Montana State University Archives and Special Collections facts for kids
The Montana State University Archives and Special Collections is a special library in Bozeman, Montana. It's also known as the Merrill G. Burlingame Archives and Special Collections. You can find it on the second floor of the Renne Library at Montana State University. This amazing place keeps old documents, photos, and other items. They tell stories about the history of the American West, trout and salmon fish, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and many other cool subjects.
Contents
What are the Montana State University Archives?
The Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections is part of the Montana State University Library in Bozeman, Montana. It's a place where important historical items are kept safe. Think of it like a treasure chest for history!
Two people, Merrill G. Burlingame and Minnie Paugh, were super important in starting and growing this archive. They helped build a strong collection of materials from the region.
Who was Minnie Paugh?
Minnie Paugh (1919–2003) was a librarian and teacher at Montana State College. This college is now called Montana State University. She played a big role in creating the university's Archives and Special Collections.
Minnie loved to research and write. She helped write several books about Montana's history. She also collected many oral histories. These are recordings and notes from interviews with people who lived through historical events. Her interests included Native American tribes, Yellowstone National Park, and the history of farming and ranching in Montana.
Minnie Paugh's work greatly helped Montana history. She also helped build the Montana State University's Archives and Special Collections. Her own writings and family histories are kept there. She also worked on many collections that are now part of the Merrill G. Burlingame Archives.
Who was Merrill G. Burlingame?
Merrill G. Burlingame (1901–1994) was also a very active researcher and historian. He wrote many important works that helped the archive grow. Burlingame was a history professor at Montana State College. He also helped create the Museum of the Rockies.
His writings included articles and books about Montana politics and military history. He also wrote about the general history of the American West.
What kind of items are collected?
The MSU Archives and Special Collections gathers items on many topics. These include Montana history, famous Montanans, Native American history, and the history of the environment and farming.
The materials are organized into 11 main areas:
- Farming, Ranching, and Agriculture
- Buildings and Engineering
- History of Montana and the American West
- Native Americans
- Montana State University History
- Important People of Montana
- Trout, Salmon, and Fishing History
- Politics and Government
- Yellowstone National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
- Women's and Gender Histories
- Writers and Stories from the Region
The Montana State Archives and Special Collections holds about 34,000 books. It also has 1200 linear feet of special documents. That's like a line of books and papers over 1000 feet long! They also have videos, sound recordings, old newspapers, maps, and photos.
Besides physical items, the archive also has digital collections. These include all the writings of Ivan Doig. They also have old Montanan Yearbooks and recordings from the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention.
Important Collections You Can Explore
The Montana State Archives and Special Collections has many notable collections. These include items about Yellowstone National Park, the history of the environment in the American West, Native Americans, and Western writers.
Here are some of the special collections:
- Trout and Salmonid Collection
- Jack Ellis Haynes and Haynes Inc. Records
- F. Jay Haynes Papers
- Ivan Doig Archive
- Burton K. Wheeler Papers
- Fort Ellis and Gustavus C. Doane Collection
- Yellowstone Park Company Records
- Mildred J. Leigh Papers
- Marian T. Place Papers
- James Willard Schultz Papers
