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 480
Rhein, Leo A. Jr., 1919-2017
Rhein, Claire, 1922-2001
Leo A. Rhein, Jr. and Claire Rhein Collection
1860-circa 1990
0.5 linear feet
Leo and Claire Rhein were residents of Stevensville, Montana, and retired from the U. S. military.
The collection contains a ration book from World War II and military photographs, especially from the U.S. Signal Corps, 1864 to 1959.
It also contains Claire Rhein's research files on Fort Owen and Major John Owen.
Materials
are in English
Biographical Note
Leo A. Rhein, Jr. was born in Helena, Montana, on July 29, 1919. He
spent all but three of his early years in Wolf Creek, Montana, and attended
high school in Big Fork and Helena, Montana. He graduated from Helena in 1938.
He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin from 1945 to 1947 and
at the University of Montana from 1947 to 1950, graduating with a B.S. in
Forestry.
In 1935, Rhein enlisted in the Montana National Guard, and he was
called to active duty with the 41st Infantry Division in 1940. From 1942 to
1945, he served in the Pacific Theatre during which he attended the Officer
Candidates School. He graduated with the rank of 2nd lieutenant in 1943. He was
separated from active duty in 1945, but was later recalled to active duty in
1951. During his military career, Rhein was stationed at posts around the
United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. He retired from the U.S. Army with
the rank LTC with the Corps of Engineers in 1968. Upon Rhein's retirement from
the military, he worked for the Bureau of Land Management between 1968 and
1978. After his retirement from the BLM, he traveled around the United States
and Canada.
Rhein was married to his wife, Claire, for 54 years. She was born in
Dagsboro, DE., on Aug. 19, 1922, the daughter of Nelson and Viola Kassay.
Claire served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in Washington, D.C., as
yeoman first-class in Adm. Hyman G. Rickover's office, until honorably
discharged in 1945. Claire then attended the University of Wisconsin in
Madison, where she met and married Leo. She moved to his home state of Montana,
where she attended the University of Montana in 1947. She was an Army wife from
1951 to 1968, living in Europe and the Caribbean, as well as numerous Army
posts across the United States. They returned to Montana in 1967.
For years she was an active member of the Stevensville Historical
Society and one of the authors of "Montana Genesis," published in 1971. She had
a fascination for local and state history, as well as a great affection for and
involvement in Fort Owen, located in Stevensville. In September of 1986, she
was presented with the Montana Historical Society Trustees' Award for
Contributions to Montana History. Beginning in 1974, the Rheins donated over 20
years of volunteer service to the K. Ross Toole Archives. Claire was the
founder of the oral history program at the Mansfield Library and was active
with the Stevensville Historical Society and the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.
The Rheins had nine children. Claire Rhein died on February 14, 2001, and Leo Rhein died on January 6, 2017.
The collection contains a ration book from World War II and military photographs, especially from the U.S. Signal Corps, 1864 to 1959.
There are photographs of Apache Indians from around the 1880s, executions in Saudi Arabia, ca. 1960, and the University of Montana, ca. 1990.
It also contains Claire Rhein's research files on Fort Owen and Major John Owen.
The collection is divided into three series:
Series I: Documents, 1 folder, circa 1945
Series II: Photographs, 0.5 linear feet, 1864-circa 1990
Series III: Research Files, 1 folder, 1860-1982
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], Leo A. Rhein, Jr. and Claire Rhein
Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The
University of Montana--Missoula.
All materials were collected by Leo and Claire Rhein from numerous undocumented sources
and remained with the Rhein family until donation.
Gifts of Leo Rhein, Jr., 1980 and another unknown date, and Diana Rhein, 2001.
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2002, the
collection was reprocessed. A previously processed small collection, SC 360,
was combined with unprocessed photographs to create the present manuscript
collection. At some point, a VHS tape of Claire Rhein's memorial service was removed from this collection
and added to the Friends of the Maureen and Mike Library records (Mss 813).
In 2019, Claire Rhein's research files on Fort Owen were added to the collection.
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.
Photographs
Ration books
Video tapes
Apache
Indians--Photographs
Executions and
executioners--Saudi Arabia--Photographs
Photography,
Military
Montana -- History -- Sources
Fort Owen (Mont.)
Rhein, Claire K.,
1922-2001
Owen, John, 1818-1889
United States. Army.
Signal Corps
University of
Montana--Missoula--Alumni and alumnae
Montana
Photographs
International Relations
Military
Women
Series I
Documents
circa 1945
1 folder
The series contains a War Ration Book that belonged to Leo Rhein, Jr. while he was at the County Hospital in Helena, Montana.
1/1
Leo A. Rhein, Jr., War Ration Book
circa 1945
Series II
Photographs
1864-circa 1990
0.5 linear feet
The series contains photographs collected by the Rheins, many of which are official U.S. Army photographs.
The U.S. Signal Corps is significantly represented in the series, including photographs
of officers, signal towers, balloons, and other military equipment. There are a number of photographs from the 41st Infantry
in Fort Lewis, Washington, circa 1940-1941, including images of military equipment testing, soldiers training, and an aerial view
of the compound. The collection also contains military photographs from Europe and the Philippines during WWI, WWII,
and the Korean Conflict, 1951. A smaller part of the series contains photographs of executions in Saudi Arabia, circa 1960,
Apache Indians, circa 1880s, and the University of Montana campus, circa 1990s.
Materials are arranged chronologically.
1/1
480(II)1
Native Americans on horseback at watering hole (painting)
undated
1/2
480(II)2
Man being thrown from horse,
stampede in background (painting)
undated
1/3
480(II)3
Apache Indian Scouts, with two
prisoners who were hanged at Globe, AZ
undated
1/4
480(II)4
Chatto, Mescalero Apache, Cochise
tribe
1886
1/5
480(II)5
Geronomino, chief of the Arizona
Apaches
undated
1/6
480(II)6
Apache woman whose nose has been
cut off, "this is the Apache penalty"
undated
1/7
480(II)7
Sanchez, who probably fired the
first shot against troops at Cibicu
undated
1/8
480(II)8
"Tzoe," a valuable Indian scout
with Gen. Crook's command in the eighteen-eighties
undated
1/9
480(II)9
Kay-ten-ae, leader of the Warm
Springs and Chiricahua Apaches
1886
1/10
480(II)10
Mangas, son of the great Mangas
Colorados
undated
1/11
480(II)11
Brigadier General Albert J.
Meyer, Chief Signal Officer
undated
1/12
480(II)12
Former Chief Signal Officers,
U.S. Army, portraits
ca.
1860-1959
1/13
480(II)13
Major General R.T. Nelson, Chief
Signal Officer
January 27, 1959
1/14
480(II)14
Taking meterological observations
at Ft. Monmouth, NJ
undated
1/15
480(II)15
Signal Corps Officers at camp
undated
1/16
480(II)16
Elk Military Signal Station
undated
1/17
480(II)17
Signal Tower, Jacksonville, FL,
Civil War
December 12, 1864
1/18
480(II)18
Observation Balloon, Signal
Corps, U.S. Army
undated
1/19
480(II)19
U.S. Signal Station and Weather
Bureau on Pike's Peak
undated
1/20
480(II)20
Captain William Mitchell in
Alaska
undated
1/21
480(II)21
U.S. Signal Station, Point
Barrow, AL
ca.
1881-1883
1/22
480(II)22
Signaling for reserves to advance
after retreat of the Spanish, Manila, Ft. Malate
August 13, 1886
1/23
480(II)23
Signal Corps Battery wagons
1898
1/24
480(II)24
Cable work on the Malecon Drive,
Manila, P.I.
1902
1/25
480(II)25
U.S. Army Dirigible #1, Ft.
Meyer, VA
1908
1/26
480(II)26
Signal Corps balloon ascension at
Gas House Field, SE, Washington, D.C.
April 17, 1908
1/74
480(II)74
Wolf Creek, 6 photos of Rhein family
1913-1916
1/27
480(II)27
Installing telephones in Prince
Murat's mansion, Paris, France, President Wilson's "White House" overseas
December 12, 1918
1/28
480(II)28
Soldier using switchboard,
Argonne Woods
October 2, 1918
1/29
480(II)29
Signal Corps wiring detail tying
in pole line, Tartigny, France
June
10, 1918
1/30
480(II)30
Putting messages on pigeons,
Headquarters, 42nd Division, St. Pol, France
May
13, 1918
1/31
480(II)31
Paphan panel system of visual
aeroplane signaling in use by soldiers, Benuval, France
July
30, 1918
1/32
480(II)32
Private E.B. Schoedaack with
camouflaged camera, photographing among ruins, Mareuilen, Dole, France
August 25, 1918
1/33
480(II)33
Sergeant using a Lucas Lamp,
Pretz on Argonne, France
October 22, 1918
1/34
480(II)34
"Captured German war pigeons,"
victory parade, New York, NY
May
1919
1/75
480(II)75
Wolf Creek, 1 photo and one newsclipping
1922-1953
1/35
480(II)35
Element of 41st Infantry
Division, Ft. Lewis, WA
1941
1/36
480(II)36
41st Infantry Division, "Passing
in Review," Ft. Lewis, WA
1941
1/37
480(II)37
41st Infantry Division, "10,000 Men," Ft. Lewis, WA
1941
1/38
480(II)38
41st Infantry Division, Washington
1941
1/39
480(II)39
Machine gunner, Air Corps, U.S. Army
ca. 1940-1941
1/40
480(II)40
"Night Firing"
ca. 1940-1941
1/41
480(II)41
Soldiers and 81 mm mortars
ca. 1940-1941
1/42
480(II)42
Soldiers and 75's Barrage, Ft. Lewis, WA
ca. 1940-1941
1/43
480(II)43
"Anti-tank in action"
ca. 1940-1941
1/44
480(II)44
Canon-firing at Ft. Lewis, WA, "Big Boys' Talk"
ca. 1940-1941
1/45
480(II)45
Soldiers with guns in foxholes
ca. 1940-1941
1/46
480(II)46
"Garand's on the Range"
ca. 1940-1941
1/47
480(II)47
Soldier in jeep
ca. 1940-1941
1/48
480(II)48
Soldier on rocky hill with binoculars
ca. 1940-1941
1/49
480(II)49
"Tanks on the Jump," Ft. Lewis, WA
1941
1/50
480(II)50
Melinta Tunnel, Signal Corps Message Center, Manila, P.I.
April 24, 1942
1/51
480(II)51
Private Roy W. Humphrey being
given blood plasma by Private First Class Harvey White after shrapnel wound, Sicily, Italy
August 9, 1943
1/52
480(II)52
Corporal Arthur Marino working in snow, tracing broken field wire for splicing, European theatre of operations
December 25, 1944
1/53
480(II)53
7th Fleet Headquarters, Leyte, P.I.
March 15, 1945
1/54
480(II)54
Caisson bearing Franklin D. Roosevelt's body
April 14, 1945
1/55
480(II)55
Artist conception, radar to the moon
January 1946
1/56
480(II)56
Camp Murray Area, Fort Lewis, WA (aerial)
February 21, 1946
1/76
480(II)76
Buffalo called Big Medicine
1947
1/57
480(II)57
Elements of Company A and K, 35th Infantry Regiment, Korean Conflict
February 1, 1951
1/58
480(II)58
Corporal Elmer Soprano leans over
a cliff to fasten a jump as group rehabilitates lines from Tanyang to Chechon, Korean Conflict
January 31, 1951
1/59
480(II)59
Remote control for drone, Woodbridge, VA
1956
1/60
480(II)60
Soldiers and new tactical television camera
1956
1/61
480(II)61
All weather radar equipment, Ft. Huachuca, AZ
1956
1/62
480(II)62
First American radar, page from patent restrictions
1957
1/63
480(II)63
U.S. Patent for radar
1957
1/64
480(II)64
Army pictorial service photographer, Nettuno, Italy
Feb. 12, 1944
1/65
480(II)65
Colonel Lukas Hoska, 35th AA Brigade, Missile Master installation, Ft. Meade, MD
1957
1/66
480(II)66
Electronic beam radar inside plastic balloon
October 1958
1/67
480(II)67
AN/TSC-16 radio system with operators pictured
April 15, 1959
1/68
480(II)68
First successful flight of Drone SD-2, Yuma, AZ
April 1959
1/69
480(II)69
Severed hand suspended by a rope, Saudi Arabia
ca. 1960
1/70
480(II)70
Severed hand suspended from a rope, Saudi Arabia
ca. 1960
1/71
480(II)71
Severed hand suspended from a rope, Saudi Arabia
ca. 1960
1/72
480(II)72
Man being led to execution, Saudi Arabia
ca. 1960
1/73
480(II)73
Decapitated man after execution, Saudi Arabia
ca. 1960
1/77
480(II)77
St. Mary's barbecue, Mary Ann Combs and son Abel
ca. 1975
1/78
480(II)78
Event on the University of Montana Oval
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)79
Event on the University of Montana Oval
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)80
Event on the University of Montana Oval
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)81
Event on the University of Montana Oval
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)82
Panoramic view of University of Montana campus taken from Mount Sentinel
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)83
Panoramic view of University of Montana campus taken from Mount Sentinel
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)84
Panoramic view of University of Montana campus taken from Mount Sentinel
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)85
Panoramic view of University of Montana campus taken from Mount Sentinel
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)86
Panoramic view of University of Montana campus taken from Mount Sentinel
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)87
Panoramic view of University of Montana campus taken from Mount Sentinel
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)88
Panoramic view of University of Montana campus taken from Mount Sentinel
ca. 1990
1/78
480(II)89
Panoramic view of University of Montana campus taken from Mount Sentinel
ca. 1990
Series III
Research Files
1860-1982
1 folder
The series contains Claire Rhein's research files on Fort Owen and genealogical information on Major John Owen.
It includes her correspondence with other Owen family researchers.
1/79
Fort Owen research files
1860-1982