Helen Addison Howard Papers

Helen Addison Howard Papers, 1927-1988

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Howard, Helen Addison, 1904-1989
Title: Helen Addison Howard Papers
Dates: 1927-1988 (inclusive)
19271988
Quantity: 2.0 linear feet
Collection Number: Mss 188 (collection)
Summary: Helen Addison Howard was a Montana writer most recognized for her writings on Native Americans. The collection contains biographical material, diaries for intermittent periods, general correspondence, research files, book and article manuscripts, and photographs used in her writing.
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--Missoula.
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

Helen Addison Howard was born in Missoula, Montana, in 1904. She worked as a reporter and feature writer for the Daily Missoulian from 1923 until 1929. While living in Missoula she earned her bachelor's degree from Montana State University in 1927. She later earned her master's degree at the University of Southern California in 1933. After graduation, she remained in California where she met and married Ben Overland in 1946. She held various positions while living in California, including membership in the Women's Ambulance and Defense Corps of America, 1942-1945, survey work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1943, and clerk/typist for the Los Angeles Police Department, 1950-1951.

Howard is most recognized for her writings on Native Americans, particularly the Nez Percé, but she also wrote extensively on other aspects of the frontier west. Her manuscripts include War Chief Joseph (1941), Saga of Chief Joseph (1965), Northwest Trail Blazers (1963), American Indian Poetry (1979), and American Frontier Tales (1980). Howard also contributed to many journals throughout her career, including Washington Historical Quarterly, Writer, Frontier and Midland, Historical Bulletin, Journal of the West, Pacific Northwest Quarterly, Catholic Digest, and Real West. Howard was also a book reviewer for Journal of the West beginning in 1969, and a member of its editorial advisory board in 1978.

Howard had a love of horses and wrote in many journals relating to that topic. Her articles were published in Equestrian Trails, Arabian Horse News, Horseman, Western Horseman, and Saddle Action. She died in the summer of 1989.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains biographical material and diaries for intermittent periods, 1952-1971; general correspondence, 1934-1988; research files; book and article manuscripts; photographs; and reference books used in her writing.

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. Copyright held by Barbara Finn of Missoula, Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Helen Addison Howard 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 seven series:

Series I: Biographical, 7 folders, 1927, 1933, 1952-1971

Series II: Correspondence, 6 folders, 1928-1988

Series III: Writings, 22 folders, 1927-1987

Series IV: Photographs, 13 photographs, circa 1910s-1983

Series V: Research Notes, 4 folders, 1941-1987

Series VI: Serials, 5 folders, 1934, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1980

Location of Originals

The collection contains copies of photographs from the Montana Historical Society.

Custodial History

The collection remained in the possession of Howard or her literary trustee until donation to the archives.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Helen Addison Howard through the Friends of the Library, 1965; Gift of Helen Addison Howard, 1978 and 1982; Gift of Barbara Finn, 1990 and 1996.

Processing Note

The collection was originally processed as three collections: LC 188, SC 364, and SC 349. In 1998, those collections were combined and re-described. In 2003, a group of formerly unprocessed photographs was added to the collection and described.

Separated Materials

The following books were removed from the archival collection in 2003. In 2014 some were added to the library's book collections and some were permanently removed because they duplicated library holdings

Alcorn, Rowena L. Timothy: A Nez Perce Chief: 1800-1891. Fairfield, Washington: Ye Galleon Press, 1983.

American Indian Publishers, Inc. Dictionary of Indain Tribes of the Americas. Volume 1. Newport Beach, California: American Indian Publishers, Inc., 1980.

American Indian Publishers, Inc. Dictionary of Indain Tribes of the Americas. Volume 2. Newport Beach, California: American Indian Publishers, Inc., 1980.

American Indian Publishers, Inc. Dictionary of Indain Tribes of the Americas. Volume 3. Newport Beach, California: American Indian Publishers, Inc., 1980.

American Indian Publishers, Inc. Dictionary of Indain Tribes of the Americas. Volume 4. Newport Beach, California: American Indian Publishers, Inc., 1980.

Ault, Nelson A. The Papers of Lucullus Virgil McWhorter. State College of Washington: Friends of the Library, 1959.

Bartlett, Grace. The Wallowa Country: 1867-1877. Grace Bartlett, 1976.

Brininstool, E.A. Crazy Horse: Greatest Fighting Chief of the Ogalalla Sioux, His Tragic End. Los Angeles, California: Wetzel Publishing Co., Inc., 1949.

Brininstool, E.A. A Trooper with Custer. Columbus, Ohio: The Hunter-Tradder-Trapper Co., 1926.

Cressman, L.S. Prehistory of the Far West: Homes of the Vanished People. Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press, 1977.

Densmore, Frances. Choctaw Music. New York: Da Capo Press, 1972.

Densmore, Frances. Music of Acoma, Isleta, Cochiti and Zuni Pueblos. New York: Da Capo Press, 1972.

Densmore, Frances. Nootda and Quileute Music. New York: Da Capo Press, 1972.

Densmore, Frances. Teton Sioux Music. New York: Da Capo Press, 1972.

DeWall, Robb. Crazy Horse and Korczak: The Story of an Epic Mountain Carving. Crazy Horse, South Dakota: Korczak's Heritage, Inc., 1982.

DeWall, Robb. The Saga of Sitting Bull's Bones. Crazy Horse, South Dakota: Korczak's Heritage, Inc., 1984.

Drury, Clifford M. Elkanah and Mary Walker: Pioneers among the Spokane. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1940.

Howard, Joseph K. Montana Margins: A State Anthology. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1946.

Hunt, Garrett B. Indian Wars of the Inland Empire. Spokane, Washington: Spokane Community College Library, 1966.

Jocelyn, Stephen P. Mostly Alkali. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1953.

Johnson, Virginia W. The Unregimented General: A Biography of Nelson A. Miles. Boston: The Riverside Press, 1962.

Josephy, Alvin M. Jr. The American Heritage Book of Indians. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1961.

McWhorter, Lucullus V. Yellow Wolf: His Own Story. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1940.

Merriam, H.G. The University of Montana: A History. Missoula: University of Montana Press, 1970.

Payette, B.C. The Mullan Road. Montreal, Canada: Payette Radio Limited, 1968.

Powell, Peter J. and Malone, Michael P. Montana: Past and Present. Los Angeles: University of California, 1976.

Seibel, Greta. Sentimental Journeys. Missoula: Economy Publishers, 1975.

Shadbolt, Doris. Bill Reid. Seattle, London: University of Washington Press, 1986.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: Biographical , 1927, 1933, 1952-1971Return to Top

7 folders

This series consists of biographical sketches written about Howard for various professional journals, with her notes correcting the information. Also included are Howard's daily diaries. The diaries focus on both professional and personal matters, but focus mainly on Howard's daily activities. Her diplomas from Montana State University (now the University of Montana) and the University of Southern California, and four postcards of Native Americans are included.

The series is arranged alphabetically.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	Biographical Sketches	undated
1/2	Diaries	1952, 1957-1958, and 1960
1/3	Diaries	1962-1964
1/4	Diaries	Jan, 1967-1969
1/5	Diaries	Apr, 1969-1971
1/6	Diplomas	1927, 1933
1/7	Postcards	undated

Series II: Correspondence , 1928-1988Return to Top

6 folders

The series contains general correspondence from Howard. Also in the series is correspondence that Howard kept from her writing subjects, including Korczak Ziolkowski who carved the statue of Crazy Horse in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Howard also kept extensive correspondence with David and Joyce Flaccus and Robin Higham.

The series is arranged chronologically.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/8	General Correspondence	1928-1969
1/9	General Correspondence	1970-1988
1/10	The Strange Case of Raswan Correspondence	1977-1978, 1981
2/1	David and Joyce Floccus	1978-1982
2/2	Robin Higham	1978-1986
2/3	Korczak Ziolkowski	1978-1987

Series III: Writings , 1927-1987Return to Top

22 folders

The series is further divided into three sub-series: Reviews, Scrapbook, and Manuscripts. Copies of reviews of books that Howard wrote for the Journal of the West are included. Howard kept a scrapbook of the newspaper clippings that she wrote for the Missoulian as well as for other newspapers. The majority of the series is of Howard's copies of writings, both the working copies and the original. The works that are included are American Frontier Tales, Excerpts from Mrs. John Mullen's diary, Northwest Trail Blazers, The Strange Case of Raswan, and The UY Ranch. The series also contains photographs and other illustrations related to Howard's manuscripts.

The series is arranged alphabetically.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Subseries 1: Reviews
Box/Folder
2/4		undated
	Subseries 2: Scrapbook
Box/Folder
2/5	Newspaper Clippings	1927-1949
	Subseries 3: Manuscripts
Box/Folder
2/6	American Frontier Tales, Forward-pg. 5	1979
2/7	American Frontier Tales, pg. 6-pg. 72	1979
2/8	American Frontier Tales, pg. 73-pg. 127	1979
2/9	American Frontier Tales, pg. 128-pg. 196	1979
2/10	American Frontier Tales, pg. 197-pg. 255	1979
2/11	American Frontier Tales, pg. 256-Publisher's Blurb	1979
2/12	Illustrations from American Frontier Tales	undated
3/1	Photos from American Frontier Tales	undated
3/2	Excerpts from Mrs. John Mullen's Diary	undated
3/3	Northwest Trail Blazers, pg. 1-pg. 75	1963
3/4	Northwest Trail Blazers, pg. 76-pg. 175	1963
3/5	Northwest Trail Blazers, pg. 176-pg. 275	1963
3/6	Northwest Trail Blazers, pg. 296-end	1963
3/7	Photo plates from Northwest Trail Blazers	undated
3/8	The Strange Case of Raswan	undated
3/9	Photos from The Strange Case of Raswan	undated
3/10	The UY Ranch, working copy	1987
4/1	The UY Ranch, original copy	1987
4/2	Photos from The UY Ranch	undated

Series IV: Photographs , ca. 1910s-1983 Return to Top

13 photographs

The photographs that are in this series are ones that Howard used in her writings. A few photographs are of Korczak Ziolkowski when he presented a miniature statue of Crazy Horse to Pope John Paul II. The series also contains two publicity photos of Howard.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
4/3	188(IV)1: Helen Addison Howard Aboard Steamer En Route to Honolulu, Hawaii	Jan. 5, 1940
4/4	188(IV)2: Helen Addison Howard portrait	ca. 1941
4/5	188(IV)3: Pope John Paul II receiving sculpture of Crazy Horse	Dec. 1983
4/6	188(IV)4: Korczak Ziolkowski and wife	1981
4/7	188(IV)5: Korczak Ziolkowski	undated
4/8	188(IV)6: Korczak Ziolkowski with group	undated
4/9	188(IV)7: Captain John Mullan	undated
4/9	188(IV)8: Captain John Mullan	undated
4/9	188(IV)9: Captain John Mullan	undated
4/9	188(IV)10: Captain John Mullan	undated
4/9	188(IV)11: Captain John Mullan	undated
4/9	188(IV)12: Captain John Mullan	undated
4/9	188(IV)13: Father Pierre-Jean DeSmet as photographed by Gustavus Sohon	1863

Series V: Research Notes , 1941-1987Return to Top

4 folders

This series contains materials that Howard used in her research for her writing. Howard used various newspaper clippings as well as writings from other authors. These writings are in the form of pamphlets and booklets. Some handwritten notes that Howard made are also included. Research material that Howard collected in her writing of Korczak Ziolkowski is also in the series. The material includes booklets and four copies of a tri-annual newspaper that Ziolkowski published about the happenings from his home on Crazy Horse Mountain.

The series is arranged alphabetically.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
4/10	Newspaper Clippings	1941-1986
4/11	General Notes	undated
4/12	Other writers	1946, 1966-1967, 1971, 1973, 1977, undated
4/13	Korczak Ziolkowski	1982, 1984-1985, 1987, undated

Series VI: Serials , 1934, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1980Return to Top

5 folders

The series consists of the published form of a few of Howard's manuscripts that were included in professional journals.

The series is arranged chronologically.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
4/14	The Washington Historical Quarterly, "Captain John Mullan"	1934
4/15	Journal of the West, "Hiawatha"	1971
4/16	Journal of the West, "The Men Who Saved the Buffalo"	1975
4/17	Journal of the West, "Unique History of Fort Tujon"	1979
4/18	Horseman, "A Horse in Your Backyard"	1980

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.)
Horsemanship
Horses
Indians of North America -- History
Nez Percé Indians--History

Personal Names

Flaccus, Joyce--Correspondence
Flaccus, David P., 1917-1993--Correspondence
Higham, Robin D.S.
Ziolkowski, Korczak, 1908---Correspondence

Geographical Names

West (U.S.)--History

Form or Genre Terms

Photographs

Occupations

Women authors, American
Women historians--United States

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