Alfred Myers Diaries, 1868-1891

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Myers, Alfred
Title
Alfred Myers Diaries
Dates
1868-1891
Quantity
.2 linear feet
Collection Number
Collection 0382, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The Alfred Myers Diaries consists of diary transcriptions dating from 1868 through 1891. The diary transcriptions describe Myers’ life as a pioneer Montana cattleman, placer miner and rancher. The diaries show day-to-day occurrences of business, weather and family matters. An additional folder containing a biographical sketch of Myers by Donna Brown has been added to the collection along with an original carte-de-visite photograph of Myers.
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

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Alfred Myers was born around 1840 in Illinois. In 1866 Myers moved to the Montana territory as a freighter from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Virginia City, Montana. In 1868 Myers left the freighters business to begin his career in placer mining and stock raising in the Helena area. Eventually, Myers and his brother Benjamin established a large stock ranch (at one point having around 40,000 acres and at least 10,000 head of cattle) in the Shields River Valley north of Livingston, Montana. Myers married Miss Mabel Russell and fathered four daughters.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of Alfred Myers’ diaries transcriptions (1868, 1869, 1870-1873, 1874-1880, 1881-1882, 1883-1884, 1886, 1888, 1890 and 1891). These diary transcriptions describe Myers’ life as a pioneer Montana cattleman, placer miner and rancher. The diaries show day-to-day occurrences of business, weather and family matters. An additional folder containing a biographical sketch of Myers by Donna Brown has been added to the collection along with an original carte-de-visite photograph of Myers.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Original diaries kept by Montana rancher Alfred Myers were loaned to Montana State University by his daughter Alfreda Potter of Hardin, Montana in 1965. They were then sent to the Montana Historical Society in Helena for microfilming, and afterwards transcribed by MSU library personnel. The original diaries were returned to Potter in 1967. Additional copies of the transcripts have been retained by the Montana Historical Society and assigned by them accession number SC 140.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2015 September 18

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Alfred Myers Interview
Story by Donna Brown
1/2 Portrait of Alfred Myers as a young man
with negative
1/3 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1-June 5, 1868
1/4 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts June 6-December 31, 1868
1/5 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1-June 28, 1869
1/6 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts June 29-December 31, 1869
1/7 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1, 1870-June 20, 1873
1/8 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts June 21-December 31, 1873
1/9 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1, 1874-September 20, 1880
1/10 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts September 21-December 31, 1880
1/11 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1-September 7, 1881
1/12 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts September 7, 1881-December 6, 1882
1/13 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1, 1883-April 22, 1884
1/14 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1-November 25, 1886
1/15 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1-August 23, 1888
1/16 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1-December 31, 1890
1/17 Alfred Myers Diary Transcripts January 1-November 28, 1891

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Frontier and pioneer life -- Montana
  • Miners -- Montana -- Jefferson County -- Diaries
  • Mines and mineral resources -- Montana -- Jefferson County
  • Ranchers -- Montana -- Shields River Valley -- Diaries
  • Ranching -- Montana -- Shields River Valley

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries -- Montana -- Jefferson County
  • Diaries -- Montana -- Shields River Valley