MZFCollection1057.xml Guide to the I. D. O'Donnell Papers1884-1947 O'Donnell (I. D.) Papers Kim Allen Scott, 2009 Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections P.O. Box 173320 Bozeman, MT 59717-3320 United States Phone (406) 994-4242 Fax (406) 994-2851 http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/ University Archivist spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Finding aid written in English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard) Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320 Bozeman, MT 59717-3320 United States Phone (406) 994-4242 Fax (406) 994-2851 http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/ University Archivist spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Collection 1057, MtBC, us O'Donnell, I. D. (Ignatius Daniel), 1860-1948 I. D. O'Donnell Papers 1884-1947 3.6 linear feet The I. D. O'Donnell Papers include diaries, correspondence, business records, literary manuscripts, postcard albums, subject files, and photographs. Correspondence includes letters from Montana State College, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, U. S. Reclamation Service, U. S. House and Senate Committees on Beet Sugar Industry, Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute, and the Secretary of the Interior, Franklin K. Lane. O'Donnell received letters from Montana political leaders such as Under Secretary of the Department of Agriculture M. L. Wilson, U. S. Senators Thomas J. Walsh and Henry L. Myers, U. S. Representative John M. Evans, and Governors J. E. Erickson and F. H. Cooney. Manuscripts include articles on agriculture, livestock, and farm management, and the column "Hints from the Practical Farmer" written for the Reclamation Record, as well as manuscripts O'Donnell collected for research on topics such as alfalfa, birds, irrigation, sugar beets, dairy cattle, soil, weeds, ranch management, and hogs. O'Donnell also collected material on topics such as Billings and Montana history, various irrigation projects in Montana, and agriculture. The collection also contains business records from the Minnesota and Montana Land and Improvement Company, the Frederick Billings estate, and the Hesper Farm. The collection also contains postcards and travel brochures from O'Donnell's various travels. Collection materials are in English Biographical Note

Ignatius Daniel O'Donnell was born in 1860 in Norfolk, Ontario Canada to Scot-Irish parents, Daniel and Margaret (McIntosh) O'Donnell. He was the second oldest of ten children. When Ignatius was four, the family moved to Saginaw, Michigan. In 1882 I. D. moved to the Yellowstone Valley in Montana. Five years later he married Louise Roeser of Michigan and together they had six children, Helene, Louise, Carol, Ignatius, Gustave, and Kathleen. I. D. O'Donnell became one of Montana's most well-known farm leaders. He popularized the raising of such crops as alfalfa and sugar beets and helped establish modern methods of irrigation and reclamation on a national scale. He won national acclaim in 1919 when the Country Gentlemen named him "Best Farmer in Montana" and in 1925 when the Saturday Evening Post published a feature about him entitled "Montana's Foremost Farmer." His ranch near Billings, the Hesper Farm, was a model of efficiency. O'Donnell also worked for the U. S. Reclamation Service from 1913 to 1918 as their Supervisor of Irrigation. He persuaded the Secretary of the Interior to continue reclamation projects in Montana and then provided a workable plan for services to the nation's arid regions. His basic work lead to the creation of a Supervisor of Irrigation in the Reclamation Service. He was the only man to hold the office. During his five years as national farm advisor, he traveled extensively in the Western states and make frequent trips to Washington D. C. While in this office he published his column "Hints from a Practical Farmer." In 1920 he was hired as the Agricultural Development Agent by the Great Northern Railroad. He traveled around the world to study irrigation and farming techniques, becoming one of the nation's experts on irrigation. O'Donnell also worked closely with the Agricultural Extension Service based at Montana State College in Bozeman. This contact started when he took part in the Farm Institutes conducted there by the Cooperative Extension Office. O'Donnell was also a strong supporter of the Billings community. He was a member of the Yellowstone County fair board, the Billings Chamber of Commerce, the board of trustees of Billings Polytechnic Institute (Rocky Mountain College) and the library board of the Parmly Billings library. He founded the Billings Creamery and the Billings Foundry and Machine Company, and was a director of the old Merchant's National Bank. I. D. O'Donnell died in 1948 at the age of 87.

The I. D. O'Donnell papers include diaries, correspondence, business records, literary manuscripts, postcard albums, subject files, and photographs. The papers have been arranged by series according to document type. Correspondence includes letters from Montana State College, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, U. S. Reclamation Service, U. S. House and Senate Committees on Beet Sugar Industry, Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute, and the Secretary of the Interior, Franklin K. Lane. O'Donnell received letters from Montana political leaders such as Under Secretary of the Department of Agriculture M. L. Wilson, U. S. Senators Thomas J. Walsh and Henry L. Myers, U. S. Representative John M. Evans, and Governors J. E. Erickson and F. H. Cooney. Manuscripts include articles on agriculture, livestock, and farm management, and the column "Hints from the Practical Farmer" written for the Reclamation Record, as well as manuscripts O'Donnell collected for research on topics such as alfalfa, birds, irrigation, sugar beets, dairy cattle, soil, weeds, ranch management, and hogs. O'Donnell also collected material on topics such as Billings and Montana history, various irrigation projects in Montana, and agriculture. The collection also contains business records from the Minnesota and Montana Land and Improvement Company, the Frederick Billings estate, and the Hesper Farm. The collection also contains postcards and travel brochures from O'Donnell's various travels.

Series 1 I. D. O'Donnell Diaries, 1887, 1900, 1947

Series 2 I. D. O'Donnell Correspondence, 1887-1947

Series 3 Printed Materials, 1907-1930

Series 4 Literary Manuscripts, 1914-1918

Series 5 General Subject Files, 1898-1947

Series 6 Business Records, 1892-1944

Series 7 Scrapbook and Scrapbook Materials, circa 1930s

Series 8 Photographs, 1882-1945

This collection is open for research.

The Ignatius D. (I. D.) O'Donnell papers were donated to Special Collections in the spring of 1970 by Carol (O'Donnell) Getz and Helene (O'Donnell) Wallis. This collection incorporates material formerly designated as accessions 715, 726, and 845.

This collection was processed 2009 May 5

 Billings, Frederick, 1823-1890 -- Estate Cooney, Frank H. (Frank Henry), 1872-1935 -- Correspondence Erickson, John Edward, 1863-1946 -- Correspondence Evans, John M. (John Morgan), 1863-1946 -- Correspondence Lane, Franklin K. -- Correspondence Myers, Henry L. (Henry Lee), 1862-1943 -- Correspondence Walsh, Thomas Jones, 1859-1933 -- Correspondence Wilson, M. L. (Milburn Lincoln), 1885-1969 -- Correspondence United States. Department of Agriculture United States Reclamation Service Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute Montana State College Minnesota and Montana Land and Improvement Company Billings (Mont.) -- History Montana -- History Agriculture -- Experimentation Agriculture and state -- Montana Agriculture and state -- United States Alfalfa Beet sugar industry -- Government policy -- United States Birds Dairy cattle Farm management Farms -- Montana -- Billings Irrigation farming -- Montana Irrigation farming -- United States Livestock Ranching Reclamation of land -- Montana Reclamation of land -- Government policy -- United States Scots-Irish -- Montana -- Billings Soils Sugar beet Swine Weeds Agriculture Ranching Water and Water Rights Montana Billings Bozeman Diaries Photographs Series 1 I. D. O'Donnell Diaries 1887, 1900, 1947

Series 1 contains three diaries of I. D. O'Donnell. The earliest from 1887 is a photocopy of the original. The last two are originals from 1900 and 1947. I. D. O'Donnell mainly recorded the weather and farming conditions. The 1900 diary was written on a desk calendar.

 1/1 I. D. O'Donnell Diary 1887 1/2 I. D. O'Donnell Diary 1900 1/3 I. D. O'Donnell Diary 1947 Series 2 I. D. O'Donnell Correspondence 1884-1947

Through his work with agriculture and business, O'Donnell corresponded with many people across the state and nation. This series contains correspondence with agriculture and business leaders. O'Donnell corresponded with a few federal agencies, especially the U. S. Department of Agriculture. He also kept in contact with several state officials like U. S. Representative John M. Evans, U. S. Senators Henry L. Myers and Thomas J. Walsh, Governors F. H. Cooney and J. E. Erickson, and the Under Secretary for the U. S. Department of Agriculture M. L. Wilson. Main topics discussed include irrigation, sugar beets, and farming business. Series 2 also includes correspondence with specific agencies such as Montana State College in Bozeman and the Reclamation Record. Correspondence relating to specific topics such as the Big Ditch Company, Big Horn Dam, Billings, Blue Mountain Coal Lands, Custer Battlefield National Cemetery, Hesper Farm, Blackfeet Winter Fair, specific irrigation projects, and the Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute are found in Series 5.

 1/4 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1884-1899 1/5 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1900 1/6 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1901-1904 1/7 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1905-1907 1/8 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1908-1910 1/9 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1911-1913 1/10 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1914-1916 1/11 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1920-1923 1/12 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1930-1939 1/13 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1940-1942 1/14 I. D. O'Donnell, General Correspondence 1943-1947 1/15 I. D. O'Donnell, Correspondence with Montana State College 1898-1907 1/16 I. D. O'Donnell, Correspondence with Montana State College 1932-1942 1/17 I. D. O'Donnell, Correspondence about Conventions 1900-1914 1/18 I. D. O'Donnell, Correspondence with Reclamation Record 1913-1914 1/19 I. D. O'Donnell, Correspondence with Reclamation Record 1915-1917 1/20 I. D. O'Donnell, Correspondence Federal Appointment 1925 1935 Series 3 Printed Materials 1907-1930

Given I. D. O'Donnell's wide interest in agriculture he collected many printed materials on the subject. He attended several agriculture conferences such as the Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute and the Dry Farming Congress. Programs from these various conferences are included in this series. Series 3 also contains a report from the Montana Farmers' Institute, a 1926 copy of the Irrigation Review and a 1913 copy of the tariff schedules from the Committee of Ways and Means.

 2/1 Dry Farming Congress and International Dry Farming Exposition Program 1909 2/2 Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute Program 1920 2/3 Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute Program 1928-1929 2/4 Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute Program 1930 2/5 Montana Farmers' Institute Annual Report 1907 2/6 Committee on Ways and Means, Tariff Schedules 1913 2/7 The Irrigation Review 1926 Series 4 Literary Manuscripts 1914-1918

O'Donnell was also a writer and collector of articles on agriculture. Series 4 contains manuscripts of articles he wrote for various journals. It also contains subject files on agricultural topics of manuscript materials he collected for information for his articles and as reference on topics such as alfalfa, birds, dairy cattle, pests, practical ideas for farming, ranch management, sugar beets, and weeds.

 2/8 I. D. O'Donnell, Dates for column for Reclamation Record 1915-1916 2/9 I. D. O'Donnell, Articles for Reclamation Record 1914-1919 2/10 I. D. O'Donnell, Clippings from Reclamation Record 1918 2/11 I. D. O'Donnell, Background Information for columns 2/12 I. D. O'Donnell Articles, Crops 2/13 I. D. O'Donnell Articles, Farm Management 1 2/14 I. D. O'Donnell Articles, Farm Management 2 2/15 I. D. O'Donnell Articles, Farm Management 3 2/16 I. D. O'Donnell Articles, Farm Management 4 2/17 I. D. O'Donnell Articles, Irrigation 2/18 I. D. O'Donnell Articles, Livestock 2/19 I. D. O'Donnell Manuscript for Agriculture in Montana 2/20 Agricultural Ideals and Truisms 1 2/21 Agricultural Ideals and Truisms 2 2/22 Agricultural Ideals and Truisms 3 2/23 Agricultural Ideals and Truisms 4 2/24 Agricultural Ideals and Truisms 5 2/25 Agricultural Ideals and Truisms 6 2/26 Alfalfa 1 2/27 Alfalfa 2 2/28 Ancient Agriculture 2/29 Beans 2/30 Birds 1 2/31 Birds 2 2/32 Birds 3 3/1 Bloating 3/2 Boys on the Farm 3/3 Corn 3/4 Dairy Cattle 1 3/5 Dairy Cattle 2 3/6 Dairy Cattle 3 3/7 Dairy Cattle 4 3/8 Diversified Farming 3/9 Fences 3/10 Fertilizers 3/11 Gardens 3/12 Hay; Winter Feed 3/13 Hints from a Practical Farmer 3/14 Hogs 1 3/15 Hogs 2 3/16 Hogs 3 3/17 Horses 1 3/18 Horses 2 3/19 How to Make a Farm Pay 3/20 Irrigation; Rain; Water 3/21 Livestock 1 3/22 Livestock 2 3/23 Livestock 3 3/24 Pasture 1 3/25 Pasture 2 3/26 Pests 3/27 Plowing 3/28 Potatoes 3/29 Poultry 3/30 Practical Ideas 1 3/31 Practical Ideas 2 3/32 Practical Ideas 3 3/33 Ranch Management 3/34 Rotation 3/35 Seed 3/36 Sheep 1 3/37 Sheep 2 3/38 Sheep 3 3/39 Silos 3/40 Soil 3/41 Straw 3/42 Sugar Beets 1 3/43 Sugar Beets 2 3/44 Toads 3/45 Trees 3/46 Verse 1 3/47 Verse 2 3/48 Weeds 3/49 Whitewash Series 5 General Subject Files 1898-1947

O'Donnell was interested in a wide range of topics and issues concerning agriculture. During his life he collected materials on the various groups and agencies with which he was involved. This series contains subject headings arranged in alphabetical order of the various clippings and research O'Donnell collected on topics such as the Big Ditch Company, Billings and Montana history, John Burkman (a survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn), irrigation projects, song lyrics, sugar beets, WPA Federal Writers Project (he helped write stories about ghost towns in Montana), and the Yellowstone Basin.

 4/1 Anecdotes 4/2 Big Ditch Company, Secretary-Treasurer Reports 1940-1941 1945 4/3 Big Ditch Company, By-Laws 4/4 Big Ditch Company, Lawsuit 1918 4/5 Big Ditch Company, Correspondence, Clippings 1900 1919 1944-1945 4/6 Big Horn Dam, Correspondence 1939-1940 4/7 Big Horn Dam, Publications and Resolutions 4/8 Billings, Montana, Correspondence 1936-1945 4/9 Billings, Montana, Poems, Clippings 1939 1947

"Trading Post," 1936

 4/10 Billings Area Biographies, Names of Settlers 1877-1882 4/11 Billings Area Biographies, A-D 4/12 Billings Area Biographies, F-S 4/13 Billings Area Biographies, T-Z 4/14 Billings Area Clippings 1947 4/15 Billings, Black Otter Trail, Clippings 1944-1945 4/16 Billings Foundry and Manufacturing Company 4/17 Billings Rimrocks 4/18 Brook Nook Stock Farm 1920

(I. D. O'Donnell and Son)

 4/19 Blue Mountain Coal Lands, Correspondence 1936-1945 4/20 John Burkman (Little Big Horn Survivor), Correspondence about; Draft of Story 4/21 John Burkman (Little Big Horn Survivor), I. D. O'Donnell notebook 1903 4/22 John Burkman (Little Big Horn Survivor), I. D. O'Donnell notes 4/23 John Burkman (Little Big Horn Survivor), Clippings 1925 1931 1946 4/24 Ben Cardwell notes 4/25 R. W. "Dick" Clark, Bozeman Trail 1886 4/26 Cove Irrigation District 1928-1930 4/27 Custer Battlefield National Cemetery, Correspondence 1939-1946 4/28 Custer Battlefield National Cemetery, Clippings 1926 1939 1943 4/29 Dogs 4/30 Drought Relief August 1930 4/31 Hesper Farm: Bank Book, Correspondence 1908-1910 1944-1945 4/32 Hesper Farm: Reports, Clippings 1933 4/33 Indian Tribes - Blackfeet: Winter Fair, Correspondence and Programs 1923-1931 4/34 Indian Tribes - Blackfeet: Winter Fair, Publications and Articles 4/35 Indian Tribes - Blackfeet, Clippings 1923-1936 4/36 Indian Tribes - Crow 4/37 Interview - Ruth Quigley 5/1 Irrigation: Articles 5/2 Irrigation: Bureau of Reclamation 5/3 Irrigation: Correspondence and Publications 5/4 Irrigation: Huntley 5/5 Irrigation: Milk River, Correspondence 1922-1923 5/6 Irrigation: Milk River, Department of the Interior Agreements 1922-1923 5/7 Irrigation: Milk River, Reports and Clippings 1911-1925 5/8 Irrigation: Missouri River 5/9 Irrigation: Sun River, Reports 1911-1925 5/10 Irrigation: Sun River, Project Information 5/11 Irrigation: Yellowstone River (Lower), Agreement and Report 1920 1925 5/12 Irrigation: Yellowstone River (Lower), Project Information 5/13 Kelly Mountain and the Black Otter Trail 5/14 Livestock 5/15 Midland Empire Fair 5/16 Minnesota and Montana Land Improvement Company 5/17 Montana and Billings History, rough speaking notes 5/18 Montana Cowboy Association 5/19 Montana History 5/20 Montana Horticultural Society 5/21 Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute, Correspondence 1921-1931 5/22 Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute, Constitution, Projects, and Reports 5/23 Montana Irrigation and Drainage Institute, Program Schedules, Members, Clippings 5/24 L. A. Nutting, County Council 1918 5/25 Place Names 5/26 I. D. O'Donnell, Biographical Information 5/27 I. D. O'Donnell, Biographies 5/28 I. D. O'Donnell, Clippings 5/29 I. D. O'Donnell, Headgate Patent 1898 5/30 Billie Randall 5/31 Rosebud Lake Association Lease 1915 5/32 Joseph L. Sherbourne, Correspondence 1928 1947 5/33 William E. Smyth Articles 5/34 Song Lyrics, Booklets 5/35 Song Lyrics, Clippings 6/1 Sugar Beets, Correspondence 1913 1825 1938 6/2 Sugar Beets, Contracts 6/3 Sugar Beets, Statements and Reports 1915-1943 6/4 Sugar Beets, Articles 6/5 Sugar Beets, Pamphlets and Clippings 1907-1941 6/6 Paul Van Cleve, I. D. O'Donnell's evaluation of him 1908 6/7 WPA Federal Writers Project, Correspondence and Research about Montana Ghost Towns 6/8 Yellowstone Basin: The History of Livestock in the Crow Country, Manuscript Draft 6/9 Yellowstone Basin: The History of Livestock in the Crow Country, Manuscript Notes 6/10 Yellowstone Basin Animals, Cattle 6/11 Yellowstone Basin Animals, Horses, Sheep 6/12 Yellowstone Basin Reminiscences: Sarah E. MacKay, Ann McLean, Grace Brewster Arnold 6/13 Yellowstone Investment Company 1904 6/14 Yellowstone National Park Series 6 Business Records Books 1892-1944

I. D. O'Donnell was also a businessman. Series 6 contains his various business records books from the Hesper Farm, Minnesota and Montana Land and Improvement Company, and the Frederick Billings estate. The books include account books, cash books, and a book of contracts.

 7/1 Ledger 1894 7/2 Account Book 1908-1909 7/3 Account Book 1910-1915 7/4 Account Book 1931-1939 7/5 Account Book 1941-1944 8/1 Contract 1908-1909 8/2 Ropp's Business Calculator, Hesper Farm Notebook 8/3 Minnesota and Montana Land and Improvement Company 1892-1902 8/4 Frederick Billings Estate 1895-1908 8/5 Letterbook 1898-1901 Series 7 Scrapbook and Scrapbook Material circa 1930s

Through his travels, I. D. O'Donnell collected postcards and other scrapbook material. Series 7 contains three books of postcards and one file of postcards from his U. S. and foreign travel. O'Donnell also collected travel brochures from places he visited around the world such as Singapore, Victoria, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seville, and Hawaii.

 9/1 Postcard Book, Foreign Travel 9/2 Postcard Book, U. S. Travel 9/3 Postcard Book, U. S. Travel 9/4 Postcards, U. S. Travel 9/5 U. S. Travel Poster cards 10/1 Travel Brochure, The Shakespeare Hotel 10/2 Travel Brochure, "Hilly Hong Kong" 10/3 Travel Brochure, "Sunny Singapore" 10/4 Travel Brochure, "Scenic Shanghai" 10/5 Travel Brochure, "Picturesque Victoria" 10/6 Travel Brochure, "Marvels of Seville" 10/7 Travel Brochure, "Hawaiian Islands" Series 8 Photographs 1882-1945

This series contains photographs collected by O'Donnell. They have been arranged in topics including pictures of O'Donnell, pictures of other people, pictures of places and pictures of things. The series contains pictures of Montana reclamation men, President Chester A. Arthur's 1884 visit to Yellowstone National Park, the first horse buggy in Montana, the towns of Browning, Junction City and Coulson, Blackfeet Indian crafts, Billie Randall, Joe Doze, Big Ditch Dam, and corn from I. D. O'Donnell's farm.

 10/8 #1-5 #1. I. D. O'Donnell 1932 #2. I. D. O'Donnell, placing wreath on Luther Kelly's grave #3-4. I. D. O'Donnell July 21, 1932

three weeks after operation

 #5. I. D. O'Donnell 1945

age 85

 10/9 #6-12 #6. Chester A. Arthur visit to Yellowstone National Park 1884 #7-8. Roach Chapmin 1882 #9-10. Joe Doze and Ben Farr 1883 #11. Joe Doze and Mandell #12. Two unidentified men

tin type

 10/10 #13-21 #13-15. Reclamation Men #16. Billie Randall and dog #17. Billie Randall with grass display #18. Billie Randall 85th Birthday party #19. Two unidentified people in field

(Billie Randall?)

 #20. Unidentified man on tractor

(Billie Randall?)

 #21. Oliver Sanderville Ranch, Browning 1925 10/11 #22-29 #22. Bluff Opposite Josephene #23. Browning January 11, 1925

street scene

 #24. Browning January 11, 1925

aerial view

 #25. Browning January 11, 1925 #26. Browning January 11, 1925

street scene

 #27. Browning January 11, 1925

J. G. Pierce and Co. Cash Store

 #28. Browning January 11, 1925

street scene

 #29. Browning January 11, 1925

New England Hotel

 10/12 #30-33 #30. Coulson, Killen, and Company Saloon #31-32. Junction City street scene #33. Junction City, monument to stage driver 10/13 #34-42 #34-39. Unidentified pasture #40-41. Ice jam #42. Summer creek jam 10/14 #43-50 #43. Unidentified #44. Randall's Island #45-47 unidentified pasture #48. unidentified pasture, haystack and tractor #49. unidentified pasture, haystack #50. unidentified pasture 10/15 #51-55 #51. Ox Team at Coulson #52. First Horse Buggy in Montana #53. Yellowstone Park Stage #54-55. Yellowstone River Sheep 10/16 #56-65 #56. Sitting room

(Billie Randall's home?)

 #57. Blackfeet Indian Crafts 1925 #58. Corn from I. D. O'Donnell's Farm 1906 #59-60. Big Ditch Dam #61. Beaver Dam #62-63. Boot Hill Cemetery, Black Otter Trail historical marker #64-65. Boot Hill Monument, Billings

postcards

 Oversized

This folder contains information from series 6, records of the Caplice Commercial Company. It also contains a map out of series 5 of irrigation projects in Montana.