Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Ferris Family Papers, 1874-1926
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ferris family
- Title
- Ferris Family Papers
- Dates
- 1874-192618741926
- Quantity
- .4 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Collection 0038, MtBC, us (collection)
- Summary
- The Ferris Family Papers include, guest ledgers for the Ferris Hot Springs Hotel, legal and financial documents pertaining to real estate and the Ferris store in Utah, transcribed correspondence written by Maggie Ferris, promotional brochures for Ferris Hot Springs and the Gallatin Valley, and photographs of Ferris family members and friends.
- 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
In 1874 Eddy and Maggie Ferris were married in Corinne, Utah. Originally from northern New York, Eddy Franklin Ferris was a partner of Sebree, Ferris, and White; bankers and dealers in hardware and agricultural implements. Ferris's business followed the construction route of the Utah and Northern Railroad. The business required frequent moves along the construction line. In 1880 the couple moved to Red Rock (Present-day Dillon) in hopes of settling down. However, both the climate and the environment for permanent settlement was not to their liking and the couple moved to Bozeman in 1882. Once in Bozeman, Eddy Ferris opened a store and built the Bon Ton Building. In the 1890's Eddy's brother, E. Myron Ferris moved into the area and eventually purchased the Matthews Hot Springs. Ferris built onto the property and for several years owned and operated the Ferris Hot Springs Hotel. In 1908 Eddy Ferris died.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Ferris Family records include, guest ledgers for the Ferris Hot Springs Hotel, legal and financial documents pertaining to real estate and the Ferris store in Utah, transcribed correspondence written by Maggie Ferris to her mother and sister, promotional brochures for Ferris Hot Springs and the Gallatin Valley, and photographs of Ferris family members and friends.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Series 1 Ferris Hot Springs Hotel Guest ledgers, 1891-1894
Series 2 Financial Documents, 1880-1902
Series 3 Printed Material, 1892-1926
Series 4 Correspondence, 1874-1882
Series 5 Photographs
Acquisition Information
This collection of Ferris family records incorporates accession numbers 29, 403, and 2189. Accession number 29 was donated by Dorothy Ferris Ellerd and Elizabeth Ferris Purdum. In 1966 Mrs. Jack Lovelace donated accession number 403, the letters of Margaret Ferris and the Museum of the Rockies transferred accession number 2189 to Special Collections in 1985. An additional ledger was donated by Mrs. Sally Mournian July 21, 2018.
Processing Note
This collection was processed 2008 December 12
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Guest Ledgers, 1891-1894Return to Top
Ledgers listing names of individual registrants at the Ferris Hot Springs Hotel. Information includes residence of the registrant and date
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Guest Ledger from Ferris Hot Springs Hotel |
June 25, 1891-September 1, 1893 |
| 1/2 | Guest Ledger from Ferris Hot Springs Hotel |
April 9, 1994-September 15, 1894 |
| 1/3 | Guest Ledger from Ferris Hot Springs Hotel |
August 2-September 25, 1890 |
Series 2: Financial Documents, 1880-1902Return to Top
Homestead land deeds for individuals other than members of the Ferris family; a receipt from Ferris business in Utah; typewritten list of purchasers of tracts of land at the Ferris Hot Springs. Information includes name of purchaser, occupation, and residence.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/1 | Homestead Land Deed of Charles A. Sales |
1902 |
| 2/2 | Homestead Land Deed of Charles L. Davies |
1890 |
| 2/3 | Homestead Land Deed of Caldwell Edwards |
1891 |
| 2/4 | Business receipt from Sebree, Ferris and
Holt |
1880 |
| 2/5 | List of Bozeman Hot Springs tracts sold |
Series 3: Printed Material, 1892-1926Return to Top
Various promotional brochures for land sales and tourism in the Gallatin Valley and Montana. Series also includes memorial program for Eddy Frankiln Ferris funeral.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/6 | Tourism pamphlets and brochures for Bozeman and the
Gallatin Valley
Includes: "Ferris' Hot Springs: The Carlsbad of America (1892)," "On the Yellowstone
Trail, Where to Spend Your Vacation," Bozeman, Montana Illustrated," "Bozeman in the
Rockies," and "A Summer in the Gallatin."
|
|
| 2/7 | Pamphlets and brochures pertaining to Montana and the
Gallatin Valley
Includes: "Facts About Montana (1926)," "The Famous Gallatin Valley in Gallatin
County Montana," and "Bozeman the Beautiful."
|
|
| 2/8 | Memorial program for the funeral of Eddy Franklin
Ferris, |
1908 |
Series 4: Correspondence, 1874-1882Return to Top
Typed transcript copies of letters written by Maggie Ferris from originals owned by Mrs. Jack Lovelace of Bozeman, Montana. Letters were primarily written to Maggie's mother and sister and describe her frequent moves to various towns throughout the west, her impression of these towns, and family news.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/9 | Letters by Maggie Ferris sent from Utah |
1874-1880 |
| 2/10 | Letters by Maggie Ferris sent from Red Rock (Dillon),
Montana |
1880-1881 |
| 2/11 | Letter by Maggie Ferris sent from San Francisco,
California |
1878 |
| 2/12 | Letters by Maggie Ferris sent from Idaho |
1878-1879 |
| 2/13 | Letter by Maggie Ferris sent from
Wisconsin |
1882 |
Series 5: PhotographsReturn to Top
Copy prints of original photographs of the Ferris family and friends and Ferris Hot Springs. Photograph 1 is of E. Myron Ferris, Mrs. Lamme, Katherine Ferris, Mrs. Ferris and sister. Photographs 2 and 3 are of E. Myron Ferris. Photographs 4 and 5 are of a walk way on the property of the Ferris Hot Springs. Photographs 6 and 7 are of various people at Chisholm's Camp at Hyalite. Photograph 8 shows an outdoor gathering with Mr. and Mrs. E. Myron Ferris and friends. Photograph 9 is a portrait of Maggie and Eddy Ferris. Photograph 10 is a portrait of Margaret Ferris and photograph 11 is a portrait of Eddy F. Ferris.
| Container(s) | Description |
|---|---|
| Box/Folder | |
| 2/14 | Two copies of photograph 1 showing various members of
Ferris family and friends |
| 2/15 | Photos 2 and 3. E. Myron Ferris |
| 2/16 | Photos 4 and 5. Walkway on Ferris Hot
Springs |
| 2/17 | Photos 6 and 7. Chisholm's Camp at Hyalite group
picture. Those pictured includes, Julia Martin, Fred Wilson, and Colonel
Chisholm |
| 2/18 | Photograph 8. Mr. and Mrs. E. Myron Ferris and friends
at an outdoor gathering |
| 2/19 |
Photograph 9. Portrait of Maggie and Eddy Ferris
(six copies)
|
| 2/20 | |
| 2/21 | |
| 2/22 | Negatives for photographs 1-8 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Hotels-Montana-Gallatin County
Personal Names
- Ferris, Margaret-Correspondence
Family Names
- Farris family
Geographical Names
- Gallatin River Valley (Wyo. and Mont.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Business records-Montana-Gallatin County
- Family papers-Montana-Gallatin County
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Ferris Hot Springs Hotel (creator)
Kim Allen Scott, 2008
August 8, 2018
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
