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Richardson family photograph collection, 1880-1993

Overview of the Collection

Title
Richardson family photograph collection
Dates
1880-1993 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 boxes
180 photographic prints
4 albums containing 743 photographic prints
Collection Number
Lot 036 (collection)
Summary
The Richardson Brothers Ranch was among the earliest homesteads in what is now Sheridan County, Montana. This collection includes four photograph albums containing 743 photographic prints and 180 loose photographs with views of life on the ranch, family portraits, vacation snaps, a military service album, and many other photographs from various Richardson family members from the 1880s to the 1990s.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research in the Photo Archives.

Languages
English.
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Biographical Note

The Richardson Brothers Ranch was among the earliest homesteads in what is now Sheridan County, Montana. Frederick "Fred" Richardson, Maggie Daisy Richardson, Robert "Bob" Richardson, and Weldon "Will" Richardson were the original four Richardson siblings to settle in the Antelope, Montana area, homesteading on 1,728 adjoining acres between 1902 and 1917 to form the ranch. The brothers all married and started families between 1908 and 1912, Maggie Richardson did not marry until 1932 and had no children. Fourteen children were born on the ranch from 1909 to 1925, several of those children would eventually marry and stay on the ranch as well. Fred became the first US Customs Agent in Sheridan and adjacent Daniels Counties. Bob was elected the first State Representative from Sheridan County. A complete story of the siblings and their children is presented in Six Generations of Richardsons: To and from the Big Muddy Valley by Gregory N Richardson.

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Content Description

This collection includes four photograph albums containing 743 photographic prints and 180 loose photographs. The Lulu Richardson Album (1880s to 1914) contains 74 photographs including her family's time in Minnesota before coming to Montana to her time on the Richardson Brothers Ranch. Maggie Richardson Album (1907 to 1949) contains 350 photos that Maggie took documenting life on the early ranch, at her sister Alice's in southern California, at her sister Martha's in Heavener, Oklahoma, and with her teaching friends in Minnesota. At her death in 1933, the album was given to her niece Marge Richardson who added 120 family photographs beginning in 1935 through 1949. Margaret "Marge" Richardson Album (about 1924 to 1931) contains 141 photographs that cover her graduation from Antelope High School in 1928 and her freshman year at Montana State Normal School in Dillon in 1929. It includes students from her first year teaching school in Garden Grove School in California in 1931. The last album is the service album of Walter Richardson in Europe in 1947 with 58 photographs. There are also 180 loose photographs depicting: various members of the Richardson family in Montana, South Dakota, California, and Oklahoma; the different Richardson homesteads in Sheridan County, Montana; and views of Montana and South Dakota.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions applying to use or reproduction of this image (which may be protected by copyright law - Title 17 U.S. Code) are available from the Montana Historical Society Research Center. The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Photograph Archives collections and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Photograph Archives before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in its collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Richardson Family photograph collection. Lot 036 [box/album number and folder/photograph number], Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is divided into two series based on format:

Series I: Photographs, 1880-1993, 180 photographic prints.

Series II: Photograph Albums, 1880-1949, 4 albums (743 photographic prints).

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Future Additions

Future additions to this collection are expected.

Processing Note

The Richardson photographs and manuscript materials arrived at MHS as a well described and organized collection. During accessioning, the manuscript materials were separated to the Archives. Most loose photographic prints were already organized by family, but additional photographs from the Thomas Jerald Richard photograph collection were folded into the larger photograph collection during processing. These photographs retain a sticker on the verso with a number corresponding to a handwritten index available in the accession file. Seven real photo postcards of Plentywood, Montana were transferred to the Montana postcard collection (PC 001) after it was determined that they were collected independently of the Richardson collection. Approximately, one linear foot of manuscript materials including correspondence, articles, and business records were transferred to the Archives. Two copies of the book Six Generations of Richardsons: To and from the Big Muddy Valley were received with the collection and retained as reference copies, one available in the library and the other in Photo Archives.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Series I: Photographs, 1880-1993

    180 photographic prints, (2 boxes) : 170 black and white photographic prints; 10 color photographic prints ; 8 x 10 in. and smaller

    This series contains photographs of and by various members of the Richardson family including portraits and candid snaps. It also includes views of various Richardson ranches, livestock, and several views of areas in Montana and South Dakota. Photos are dated from 1880 to 1993.

    This series contains 180 photographic prints arranged by family based on the birth order of the children of Robert Hay and Annie Richardson. The 82 photographs from the Thomas Jerald Richardson photograph collection are incorporated into the organization of the other photographs but still retain their assigned number that correlates to the handwritten index, available in the Photo Archives.

  • Series II: Photograph Albums, 1880-1949

    4 albums, (containing 743 photographic prints)

    This series contains four photograph albums created by Richardson family members. The albums include black and white photographic prints with views of family members, friends, ranch life, Walter Richardson's service in the military, and various family trips.

    This series is arranged chronologically by album.

    • Description: Lulu Hedges Richardson photograph album
      1 album (97 pages) : black cloth cover with black paper pages; 5 3/4 x 8 in.
      74 photographic prints : black and white; 4 x 5 in. and smaller

      Album belonged to Lucy Luella (Lulu) Hedges Richardson, who married Weldon (Will) Richardson in 1908 and lived on the Richardson Brothers Ranch. The album contains 74 black and white photographic prints including: Richardson family members at La Jolla Beach in California; various views of family members working on the ranch in Montana; relatives of Lulu Richardson; Will and Lulu Richardson's home; U.S.G.S. camps; views of Antelope, Montana; and various views of unidentified individuals.

      Dates: 1880-1912
      Container: Album Lot 36.A1
      Location: Series II: Photograph Albums, 1880-1949
    • Description: Maggie Daisy Richardson and Margaret (Marge) Richardson photograph album
      1 album (86 pages) : black cloth cover with black paper pages; 10 1/4 x 12 1/4 in.
      470 photographic prints : black and white; 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. and smaller

      Album contains 350 photos, mostly taken by Maggie Daisy Richardson, documenting: life on the ranch; visits to her sisters Alice Richardson, in southern California, and Martha Webster, in Heavener, Oklahoma; and with her teaching friends in Minnesota. At her death in 1933, the album was given to her niece Marge Richardson who added 120 family photographs beginning in 1935 through 1949.

      Dates: 1907-1949
      Container: Album Lot 36.A2
      Location: Series II: Photograph Albums, 1880-1949
    • Description: Margaret (Marge) Richardson photograph album
      1 album (92 pages) : black cloth cover with black paper pages; 5 1/2 x 7 in.
      141 photographic prints : black and white; 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 in. and smaller

      Album was created by Margaret (Marge) Richardson, the oldest child of Weldon (Will) and Lulu Richardson. The album contains 141 black and white photographs that cover her graduation from Antelope High School in 1928 and her freshman year at Montana State Normal School in Dillon in 1929. It also includes students from her first year teaching school in Garden Grove School in California in 1931.

      Dates: 1924-1931
      Container: Album Lot 36.A3
      Location: Series II: Photograph Albums, 1880-1949
    • Description: Walter Richardson photograph album
      1 album (26 pages) : "Us fellows in the US Zone" photograph album for service men, red cloth cover with labeled pages; 12 x 8 1/2 in.
      58 photographic prints : black and white; 8 3/4 x 7 1/2 in. and smaller

      Album created by Walter Richardson while serving with the United States Air Corps in occupied Germany after World War II. The album includes 58 black and white photographic prints showing Richardson and his friends enjoying their free time in Germany, France, Switzerland, and England.

      Dates: 1947
      Container: Album Lot 36.A4
      Location: Series II: Photograph Albums, 1880-1949

Finding aid prepared by Kellyn Younggren.
2017

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