MTGMss642.xml Guide to the Jerry De Santo Papers 1841-2010 (bulk 1901-1998) De Santo (Jerry) Papers Finding aid prepared by Kellyn Younggren Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula © 2013
Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Finding aid encoded by Kellyn Younggren 2013 Finding aid written in English. University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
The University of Montana—Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Mss 642 De Santo, Jerry, 1928- Jerry De Santo papers 1841-2010 (bulk 1901-1998) 13.5 linear feet Jerry De Santo (Jerry DeSanto) was a Glacier National Park Ranger for 20 years and devoted a great deal of his time to studying the Park’s native plant life. He was a prolific writer after his retirement and published several books and articles on Glacier Park and Montana topics. Materials are in English.

Many of the photographs and research materials on Glacier National Park are available at the Montana Historical Society in Helena, Montana and the Glacier National Park Museum and Archive Collections in West Glacier, Montana.

 Biographical Note

Jerome Samuel De Santo (DeSanto) was born in Duluth, Minnesota on May 6, 1928. The third of five children, he was sent to the St. James orphanage for a period of time after the death of his mother. His father remarried and De Santo went to live with him and his new wife. In 1946, he joined the United States Air Force and served with the occupying force in Europe until he was honorably discharged in 1949. After he left the Air Force, De Santo travelled to Alaska with his brother and worked construction jobs and with the fire control service until the death of his father took him back to Minnesota.

Following his father’s death, De Santo studied geology at the University of Arizona for two years and then transferred to the University of Denver where he studied English and then to the University of Colorado Boulder where he received a B.A. in 1956 and a M.A. in Italian history in 1958. With the urging of his mentor, Dr. Harrison Thompson, De Santo travelled to Italy on a research fellowship and returned to Boulder and completed all of his requirements for a Ph.D. in history. However, he refused the degree he had earned and joined the National Park Service in 1965.

De Santo had done summer seasonal work in Yellowstone National Park from 1950 until joining the Park Service as a ranger in 1965; he initially was assigned to Yellowstone but was transferred to Glacier National Park in May of 1966. He worked at Belly River, Goat Haunt, and as a backcountry ranger until he was transferred to the Polebridge Ranger Station where he stayed until his retirement in 1986.

He retired to a cabin to Canada and began spending his time collecting, photographing, and cataloguing native plants. He also took time to research and write several books and articles including: Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta; Logan Pass: Alpine Splendor in Glacier National Park; Bitterroot: Montana State Flower.

De Santo contracted viral encephalitis in 2000, which severely affected his health. He stopped working on his research and writing projects and was no longer able to participate in strenuous physical activities. His retirement became much more sedentary as he attempted to recuperate from his serious illness and ultimately he lived at the Montana Veterans Home. He died in July of 2017.

This collection contains materials related to Jerry De Santo’s interest in Glacier National Park particularly its botany. There are many slides and photographs of the plants inhabiting the Park, as well as research materials including field notes, maps, and reports. Less prevalent but still a substantial part of the collection, De Santo collected information on important botanists of Montana and the Northwest. He also maintained files on the wildlife of both Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. His personal files include photographs, immigration information, passport information, correspondence, clippings, and get well cards from his 1983 bear attack. He kept extensive research files on Glacier National Park history, specifically, on the different peaks and the boundaries of the Park. The collection also contains research materials for his many writing projects as well as copies of drafts of his books and articles and a copy of his book Bitterroot: Montana State Flower.

The collection is divided into four series:

Series I: Subject Files, 9 linear feet, 1841-1999

Subseries 1. Research, 6.5 linear feet, 1841-1999

Subseries 2. People, 2.5 linear feet, 1901-1999

Series II: Personal, 0.3 linear feet, 1962-1999

Series III: Publications, 0.5 linear feet, 1985-1999

Series IV: Photographs and Slides, 3.7 linear feet, 1861-1996

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. There is one restricted folder containing student papers that requires the archivist’s approval for access.

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Non-exclusive copyright transferred to The University of Montana--Missoula.

[Name of document or photograph number], Jerry De Santo Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

The materials arrived in two separate accessions. The bulk of the donation was in the possession of the creator until it was transferred to Duane Hampton who brought the materials to Archives and Special Collections for a term of temporary storage in 2000. Jerry De Santo’s power of attorney, Karen Feather, permanently gifted the materials to Archives and Special Collections in 2002. The second accession was in the possession of the creator until it was collected from his home and car by Rachel Potter and donated to Archives and Special Collections in 2011.

There are no expected additions to this collection.

The creator’s original order was maintained wherever possible, many folders retain their original titles. At the same time, materials collected by individuals other than the creator and deposited in a later accession had no discernible order and were organized topically during processing. Slides were maintained in their original containers, while photographs were removed from envelopes and albums and placed in folders in their original groupings and order. Index cards were removed from six different filing containers and rehoused in their original order. All paper items were refoldered. Financial information, a PanaVue automatic slide viewer, maps, the book Sappers: the Royal Engineers in British Columbia and a certificate of commendation from the Park Service were removed from the collection. Digital materials were separated from the collection to determine long-term maintenance and access.

A copy of Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta by Jerry De Santo was transferred from the collection to Special Collections. Groups of plant specimens and their background information were also removed from the collection and transferred to the University of Montana Herbarium. Three books, A Guide to Zermat and the Matterhorn by Edward Whymper, Scrambles Amongst the Alps in the Years 1860-1869 by Edward Whymper, and Edward Whymper by F.S. Smythe, and a folder containing De Santo’s Lee Creek property records were removed from the collection by Jerry De Santo’s power of attorney, Karen Feather. Digital material, containing cover art for his Bitterroot book, was removed from the collection during processing to determine long-term maintenance and access and will be added at a later date.

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.

De Santo, Jerry, 1928-Archives United States. National Park Service--Officials and employees Glacier National Park (Mont.)--History Yellowstone National Park Montana--Maps Plants--Montana Bitterroot Mountain plants--Alberta--Waterton Lakes National Park Mountain plants--Montana--Glacier National Park Natural history--Montana--Glacier National Park Natural history--Montana--Yellowstone National Park Botanists--Montana Botanists--(West) U.S. Photographs Montana Park rangers--Montana--Missoula Park naturalists--Montana--Glacier National Park Park naturalists--Montana--Yellowstone National Park Series I Subject Files 1841-1999 9.0 linear feet

This series contains materials organized topically by De Santo's areas of interest.

Subseries 1 Research 1841-1999 6.5 linear feet

This subseries contains subject files organized by research topic.

1/1 49th Parallel, Borderlands Project 1987 1/2 Alberta-British Columbia Boundary undated 1/3 Alpine Flora 1969-1987 1/4 Astragalus, Seeds, Fort Collins June 1998 1/5 Backcountry Trips, Mountaineering 1970-1980 and undated 1/6 Bears 1954-1992 and undated 1/7 A Bibliography of Literature and Papers Pertaining to Pre-Settlement Wildlife and Habitat of Montana and Adjacent Areas 1993 1/8 Big Trees 1981-1990 1/9 Birds 1966-1990 1/10 Bison 1888-1996 2/1 Bison 1910-1990 and undated 2/2 Bison 1986 and undated 2/3 The Bitter Root in Science and in History 1929 2/4 Bitterroot 1841-1993 2/5 Bitterroot 1872-1997 2/6 Blackfoot Reservation 1896 and undated 2/7 Bogs 1950-1997 2/8 Botany 1910-1990 and undated 3/1 Botany 1928-1996 and undated 3/2 Botany 1948-1995 and undated 3/3 Cabin 1977 and undated 3/4 Canada 1992 and undated 3/5 Chief Mountain 1982-1992 and undated 3/6 The Composition and Behavior of the Bitter Root 1922 3/7 Correspondence 1991 and undated 3/8 Erigeron 1947-1971 3/9 Field Notes 1984-1990 4/1 Field Notes 1991-1993 4/2 Field Notes 1994-1995 4/3 Field Notes 1996-1998 4/4 Glaciation 1969-1990 4/5 Glacier National Park History 1909-1992 and undated 4/6 Glacier National Park History 1912-1997 and undated 5/1 Glacier National Park History 1947-1995 and undated 5/2 Glacier National Park History 1997-1998 and undated 5/3 Glacier National Park, Montana 1932 5 Glacier Park Bibliography undated 5/4 Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Preliminary Flora of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area October 1996 5/5 Granite Peak, Whitney and Boundary 1980-1993 5/6 Gravelly Range 1992-1996 5/7 Grinnell's Glacier, Thesis 1990 5/8 Heliograph 1890-1986 6/1 "The History of Waterton Lakes National Park, 1800-1937" 1971-1979 6/2 Humboldt National Forest 1985-1991 6/3 Indexed, Anotated Cartobibliography of the University of Montana Mansfield Library Historical Map Collection 1983 6/4 Indian Legend of the Bitter-Root 1984 6/5 International Boundary, Glacier National Park 1980-1992 and undated 7/1 International Boundary, Glacier National Park 1984-1999 and undated 7/2 Kintla Lake 1988 7/3 Kutenai and Scarred Trees 1954-1985 7/4 Lewisia 1992-1997 7/5 Logan Pass Project 1994 7/6 Logging History 1982-1990 and undated 7/7 Maps undated 8/1 Miscellaneous Papers 1983-1995 and undated 8/2 Montana Champion Tree Program 1996-1998 8/3 Montana Register of Big Trees 1996-1997 8/4 North American Boundary Commission undated 8/5 Parasitic Plants 1989 and undated 8/6 Photographic Subjects Notebook undated 8/7 Plant Species undated 8/8 Plant Species, Bog Collections 1988 9/1 Seeds 1991-1993 18/3 Student Papers - Restricted 1979 and undated 9/2 Subalpine Larch of Glacier National Park 1971 9/3 United States Department of the Interior 1990 9/4 Waterton, Belly River 1969 and undated 9/5 Wildlife Observation Reports 1976-1991 9/6 Wildlife Observation Reports 1986-1998 9/7 Yellowstone National Park undated 10 General Research, Card File undated 11 Plant Research, Card File undated 12 Plant Research, Card File undated 13 Research for Flower Book and 49th Boundary Survey, Card File undated Subseries 2 People 1901-1999 2.5 linear feet

This subseries contains materials related to De Santo's research on individual people.

14/1 David Lyall 1997 and undated 14/2 Edward Whymper 1912-1991 and undated 14/3 Eugene Bourgeau undated 14/4 George Bird Grinnell 1901-1991 14/5 George Bird Grinnell 1908 14/6 Klaus Lackschewitz 1979-1995 14/7 Morton J. Elrod 1901-1979 14/8 Paul Standley 1997-1998 14/9 Ranger Hockett 1927-1991 and undated 14/10 Robert Statham Williams 1921-1999 and undated 15/1 Robert Statham Williams 1995 15/2 Sereno Watson 1880-1995 and undated 15/3 Sereno Watson 1997 and undated 15/4 Tulli Kerstetter and J.W. Blankinship 1995-1998 15/5 Wilhelm Nikolaus Suksdorf (1850-1932): Pioneer Botanist of the Pacific Northwest March 1997 16 Edward Whymper Research, Card File undated Series II Personal 1962-1999 0.3 linear feet

This series contains personal materials from Jerry De Santo.

15/6 Bear Attack 1983 17/1 Correspondence 1983-1999 17/2 Diplomas and Certificates 1965-1983 17/3 Immigration 1986-1987 17/4 Outhouse Walls 1998 and undated 17/5 Passport Information 1962-1963 and undated 17/6 Personal Papers 1960-1986 30 Retirement Plaque - Glacier National Park 1986 17/7 Wine 1972-1993 Series III Publications 1985-1999 0.5 linear feet

This series contains materials written and published by Jerry De Santo.

17/8 Articles for Montana: The Magazine of Western History 1985-1995 17/9 Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Manuscript 1989 17/10 Introduction, Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta 1989 17/11 History and Dispersal of Alpine Flora, Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta 1989 17/12 Ecology, Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta 1989 17/13 Distribution, Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta 1989 17/14 Identification, Alpine Wildflowers of Glacier National Park, Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta 1989 18/1 The Montana State Flower: Bitterroot 1993 18/2 Yellowstone Stories, Manuscript March 1999 Series IV Photographs and Slides 1861-1996 3.7 linear feet

This series contains visual materials for the collection mostly pictures and slides from De Santo's research.

19/1 Agoseris undated 19/2 Alberta and British Columbia undated 19/3 Bailey Willis undated 19/4 Big Trees 1930-1990 19/5 Bitterroot undated 19/6 Boulder Glacier 1932-1988 19/7 Brown Pass August 23, 1990 19/8 Chief Mountain 1903-1990 19/9 Chief Mountain 1989-1990 and undated 19/10 Coyotes, Browning, Montana 1947 19/11 Erigeron, Slides undated 19/12 Eugene Bourgeaux 2010 and undated 19/13 Extra Color Prints of Flowers January 14, 1990 19/14 Flathead undated 19/15 From an Album undated 19/16 George Bird Grinnell 1923-1990 and undated 19/17 George Bird Grinnell 1923-1991 19/18 Glacier National Park 1900-1998 and undated 19/19 Glacier National Park 1901-1932 and undated 19/20 Glacier National Park 1908-1932 and undated 19/21 Glacier National Park 1948 19/22 Glacier National Park 1990 19/23 Glacier National Park 1990 19/24 Glacier National Park undated 19/25 Glacier National Park Chalets 1971 and undated 19/26 Historic 1897-1912 19/27 Historic 1902-1933 and undated 19/28 Historic, Butte Well Story 1901 and undated 19/29 International Boundary, Glacier National Park 1861-1873 and undated 19/30 Jerry De Santo and Karen Feather with Juniper undated 20/1 Kinnerly Peak, Kintla Lake undated 20/2 Negatives for Chapter 1 undated 20/3 North Fork Article 1992 20/4 Park Rangers 1966-1976 and undated 20/5 Personal 1910-1981 and undated 20/6 Personal 1928-1983 and undated 20/7 Personal 1928-1985 and undated 20/8 Photographic Record, Joe Halm 1910 20/9 Ranger Hockett, Jerry De Santo 1983 and undated 20/10 Robert Statham Williams undated 20/11 Scarred Trees undated 20/12 United States Geological Survey 1981-1991 and undated 20/13 United States Park Police June 8, 1971 20/14 Used for Christmas 1998 20/15 "Whitehead" 1931-1937 and undated 20/16 Yellowstone National Park, Saloons 1884 20/17 Untitled 21 Achillea-Eritrichium, Flowers 1 22 Erythronium-Pyrola, Flowers 2 23 Ranunculus-Zygaderus; Multiple Flowers; Ferns; Algae Colony, Flowers 3 24 Garden Plants; Prairie, Flowers 4 25 Alden Watercolors; Rock City; Lemhi; Zimmerman; Lee Creek; Trees; Oil Wells; Chief Crew; Carthew; Boulder 26 Jerry De Santos; Karen Feather; Skiers and Tracks; Winter Scenics; Joe Prince Site; Winter Buildings and Cabins; Non-Glacier; North Fork Homesteads; Scenic Trees; Animals; Indians 27 Scenics (not winter); Old Cars; People; Buildings (not winter) 28 Graminae; Cyperaceae; Juncaceae October 1989 28 Aguilegia Ocober 27, 1992 28 Annu November 10, 1990 28 Olsen Creek drainage August 15, 1995 28 Larix slides for Lyall paper undated 28 Agla undated 28 Lichens, Needle Balls, Moss, Mushrooms October 1989 28 Bonsai October 1989 28 Papy October 22, 1992 28 S & P, except Cast, I October 1989 28 S & P, except Cast, II October 1989 28 Bogs, Not plants-plants in Flowers 4 undated 28 Caro and Caun August 1993 28 Henry and Garden November 27, 1995 28 Ledi, Lema undated 28 Gravelly Range, Snowcrests July 1994 and July 1996 28 Lebr; Lecol (2ssp); Lecot; Leke; Lele; Lene; Leop undated 28 Lepyg; Lesti; Letr; Letw undated 28 Lere-all October 27, 1992 29 Three rolls of unidentified negatives undated 29 One roll of undeveloped film undated 29 Twenty-three unidentified negatives undated