Barbara Hayes was born in Dundes, Ontario on March 11, 1868. While visiting her two brothers in Missoula, Montana, she met Mr. Francis (Frank) Higgins. Frank Higgins was born in Missoula on December 29, 1864. The two were married September 20, 1892. Barbara Higgins was a member of the auxiliary to the United Spanish War Veterans and a member of the Department of Music, Missoula Woman's Club. She died in Missoula on March 12, 1952.
Frank Higgins received his law degree from the University of Michigan. When Montana became a state, he was a member of the first legislative assembly. He fought in the Spanish American War and in 1905 died from a disease contracted while fighting the war.
Their son, Grant Higgins, was born in Missoula, Montana, on September 7, 1895. Grant began school in Wallace, Idaho, continued his education at the Missoula County High School and Georgetown Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. Grant graduated from the University of Montana in 1923 with a degree in journalism. While at the University he worked for the Forest Service as a surveyor. In 1924, the Anaconda Mining Company at Bonner, Montana, hired him and he worked various positions there until his retirement in 1964. Grant Higgins was well-known throughout the Missoula Valley as an avid skier and swimmer. He was extremely active in the American Red Cross teaching swimming and basic life-saving activities and Missoula's McCormick Park swimming pool is named in his honor. Grant volunteered for many years with the American Boy Scouts. He was also part of the Missoula Ski Patrol and at the time of his death on June 6, 1978, Grant was the oldest active member of the National Ski Patrol.
The Higgins family name has been long associated with the founding of the Missoula Valley. Grant Creek, north of Missoula, is named for Grant Higgins' great-grandfather, Richard Grant. Christopher P. Higgins, Higgins' grandfather, was the founder of Montana's oldest bank.
This collection includes general and business correspondence, including letters from the Forest Service, American Red Cross, and newsletters from the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers. There is also a 1913 Woodrow Wilson Inauguration booklet. Family financial records and legal documents are also included. A sub-group contains materials related to Barbara Higgins: correspondence, Department of Music, Missoula Woman's Club minutes of meetings, a scrapbook of household hints and cooking recipes, a family scrapbook with photographs and artifacts associated with Barbara and Grant Higgins.
The collection is divided into three series:
Series I: Grant Higgins, 0.5 linear feet, 1902-1977
Series II: Barbara Higgins, 0.5 linear feet, 1883-1952
Series III: Artifacts, 18 items, 1 linear feet
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], Higgins Family Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Gift of the Grant Higgins estate, 1978.
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 1998, the collection was re-described. Materials have been grouped by subjects and dates to make it easier to find documents
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.
This series includes biographical information on Grant Higgins. Included is an application for employment including a complete record of Grant's school record and employment to the year 1946. There are also school certificates (1903-1915), Red Cross Cards (1938-1977), Elks Lodge 383 cards (1951-1979), and a 1913 Woodrow Wilson Inauguration Booklet. There is general correspondence, personal and business. Letters of business include letters from the Forest Service (1918-1920), Red Cross (1938-1964) and newsletters from the Sons and Daughter of Montana Pioneers (1945-1977). Grant Higgins' tax papers are also included from the years 1951 to 1977. Legal documents such as a power of attorney and a court hearing over a land complaint (1909-1959) and his personal writings in journals and on notecards (1913-1959). Grant Higgins also cut many clippings from newspapers pertaining to the Missoula Valley and his family history.
Series II includes personal correspondences of Barbara Higgins (1912-1952), a pension plan for Mrs. Higgins (1925), and a journal of minutes for meetings of the Department of Music, Missoula Woman's Club (1925-1926). There is also a memorial book (1952) for Barbara Higgins which includes biographical information on her life. There are also two scrapbooks. One book includes clippings related to household tips and cooking recipes. The other scrapbook is a family photo album.
This series includes artifacts mostly associated to Grant Higgins. They include personal items such as ski pins, items from Anaconda Mining Company, and a Bible belonging to Barbara Higgins.