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Western Montana Abstracts of Title collection, 1870-1980

Overview of the Collection

Title
Western Montana Abstracts of Title collection
Dates
1870-1980 (bulk)
Quantity
16.8 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 459
Summary
This collection consists of abstracts of title from 1870-1980 for property located in Western Montana, mostly in Missoula County. Documentation for a small number of properties in Lake County and Ravalli County is also present.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

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.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Abstracts of title trace the ownership of property from the initial owner to the date the abstract is requested. The information can include not only property sales and deeds, but also legal actions against owners, wills, and a variety of other legal actions that affect property ownership. In Missoula, Montana, the Northern Pacific Railroad was the first recorded owner of many properties in the earliest sections of town.

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Content Description

This collection consists of abstracts of title for property in Western Montana, including in Missoula County, Lake County, and Ravalli County, brought together as an artificial collection by Archives and Special Collections. Among the prominent Montana citizens mentioned are Andrew B. Hammond, Marcus Daly, the Higgins Family, Will Cave, Wellington Rankin, Charles H. McLeod, and William H. and Emma Dickinson. Several early abstracts contain hand-drawn maps, which include the property and surrounding area. Marcus Daly’s and Christopher P. Higgins' wills are also included.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes.

Preferred Citation

Western Montana Abstracts of Title Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in two series:

Series I: Missoula, Lake, and Ravalli County Abstracts, 1870-1980, 16.2 linear feet

Series II: Accession 1998-049, 1870-1921, 0.6 linear feet

Processing Note

This is an artificial collection of abstracts from various sources brought together by Archives and Special Collections staff. Missoula County abstracts have been organized alphabetically by Addition name. The other abstracts, named by their county rather than subdivision of origin, are filed alphabetically after Missoula County. In 2024, the Archives added a second series to the collection, Accession 1998-049, containing additional abstracts donated by Missoula County.

Custodial History

Abstracts in this collection were held by various public agencies and private groups/individuals before being donated to the Archives at separate times between 1980 and 2005.

Acquisition Information

Eleven abstracts of title in this collection were donated by Historical Research Associates on March 19, 1980, one was donated by Marguerite B. and D. Jeanne Mueller in 1986, one was donated by Homer B. Sumner in April 1991, three were donated by Gary Williams in 1994, one by the Missoula Public Library in 2011, and another by an unknown donor in 2011. The bulk of the abstracts were given to the Archives by Missoula County in 1998 and 2005.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Finding aid prepared by Teresa Hamann (2002) and Sarah Grenfell (2024)
2002

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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