Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-05-04
Montana Historical Society Was Organized
Inn 1865 and Has Proved of Great Value

Dance g. Stuart. when w. +. Sanders was
elected temporary president. and Gran
vile Stuart temporary secretary. An
other meeting WIS held the March fol-
lowing. n these officers elected: Presi-
dent, Wilbur F. Sanders. secretary, Gran
vile Stuart; historian, Judge Hosmer:
board of directors-Judge Hosmer, w. f
Sanders. Malcolm Clarke. Chris. p. Hig-
gins, Walter w. De Lacy.
A committee was appointed to prepare
the design for a seal, and another meet
ing was called for April, 1865. I find
no record Of this meeting, nor of another
until October. 1873. A couple of DAYS
later another meeting was held at the
same place as the first. namely at the
courthouse in Deer Lodge. The principal
business transacted there was to receive
new members; offer a resolution of con-
dolence on the death of James Stuart.
and adopt a constitution.
Two years later there was a meeting
of the society. probably in Helena. The
former president and secretary were re-
elected. and these new officers chosen:
Corresponding secretary, William F. Gull
len; recording secretary, Cornelius
Hedges; treasurer, Samuel t. Hauser; H.
brarian. Charles Rumley. The society
''t3 - lNA ~ ~ tAi6 al WIG AaDh-
city for which 1t had been created, and
soon the first volume of its reports APP
peared.
There were many priceless contribu-
tons made to the society, during the
first years of its existence and prior to
the meeting in 1878. Realizing their
value, these had been stored in the IL
brary buildings at Helena. which, having
passed safely through one fire. it was
thought would be the best place for
them. Then occurred the fire of Jan. 8,
1874. when most of Helena was destroyed.
the library sharing the fate of the other
buildings.
Few Papers Saved
Only a part of the papers, relics, etc.
of the historical society were saved. to
serve as the nucleus for a new collection.
This was rapidly brought together. To-
day. the visitor to our historical society
rooms in the state house at Helena can
not but be impressed by what has been
accomplished during the past half CEN
fury in adding TO the historical collec-
ton.
Daily many visitors go there, drawn
either by idle curiosity, or to gain infor-
nation. Its rooms are already crowded
with historical objects to their capacity,
and not being we'll lighted. many are
likely to be overlooked. 1t is painfully
evident that a new fireproof building is
needed to house the collection of the So
ciety. it having outgrown its present
quarters.
The reports of the society have served
the excellent purpose Of preserving rem
iniscences Of pioneers that would other
wise never have been written. These
"reminiscences are accurate, and can be
IA@a..IAI $500. 49,, H. 49, x,s
cannot always be affirmed of what the
writer has heard or read. As an instance
of this, one contributor in writing of
Bonneville, says that his father came
to this country when Bonneville was a
lad and I'll for his son an appoint
ment to the West Point military acade-
my, where he graduated in 1916"
This is a mistake. Bonneville was
brought to this country by the man
who was called by Theodore Roosevelt
"a dirty little atheist" or TO be more
definite, Bonneville was a protege of
Thomas Paine, his father not having
been permitted to leave France. l men
ton this to show the student that the
contributors to the historical reports are
not invariably posted on general history,
although they may be we'll informed on
that Of Montana.
The first volume Of the reports was
well received, and later volumes have met
with an increased demand. Without the
information they contain, n who
wished to inform himself on Montana
history would have few original docu-
ments to consult.
They are remarkably interesting. those
reports. giving the reader an accurate
picture OF early life In the territory. and
the hardships and dangers the pioneers
faced.
The first volume Of the reports con-
tains a letter from John Ball. who
crossed the Rocky mountains in 1882, in
the company of Nathaniel Wyeth, the
Boston fur trader. He did not come to
Montana, his route lying south Of here.
Another letter in the same volume is
from General Bonneville. In 1t he claims
to have taken the first wagons through
South pass. A foot note, however, de-
MES this, saying Ashley was the first to
take wagons through the pass.