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Peter Koch Nelson papers, 1944-1957

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Nelson, Peter Koch, 1917-2003
Title
Peter Koch Nelson papers
Dates
1944-1957 (inclusive)
1880-1883 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet, (4 boxes)
Collection Number
2476
Summary
Gallatin County farmer and member of the extended Peter Koch family. The collection includes tax documents from Nelson's farm, family photograph albums, and a weather journal kept by Peter Koch.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Peter Koch Nelson was born in Pasadena, CA, on May 1, 1917 to Edward and Martha Koch Nelson. He moved to Bozeman, MT, with his family in the early 1930s and graduated from Gallatin County High School. Shortly thereafter, he went into the Signal Core in Ohio. When he returned he worked at Montana Motor Supply before joining his father on the family ranch to raise purebred Hereford cattle and farming. He was awarded numerous placements in show for his work in the cattle industry and was awarded the Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1963 in Gallatin County. In September of 1982, Peter married Emma Perry Bowers in Livingston, Montana. They had three children: Patricia Warner, David E. Nelson, and James M. Nelson. Nelson died on October 9, 2003.

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Content Description

The collection includes tax documents from Nelson's farm, family photograph albums, and a weather journal kept by Peter Koch. Farm tax statements document the years 1944 to 1952 for the Nelson farm near Bozeman, MT. Three photograph albums include studio portraits of earlier generations of the Koch family created in the late nineteenth century. The Koch weather journal includes detailed daily observations of weather conditions in Bozeman, MT, from 1880 to 1883. The Koch photograph album includes no identifications, but appears to be snapshots taken in and around Yellowstone National Park of family members, associates, scenary, and activities. The photographs of Indian tipis are badly damaged.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Gift of James M. Nelson, 2005.

Separated Materials

The original accession included approximately 6 linear feet of books owned by Peter Koch. A complete inventory is in the administrative files for the collection.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Farm tax statements
    Dates: 1944-1952
    Container: Box 1
  • Description: Weather observations journal for Bozeman, MT, Peter Koch
    Dates: 1880-1883
    Container: Box 2, Item 1
  • Description: Photo book, Peter Koch
    Container: Box 2, Item 2
  • Description: Photograph album, Koch family
    Container: Box 3
  • Description: Portrait of Stanley Koch, son of Peter Koch
    Dates: 1898
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: [Man on horse]
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: Tipis
    Container: Box 3, Folder 3
  • Description: Tipis
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: Photograph albums, Koch family
    Container: Box 4

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Scandinavian Americans--Montana
  • Farmers--Montana--Gallatin County

Family Names

  • Koch family

Geographical Names

  • Montana--History--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photograph albums
  • Tax records
  • Weather diaries
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