Montana Historical SocietyLibrary & Archives
MC
378
Holmes, John Joseph
John Joseph Holmes papers
1918-1962
5.0 linear feet
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.
17:2-7
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.
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.
Arranged by series and subseries. Some material housed in Multimedia cabinet. See inventory
below for more information.
Collection open for research.
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.
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers.
Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request.
Photographs donated with this collection (apart from those collected in scrapbooks) can be
found in the Montana Historical Society photo archives.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society
Library & Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics,
persons, or places should search under these terms.
Holmes, John Joseph,
1888-1962
Catholic Church
Democratic Party (Mont.)
Insurance
Irish Americans
Irish Americans--Folklore
Politicians
Montana
Detailed Description of the Collection
Audio Recordings (transferred to Multi-Media Collection,
note Multimedia #)
83 / 1
Magnetic tape ("John J. Holmes recording"
undated
83 / 2
Analog discs (6 discs, 78 rpm)
undated
Correspondence
General Correspondence
1 / 1-2
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)
1918-1961
1 / 3
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)
1956-1962
Miscellaneous Correspondence (arranged
chronologically)
1 / 4-5
Letters of condolence (to the widow of John J.
Holmes, regarding his death)
1962
1 / 6
Correspondence removed from funeral book (regarding
the death of John J. Holmes)
1962
Date Books
2 / 1-2
Date books
1949-1952
Financial Records
8 / 1
Income tax returns
1929-1933
RESTRICTED
2 / 3-6
Income taxes (tax returns, instructions, receipts, and
other relevant materials)
1934-1961
RESTRICTED
2 / 7
Tax receipts
1931-1941
RESTRICTED
2 / 8
North American Accident Insurance Company
(receipt)
1949
2 / 9
Miscellaneous financial records (removed from Holmes's
date book of 1950)
1950
Memoranda
3 / 1
Memorandum regarding House Bill 176
undated
Printed Material
3 / 2
Miscellaneous (including "The Professional Attitude";
issue of Democratic Women's Voice containing a poem submitted by Holmes)
undated
Scrapbooks
3 / 3
Scrapbook (includes clippings, photographs, and
telegrams regarding the 1932 race for State Auditor)
1932
6 / 1
Large scrapbook (includes clippings regarding Holmes's
career and related events and organizations)
1933-1950
7 / 1
Large scrapbook (includes clippings and photographs
with annotations)
1939-1956
3 / 4
Scrapbook with decorative cover (includes clippings,
photographs, conference booklets, and correspondence)
1947-1949
3 / 5-6
Scrapbook pages from binder (clippings, photographs,
fliers, and brochures regarding Holmes's career as Insurance Commissioner and State
Auditor for Montana)
1959-1961
3 / 7
Scrapbook with windmill on cover (clippings of jokes
and stories)
undated
Speeches
4 / 1
Insurance Group
undated
4 / 2-3
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)
1946-1950; undated
Writings
4 / 4
"My Trip to Ireland; autobiography" (handwritten
materials)
undated
4 / 5
"My Trip to Ireland" (typed drafts/copies)
undated
4 / 6
Roscommon Folklore; Exploits of John
Colter
undated
4 / 7
Short stories
undated
4 / 8
Arguments in favor of establishing a lottery in
Montana
undated
Miscellany
4 / 9
Address cards
undated
4 / 10
Jokes and songs
undated
4 / 11
Religious materials, insurance organizations, and
fraternal organizations
undated
8 / 2
Certificates (elections; National Fire Protection
Association
1937-1961
4 / 12-13
"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)
1919; undated
4 / 14
Certificates (Democratic party candidate for State
Auditor; Honorary Deputy Grand President; Fraternal Order of Eagles)
1944-1960
4 / 15
Letters of introduction (written by Montana officials
for Holmes's use abroad)
1937-1961
5 / 1
Senate Joint Resolution 7 (investigation into conduct
of John J. Holmes)
1937
5 / 2
Catholic materials and membership cards (Program
Manual for Parish Meetings; prayer cards; Montana Cowboys Association; American
Legion)
1949-1956; undated
5 / 3
Pocket diary (few pages used, mostly for
addresses)
1960
5 / 4
Funeral book (death of John J. Holmes)
1962
5 / 5
Last Wills and Testaments; Proclamation of
Mourning
1962; undated
5 / 6-7
Jokes, poems, and stories
undated
Clippings
5 / 8
Insurance meetings and Montana politics
1935
5 / 9
Miscellaneous clippings
1952-1960; undated
5 / 10
Death of John J. Holmes
1962