Robert Endre Haugen was born on October 2, 1912 in Choteau, Montana to Endre and Thyra Haugen. In 1923, he moved with his family to Missoula, Montana, where his parents later opened Haugen's Studio, capturing portraits for local schools and organizations. Robert Haugen attended the University of Montana from 1932-1934 before moving to New York to study at the New York Institute of Photography. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and subsequently moved back to Missoula, where he took over the family business, Haugen's Studio, on 520 S. Third Street. In 1960, Haugen bought the competing McKay Art Studio, which was orginally opened in 1908 by the well-known Missoula-based photographer R.H. McKay and run by Harry Butler after McKay's death, merging two of Missoula's longest-running photography businesses. Located at 120 N. Higgins Avenue, Haugen renamed the business Haugen-McKay Company. In addition to operating as a portrait and photo finishing studio, Haugen-McKay also sold camera equipment and photography supplies, framed prints, cards, gifts, and books. Haugen retired in 1969, after which time the business underwent several changes in name and ownership.
Haugen died on June 11, 1998 in Missoula.
This collection consists of 147 photographs of Western Montana, primarily businesses in and around Missoula, from the 1940s and 1950s. Banks, churchs, and businesses related to the timber and automotive industries are prominently featured. Other subjects include residents of the Flathead Indian Reservation, Missoula events, and cultural sites.
This collection is arranged by photo number.
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.>
Robert E. Haugen Photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
The photographs in this collection were held by William A. Pedersen, who bought Haugen's Photography in 1978 from Douglas Brown. They were first donated to the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula in 1996 before being transferred to the University of Montana Archives in 1997.
William A. Pedersen donated the collection to the University of Montana Archives and Special Collections in February 1997.
Pedersen provided captions for the photographs at the time of donation. Between 1997-2004, 89 images from the original donation were likely sent back to the donor because they were not identified. In 2023, the Archives assigned each photograph a photo number.
At Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections:
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.
On the Going-to-the-Sun Highway, Many Glacier, and Waterton Lake
Point Mountain on extreme left; Allen Mountain center; Grinnell Mountain and Altyn Peak to the right
Vehicle driving on road, unknown mountain in background
Small amount of the mansion visible through trees
Aerial view
Aerial view
Large room with tables and chairs
Neon sign
Long bar with stools
Aerial view
Painting of a buffalo in a wooden frame
Two rows of men lined up in uniforms
Horse drawn carriage and crowd of people in the background
Tractor being hauled on a semi-truck, crowd of people in the background
Float with giant telephone and three people, crowd in the background
Float "Pulp Workers Local 885 Waldorf Hoerner," crowd in background
Small vehicle, crowd in background
Float "Laundry and Dry Cleaners Assn Local 21"
Float "Welcome Mueller Tire Company Visitors," crowd in the background
Line of vehicles, crowd on either side of the street
Float "Auto Mechanics Local 1443," crowd in background
Float "Lumber and Sawmill Workers," crowd in background
Women sitting in and standing on a vehicle, crowd in background
Semi-truck hauling another vehicle, crowd in background
View of several floats from behind, crowd on either side of the street
Float "Carpenters Local 28," crowd in background
Float "Centennial Queen," crowd on either side of the street
Deer in a snowy clearing between mountains
M on Mount Sentinel visible in the background
Car going through the drive-up window
Aerial view
Exterior of Mission Homes
Couple posing behind wedding cake
Bathroom fixtures
Group wedding photograph in a church
Empty bowling alley
M on Mount sentinel visible in background
Building with three trucks out front in Missoula
Interior of empty church
Single christmas tree in a field
Photo of portrait
Bank and view of the road, with a truck driving away and a man crossing the street
Interior of the bank with bouquets of flowers
Interior of the bank's open vault
Bouquets of flowers in the interior of Western Montana National Bank
Paper mill in Frenchtown, Montana
Man in regalia holding a horse's lead
Machine loading semi-truck with logs
Logging in Western Montana
Men and women singing around a piano on stage
Empty interior of cocktail lounge in Gaslight Alley behind the Florence Building