Esther Gaskins Price Papers

Esther Gaskins Price Papers, 1931-1949

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Price, Esther Gaskins, b. 1892
Title: Esther Gaskins Price Papers
Dates: 1931-1949 (inclusive)
19311949
Quantity: 1.7 linear feet
Collection Number: 2334
Summary: The Esther Gaskins Price Papers reflect Price's interests for research purposes as well as her literary productions. Price's collection includes materials that she produced individually and those that she collaborated on with other individuals; namely Peter Karst, Dan P. Mumbre, and I.D. O'Donnell. In addition to medical history, the topics represented include irrigation and land reclamation, Crow Indian culture, and human interest stories.
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: Copyright ownership for any original literary materials is unclear due to the collaborative nature of their composition and researchers are advised that any publication beyond fair use guidelines cannot be granted by Special Collections.
Languages
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Esther Louise Gaskins Price was born in Needham, Massachusetts on July 11, 1892. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mt. Holyoke College in 1913 and also studied at the Cleveland School of Art, Montana State University, Famous Artists School in Westport, Connecticut, and the Institution de San Miguel d'Allende in Mexico. In addition to her creative work as an artist, Price also pursued a career as a medical researcher and author. She wrote three published works; Fighting Tuberculosis in the Rockies: A history of the Montana tuberculosis (1943), Fighting Spotted Fever in the Rockies (1948), Pennsylvania Pioneers against Tuberculosis (1952). She also served as Associate Editor for one of the Mayo Clinic publications. Price lived in Montana from 1939-1944 to conduct research on the state's medical history and other topics of interest to herself. Often her writing and research involved collaboration with others, particularly I. D. O'Donnell, an eastern Montana farmer who was active in helping establish modern irrigation methods for Montana agriculture. Price worked with O'Donnell to gather information in preparation for a proposed book on irrigation history. After leaving Montana, Price apparently returned to her profession as an artist, living in Hawaii and California. Price married at least twice, first to George Hunt Ingraham and also to Eli A. Zeitlin. When she died in La Jolla, California in August, 1992 her listed name with the Social Security Administration was "Esther I. Zeitlin."

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The records within this collection reflect Esther Price's interests for research purposes as well as her literary productions. There is no material directly bearing on her artistic work. Price's collection includes materials that she produced individually and those that she collaborated on with other individuals; namely Peter Karst, Dan P. Mumbre, and I.D. O'Donnell. The materials in this collection are separated into four series to reflect Price's record organization, her work as an individual researcher, and her collaboration with Karst, Mumbre, and O'Donnell. In addition to medical history, the topics represented include irrigation and land reclamation, Crow Indian culture, and human-interest stories. The collection has been arranged in four series based on the collaborator's name and contains correspondence and manuscripts created as a result of collaboration between Price and the named person. The correspondence in each folder so named is arranged chronologically; however, the correspondence remains within each individual series to reflect Price's record organization and research methods. Researchers should be aware that Price used shorthand in her note taking. Although this is not the predominant method of note taking for Price, shorthand is represented throughout the collection. This collection contains oversized materials that has been separated and located elsewhere, the separation is denoted by an asterisk (*) next to the folder it was removed.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright ownership for any original literary materials is unclear due to the collaborative nature of their composition and researchers are advised that any publication beyond fair use guidelines cannot be granted by Special Collections.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1 Esther Price

Series 2 Peter Karst

Series 3 Dan P. Mubre

Series 4 I. D. O'Donnell

Acquisition Information

Literary manuscripts, correspondence, and other documents were deposited with Special Collections by Esther Price on October 20, 1969. An additional batch of manuscripts were donated by Harley O'Donnell of Billings, Montana on August 15, 2006.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 July 13

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

1: Esther PriceReturn to Top

Container(s): Folder-os 1

The materials in series one document Price's personal literary work. The correspondence, note, clippings, literary and medical carbon copies, etc. in this series pertains to Price's medical research, as well as her efforts to publish her works in all subject areas. This files in this series have been arranged within four topical patterns. Folders 1-6 are Price's general correspondence, notes, and some memorabilia. Folders 7-45 represent Price's work on writings not necessarily dealing with medical history. Topics range from a partial manuscript for a book or short story entitled "The Diplomat" to an article discussing building an airplane factory in "No Winter Business." Folders 46-58 pertains to her work in medical writing. These materials provide some information on Price's book Fighting Spotted Fever in the Rockies; however, it also shows her research into the Medical Practice Act and the Montana Board of Health, in addition to other health related articles. folders 59-62 contain her publication photos which have been individually sequentially numbered.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	General Correspondence
1	2	General Notes	circa 1931-1949
1	3	General Notes
1	4	Magazine & newspaper clippings
1	5	Passport	1926
1	6	Steno notebook, [notes for History of the State Board of Health]
1	7	Captain R.E. Peasley, Captain of the clippers
1	8	Crow Indian Sundance, A Prayer for Victory—Notes
1	9	Crow Indian Sundance, A Prayer for Victory
1	10	The Diplomat—Chapter II
1	11	The Diplomat—Chapter III
1	12	The Diplomat—Chapter IV
1	13	The Diplomat—Chapter V
1	14	The Diplomat—Chapter VI
1	15	The Diplomat—Chapter VII
1	16	The Diplomat—Chapter VIII
1	17	The Diplomat—Chapter IX
1	18	The Diplomat—Chapter XI
1	19	The Diplomat—Chapter XII
1	20-23	Don't Marry a Doctor
1	24	Haleakala, House of the Sun—Notes
1	25	Haleakala, House of the Sun
1	26	Helena Flying School
1	27	Little Doc, Aldrich and Jardine
1	28	Medicine with Wings—Notes
1	29	Medicine with Wings—Draft I
1	30	Medicine with Wings—Draft II
1	31	Montana Dude Ranch Run by Amherst Woman
1	32	No Winter Business
1	33	Poetry
1	34	Try Sky for your Nerves
1	35-37	[Untitled]
1	38	Welcome Stranger
1	39	Whitby Island—Brochure & Maps *
1	40	Whitby Island—Notes
1	41	Whitby Island—Postcards
1	42	Whitby Island—Indian Recipes
1	43	Whitby Island—Peaceful Weekend
1	44	Whitby Island—Trees on Whitby Island, by Harriet Swift Race
1	45	Whitby Island—Whitby Island
1	46	Fighting Spotted Fever in the Rockies—Correspondence	1947
1	47	Fighting Spotted Fever in the Rockies—Illustrations
1	48	Health from the Dye Pots—R.N.: A Journal for nurses	1938 December
1	49-51	Medical Practice Act
1	52	Montana Board of Health, from W.I. Cogswell—Notes
1	53	Montana Board of Health, from W.I. Cogswell—Notes
1	54	Montana Board of Health, from W.I. Cogswell—Notes
1	55	Montana Board of Health, from W.I. Cogswell—Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs
1	56	Montana Board of Health, from W.I. Cogswell—Publications, photograph, & chart
1	57	Quackery, Miracle Healing and Medical Cults
1	58	Sulfanilamide Scores Another Triumph
1	59	Photographs #1-6 [Crow Indian Sundance a Prayer for Victory]
1	60	Photographs #7-10 [Montana Dude Ranch Run by a Woman]
1	61	Photographs #11 [Montana State Board of Health]
1	62	Photographs #12-24 [Ski in the Spring]

2: Peter KarstReturn to Top

The correspondence, notes, clipping, and literary carbon copies in series two relate to Price's literary efforts with Peter Karst, a Gallatin County, Montana dude ranch owner. The materials discuss a tale on marriage in addition to a three-part story discussing ticks and spotted fever.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	64	Clipping
1	65	Correspondence	1922
1	66	Notes
1	67	Photographs #30-37 [suggested illustrations for Montana's Incredible Joe]
1	68	Bigamy and Buffaloes
1	69	Three Men from Amherst
1	70	[Three Men from Amherst] Part II Clarence Birdseye Comes to Shoot Elk and Bear
1	71	[Three Men from Amherst] Part III Flies Bring a Third Amherst Man to Montana

3: Dan P. MumbreReturn to Top

The notes, correspondence, and literary carbons in series three relate to Price's work with Dan P. Mumbre, a Montana land surveyor. The correspondence suggests a familiarity between Price and Mumbre; she refers to him as "Uncle Dan". The manuscripts discussed in this series deal with Mumbre's experiences in surveying and assorted tales that he collected while engaged in that work, including surveys done by others.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	72	Biographical Notes
1	73	Correspondence	1938; 1943
1	74	Correspondence	1946-1947
1	75	Correspondence	undated
1	76	Random Tales—Title page and Bad Rock Canyon
1	77	Random Tales—Bill Boston, J.P.
1	78	Random Tales—Demersville, 1891
1	79	Random Tales—Desert Incidents
1	80	Random Tales—Echo Lake
1	81	Random Tales—Flathead Winter of 1886
1	82	Random Tales—Flathead
1	83	Random Tales—Friendly Peaks
1	84	Random Tales—Hunting
1	85	Random Tales—Geology
1	86	Random Tales—The "Killer" of Wilderness
1	87	Random Tales—Frank Linderman
1	88	Random Tales—Bill's (Mumbre) Story
1	89	Random Tales—The Public Domaine and Surveying
1	90	Random Tales—Saga of Johnnie Syune
1	91	Random Tales—Mother Sheldon
1	92	Random Tales—A Strange Incident: Hanged in a Pullman
1	93	Random Tales—Surveying
1	94	Random Tales—Too Quick on The Trigger
1	95	Random Tales—Winter of 1887-1888
1	96-100	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Notes
1	101	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Draft I
1	102	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Draft II
1	103	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Draft III
1	104	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Draft IV
1	105	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter II [Draft V]
1	106	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter III [Draft V]
1	107	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter IV [Draft V]
1	108	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter V [Draft V]
1	109	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter VI [Draft V]
1	110	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter VII [Draft V]
1	111	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter I, Biography [Draft VI]
1	112	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter II, Pre-survey [Draft VI]
1	113	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter II [Draft VI]
1	114	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter III [Draft VI]
1	115	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter IV [Draft VI]
1	116	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter V [Draft VI]
1	117	The Seventh Standard Parallel North—Chapter VI [Draft VI]
1	118	Sweetgrass Hills—The Killing of Johnny Curry [Draft I]
1	119	Sweetgrass Hills—The Killing of Jimmy Winter [Draft I]
1	120	Sweetgrass Hills—Trip into the Sweetgrass, 1891[Draft II]
1	121	Sweetgrass Hills—Trip 1891, Blackfoot Reservation, Stevens Pass, Marias Pass [Draft II]
1	122	Sweetgrass Hills—Café a La Mud Turtle [Draft II]
1	123	Sweetgrass Hills—Ring. A Strange Friendship [Draft II]
1	124	Sweetgrass Hills—The Story of Pike Landusky Better than Beade's Best Thriller, by John B	Rich [Draft II]
1	125	Sweetgrass Hills—Lonnie Curry Takes My Seat [Draft II]
1	126	Sweetgrass Hills—The Killing of Johnny Curry [Draft II]
1	127	Sweetgrass Hills—The Killing of Jimmy Winter [Draft II]
1	128	Sweetgrass Hills—"Dutch" [Draft II]
1	129	Sweetgrass Hills—Sim Roberts, "Fast" Cow Mans [Draft II]
1	130	Through Marias Pass in 1891—Notes
1	131	Through Marias Pass in 1891—Maps *
1	132	Through Marias Pass in 1891—Draft I
1	133	Through Marias Pass in 1891—Draft II
1	134	Through Marias Pass in 1891—Draft III
1	135	Verse

4: I.D. O'DonnellReturn to Top

The notes, correspondence, and literary carbons in series three relate to Price's work with I.D. (Ignatius Daniel) O'Donnell. Materials in this series deal with O'Donnell's experiences with irrigation as well as information he and Price collected for research.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	136	Correspondence	circa 1940-1948; undated
1	137	Events	1890-1902
1	138	Events	1893-1905
1	139	Notes—Biographical, Manuscript*
1	140	Random Notes
1	141	Hesper Farm, The Big Ditch
1	142	History of Billings and his early experiences there
1	143	Holland Settlement
1	144	Huntley Project
1	145	I.J. Horse Ranch
1	146	Illness	1921
1	147	Milk River Project
1	148	Milk River Project
1	149	Milk River Project
1	150	Reclamation Office. Board Review	1915
1	151	Reclamation Office. Tour	1914
1	152	Reclamation Service. Creation; First Report	1901-1903
1	153	Reclamation Service. Supervisor of Irrigation
1	154	Walsh, Senator Thomas J.
2	1	Billings
2	2	Daily, Marcus
2	3	Fabrick, Dick
2	4	Holter, Anton
2	5	Kibbey-Kent Decision
2	6	McCormick, Paul
2	7	Montana Water Conservation Board
2	8	Montana's Most Savage Crime [Author Unknown]
2	9	Morrison, C.C.
2	10	Moss, P.B.
2	11	National Reclamation Association	1938
2	12	The Promised Land: Fraser River, Al Covington [Author Unknown]
2	13	Public Lands. Homesteads, Land Offices, Tree Claims, Forests, Desert Claims
2	14	Reclamation Record. Tear Sheets	1914
2	15	Russell, Charles M.
2	16	Sheep*
2	17	Shope, Irvin "Shorty"
2	18	Smythe, William E
2	19	Sugar Beats*
2	20	Sun River Project
2	21	Virginia City. Defense County Meeting
2	22	White, B.C. (Judith Gap)—Trip to His Ranch
2	23	Yegen, Peter. Holdings. Biographical Notes, List of Holdings

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Crow Indians
Dude ranchers-Montana
Irrigation-Montana-History
Medicine-Montana-History
Reclamation of land-Montana-History
Surveying-Montana-Anecdotes
Surveyors-Montana

Personal Names

Karst, Peter, 1875-1966
Mumbre, Dan P
O'Donnell, I. D. (Ignatius Daniel), 1860-1948
Price, Esther Gaskins, b. 1892-Archives

Corporate Names

Montana State Board of Health

Archives West Finding Aid

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