Elizabeth E. Busick O'Neil Reminiscence and Photographs

Elizabeth E. Busick O'Neil Reminiscence and Photographs, 1907-1939

Overview of the Collection

Creator: O'Neil, Elizabeth E., 1859-1909
Title: Elizabeth E. Busick O'Neil Reminiscence and Photographs
Dates: 1907-1939
19071939
Quantity: 1 folder
Collection Number: Collection 0170, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary: This Elizabeth E Busick O'Neil Reminiscence and Photographs consists of one typewritten transcription of an original reminiscence composed by O'Neil shortly before her death in 1907. The document describes her wagon journey from Omaha, Nebraska, to Virginia City, Montana Territory, in 1863, and her experiences in Virginia City and Diamond City from 1864 to 1877. The collection also includes twelve copy photographs of the O'Neil family, the family burial plot at Diamond City, and Diamond City as it appeared in 1924.
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: This collection is open for research.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Elizabeth Busick was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 27, 1859. She traveled to Virginia City, Montana Territory, with her widowed mother Mary Ann Moorehead Busick and sister Emma in 1863. The family later moved to Diamond City where Elizabeth Busick married John W. O'Neil in Helena in 1877, and they settled on a farm near East Helena. Mrs. O'Neil died in 1909.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of one typewritten transcription of an original reminiscence apparently composed by O'Neil shortly before her death in 1907. The document describes her wagon journey from Omaha, Nebraska, to Virginia City, Montana Territory, in 1863, and her experiences in Virginia City and Diamond City from 1864 to 1877. O'Neil describes several incidents which occurred during the journey, including encounters with Indians. The collection also includes twelve copy photographs of the O'Neil family, the family burial plot at Diamond City, and Diamond City as it appeared in 1924. Captions for all photographs were provided by the donor.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

A typed transcript of an original reminiscence by Elizabeth E. O'Neil and twelve copy photographs were donated to Special Collections on August 28, 1964 by LaVerne O'Neil of Seattle, Washington. The present location of the original is unknown, but additional typed transcriptions of the document were donated to the Montana Historical Society in 1956 and assigned collection number SC 94.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 August 27

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Reminiscence and photographs #1-12Return to Top

Container(s): Folder 1

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	#1: Mrs. [Mary Ann Moorehead] Busick taken before she left on the Western journey, which is a reproduction of an old ambrotype
	#2: Elizabeth O'Neil, the author, taken on her wedding day	September 8, 1877
	#3: Elizabeth Ellen Spiegel while she was a student at St. Vincent's Academy, Helena, Montana, age about 15, taken	about 1874
	#4: A group of girls taken during convent days. Emma Spiegel is sitting in the middle of the group and Elizabeth has her hand on her sister's left shoulder. The others are classmates
	#5: A picture of the grave at Diamond City, taken	about 1926
	#6: One of the graves taken after repairs were made, in	1939
	#7: Picture of Deette Elizabeth O'Neil, the first-born daughter, costume of	about 1882
	#8: One of the two oldest girls, Deette Elizabeth and Emma Frances, costume of	about 1886
	#9: Picture of Diamond City taken The cabin at the far left was the last remaining cabin where an old miner lived until several years ago	about 1924
	#10: Youngest daughter, Rachel Eny O'Neil, graduate, class of Broadwater County, Townsend, Montana, age 18. Completed Scientific Course	1918
	#11: Picture of playhouse on the O'Neil ranch
	#12: Montana scenery

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Frontier and pioneer life-Montana-Diamond City
Frontier and pioneer life-Montana-Virginia City
Indians of North America
Overland journeys to Montana-Personal narratives
Women pioneers-Montana

Personal Names

O'Neil, Elizabeth E.,-1859-1909

Family Names

O'Neill family-Photographs

Geographical Names

Diamond City (Mont.)-History
Diamond City (Mont.)-Photographs
Omaha (Neb.)
Virginia City (Mont.)-History

Form or Genre Terms

Photographs-Montana-Diamond City
Reminiscences-Montana

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