Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Charles W. Baker Diary, 1864-1868
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Baker, Charles W., fl. 1864-1868
- Title
- Charles W. Baker Diary
- Dates
- 1864-186818641868
- Quantity
- 1 item
- Collection Number
- Collection 1119, MtBC, us (collection)
- Summary
- The Charles W. Baker Diary is a mimeographed typed transcription of originals in the possession of the Marvin Jacobs family of Cabool, Missouri; the Howard Prather family of Liberty, Missouri; the John T. Baker family of Cameron Missouri; and the Charles W. Baker family of Northridge, California. Topics discussed include: the journey to Montana, incidents occurring along the Bozeman Road and Bridger's Cutoff, life in Virginia City, mining and social activities, and the return trip east by way of Fort Benton and the Missouri River. Also included are transcriptions from financial account books kept by Baker during his years in Montana.
- 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
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Charles W. Baker was a schoolteacher from Polo, Illinois, who decided to immigrate to Montana Territory in 1864. Starting his trip from Polo on April 21 of that year, Baker embarked with several other individuals which likely included his brother Joseph. The Baker party followed The Platte River route to Fort Laramie and then north along the Bozeman Road and Bridger Cutoff. Initially settling in the Virginia City area, Baker engaged in mining until he returned east in 1867 by way of the Missouri River. He married Lydia Windle of Polo, Illinois in February 1868 and the couple afterwards made their home in Missouri.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Charles W. Baker diary is a mimeographed typed transcription of originals in the possession of the Marvin Jacobs family of Cabool, Missouri; the Howard Prather family of Liberty, Missouri; the John T. Baker family of Cameron Missouri; and the Charles W. Baker family of Northridge, California. The diary consists of terse daily entries describing The journey to Montana, incidents occurring along the Bozeman Road and Bridger's Cutoff, life in Virginia City, mining and social activities, and the return trip east by way of Fort Benton and the Missouri River. Also included are transcriptions from financial account books kept by Baker during his years in Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Miners-Montana-Virginia City-Diaries
- Mines and mineral resources-Montana-Virginia City
Geographical Names
- Bozeman Trail
- Fort Benton (Mont.)
- Virginia City (Mont.)-Social life and customs
- West (U.S.)-Description and travel
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries-Montana-Virginia City
Kim Allen Scott, 2009
January 4, 2017
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
