Merrill G. Burlingame research files on MSU History

Merrill G. Burlingame research files on MSU History, 1895-1968

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Burlingame, Merrill G. (Merrill Gildea), 1901-1994
Title: Merrill G. Burlingame research files on MSU History
Dates: 1895-1968 (inclusive)
18951968
Quantity: 2 linear feet
Collection Number: MSU.84014
Summary: The Merrill G. Burlingame Research Files on MSU History consists of Burlingame's research files utilized to create A History, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana as a commemoration of the University's 75th anniversary.
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
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Morrill Act of 1862 endowed the state of Montana with the ability to create land grant or agricultural colleges. On February 16, 1893, the Montana legislature passed an act creating the Agricultural College of the State of Montana. The university underwent an assortment on name changes over the first seventy years of its existence; First known as "Montana State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts," it was later shortened to "Montana Agricultural College." In 1921 the institution was known as "Montana State College," and remained as its title until 1965 when the name was officially changed to "Montana State University." The University has observed the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th anniversaries of its founding by special events and the issuance of published histories of the institution.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The research files contained within this collection demonstrates Burlingame's research and writing activities as he worked to create A History, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana as a commemoration of the University's 75th anniversary. Burlingame used his own earlier work and reached out across the campus to gather other material compiled by staff, committee members, alumni, and University former presidents in order to assemble his text. He used an assortment of materials that ranged from short University histories prepared by himself and others to correspondence, reports, newspaper clippings, and reminiscences. Of particular interest is preliminary manuscript of Una B. Herrick's work, Twenty Years at Montana State University and an unpublished manuscript history by former MSU President James M. Hamilton. Other items to note include correspondence and writings by two of the original eight students from the university's inception, Lucy Stafford Peck and Tom McKee.

The collection consists of six series, five of which were developed by Burlingame to organize his work, and all original folder titles have been retained in quotes, with added content information added for clarity. Series 6, however, is a hodgepodge of miscellaneous information pertaining to the university which were unorganized and gathered together during processing. Folder arrangement within each series is alphabetic.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1 MSU History

Series 2 Programs and Curricula

Series 3 Buildings

Series 4 Faculty

Series 5 Students

Series 6 Miscellaneous

Acquisition Information

Merrill G. Burlingame was a history professor at Montana State University. He joined the faculty of MSU in 1929, chaired the history department in 1935, and was granted emeritus status in 1969. Burlingame was an active researcher who wrote numerous works on Montana history, among them two texts relating to Montana State University's general history. The first, Montana State College 1893 to 1919: a preliminary sketch (Bozeman: 1943) was composed in conjunction with the University's 50th anniversary. The second, A History, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana (Bozeman: 1968) built on his earlier work in order to commemorate the University's 75th anniversary. Other texts Burlingame wrote relating to the University include The Danforth Chapel and Religious Activities at Montana State University, 1893-1991 (Bozeman: 1991) and The Montana Cooperative Extension Service: A history, 1893-1974 (Bozeman: 1984).

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 November 16

Related Materials

For additional MSU history materials gathered by Merrill G. Burlingame, researchers are advised to consult the Merrill G. Burlingame Papers, Collection 2245, also located in Special Collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

1: MSU HistoryReturn to Top

General research files pertaining to Montana State University History. This series presents Burlingame's compilation of correspondence, histories, reports, statistics, legislative information, enrollment, and financial information. Information ranges from earlier histories to reports of various anniversary observance committees. This series includes a partial history written by former University President James M. Hamilton which was never published. Quotation marks indicate the original folder titles prior to processing.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Brewer's History of MSC: Brewer Correspondence	circa 1954-1968
1	2	Brewer's History of MSC: Montana State College – W.F. Brewer
1	3	Brewer's History of MSC: Personal Data
1	4	Brewer's History of MSC: Unknown Title - Brewer
1	5	Brewer's History of MSC: Unknown Title - Brewer
1	6	College History: Background Sketches
1	7	College History: Enrollment & Finances
1	8	College History: Hamilton Correspondence
1	9	College History: Research Notes
1	10	Dean Hamilton's Notes: Early Student Statistics
1	11	Dean Hamilton's Notes: The Educational Policy	1904-1919
1	12	Dean Hamilton's Notes: History of the Montana State College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts
1	13	Dean Hamilton's Notes: Research Notes
1	14	Early Catalog Notes: Annual MSC Course Catalog
1	15	Hamilton's History of MSC: Additions to the Campus and Farm Lands 919	1904-1919
1	16	Hamilton's History of MSC: College Administration
1	17	Hamilton's History of MSC: College Finances	1904-1919
1	18	Hamilton's History of MSC: Hamilton Documents	circa 1914-1970
1	19	Hamilton's History of MSC: Legislative Acts	1909, 1913, 1929
1	20	Hamilton's History of MSC: Legislative Appropriations	1904-1919
1	21	Hamilton's History of MSC: Photograph, J.M. Hamilton
1	22	Hamilton's History of MSC: Newspaper Clipping
1	23	Hamilton's History of MSC: Research Notes
1	24	Hamilton's History of MSC: Research Notes
1	25	Hamilton's History of MSC: 1919 MSC Annual Report of the President	1919
1	26	History-Early: Freda Bull Research Notes
1	27	History-Early: Newspaper Clippings
1	28	History-Early: Research Notes
1	29	50th Anniversary 1943: Correspondence	1942-1943
2	1	50th Anniversary 1943: Invitations
2	2	50th Anniversary 1943: MSC Handbook	1942-1943
2	3	50th Anniversary 1943: Newspaper Clippings
2	4	50th Anniversary 1943: Research Notes
2	5	75th Committee: Correspondence	1967-1968
2	6	75th Committee: Meeting Minutes	1967-1968
2	7	75th Committee: Newspaper Clippings
2	8	75th Committee: Programs

2: Programs & CurriculaReturn to Top

Information files on the various programs and curricula of Montana State University. Burlingame compiled an assortment of correspondence, reports, statistics, newspaper clippings, and lists within these materials in order to further his research. This series covers materials ranging from agriculture to the agricultural experiment station, chemistry, fraternity housing, as well as religion, music, etc. Quotation marks indicate the original folder titles prior to processing.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	9	Agriculture: Agriculture Correspondence	1936
2	10	Agriculture: "Division of Agriculture", Bachelor's of Science
2	11	Agriculture: "Division of Agriculture", Enrollment
2	12	Agriculture: "Division of Agriculture", Master's of Science
2	13	Agriculture: Measurable Attainment in Agriculture After Thirty-Six Years of Service – Clyde McKee
2	14	Agriculture: Montana Extension Service, Extension Correspondence	1964
2	15	Agriculture: Montana Extension Service, Research Notes
2	16	Agriculture: Montana Extension Service, VI. Service to the State: The Experiment Station & Extension Service
2	17	Agriculture: Newspaper Clippings
2	18	Agriculture: Summary of the Occupational Record of the Agricultural Graduates of Montana State College – Clyde McKee, 1930	1930
2	19	Agriculture: Your Agricultural College in a Changing World – Roy E. Huffman
2	20	Agricultural Economics: Agricultural Economics
2	21	Agricultural Economics: Farm Credit in Montana	1964
2	22	Agricultural Economics: Farm Organization & Accounts
2	23	Agricultural Economics: History of Agricultural Economics Department of Montana State College
2	24	Agricultural Economics: Research Notes
2	25	Agricultural Education Below College Grade: report by Oscar Tretsven
2	26	Agricultural Experiment Station: Experiment Correspondence	1945
2	27	Agricultural Experiment Station: Experiment Station Finances	1939
2	28	Agricultural Experiment Station: Fifty Years of Agricultural Research in Montana	1893-1943
2	29	Agricultural Experiment Station: Newspaper Clippings
2	30	Agricultural Experiment Station: Research Notes
2	31	Agricultural Experiment Station: Vibriosis of Cattle – M.G. Burlingame
2	32	Agricultural Experiment Station Publications: Index of Bulletins & Circulars	1958-1964
2	33	Agricultural Experiment Station Publications: Index of Journal Articles	1931-1961
2	34	Agricultural Research: Research Notes
2	35	Business Office: Treasurers at Montana State University
2	36	Chemistry Department: Chemistry Correspondence	1959
2	37	Commerce: Research Notes
2	38	Curricula: Newspaper Clipping
2	39	Curricula: Research Notes
2	40	Dairy Industry: History of the Industry Department, Montana State College
2	41	Development: Appropriation Requests for the University System	1957-1959
2	42	Development: Jobs for the Future, Montana State College
2	43	Development: Newspaper Clippings
2	44	Economics Department: History of the Economics Department
2	45	Education: Newspaper Clippings
2	46	Education: Recommendations Concerning Education in Montana – Harriet Miller
2	47	Education: Research Notes
2	48	Engineering Experiment Station: Index of Bulletins	1936-1963
2	49	English Department – W.F. Brewer: Faculty List	1893-1942
2	50	Film & TV
2	51	Fraternity Housing Survey: Fraternity Housing Correspondence	circa 1945-1961
2	52	Fraternity Housing Survey: Legislation
2	53	Fraternity Housing Survey: Reports and Summaries
2	54	Fraternity Housing Survey: Research Notes
2	55	Fraternity Housing Survey: Surveys
3	1	Graduate Division: Graduate Correspondence	1961
3	2	Graduate Division: History of Graduate Work at Montana State College	1893-1955
3	2a	Historical Report Department of Mechanical Engineering Montana State College - R.E. Gibbs & F.C. Homann
3	3	History of the Department of Education – W.F. Brewer
3	4	History of Forensics – Gerry Neely
3	4a	History of Industrial Engineering Montana State College 1923-1943 - Merrill R. Good
3	5	Letters and Science: Table I
3	6	Modern Language Dept. History – W.F. Brewer: Brewer Correspondence	1943
3	7	Modern Language Dept. History – W.F. Brewer: History of the Department of Modern Languages
3	8	Music: History of Music at Montana State College, 1893-1946 – Louis L. Howard	1893-1946
3	9	Music: Newspaper Clippings
3	10	Music: Research Notes
3	11	Programs: Montana State College: "Speaker's Bureau"
3	12	Programs: Newspaper Clipping
3	13	Programs: Program Correspondence	1943
3	14	Registrar's Office: History of the Registrar's Office
3	15	Religion: Fliers and Newsletter
3	16	Religion: Research Notes
3	17	Short Courses: Newspaper Clipping
3	18	Short Courses: Research Notes

3: BuildingsReturn to Top

Research files pertaining to buildings around the university. Materials within this series include an assortment of correspondence, lease samples, newspaper clippings, committee information, and reports. This series offers information on the naming of various university buildings by committees charged with the responsibility. It also includes material relating to the Engineering Building dedication, as well as information pertaining to "The M," a prominent local landmark set into the mountainside overlooking the city of Bozeman. Quotation marks indicate the original folder titles prior to processing.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
3	19	Buildings: Research Notes & Materials
3	20	Engineering Building Dedication & W. Milnor Roberts: Dedication Correspondence	circa 1922-1954
3	21	Engineering Building Dedication & W. Milnor Roberts: Dedication of New Engineering Building
3	22	Engineering Building Dedication & W. Milnor Roberts: Newspaper Clipping
3	23	Fraternity Building: Correspondence	circa 1947-1984
3	24	Fraternity Building: Research Notes & Materials
3	25	Fraternity Building: Sample Leases
3	26	H & P.E.: Newspaper Clippings
3	27	The "M"
3	28	The "M": Newspaper Clipping
3	29	The "M": Research Notes & Materials
3	30	Machine Shop: Shop Correspondence	1953
3	31	Montana Hall – Cornerstone: Cornerstone Content List
3	32	Name's Committee: Committee Correspondence	circa 1961-1968
3	33	Name's Committee: Committee Correspondence	circa 1971-1977
3	34	Name's Committee: Clippings
3	35	Name's Committee: Faculty Information
3	36	Name's Committee: Meeting Minutes
3	37	Name's Committee: Name's Lists
3	38	Name's Committee: Research Notes
3	39	Student Union: Research Notes & Materials
3	40	Student Union: The Student Union at Montana State University – Mildred J. Leigh

4: FacultyReturn to Top

Research files pertaining to the faculty of the university. Material within this series includes an assortment of biographical sketches, reports, correspondence, meeting notes, as well as an original manuscript. Information ranges from material on staff members to the Quarter Century Club and generic faculty information. Of note is the original manuscript for Twenty Years at Montana State College by Una B. Herrik. A final version of Herrik's text can be found in the library's monograph collection at call number LD3508.H47 1931. Other items of note are a speech former acting President F.B. Linfield (folder 25, "Personal Story"), a report by Linfield (folder 27, "Story of My Work and Services at Montana State College"), information on former President R.R. Renne's inauguration as president of Montana State College (folder 36), and a report by former President A.M. Ryon (folder 39, "The Beginning of Engineering in Montana"). Quotation marks indicate the original folder titles prior to processing.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
3	41	Atkinson, Alfred: Comments on Teaching Faculty of MSC - Alfred Atkinson
3	42	Atkinson, Alfred: Research Notes & Materials
3	43	Burke – Brewer – Davis – Burlingame: Burke Correspondence	circa 1985
3	44	Burke – Brewer – Davis – Burlingame: Burke Biographical Sketch
3	45	Burke – Brewer – Davis – Burlingame: Meeting Notes
3	46	Cardon, P.V.: Research Notes
3	47	William M. Cobleigh: Biographical Sketch
3	48	William M. Cobleigh: Cobleigh Correspondence	circa 1943-1944, 1955
3	49	William M. Cobleigh: Montana State College and Early Day Public Health in Montana – H.B. Foote
3	50	William M. Cobleigh: Montana State College–Progress in the Years from 1893-1936
3	51	William M. Cobleigh: Research Notes
4	1	Cooley, R.A.: Biographical Sketch
4	2	Cooley, R.A.: Cooley Correspondence	1946
4	3	Faculty: Faculty Correspondence	1969
4	4	Faculty: Newspaper Clipping
4	5	Faculty: Research Notes
4	6	Faculty Handbook: Research Materials
4	7	Foster, Luther: Foster Correspondence	1955, 1970
4	8	Foster, Luther: Research Notes
4	9	Government: Government Correspondence	1958, 1961
4	10	Hapner, Leora: Research Materials
4	11	Una B. Herrik: The Coat of Arms of Sir Peter Warren – Emily H. Butterfield
4	12	Una B. Herrik: The College of Montana
4	13	Una B. Herrik: Herrick Correspondence	circa 1910-1931
4	14	Una B. Herrik: His First Suicide – Edwin LeFeere
4	15	Una B. Herrik: Poetry
4	16	Una B. Herrik: Twenty Years at Montana State College – Una B. Herrik
4	17	Una B. Herrik: Twenty Years at Montana State College – Una B. Herrik
4	18	Una B. Herrik: Whose Boots? – Juanita Grulla
4	19	Leon H. Johnson: Newspaper Clipping
4	20	William A. Johnstone: Johnstone Correspondence	1970
4	21	M.M. Kelso: A New Tax System for Montana – M.M. Kelso
4	22	F.B. Linfield: Agricultural Development in Montana
4	23	F.B. Linfield: Biographical Sketch
4	24	F.B. Linfield: Linfield Correspondence	circa 1943-1944
4	25	F.B. Linfield: A Personal Story (A talk prepared for the Quarter Century Club)
4	26	F.B. Linfield: Research Notes
4	27	F.B. Linfield: Story of my Work and Services at the Montana State College
4	28	Mrs. Marshall: Mrs. Frederica Ellsworth Marshall
4	29	McIntosh, Carl: Newspaper Clippings
4	30	Homer G. Phelps: Newspaper Clipping
4	31	Homer G. Phelps: Phelps Correspondence	1979-1980
4	32	Homer G. Phelps: Research Notes
4	33	Quarter Century Club: Club Correspondence	1943
4	34	James Reid: Biographical Sketch
4	35	Renne, R.R.: Gubernatorial Propaganda
4	36	Renne, R.R.: The Inauguration of Roland R. Renne as President of Montana State College
4	37	Renne, R.R.: Newspaper Clippings
4	38	Renne, R.R.: Renne Correspondence	1967-1968, 1984
4	39	A.M. Ryon: The Beginning of Engineering Education in Montana – A.M. Ryon
4	40	A.M. Ryon: Research Materials
4	41	A.M. Ryon: Ryon Correspondence	1937-1939
4	42	A.M. Ryon: Ryon Correspondence	1939
4	43	A.M. Ryon: Ryon Correspondence	1949-1951
4	44	A.L. Strand: Biographical Sketch
4	45	A.L. Strand: Clippings
4	46	A.L. Strand: An Evening of Reminiscence at Montana State University Concerning President A.L. Strand
4	47	A.L. Strand: Strand Correspondence	1969, 1982
5	1	Deane B. Swingle: Biographical Sketch
5	2	John C. "Jack" Taylor: Biographical Sketch
5	3	John C. "Jack" Taylor: Information on John C. (Jack) Taylor – Helen S. Taylor & E.J. Bell Jr.
5	4	Joseph Thaler: Biographical Sketch
5	5	True, Louis: Montana State University and How it was Built
5	6	True, Louis: Questionnaire
5	7	Howard Welsh: Biographical Sketch
5	8	E.V. Wilcox: Wilcox Correspondence	circa 1969
5	9	Wilson, M.L.: Biographical Sketch
5	10	Wilson, M.L.: Research Materials

5: StudentsReturn to Top

Research files pertaining to students and student activities. Material within this collection consists of lists, newspaper clippings, correspondence, reports, etc. Information ranges from materials on alumni to fraternities, prep-school materials, and correspondence as well as a report by two of the original eight students of the university. Of interest is the report by Lucy Stafford Peck, one of three female students enrolled from the eight original students of Montana State College (folder 25, "Some Memories of Early Days at M.S.C.") Quotation marks indicate the original folder titles prior to processing.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
5	11	Alumni: Chemistry Department, Student Lists
5	12	Alumni: Newspaper Clippings
5	13	Alumni: Research Materials
5	14	Alumni Association: Association Correspondence	1941
5	15	Early M.S.U. – Lorentz, Floyd: Lorentz Correspondence	1943, 1970
5	16	Early M.S.U. – Lorentz, Floyd: Research Notes
5	17	Fraternities: Fraternities Correspondence	1962
5	18	Fraternities: Early History of Fraternities at M.S.U. – Paul Davidson
5	19	Fraternities: Greek Society at Montana State – Jerry C. Young
5	20	Fraternities: Research Notes
5	21	Government – Students & Organizations: History of Student Government: Montana State College – William M. Dimich
5	22	Government – Students & Organizations: The History of Student Government at Montana State College – Jack Kober
5	23	Government – Students & Organizations: Research Notes
5	24	Henry T. Murray: Some Recollections of Montana State College – Henry T. Murray
5	25	Lucy Stafford Peck: Some Memories of Early Days at M.S.C. – Lucy Stafford Peck
5	26	Prep School – John Kremer: Kremer Correspondence	circa 1970-1974
5	27	Prep School – John Kremer: Some Observations Relative to the Preparatory Department at Montana State College during the years 1900 to 1910 – John H. Kremer
5	28	Tom McKee: McKee Correspondence	circa 1947-1961
5	29	Tom McKee: Newspaper Clipping
5	30	Tom McKee: Research Notes
5	31	Rhodes Scholars: Research Notes
5	32	Student Entertainment: Interview Transcript
5	33	Student Life: Research Materials
5	34	Student Life: The Strike of 1930

6: MiscellaneousReturn to Top

Series 6 is a hodgepodge of information compiled by Burlingame for his text. Topics in this series vary from academic freedom to creation of units (other higher-level education institutions in Montana), as well as finances, endowment, traditions, and the 4-H. Materials range from correspondence to newspaper clippings, reports, and conference proceedings. Quotation marks indicate the original folder titles prior to processing.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
5	35	Academic Freedom: Challenge the Candidate
5	36	Academic Freedom: Newspaper Clipping
5	37	Archives: Research Materials
5	38	Bozeman Comment: Facts About Montana State College
5	39	Chancellors: Chancellors Correspondence	1943
5	40	Chancellors: Newspaper Clipping
5	41	Chancellors: Research Notes
5	42	Commencement, 1959; Senior Class Call: Senior Class Call – Kenneth Nelson	1959
5	43	Consolidation: Newspaper Clippings
5	44	Consolidation: Research Notes
5	45	Creation of Units: Units Correspondence	1970
5	46	Creation of Units: Research Notes
5	47	Don Anderson "America's Challenge to the Press" – Don Anderson
5	48	Endowment & Research Foundation: Foundation Correspondence	1959-1960
5	49	Enrollment: Enrollment Chart	1893-1925
5	50	Enrollment: Enrollment Data and Degree Information	1958; 1978-1979
5	51	Finances: Appropriation Requests for the University System, Biennium	1957-1959
5	52	Finances: Montana State College Experiment Station & Branch Stations Extension Service
5	53	Finances: Newspaper Clipping
5	54	Finances: Research Materials
5	55	Finances: Support for Higher Education in Montana
5	56	Governor Nutter, 1961-1962: I.S.A. Bobcat Independent
5	57	Great Plains Project – W.F. Brewer: Project Correspondence	1943
5	58	Land Grants: Research Notes
5	59	Northern Plains Conference, 1944: Conference Proceedings	1944
5	60	Sigma XI Club – B.L. Johnson: The History of the Sigma XI Club – B.L. Johnson
5	61	Traditions: A List of Traditions Which Have Been Recognized at Some Time at Montana State University
5	62	University & Other Units: Montana State University – Ken Neils
5	63	University & Other Units: Newspaper Clippings
5	64	University & Other Units: Research Materials
5	65	4-H: 4-H Club History & Development – Meta Scheytt Harper
5	66	4-H: Directory
5	67	4-H: Youth Opportunities in Montana

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Historians-Montana-Bozeman

Personal Names

Burlingame, Merrill G. (Merrill Gildea), 1901-1994--A History, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
Hamilton, James McClellan, 1861-1940
Herrick, Una B.--Twenty years at Montana State College
McKee, Tom-Correspondence
Peck, Lucy Stafford-Correspondence

Corporate Names

Montana State College--History
Montana State University--Bozeman
Montana State University--Bozeman--Buildings
Montana State University--Bozeman--Curricula
Montana State University--Bozeman--History--Sources
Montana State University--Bozeman--Presidents
Montana State University--Bozeman--Students

Geographical Names

Montana

Archives West Finding Aid

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