, 1999
2005

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