Russell D. Daigle was born on May 8, 1913 in Missoula, Montana to Leonard and Hattie Daigle. Daigle’s grandfather, Damase Daigle, was a homesteader who moved with his family to Frenchtown, Montana, in the 1880s. By the 1890s, Daigle’s grandfather had established Daigle Ranch in Quigley, Montana, which was then a booming mining town, in addition to owning the local sawmill. Even after gold mining operations ceased, Daigle Ranch continued to operate, and Russell Daigle traveled frequently to Quigley as a child.
In 1932, Daigle enrolled at the University of Montana (then called Montana State University), where he studied journalism. After graduation, Daigle moved to California and worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a fire prevention officer and administrative assistant. When World War II broke out, he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Alameda Naval Base. In 1944, Daigle married Mirene Hendrickson, and they had three children. In his later career, Daigle worked in publishing. He died on May 14, 2003.
The Russell D. Daigle Collection of Photographs features the mining town of Quigley, Montana. Images are predominately of local miners, loggers, and railroaders in the 1890s, although some photographs of structures such as the Quigley Hotel and Ranch House were taken as late as 1915. Operations at the Alps and Jumbo mines, as well as the Quigley Sawmill, are included. Other photos show members of the Daigle family, the surrounding town of Bonita, and Quigley locals in Butte, Montana.
The photographs in this collection are arranged in a single series 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.
Russell D. Daigle Collection of Photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Russell D. Daigle held the photos in this collection until he loaned them to the University of Montana in 1976 for duplication. The originals were returned to Daigle.
The University of Montana acquired the photographs in this collection in 1976.
The University of Montana produced duplicates of Daigle’s photographs, assigned photo numbers, and placed the images in its general photo collection in 1976. Daigle’s captions were transcribed, and the original photographs were returned to him. In 2021, the photographs were processed separately as Mss 353.
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.
The hotel sat at the mouth of Brewster Creek on Rock Creek; Russell Daigle's room was on the second floor, first on left; photographers: P. Therriault and Joseph Daigle
The mine's Gold Stamp Mill was driven by a steam engine
Construction work en route to the mines out of Quigley, Montana
Floating logs down Rock Creek for road construction
Sawmill Gulch on left, Slaughterhouse Gulch on right, Sapphire Range in background
From the front: Mrs. Baggington at center left, Hattie Daigle at center right, Leonard Daigle at right, Delia Daigle at center; from the back: Mr. W. J. Babbington, Missoula County clerk, at left with gold pan
Photo might also be of lower Rock Creek road construction
This camp, with tents and cabins visibile in the background, was located at the mouth of Brewster Creek Canyon and was the first camp at Quigley
Postcard sent from Bonita, Montana
The old Daigle Hotel is the second building on the right
Structures were built during the boom on Rock Creek near Spring Creek, but were destroyed by fire
Damase Daigle on right, Leonard Daigle seventh from right
Damase Daigle, owner, sitting; the ties and mine studs are for the Jumbo, Alps, and Golconda mines
Leonard Daigle standing; others unidentified
Damase Daigle in background, standing by door
Damase Daigle, top row, fourth from left, served as foreman; trial was for murder suspect in a shoot-out at Quigley, Montana, saloon
Damase Daigle is upstairs on right; location is unknown, but possibly Bearmouth, Drummond, or Deer Lodge, Montana; view of period saloon and hotel 'false front' buildings
Bill Edelman, on right, later became a long-time miner on the forks of Brewster Creek, east of Quigley, Montana; "He had a beautiful Parisian wife, a good claim, a sound cabin, stamp mill."
Bill Edelman, top row, third from left
Damase Daigle at the right of the door