H.H. Mitchell Family Papers, 1891-1951

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Mitchell, H. H. (Henry Herbert), 1872-1941
Title
H.H. Mitchell Family Papers
Dates
1891-1951
Quantity
.2 linear feet
Collection Number
Collection 0026, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The H.H. Mitchell Family Papers consists of financial records and minute books. The financial records relate to Henry Herbert (Bert) Mitchell's business in Bozeman, Montana and the Mitchell's Ennis Ranch. The minute books pertain to the Madison Valley Percheron Horse Company, of which Bert was the secretary.
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

Henry Herbert Mitchell, born in 1872, was the son of Arobine and William Mitchell. William Mitchell was said to have been a private secretary to Jay Gould in his youth. Bert lived in Madison County his entire life, with the exception of four years when he attended Shattuck Military Academy in Minnesota. Bert gradually assumed management of his father's ranch near Ennis, Montana. Bert also maintained several businesses in Bozeman, Montana. In 1907 Bert married Katherine (Kate) Sullivan from O'Neill, Nebraska. Kate had come to Montana to teach school. Bert and Kate had no children, except for a son who passed away at his birth in 1909. Bert died on January 2, 1941, after which Kate ran the ranch with the help of her twin sister, Josephine (Jo) Sullivan, who moved to the ranch after Bert's death. The sisters operated the ranch until it was purchased circa 1951 by Ralph Paugh. Kate moved to Butte where she died in 1965.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The H. H. Mitchell family papers consist of five financial record and minute books: two ledgers, two cash journals, and one collection of minutes. The books were maintained by Henry Herbert (Bert) Mitchell and his wife, Katherine. Book 1 is a cash journal of transactions and investments of Bert's businesses conducted in Bozeman between January 14, 1895 and September 5, 1895. The businesses include: a general jobbing business, begun January 14, 1895; a grocery business, begun on January 28, 1895; a wood and coal business, begun February 1, 1895; a wholesale and retail flour business, begun March 4, 1895. Book 2 is divided between a cash journal of Bert's businesses conducted between March 20, 1895 and March 28, 1895, and of ranch business conducted between January 1, 1895 and August 2, 1897. Book 3 is a business ledger covering the year 1895, for the Bozeman businesses, which also includes a loose receipt for nails purchased from the Odell Ditch Company, dated May 5, 1918. Book 4 is a business ledger for the Mitchell's Ennis Ranch covering 1896, kept in pen by Bert, and 1941 through 1951, kept in pencil by his widow Kate. Book 5 includes the minutes of seven meetings from March 12, 1908 through July 1, 1911 of the Madison Valley Percheron Horse Company, of which Bert was the secretary.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Family financial papers created or collected by the H. H. Mitchell family were donated to Special Collections by Ralph Paugh of Ennis, Montana in 1965.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2007 August 22

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Business cash journal January 14-September 5, 1895
1/2 Business and ranch cash journal January 1, 1985-August 2, 1897
1/3 Business ledger 1895
1/4 Ranch ledger 1896-1951
1/5 Minute book March 12, 1908-July 1, 1911

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Business enterprises-Montana-Bozeman
  • Businessmen-Montana-Bozeman
  • Ranchers-Montana-Ennis
  • Ranching-Montana-Ennis
  • Vigilance committees-Montana-Madison County

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business records-Montana-Bozeman

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Mitchell, Katherine Sullivan,-d. 1965 (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Madison Valley Percheron Horse Company (creator)
    • Odell Ditch Company (creator)