Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Dorothy Whitcomb Klimper Papers, 1904-1975
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Klimper, Dorothy Whitcomb, d. 1978
- Title
- Dorothy Whitcomb Klimper Papers
- Dates
- 1904-1975 (inclusive)19041975
- Quantity
- 0.3 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 395 (collection)
- Summary
- Dorothy Whitcomb Klimper was a resident of Zortman, Montana. This collection includes correspondence, the manuscript, and photographs from the book Top o' the Mountain: Charley Whitcomb, Mining Man, which she co-authored with Gladys Costello.
- Repository
-
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Mussoula.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Gladys Costello was born in Malta, Montana, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Robinson, who were among the first settlers in the area. She graduated from the University of Montana School of Journalism and maintained a long time interest in writing with a special focus on regional history. In addition to co-authoring Top o' the Mountain: Charley Whitcomb, Mining Man, some of her stories were published in The Golden Era of the Little Rockies. Gladys Costello lived in Zortman, Montana, which is in Phillips County, for most of her adult life until her death on July 16, 1978.
Dorothy Whitcomb Klimper, born in Zortman, was one of two surviving children of Charley and Katie B. Whitcomb. She married Max E. Klimper, mining engineer, educator and sportsman. By 1976 she lived in Stanford, Montana. Costello's writing skills and Klimper's memorabilia and reminiscences were combined for the book Top o' the Mountain: Charley Whitcomb, Mining Man.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes correspondence, the manuscript, and photos from the book Top o' the Mountain: Charley Whitcomb, Mining Man.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Dorothy Whitcomb Klimper Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is divided into two series:
Series I: Correspondence and manuscript, 1975
Series II: Photographs, 1904-1971
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Correspondence and manuscript , 1975 Return to Top
This series includes four items of correspondence, a miscellaneous note, a poem, a copy of the book manuscript, and photograph captions. Only one piece of correspondence is dated.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Folder | ||
| 1 | Costello correspondence and
editorial note in regard to manuscript to be self-published |
1975 and undated |
| 2 | Typed draft of manuscript
|
undated |
Series II: Photographs , 1904-1971 Return to Top
This series includes photographs of the Klimper family, friends, business associates, Klimper residences, the Zortman area, and the Ruby mine. Most of the photos were included in the book and their descriptions in this finding aid were taken from captions in the book.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Folder | ||
| 1 | 395(II)1: Fire above Ruby Gulch
|
1936 |
| 2 | 395(II)2: Forest fire that started at Rag
Town |
undated |
| 3 | 395(II)3: Whitcomb home in Zortman, Montana
|
1905 |
| 4 | 395(II)4: Run-down cabin
|
undated |
| 5 | 395(II)5: Jerry Worthington, George
Whitcomb, and Bill Francke (l to r) at goldmelting from first clean-up at
Little Ben Mine |
1933 |
| 6 | 395(II)6: Two photos, George Whitcomb in
Germany and in Germany with friends |
1919 |
| 7 | 395(II)7: Charles Whitcomb at age 38
|
1907 |
| 8 | 395(II)8: Charley Whitcomb and engineer
Price discussing the Beaver Creek properties |
1934 |
| 9 | 395(II)9: Unknown man in uniform
|
undated |
| 10 | 395(II)10: Unknown man weighing gold samples
|
undated |
| 11 | 395(II)11: Third Ruby Gulch Mill
|
1936 |
| 12 | 395(II)12: Charley and Katie B. at their
Beaver Creek home |
1935 |
| 13 | 395(II)13: B.D. Phillips and friend at Ruby
Gulch |
undated |
| 14 | 395(II)14: Whitcomb home in Helena, Montana
|
1912-1926 |
| 15 | 395(II)15: Ore cart at mouth of mine in
winter, Ruby Camp |
undated |
| 16 | 395(II)16: Postcard of two men by ore cart
|
undated |
| 17 | 395(II)17: Charley (Gritty) Whitcomb
|
undated |
| 18 | 395(II)18: Charley Whitcomb's grave in
Zortman Cemetary |
undated |
| 19 | 395(II)19: Gold ore haulers in camp
|
undated |
| 20 | 395(II)20: Katie B. with the three daughters
born in Townsend |
undated |
| 21 | 395(II)21: House at Beaver Creek
|
1971 |
| 22 | 395(II)22: Katie B. with friends when she
worked at Polaris |
undated |
| 23 | 395(II)23: First Ruby Gulch Mill
|
1904 |
| 24 | 395(II)24: Hartmann's freight outfit with
winter supplies for Zortman |
ca.1908 |
| 25 | 395(II)25: Joe Hartman transporting power
plant boilers from Winifred |
undated |
| 26 | 395(II)26: Power plant on Missouri River
|
1914 |
| 27 | 395(II)27: Catholic church at Zortman
|
1971 |
| 28 | 395(II)28: Tim, Mr. Smith, and L.A. (top
row, l-r), Mrs. Hartman and Mrs. L.A. |
undated |
| 29 | 395(II)29: Hard Luck Smith, freighter,
miner, and mill hand |
undated |
| 30 | 395(II)30: Miners in front of Whitcomb store
and post office near Ruby Gulch Mine |
undated |
| 31 | 395(II)31: Zortman, Montana |
1907 |
| 32 | 395(II)32: Gold bar on scale |
undated |
| 33 | 395(II)33: Unknown man at smelter
|
undated |
| 34 | 395(II)34: "New mill" |
undated |
| 35 | 395(II)35: Second Ruby Gulch Mill
|
1914 |
| 36 | 395(II)36: Ruby Camp in winter |
undated |
| 37 | 395(II)37: Gold ore en route to mill
|
undated |
| 38 | 395(II)38: Unknown man with herd of sheep
|
undated |
| 39 | 395(II)39: Tramway for cars carrying ore
from the Alabama to the Ruby Mill |
undated |
| 40 | 395(II)40: Dodson-Zortman stageline
|
undated |
| 41 | 395(II)41: View from the saddle above Ruby
|
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Miners--Montana--Zortman--Biography
- Mines and mineral resources--Montana--Phillips County
Personal Names
- Costello, Gladys, d. 1978
- Whitcomb, Charley, 1866-1936
Corporate Names
- University of Montana--Missoula--Alumni and alumnae
Family Names
- Klimper family
Geographical Names
- Ruby Mine (Phillips County, Mont.)
- Zortman (Mont.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographs--Montana--Phillips County
Finding aid prepared by Teresa
Hamann
2001
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
