Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Winton Weydemeyer papers, 1924-1993
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Weydemeyer, Winton, 1903-
- Title
- Winton Weydemeyer papers
- Dates
- 1924-1993 (inclusive)19241993
- Quantity
- 4 linear feet
- Collection Number
- MC 350 (collection)
- Summary
- Winton Weydemeyer was a Fortine, Montana, tree farmer, master of the Montana State Grange, legislator, and active conservationist. Papers include personal papers, legislative papers, records of his conservation work, etc.
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Winton Weydemeyer was born in Cass City, Michigan, on March 19, 1903, the son of Harry and Margaret Weydemeyer. From the age of 6 weeks, he lived on the family farm about 6 miles north of Fortine, Montana. He graduated from eighth grade at the local one-room school at the age of 11, having skipped two grades. He graduated from Eureka High School in 1919. He then worked two years on the family farm before attending Montana State College in Bozeman, majoring in agriculture.
In 1939 he was one of the founding members of the Tobacco Valley Grange. He was active in the Grange for the rest of his life, serving as local secretary, master of the county Grange, and eventually master of the Montana State Grange. He edited the Montana Grange News for many years and was a lobbyist for the Grange in the Montana legislature.
Politically a conservative Republican, Weydemeyer served one term in the Montana Senate from 1951-1953. While there he advocated issues involving preservation of personal freedom and of Montana's natural resources. He co-sponsored legislation setting up a conservation education program in the schools. He believed fervently in the responsible development and use of Montana's natural resources. In 1971 he ran unsuccessfully for the Montana Constitutional Convention. Weydemeyer's advocacy of conservation of natural resources led him to be a founding member of the Montana Conservation Council, successor to the Montana chapter of the Northwest Conservation League. He served as president of the Council, and as the Council's lobbyist in the legislature. He also was active on the Montana Water Pollution Council.
Winton Weydemeyer was also an ornithologist, publishing numerous articles on Montana's birds. He was also a skilled nature photographer, publishing a book Picture Taking in Glacier Park (1986). Weydemeyer married Hallie M. Taylor in 1959. She had four children Richard, Hallie, Roberta, and Betty Thompson from a previous marriage. Winton Weydemeyer died February 4, 1993.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Weydemeyer papers consist of 7 subgroups: personal papers (1924-1992), legislative records (1951-1954), Constitutional Convention papers (1971-1972), Montana State Grange records (1950-1975), Montana Conservation Council records (1938-1975), Montana Water Pollution Council records (1955-1970), and records (1933-1993) of Hallie and her brother Tom C. Taylor's Tamaracka Ranch, south of Troy.
Weydemeyer's personal papers include correspondence (1924-1992), subject files on a variety of conservation issues and organizations, and writings. The legislative subgroup includes correspondence, subject files arranged by broad areas of interest, and press releases "Your Legislature in Action" by Weydemeyer. The Constitutional Convention subgroup consists of campaign materials, writings on the ConCon, clippings, and miscellany. The Montana State Grange subgroup includes lobbying files (1950-1975), objectives and policies, and a scrapbook of speeches and writings (1963-1965)
The Montana Conservation Council subgroup includes records of the Council and of its predecessor the Montana Chapter of the Northwest Conservation League. It consists of correspondence (1938-1975) and subject files. The Montana Water Pollution Council subgroup includes correspondence and minutes (1955-1970), reports, subject files, and miscellany.
The Thomas C. Taylor and Hallie Taylor Weydemeyer subgroup (1981-1993) consists primarily of records of the Tamaracka Ranch and includes correspondence (1981-1993) concerning the ranch, timber sales, etc.; financial records; log contracts and sale records, minutes (1984-1993), a report (1985) on water rights from 1909-1985, and miscellany.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
[item description and date]. Name of Collection. Collection Number. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged by subgroup and series. Some material housed in Archives map case. See inventory below for more information.
Location of Collection
16:4-3Acquisition Information
Acquisition information available upon request.
Processing Note
Processed in 2008.
Separated Materials
Some records transferred to LR 33. Publications transferred to the Library. Photo albums transferred to Photograph Archives. See inventory below for more information.
Related Materials
Montana Conservation Council records transferred to University of Montana (Mss 189). See inventory below for list of material transferred.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Winton Weydemeyer Personal Papers, 1924-1992Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Biographical Materials |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 1 | Biographical sketches, obituary, campaign flyer,
clippings |
1993, undated |
General Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 2 | B (correspondents include Tim Babcock, K. K.
Baldwin, J. Wheeler Barger, Max Baucus, Stuart M. Brandborg) |
1925-1990 |
| 1 / 3 Denver Post (re mis-credited photo) | 1933 | |
| 1 / 4 | F-L (correspondents include Marie Fraser, Glacier
Park Photo Shop, Eleanor Harrer, Lake County Soil Conservation District, Lincoln
County Clerk and Recorder) |
1928-1991 |
| 1 / 5 | Montana State College, Bozeman (includes Alumni
Association, work at Experiment Station in Mocassin) |
1924-1938 |
| 1 / 6 | M-P (correspondents include Missoulian Publishing
Company, Montana Children's Home Society, Montana Dept. of Fish and Game, Montana
Wilderness Association, W. A. Murray, Olaus J. Murie, J. Neils Lumber Company, Louis
B. Neuman, Press Reporting Syndicate, Putnam Book Store) |
1925-1989 |
| 1 / 7 | S-Y (correspondents include R. C. Setterstrom,
Leonard B. Searle, University of Montana, Ward's Natural Science Establishment, S.
L. Wheedon Company, Henry Weydemeyer, Pat Williams, John M. York) |
1925-1989 |
Subject Files |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 8 | Citizens' Conference on Water |
1967 |
| 1 / 9 | Columbia River Development Corp. |
1950-1958 |
| 1 / 10 | Environmental Communications Council |
1971 |
| 1 / 11 | Wesley D'Ewart |
1954 |
| 1 / 12 | Fraternities (Montana State College) |
1924-1929 |
| 1 / 13 | Insurance |
1927-1960 |
| 1 / 14 | Knowles and Paradise Dams |
1957-1963 |
| 1 / 15 | Local Government Study Commissions (Eureka and
Lincoln County) |
1976 |
| 1 / 16 | Medicinal roots and plants |
1928 |
| 1 / 17 | Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation |
1984 |
| 1 / 18 | Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission
preliminary report |
1973 |
| 1 / 19 | Montana League of Conservation Voters |
1972 |
| 1 / 20 | Montana Nature Conservancy |
1990-1991 |
| 1 / 21 | Montana State University Advisory
Council |
1962-1982 |
| 1 / 22 | Montana State University alumni reunion |
1974 |
| 1 / 23 | "A Montana Strategy for a Livable Environment"
conference |
1968 |
| 1 / 24 | Montana Water Congress minutes |
1967-1970 |
| 1 / 25 | Montana Water Development Association constitution,
brochures, clippings |
1967-1970 |
| 1 / 26 | Montana water law |
1968 |
| 1 / 27 | Montana Wildlife Federation |
1951-1975 |
| 2 / 1 | Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife
Association |
1951-1954 |
| 2 / 2 | Referendum 35 (re state issuing warrants on future
gas taxes for road construction) |
circa 1933 |
| 2 / 3 | Rocky Mountain Center on Environment |
1968-1977 |
| 2 / 4 | Sale of books and photos |
1986-1989 |
| 2 / 5 | Sanders Forest Products Cooperative Association
(articles of incorporation, bylaws) |
1946 |
| 2 / 6-7 | Seminar: Pesticides and Public Health (State Dept.
of Health) |
1969 |
| 2 / 8-10 | University of Montana School of Forestry Board of
Visitors / Advisory Council |
1952-1975 |
| 2 / 11 | University of Montana School of Forestry reports,
etc. |
1963-1974 |
| 3 / 1 | University of Montana School of Forestry. Forest and
Conservation Experiment Station [Lubrecht Forest] |
1962-1971 |
| Oversize Folder | ||
| 1 | University of Montana School of Forestry. Forest and
Conservation Experiment Station [Lubrecht Forest] 1940 map (see Archives map
case) |
1962-1971 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3 / 2 | University of Montana Wilderness
Institute |
undated |
| 3 / 3-4 | Upper Columbia Development Council |
1957-1963 |
| 3 / 5 | Wild Rivers Bill |
1965-1968 |
| 3 / 6 | Wilderness Bill and regulations |
1964-1967 |
Speeches |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3 / 7 | Miscellaneous (includes testimony on Glacier View
Dam, 1948; "The Grange looks at our natural resources", 1957; testimony on Paradise
Dam, 1957; "Conservation through cooperation", 1958; testimony on Columbia River
Development Corporation, 1958; "Recreation and water," 1963) |
1948-1963 |
Writings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3 / 8 | Exposition Press publication of book A Grange Master's America : in defense of freedom
|
1980-1984 |
| 3 / 9 | Falcon Press publication of book Picture taking in Glacier Park
|
1985-1987 |
| 3 / 10 | Published writings on wildlife, nature, and
conservation |
1928-1975, undated |
| 3 / 11 | "Conservation series for youth" |
undated |
| 3 / 12 | Flower book (outline for planned book) |
undated |
| 3 / 13 | "Montana treasure heritage" (outline for planned
book) |
1980 |
| 3 / 14 | Miscellaneous (includes "Wildlife administration,"
1935; "River Valley authorities,: 1946; "Soils and man," 1946; "Soil conservation
programs," 1946; "Glacier Park threatened," 1946; "Wildlife management," 1946; "The
Public lands wrangle," 1947) |
1935-1947 |
| 3 / 15 | Miscellaneous (includes "CVA and conservation,"
1950; "Coordinated conservation," 1950; "The Treasure State," 1950; "Columbia Basin
development," 1950; "Recreational values," 1950; "Conservation and the green leaf,"
1951; "Basic Grange conservation policy sets standards for members' work," 1952;
"Resource ownership," 1952; "Montana on the march," 1953; "Conservation Council
concepts," 1954; "Conservation challenge," 1954) |
1950-1954 |
| 3 / 16 | Miscellaneous (includes "Water," 1955; "Land and
water conservation," 1955; "Conservation and freedom," 1956; "Recreational values of
public lands," 1957; "Big dams," 1957; "Treasure State resources," 1958) |
1955-1958 |
| 3 / 17 | Miscellaneous (includes "Montanans tackle tough
water problem," 1960; testimonial dinner for Hugo Aronson, 1961; "Deer Invasion,"
1962?; "Harvesting our timber," 1962; Knowles Dam, 1962; "Water power update," 1962;
Wilderness bill, 1964?; "Water projects," 1964; "Montana's economic growth," 1965;
"Wilderness," 1968; "Wilderness for tomorrow," 1968?; "The Environmental issue,"
1971) |
1960-1971 |
Legislature, 1951-1954Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
General Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 1-2 | Chronological |
1952-1954 |
Subject Files |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 3 | Agriculture, Dept. of: budget |
1953 |
| 4 / 4 | Campaigns for Senate |
1950, 1954 |
| 4 / 5 | Conservation; counties |
1953 |
| 4 / 6 | Forestry |
1953 |
| 4 / 7 | Group recommendations for legislation |
1953 |
| 4 / 8 | Health and welfare |
1953 |
| 4 / 9 | Highways |
1952-1953 |
| Oversize Folder | ||
| 1 | Highways (oversize: see Archives map case) |
1952-1953 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 10 | Labor (includes Workmen's Compensation
Initiative) |
1952-1953 |
| 4 / 11 | Libby Dam |
1953 |
| 4 / 12 | Oil leases |
1953 |
| 4 / 13 | Press releases: "Your Legislature in Action" by
Winton Weydemeyer |
1953 |
| 4 / 14 | Reclassification of land |
1953 |
| 4 / 15 | Republican Platform Committee |
1952-1954 |
| 4 / 16 | Rules of the Senate |
1951, 1953 |
| 4 / 17 | Schools; custodial institutions |
1953 |
| 4 / 18 | Water and reclamation |
1953 |
Speeches and writings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 19 | Agriculture, Dept. of: budget |
1953-1955 |
Miscellany |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 20 | List of registered voters in Lincoln County
|
1953 |
| Oversize Folder | ||
| 1 | List of registered voters in Lincoln County
(oversize: see Archives map case) |
1953 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4 / 21 | Miscellaneous legislative materials |
1953 |
Montana Constitutional Convention, 1971-1972Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Subject Files |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5 / 1 | Campaign for delegate; registration as a
lobbyist |
1971 |
| 5 / 2 | Pre-election materials |
1971 |
| 5 / 3 | Republican platform |
1972 |
Speeches and Writings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5 / 4 | Articles and other writings by Weydemeyer on the
Constitutional Convention |
1972 |
Miscellany |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5 / 5 | Miscellaneous materials on the Constitutional
Convention |
1972 |
Montana State Grange, 1950-1975Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Subject Files |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5 / 6 | General Livestock Trip (attended as representative
of Montana State Grange) |
1958 |
| 5 / 7 | Lobbying |
1950-1975 |
| 5 / 8 | National Planning Association (attended as
representative of Montana State Grange) |
1958-1970 |
| 5 / 9 | Objectives and policies |
1963 |
Speeches and Writings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5 / 10 | Scrapbook (primarily speeches and writings
(including annual report of Grange Master, 1951, 1963; talks on conservation ethics,
"Conservation series for youth"; and water issues) |
1963 |
Montana Conservation Council, 1938-1975Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
General Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6 / 1-3 | Northwest Conservation League, Montana Chapter
[predecessor organization] chronological |
1938-1948 |
| 6 / 4-10 | Chronological |
1949-1975 |
Subject Files |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6 / 11 | The Bar Nothin' Players program |
undated |
| 6 / 12 | Bibliographies |
circa 1950, 1970 |
| 6 / 13 | Billings Declaration of Environmental
Rights |
1970 |
| 6 / 14 | Conferences: Northwest Conservation
League |
1940, 1947 |
| 6 / 15 | Conservancy districts |
1964-1967 |
| 7 / 1 | Foundation grant applications |
1955-1963 |
| 7 / 2 | General information |
1956? |
| 7 / 3 | History file |
1947-1972 |
| 7 / 4-8 | Lobbying [Weydemeyer was the registered lobbyist for
the Council] |
1947-1972 |
| 7 / 9 | Lobbying: "Report of Committee Established to Study
the Diversified Uses of State Land" |
1968 |
| 7 / 10 | Lobbying: Legislative subcommittees (including
Administration, Agriculture, Mineral, Parks, Pesticides, Public Lands,
Water) |
1970 |
| 7 / 11 | Carolyn Madden biographical sketch |
1955 |
Montana Water Pollution Council, 1955-1970Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
General Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8 / 1-4 | Chronological |
1955-1970 |
Minutes |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8 / 5-6 | Minutes of meetings |
1955-1970 |
Reports |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8 / 7 | "A Classification of Montana Fishing
Streams" |
1965 |
| 8 / 8 | "A Suggested Listing of Interstate and International
Waters of the Missouri Basin in Montana"; "A Suggested Listing of Interstate and
International Waters of the Hudson Bay in Montana" |
undated |
| 8 / 9 | "Water Pollution Control in Montana" |
1967-1968 |
| 8 / 10 | "Water Quality Objectives", Pollution Control
Council, Pacific Northwest Area |
1952 |
| 8 / 11 | "Water Quality Standards for the Surface Waters of
Montana" |
circa 1967 |
Subject Files |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8 / 12 | Legislation, regulations, etc. |
1955-1968 |
Clippings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8 / 13 | Re work of Council (includes pollution of Clark Fork
River) |
1967-1968 |
Tom C. Taylor and Hallie Taylor Weydemeyer, 1933-1993Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
General Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 9 / 1 | Taylor family correspondence [scattered] |
1958-1987 |
Subject Files |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 9 / 2 | Idaho-Montana Pulp and Paper Company |
1946-1953 |
| 9 / 3 | Tamaracka Ranch: correspondence |
1981-1993 |
| 9 / 4 | Tamaracka Ranch: financial (bank
statements) |
1980-1993 |
| 9 / 5 | Tamaracka Ranch: financial (financial reports for
annual meeting) |
1987-1993 |
| 9 / 6 | Tamaracka Ranch: financial (insurance) |
1981-1993 |
| 9 / 7 | Tamaracka Ranch: financial (taxes) |
1960-1992 |
| 9 / 8 | Tamaracka Ranch: log sales and contracts |
1980-1992 |
| 9 / 9 | Tamaracka Ranch: minutes and lists of stockholders |
1984-1993 |
| 9 / 10 | Tamaracka Ranch: right-of-way suit |
1980-1982 |
| 9 / 11 | Tamaracka Ranch: water rights, 1909-1985 |
1985 |
| 9 / 12 | Tamaracka Ranch: miscellany |
1982-1986 |
Miscellany |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 9 / 13 | Harold Taylor high school graduation
talk |
1933 |
| 9 / 14 | Book review by Tom C. Taylor of The Bird Tail
|
undated |
Clippings |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 9 / 15 | re Flathead timber |
circa 1969-1972 |
Transfers to Other Programs, 2008Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
Transfers |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 9 / 16 | List of records transferred to LR 33; list of
publications transferred to the Library; list of photo albums transferred to
Photograph Archives; list of Montana Conservation Council records transferred to
University of Montana (Mss 189) |
2008 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Conservation of natural resources--Montana
- Forests and forestry--Montana
- Lobbyists--Montana
- Tree farmers--Montana.
- Water--Pollution--Montana
Personal Names
- Weydemeyer, Winton, 1903- (creator)
Geographical Names
- Fortine (Mont.)
- Montana--Politics and government
- Tamaracka Ranch (Mont.)
- Troy (Mont.)
Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau
2008
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
