John Joseph Holmes papers, 1918-1962
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Holmes, John Joseph
- Title
- John Joseph Holmes papers
- Dates
- 1918-1962 (inclusive)19181962
- Quantity
- 5.0 linear feet
- Collection Number
- MC 378 (collection)
- Summary
- John Joseph Holmes (1888-1962) was State Auditor for Montana from 1932-1962. His papers consist of scrapbooks containing photographs and clippings pertaining to his life and career; audio recordings; correspondence; photographs; newspaper clippings; writings and speeches by Holmes; tax records; and miscellany.
- 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
-
Collection open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
John Joseph Holmes (1888-1962) was born to John and Mary Holmes on May 17, 1888 in Elphin, Roscommon County, Ireland. He came to New York City at age 19 with an aunt in 1905, and soon moved west to Montana. On November 7, 1913, Holmes married Katherine Gillespie, with whom he had eight children. During the first World War, Holmes served in the United States Army. Holmes was elected State Auditor for Montana in 1932, a position to which he would be continuously re-elected for the rest of his life, and over the course of his political career he also served as insurance commissioner, investment commissioner, and fire marshal. He died of cancer on May 12, 1962, at the age of seventy-three. At the time of his death, he was survived by five of his children: Pat Poppow, Peggy McDowell, Sheila Clark, Polly Weckler, and Jack Holmes. Governor Tim Babcock proclaimed an official state of mourning following Holmes’s death.
Content Description
The collection consists of eleven series: audio recordings (undated), consisting of recordings made by Holmes; correspondence (1918-1962), which includes general correspondence, consisting of the incoming and outgoing correspondence of John Joseph Holmes and miscellaneous correspondence, consisting of correspondence received by his widow in 1962; date books (1949-1952), consisting of four years of Holmes's personal date books; financial records (1929-1961), consisting of personal tax records, receipts, and miscellaneous financial records; memoranda (undated); printed material (undated), consisting of a pamphlet by Holmes and an issue of Democratic Women's Voice with a poem by Holmes; scrapbooks (1932-1961), consisting of six scrapbooks containing photographs, clippings, conference books, brochures, and correspondence regarding Holmes's life, career, and interests; speeches (1946-1950), consisting of speeches given by Holmes before professional and political associations and rallies; writings (undated), consisting of several drafts of "My Trip to Ireland," a number of short stories and examples of Irish folklore, and Holmes's argument in favor of establishing a lottery in Montana; miscellany (1937-1962), consisting of address cards, collected jokes, songs, and stories, religious materials, professional and political certificates, letters of introduction, materials from fraternal organizations, and a materials related to Holmes's death; and clippings (1935-1962), regarding insurance meetings, Montana politics, and the life and death of John J. Holmes.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. Helena, Montana.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
Arranged by series and subseries. Some material housed in Multimedia cabinet. See inventory below for more information.
Detailed Description of the Collection
-
Audio Recordings (transferred to Multi-Media Collection, note Multimedia #)
-
Description: Magnetic tape ("John J. Holmes recording"Dates: undatedContainer: Multimedia 83 / 1
-
Description: Analog discs (6 discs, 78 rpm)Dates: undatedContainer: Multimedia 83 / 2
-
-
Correspondence
-
General Correspondence
-
Description: Personal and professional correspondence (arranged chronologically: correspondents include family members Pat Poppow and Peggy, Joe, and Katie McDowell; also fellow politicians, members of the insurance industry, and acquaintances, particularly J. Hugo Aronson, James Farley, Father Edward J. Flanagan, Sam C. Ford, Robert Hansen, James Murray, Edward Toomey, Walter Weissinger, Burton K. Wheeler, and members of the Democratic National Congressional Committee, among others)Dates: 1918-1961Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1-2
-
Description: Letters from VIPs (arranged chronologically: correspondents include Michael Drury, Roy H. Glover, the Inaugural Committee, David L. Lawrence, Cornelius F. Kelley, John F. Kennedy, Mike Mansfield, Frank Murray, Donald G. Nutter, and Hugh J. Wade)Dates: 1956-1962Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
-
-
Miscellaneous Correspondence (arranged chronologically)
-
Description: Letters of condolence (to the widow of John J. Holmes, regarding his death)Dates: 1962Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4-5
-
Description: Correspondence removed from funeral book (regarding the death of John J. Holmes)Dates: 1962Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
-
-
-
Date Books
-
Description: Date booksDates: 1949-1952Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1-2
-
-
Financial Records
-
Description: Income tax returns
RESTRICTED
Dates: 1929-1933Container: Box/Folder 8 / 1 -
Description: Income taxes (tax returns, instructions, receipts, and other relevant materials)
RESTRICTED
Dates: 1934-1961Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3-6 -
Description: Tax receipts
RESTRICTED
Dates: 1931-1941Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7 -
Description: North American Accident Insurance Company (receipt)Dates: 1949Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
-
Description: Miscellaneous financial records (removed from Holmes's date book of 1950)Dates: 1950Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
-
-
Memoranda
-
Description: Memorandum regarding House Bill 176Dates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 3 / 1
-
-
Printed Material
-
Description: Miscellaneous (including "The Professional Attitude"; issue of Democratic Women's Voice containing a poem submitted by Holmes)Dates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 3 / 2
-
-
Scrapbooks
-
Description: Scrapbook (includes clippings, photographs, and telegrams regarding the 1932 race for State Auditor)Dates: 1932Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
-
Description: Large scrapbook (includes clippings regarding Holmes's career and related events and organizations)Dates: 1933-1950Container: Box/Folder 6 / 1
-
Description: Large scrapbook (includes clippings and photographs with annotations)Dates: 1939-1956Container: Box/Folder 7 / 1
-
Description: Scrapbook with decorative cover (includes clippings, photographs, conference booklets, and correspondence)Dates: 1947-1949Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4
-
Description: Scrapbook pages from binder (clippings, photographs, fliers, and brochures regarding Holmes's career as Insurance Commissioner and State Auditor for Montana)Dates: 1959-1961Container: Box/Folder 3 / 5-6
-
Description: Scrapbook with windmill on cover (clippings of jokes and stories)Dates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 3 / 7
-
-
Speeches
-
Description: Insurance GroupDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 1
-
Description: Miscellaneous speeches (to Life Underwriters; National Association of Insurance Commissioners; "The Role of the Catholic Politician"; Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Association; Royal Neighbors of America; Ways and Means Committee; Sam W. Mitchell; St. Patrick's Day speech; Democratic Rally; suggested 1946 Memorial Day address for American Legion speakers; Rotary Club; unlabeled speeches)Dates: 1946-1950; undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 2-3
-
-
Writings
-
Description: "My Trip to Ireland; autobiography" (handwritten materials)Dates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 4
-
Description: "My Trip to Ireland" (typed drafts/copies)Dates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 5
-
Description: Roscommon Folklore; Exploits of John ColterDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 6
-
Description: Short storiesDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 7
-
Description: Arguments in favor of establishing a lottery in MontanaDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 8
-
-
Miscellany
-
Description: Address cardsDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 9
-
Description: Jokes and songsDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 10
-
Description: Religious materials, insurance organizations, and fraternal organizationsDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 11
-
Description: Certificates (elections; National Fire Protection AssociationDates: 1937-1961Container: Box/Folder 8 / 2
-
Description: "Keepsake File" (New Years 1919 booklet for Supply Co. 314 of the American Expeditionary Forces; songbooks; It Happened in Montana book of cartoons; campaign literature; fraternal organizations)Dates: 1919; undatedContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 12-13
-
Description: Certificates (Democratic party candidate for State Auditor; Honorary Deputy Grand President; Fraternal Order of Eagles)Dates: 1944-1960Container: Box/Folder 4 / 14
-
Description: Letters of introduction (written by Montana officials for Holmes's use abroad)Dates: 1937-1961Container: Box/Folder 4 / 15
-
Description: Senate Joint Resolution 7 (investigation into conduct of John J. Holmes)Dates: 1937Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
-
Description: Catholic materials and membership cards (Program Manual for Parish Meetings; prayer cards; Montana Cowboys Association; American Legion)Dates: 1949-1956; undatedContainer: Box/Folder 5 / 2
-
Description: Pocket diary (few pages used, mostly for addresses)Dates: 1960Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3
-
Description: Funeral book (death of John J. Holmes)Dates: 1962Container: Box/Folder 5 / 4
-
Description: Last Wills and Testaments; Proclamation of MourningDates: 1962; undatedContainer: Box/Folder 5 / 5
-
Description: Jokes, poems, and storiesDates: undatedContainer: Box/Folder 5 / 6-7
-
-
Clippings
-
Description: Insurance meetings and Montana politicsDates: 1935Container: Box/Folder 5 / 8
-
Description: Miscellaneous clippingsDates: 1952-1960; undatedContainer: Box/Folder 5 / 9
-
Description: Death of John J. HolmesDates: 1962Container: Box/Folder 5 / 10
-
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Catholic Church
- Democratic Party (Mont.)
- Insurance
- Irish Americans
- Irish Americans--Folklore
- Politicians
Personal Names
- Holmes, John Joseph, 1888-1962 (creator)
