View XML QR Code

Dola Wilson and Charles M. Boucher papers, 1939-1954

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wilson, Dola, 1891-1972
Title
Dola Wilson and Charles M. Boucher papers
Dates
1939-1954 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet
Collection Number
MC 324 (collection)
Summary
Dola Wilson owned the Range Rider Bar and Cafe in Miles City. This collection (undated, 1940s-1950s) consists of notes and biographical sketches concerning the local cowboys, or "Range Riders", which were collected and recorded for Wilson by his associate Charles Boucher. Dola arranged for Boucher, a local journalist to interview each of the "riders" and write biographical sketches of their lives. The riders would then go across the street to the L. A. Huffman photo studio (later Stephenson Studio) to have their picture taken. [A biographical sketch of Dola Wilson is include in the accession record. Photographs of Range Riders were transferred to Photo Archives. Motion picture film was transferred by Photo Archives to the American Film Institute.]
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
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Return to Top

Biographical Note

Dola Wilson was born in Gaffney, South Carolina, in 1891, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Wilson. He came to Miles City, Montana, in 1912, and worked on a ranch for three years. He then worked for the Milwaukee Road. In 1934 he bought the Blue Ribbon Bar and re-named it the Range Riders Bar and Restaurant. To decorate his establishment he collected photographs of prominent area stockmen. In 1944 he began to compile biographical materials about the stockmen and attempted to expand the number of photographs. He hired Charles M. Boucher, a retired newspaperman, to research and write the biographical material. He retired in 1957 and his son Dola Jr. took over the bar. Dola Wilson Sr. died in November, 1972. Charles M. Boucher was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 1864, the son of William F. Boucher. When Charles was two and a half, his father died leaving his mother with 5 young children. The family moved to her parents' farm at Terwood, Pennsylvania. In 1885 he graduated from Girard College, an institution endowed by financier Stephen Girard to educate white male orphans. The following year he apprenticed as a pattern maker. In 1892 he headed west to Nebraska. He went to work for his brother-in-law George Conn's Ogallala Record and Baxton Pilot. The following year he moved to Miles City, Montana, and worked as a reporter, first for the Yellowstone Journal and later for the Miles City Star. After his retirement he was engaged by Dola Wilson to write biographical sketches of the cowboys and ranchers whose photographs were in the Range Riders Bar and Cafe. He died in 1954.

Return to Top

Content Description

Collection consists primarily of biographical notes, sketches, brand information, and obituaries concerning local cowboys and ranchers, which were collected and recorded for Wilson by his associate Charles Boucher. The files are arranged alphabetically. In addition, the collection contains a subject file on brands, several historical writings by Boucher and others, and numerous small notebooks, arranged chronologically, which contain notes for the biographical sketches, notes concerning Boucher's politics and philosophy, lists, and miscellany. [A biographical sketch of Dola Wilson is included in the accession record. Photographs of Range Riders were transferred to Photo Archives. Motion picture film was transferred by Photo Archives to the American Film Institute.]

Return to Top

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.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into seven series: Biographical Materials (undated); General Correspondence (1944-1952, undated); Subject Files (1882, 1948, undated); Writings (1950, undated; Miscellany (1939-1952, undated); Clippings (1939-1950, undated); and Transfers to Other Programs (see list of items transferred to the Photograph Archives).

Location of Collection

15:8-4

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Separated Materials

A biographical sketch of Dola Wilson is included in the accession record. MTHS photograph Archives added the photographs from the donation to their collection and transferred manuscript material to the MTHS Archives. Motion picture film was transferred by Photo Archives to the American Film Institute.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Biographical Materials

    • Description: Biographical sketches: Edward Charles "Teddy Blue" Abbott
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Ab-Am (includes Otto Hugo Abel, George Adams, Norval C. Adams, Robert Benjamin "Buzz" Aitchison, Nannie Alderson, Roy Alexander, Peter Allen, C.A. Allison, Frank Allison, James Allison, Ord Ames)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: An-Ay (includes Amos Anderson, August Anderson, Claude Anderson, J.C. Anderson, Sarah Andrus, W.W. Andrus, Charles Appenzeller, Hubert P. Ambruster, James B. Armstrong, Virgil Arnett, William Asay, G.G. Askin, Robert Askin, John Atchison Jr., Toots Ayres)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Ba (includes Lee Sherman "Shorty" Badgett, Charles H. Bahm, Henry Bailey, Leo Baldwin, Christina Ball, Oscar Ball, W.M. Bard, Fred H. Baringer, Martin Oliver Barnes, B.E. Barrett, Casey Barthelmess)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Be-Bo (includes Jordan Bean, Robert Beason, W.R. "Baldy" Bement, Ben Bencine, Louis Benoist, Paul Bernard, David Bickle, Reginald Billing, Emil Bircher, Frank Bircher, Louis Bircher, Benton C. Bird, Les Boe, George Boggs, Charles M. Boucher, Dan H. Bowman, Henry O. Boyes, Neil Boyle)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Br-Bu (includes George W. Bradley, William J. Bradshaw, Hilan Bray, John A. Broaddus, Oscar Broaddus, William Broaddus, George Brock, Charley Brown, Harry D. Brown, John H. Brown, Joseph T. Brown, O.J. Brownfield, Jimmy Bruce, Jay Bryan, Murt Buckley, Wilton "Fuzzy" Buffington, W.H. Bullard, John H. Burgess, Paul Burt, Grover Buster, Edmond Butler, Thomas Butler, John Butterfield)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Ca (includes Lloyd Cain, Ira Calder, Hugh Calderwood, "Tut" Camblin, Oscar Canoy, John T. "Red" Carolan, David Carter, Peter Carter, Osceola C. Cato, Brit Catron, Robert Catron, William Edwin Caywood)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Ch-Co (includes William Cherry, Richard G. Chilcote, John D. Childress, Phil Christenson, Alf Clark, Elmer W. Clark, Frank Clark, Raymond P. Colbert, Ray Coleman, George Colgan, Edward Collins, Ernest G. Coon, William Courtenay, Frank Cox, Mary Peachey Cox)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Cr-Cu (includes Elmer E. Crawford, Leo Cremer, E. Frank Crosby, Emmett Crosby, Harvey H. "Hod" Crosby, Owen Crosby, William A. Crosby, C.R. "Bob" Cross, Francis Cross, Peter "Indian Pete" Culbertson, Lou L. Curl, William Curts, Benjamin Franklin Cusker)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: D (includes Eben Daily, Harry Daily, Loren Daily, Sarah Daily, Heywood Daly, Ed H. Damm, Matt Damm, John Daut, Ephraim K. Davis, Frashier C. Davis, Howard E. Davis, James Davis, L.C. "Cornie" Davis, George W. Dearing, Charles F. Decker, Ross L. Decker, Charles De Graffenreid, Randolph Deibel, Richard W. Deibel re bombing of Hiroshima, Rene Delos, Edward Denton, James L. Dillard, Tom Dillard, Charles Divine, William Dominy, Stephen A. Douglass, Floyd Dowlin, Wynn E. Dowlin, Richard W. Dunn, Leonard Dunning, Hank Dykes)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: E (includes Johnnie Earl, Ronnie H. Eaton, William K. Eaton, A.F. Edwards, Jack Edwards, Mert M. Edwards, Matt Elgin, Willis B. "Scotty" Embleton, Fred "Stub" Engels,William Ensley, Canute Erickson, Henry Hines Ervin, Harry Evans, R.L. "Bob" Ewing, Tom Ewing)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: F (includes Hiram C. Farnum, George Farrell, John Fiel, Frank Fiske, Ole Flasted, John L. Flowers, James William Follis, Willis Forgey, Mert Francis, Alonzo H. "Lon" Frye, George Robert "Bob" Fudge, W.S. Fugate, Ernest Funk, Charles Furmer)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: G (includes Daniel M. Gaskill, John Gibb, Jimmy Gibson, Loren W. Gilman, Dan Gilmore, Hiram Gilmore, Michael Dennis Gilmore, Tom Gilmore, Ernest Clay Gilpatrick, Emmett Glidewell, Dan Goodfellow, Sam Gordon, Charles H. Gould, Clifton Charles Green, Roy L. Griffin, Tag Grinnell)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Ha (includes John H. Hallowell, Edward O. Halvorson, "Fatty" Hamilton, John T. Hamilton, Lionel Stratford Handcock, Frank B. Haney, William Hanify, Marion Lee Hanson, William Harmon, John Harrell, W.E. "Charlie" Harris, Joe Hawkes, James Ballou "Jack" Hawkins, William M. Hawkins, John Hays)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: He-Hi (includes Charles H. Hedges, "Doc" Hedges, "J.P." Hedges, "Gum" Hedges, Elmer R. Heggen, George Helm, Emil Henning, J.W. "Jud" Hiscock, Font Hitchcock, Fred Hitzfeldt)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 15
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Ho-Hy (includes Jack Hoffman, Ed Holbrook, Ernest Hollenshed, Arthur Holly, Harry Holman, Stephen "Rusty" Holman, John M. Holt, William Elmer Holt, Henry C. Holtkamp, Albert Holton, Humphrey Hood, Johnny Hoover, Jacob Horner, Samuel A. Hotchkiss, Samuel Houghland, F.P. Howe, W.L. Hughes, Hugh H. Hunter, William R. Hurley, B.C. Hutchinson, J.R. Hutchinson, James Weaver Hyde)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 16
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: I (includes G.F. Ingersoll, G.I. Irion, Ray Irion)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 17
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: J (includes Arthur L. Jellison, Cecilie Jensen, Nels Jensen, Peter Charles Jensen, Charles A. Johnson, E.H. "Skew" Johnson, Ernest E. Johnson, Sidney Johnson, Andrew Johnston, Johnny Johnstone, Andy Jones, Louis R. Jones, W.T. "Tom" Jones, Emmett Jordan, Frank Jordan, William A. "Allie" Jordan)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 18
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: K (includes Hugh Kelly, Luther F. "Yellowstone" Kelly, Franklin T. Kelsey, Stanley Ketchel, Fred C. Kibler, Nils Kildahl, Frank Kincaid, Le Roy Kinsey, Carl Kraft, Carl A. Krutt, Hugh Kusker)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 19
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: L (includes Howard T. Leister, Hugh Lemire, Ben Levalley, Daniel Levalley, Nels Lindeberg, Walter Lindsay, Dan Lockie, Dave Lockie, James Lockie, William Lockie, Charles D. Long, T. Whit Longley, Ralph Loop, Charles H. Loud, Edward Stanton Lower, R.L. Lowery, Elmer C. Lyndes)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 20
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Ma (includes John B. Maclin, John Mahoney, Francis M. Malone, Andrew Malum, Steve Marmon, E.Z. Marks, Charles Marrs, B.F. Marsh, Charles Martin, Robert Martin, Tex Martin, Walter H. Martin)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 21
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Mc (includes Tom McAlister, Curley McCale, William H. McCartney, Q.P. McClammy, W.A. McClammy, Walt McClatchy, Neece McCown, Joshua McCuiston, Alexander J. McCullough, A.L. McCurry, Alexander A. McDonald, Wilkin Craig McDowell, John McKay, Joseph R. McKay, Jud McKelvey, Horatio "Tug" McKelvey, Kenneth McLean, L.D. McMackin, William McNaney, Harry McNutt, William McVey
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 22
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Me-Mu (includes Earl Mead, Dwight Merwin, Charles W. Miles, George M. Miles, Henry A. Miller, Robert Milton, William Mitchell, Clyde Montgomery, Rufus E. Morris, W.P. Morse, Samuel N. Moses, George Mote, Clarence H. "Larry" Mott, Pat Mottram, James M. Mulkey, Roderick Munro, John Murnion, F.R. Murphy)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 23
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: N (includes George Nelson, Olof Nelson, Curtis D. Newbary, G.D. Newman, Earl W. "Smoky" Nichols, Sol Nichols, Niels Nielsen)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 24
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: O (includes Edward C. O'Connor, H.E. O'Donnell, Alex Ogilvie, June G. Olsen, John E. Olson, D.J. O'Malley, Frank D. O'Neill, Bruce Orcutt, O.T. O'Rien, Robert Colby Osgood)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 25
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: P (includes Joseph James Packer, W.H. Paine, Charles Parker, Guy W. Parker, R.E. Patch, Ben Patton, John Pauley, W.G. Payne, David Peden, Earl Peden, Louis Pellieser, Gene Pendexter, Newt Perkins, Martin Petri, Freeman Philbrick, Malcolm Philbrick, Gilbert Powell, Don Pyle)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 26
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Ra-Ri (includes Frank C. Raffaell, James G. Ramsay, Harry C. Reed, Ward M. Reid, Robert Rice, Pliney S. "Dick" Richardson, W. A. Richardson, William B. Richardson, Campbell G. "Mac" Rickard, Everett Ridge, Charlie Riley, Thomas Joe Riley, August Ritz)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 27
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Ro-Ry (includes Albert "Bill" Roberts, Norman S. Robertson, Sion "Si" Robinson, A.E. Rodgers, Elmer Rodgers, Dan Rogers, John Fred Rogers, Mary Woody Rogers, Will Rogers, Pat Roney, Hugh Rooney, Frank Ross, Fred W. Rue, George Huntington Rue, Jasper S. Rue, Charles M. Russell, Harry Rutter, Paddy Ryan)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 28
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Jesse Sales
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Sa-Si (includes F.B. Saddler, Charles P. Sanders, Roy Sankey, Harry "Tub" Schlosser, Ernest R. Schrader, Ed Schufelts, Charles L. Scofield, William H. Searls, W.A. Selvidge, Finley S. Sensiba, Jack Serruys, George Sherman Sr., Elton E. Shook, Ed B. Shriner, Dudley L. Shy, Ernest Ward Shy, Harry J. Siem, Charles Simpson, Charles Sims, James Sipes)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Sl-Sw (includes Claude Henry Slater, Jack Sloan, Henry C. Smith, Michael Thomas Smith, Robert "Powder River Bob" Smith, Warren K. Smith, B.L. Snodgrass, Les Snodgrass, W.B. Spear, Paul Speck, Lorenzo W. Stacy, John Stafford, Kirk Stanley, John William Stephens, Lon Stewart, Herman Stoebe, Samuel Stoebe, August C. Stohr, Sam Stone, Charles Stuart, Walter F. Sumer, John Survant, Arby Swart)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: T (includes Robert L. Tate, Edgar "Tuffy" Taylor, Howard Tennant, Courtenay Terrett, Charles Houston Thea, John Theade, Henry Clay Thompson, Lee Thorne, Sol Thorp, Guy Tibbetts, Lawrence A. Timberman, W.H. Timberman, John A. Tisdale, Floyd Tollefson, Matt Toohey, Edith Towers, Theron Townsend, Harve Trusler, Robert E. Lee Tucker, George Twible, Keith Twinning, W.A. Twitchell, [-----] Tysdall)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: V (includes Marion P. Velk, Arthur J. Viall, Sid Vollin)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Wa-Wh (includes J.L. Warren, Lewis R. "Lee" Warren, Chauncey R. Weaver, James Wescoe, George O. "Blocker" West, John Louis Wheeler, Edward Whitbeck, Guy Whitbeck, Dominick White)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Wi-Wr (includes Pierre Wibaux, Dale Wilder, Charles Wiley, Gerald Willey, Fred E. Williams, John Williams, Roy C. Williams, Sidney A. Willis, Preston H. Willson, Al Wilson, Corrydon Wilson, S. Pat Wilson, Ernest Winning, Charles E. Winsor, Lee Wirth, Peter J. Witmayer, Benjamin Holt Woodcock, John W. Woodcock, Oscar Woods, Warren Woodson, Ed Wright, Lee Wright)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: Y (includes Ed Yeager, Charles Yerkes, Robert Lee Yokley, Paul Young, William Young)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
    • Description: Miles City area ranchers and cowboys: "Old Members" A-Z (includes brief notes about brands, where they worked, birth dates and places)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
  • General Correspondence

    • Description: Miscellaneous letters to Charles M. Boucher (includes letter to "old timers" soliciting biographical information, from nephew, True Magazine, Old Timers Roundup, Senator Ecton)
      Dates: 1944-1952, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
  • Subject Files

    • Description: Brands (includes Wyoming Stock Growers' Association brand book, Western Livestock Reporter brand sheets, notebook of brand information)
      Dates: 1882, 1948, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
  • Writings

    • Description: "Cave Hill Expedition," by Bill Stone (re 1883 South Dakota buffalo hunt)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
    • Description: "Chisholm Trail" by Charles Boucher
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
    • Description: "Introducing Historic Alzada," by Raymond Shelden
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 14
    • Description: "Some Missourians Come West," by Charles Boucher, submitted to True Magazine
      Dates: 1950
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 15
  • Miscellany

    • Description: "History" notebook (no order, includes some indexing)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 16
    • Description: "Lists" notebook (includes membership of Elks Lodge, lists of photographs, lists of brands)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 17
    • Description: Miscellaneous notebook ("Brown section", includes brief biographical notes, history of Stoneville, sketch maps)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 18
    • Description: Miscellaneous notebook ("Names and notes"; also includes politics, history, etc.)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 19
    • Description: Miscellaneous notebook (includes historical notes, lists, indexes, etc.)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 20
    • Description: Small notebooks (re politics, philosophy, history, biographical interviews, etc.; chronologically arranged, some are partially indexed)
      Dates: 1941, 1943-1949
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1-14
    • Description: Small notebooks (re politics, philosophy, history, biographical interviews, etc.; chronologically arranged, some are partially indexed)
      Dates: 1949-1952, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1-13
    • Description: Range Riders Roundup, Inc. articles of incorporation
      Dates: 1939
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 14
  • Clippings

    • Description: Miscellaneous (re politics, history, western art, Range Riders reunion, etc.)
      Dates: 1939-1950, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 15
  • Transfers to Other Programs

    • Description: List of photographs transferred to Photo Archives
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 16

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cattle brands
  • Cattle drives
  • Cattle ranching--Montana
  • Chisholm Trail
  • Ranch life
  • Ranches

Geographical Names

  • Alzada (Mont.)
  • Custer County (Mont.)
  • Miles City (Mont.)
Loading...
Loading...