Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
McGowan Commerical Company (Plains, Mont.) Records, 1903-1968
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- McGowan Commerical Company (Plains, Mont.)
- Title
- McGowan Commerical Company (Plains, Mont.) Records
- Dates
- 1903-1968 (inclusive)19031968
- Quantity
- 26.5 linear feet, (6 boxes, 93 oversize volumes, and 15 photographs)
- Collection Number
- Mss 047
- Summary
- This collection contains correspondence, financial, legal, promotional, personal, and photographic records relating to the McGowan Commercial Company of Plains, Montana, a general store that supplied many of the material goods in this small western Montana town and surrounding areas.
- 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 creating this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historic Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Colonel James A. McGowan was born in Malone, New York,on March 5, 1852. He graduated from Wesleyan Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1868. He then worked for three years in a lumber office and then as a railroad contractor and mercantile manager for 11 years before settling in (Wild Horse) Plains, Montana, in May of 1882. He was one of the founders of the city and brought the first farming equipment into that valley where he was the first farmer. Plains was at the time a boom town as the outfitting center for the Coeur d'Alene mining district.
In 1884 he went into partnership with Neptune Lynch, on whose ranch the city was founded. McGowan quickly assumed control of the mercantile business partnership and expanded his influence to control the entire community. He had great ambitions for the town. By the time of his death in 1911, McGowan controlled the general mercantile (McGowan Commercial Company) a butcher shop, a blacksmith shop, a livery stable, a hotel, the Plains News Letter (now the Plainsman), the electric light and heating plant, the Plains water company and was founder and president of The First National Bank of Plains. He also owned the largest grain farm in the valley, upon which as many as 25 worker were employed. A staunch Republican and great supporter of the Progressive Movement, McGowan served as State Stock Commissioner and as United States Commissioner. He was also an active member of the Masons.
McGowan married Delia Farmer, the daughter of James and Sarah Farmer. He died in Los Angeles, where he had gone to improve his health, on April 1, 1911. His death was widely mourned across western Montana.
The McGowan Commercial Company sold a full variety of items for mining, agriculture, and living. From 1902 to 1932, Clifford H. Rittenour was employed at the store, first as manager, then as President of McGowan Commercial Company. He attended the University of Montana in Missoula.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains correspondence, financial, legal, promotional, personal, and photographic records relating to the McGowan Commercial Company of Plains, Montana. Financial records comprise the majority of collection items. These materials provide insights into the challenges and successes of operating a rural general merchandising business as well as the early economic history of Plains, Montana.
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.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], McGowan Commercial Company Records , Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in six series:
Series I: Correspondence, 2 folders, 1904-1926
Series II: Financial, 2.5 linear feet and 93 oversize volumes, 1903-1968
Series III: Legal, 1 folder, 1911
Series IV: Clippings, 1 folder, 1932
Series V: Personal, 2 folders, 1895-1901
Series VI: Photographs, 15 photographs, 1898- circa 1960
Series VII: Promotional Calendars, 4 items, 1920-1930
Acquisition Information
Gift of Francis Bates, 1972; gift of Tevis Hoblitt, 1974; calendars were a gift of Special Collections, Montana State University - Bozeman, 2009.
Processing Note
The collection was originally processed in two parts: LC 47 (which arrived in 1972) and SC 260 (which arrived in 1974), with photographs remaining unprocessed. In 2004, these three parts were brought together as one collection, arranged, and described. In 2009 four promotional calendars were received from MSU-Bozeman and an additional series, Series VII, was created.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Correspondence, 1904-1926Return to Top
This series includes two folders of general correspondence regarding McGowan Commercial Company store operations. These materials provide some insights into rural business practices and the early twentieth-century economy of Plains, Montana.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
5/1 | 1904-1907 | |
1/1 | 1924-1926 |
Series II: Financial, 1903-1968Return to Top
This series contains financial records from the McGowan Commercial Company including transaction invoices, account journals, expense records, daily transaction journals, check registers, and payroll records. The documents provide insights into the challenges and successes of operating a rural general merchandising business as well as the economic history of Plains, Montana.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Subseries 1: Invoices 2.0 linear feet
|
1936-1967 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/2 | A |
1936-1937 |
1/3 | B |
1936-1937 |
1/4 | C |
1936-1937 |
1/5 | D |
1936-1937 |
1/6 | E |
1936-1937 |
1/7 | F |
1936-1937 |
1/8 | G |
1936-1937 |
1/9 | H |
1936-1937 |
1/10 | I-J |
1936-1937 |
1/11 | K-L |
1936-1937 |
1/12 | M |
1936-1937 |
1/13 | N-O |
1936-1937 |
1/14 | P-Q |
1936-1937 |
1/15 | R |
1936-1937 |
1/16 | S |
1936-1937 |
1/17 | T-V |
1936-1937 |
1/18 | W-Z |
1936-1937 |
1/19 | A |
1950 |
1/20 | B |
1950 |
1/21 | C |
1950 |
2/1 | D |
1950 |
2/2 | E-F |
1950 |
2/3 | G |
1950 |
2/4 | H-J |
1950 |
2/5 | K-L |
1950 |
2/6 | M |
1950 |
2/7 | N-O |
1950 |
2/8 | P-Q |
1950 |
2/9 | R-S |
1950 |
2/10 | T-V |
1950 |
2/11 | W-Z |
1950 |
2/12 | A |
1958 |
2/13 | B |
1958 |
2/14 | C |
1958 |
3/1 | D |
1958 |
3/2 | E-F |
1958 |
3/3 | G |
1958 |
3/4 | H-J |
1958 |
3/5 | K-L |
1958 |
3/6 | M |
1958 |
3/7 | N-O |
1958 |
3/8 | P-Q |
1958 |
3/9 | R |
1958 |
3/10 | S |
1958 |
3/11 | T-V |
1958 |
3/12 | W-Z |
1958 |
3/13 | A |
1966-1967 |
4/1 | B |
1966-1967 |
4/2 | C-D |
1966-1967 |
4/3 | E-H |
1966-1967 |
4/4 | I |
1966-1967 |
4/5 | J-M |
1966-1967 |
4/6 | N-P |
1966-1967 |
4/7 | R-Z |
1966-1967 |
Subseries 2: Journal 34 oversize
volumes
|
1908-1966 | |
Volume | ||
1 | October 1908 - September 1909 | |
2 | September 1909 - June 1910 | |
3 | July 1910 - March 1911 | |
4 | November 1911 - July 1912 | |
5 | July 1912 - March 1913 | |
6 | March - September 1913 | |
7 | September 1913 - April 1914 | |
8 | May - November 1914 | |
9 | November 1914 - July 1915 | |
10 | July 1915 - February 1916 | |
11 | February - September 1916 | |
12 | September 1916 - April 1917 | |
13 | April - October 1917 | |
14 | October 1917 - May 1918 | |
15 | May - November 1918 | |
16 | November 1918 - May 1919 | |
17 | May - October 1919 | |
18 | October 1919 - May 1920 | |
19 | May - October 1920 | |
20 | October 1920 - April 1921 | |
21 | April - October 1921 | |
22 | October 1921 - April 1922 | |
23 | May - October 1922 | |
24 | October 1922 - April 1923 | |
25 | April - September 1923 | |
26 | September 1923 - March 1924 | |
27 | March 1924 - August 1927 | |
28 | September 1927 - October 1932 | |
29 | January 1933 - June 1939 | |
30 | July 1939 - December 1947 | |
31 | January 1948 - November 1953 | |
32 | December 1953 - October 1960 | |
33 | November 1960 - August 1963 | |
34 | August 1963 - July 1966 | |
Subseries 3: General 2 folders and 4 oversize
volumes
|
1903-1967 | |
Box/Folder | ||
4/8 | Profit and Loss Statement and Balance
Sheet |
1903-1911 |
4/9 | Record of Sales |
1906-1915 |
Volume | ||
35 | General Ledger |
1929-1939 |
36 | General Ledger |
1940-1951 |
37 | General Ledger |
1952-1959 |
38 | General Ledger |
1960-1967 |
Subseries 4: Expense 3 oversize
volumes
|
1940-1961 | |
Volume | ||
39 | 1940-1941 | |
40 | 1950-1956 | |
41 | 1957-1961 | |
Subseries 5: Customer 10 oversize
volumes
|
1910-1914, 1958-1960 | |
Volume | ||
42 | 1910-1914 | |
43 | January - April 1958 | |
44 | May - August 1958 | |
45 | September - December 1958 | |
46 | January - April 1959 | |
47 | May - August 1959 | |
48 | September - December 1959 | |
49 | January - April 1960 | |
50 | May - August 1960 | |
51 | September - November 1960 | |
Subseries 6: Cash 20 oversize
volumes
|
1919-1968 | |
Volume | ||
52 | April 1919 - April 1922 | |
53 | April 1922 - January 1925 | |
54 | January 1932 - July 1934 | |
55 | November 1936 - January 1939 | |
56 | February 1939 - June 1941 | |
57 | July 1941 - October 1943 | |
58 | November 1943 - March 1946 | |
59 | March 1946 - April 1948 | |
60 | April 1948 - May 1950 | |
61 | May 1950 - April 1952 | |
62 | May 1952 - December 1954 | |
63 | December 1954 - April 1957 | |
64 | May 1957 - November 1959 | |
65 | November 1959 - December 1960 | |
66 | January 1961 - March 1962 | |
67 | March - May 1962 | |
68 | May 1963 - July 1964 | |
69 | July 1964 - September 1965 | |
70 | September 1965 - December 1966 | |
71 | December 1966 - February 1968 | |
Subseries 7: Invoice Registers 14 oversize
volumes
|
1903-1968 | |
Volume | ||
72 | January 1903 - December 1908 | |
73 | December 1908 - March, 1913 | |
74 | November 1916 - May 1919 | |
75 | July 1919 - January 1922 | |
76 | January 1922 - January 1924 | |
77 | January 1924 - April 1926 | |
78 | April 1926 - January 1929 | |
79 | January 1929 - December 1931 | |
80 | November 1935 - May 1942 | |
81 | May 1942 - October 1950 | |
82 | October 1950 - May 1959 | |
83 | June 1959 - May 1962 | |
84 | May 1962 - February 1965 | |
85 | March 1965 - March 1968 | |
Subseries 8: Check Registers 7 oversize
volumes
|
1913-1962 | |
Volume | ||
86 | October 1913 - July 1923 | |
87 | August 1923 - July 1929 | |
88 | July 1929 - February 1936 | |
89 | February 1936 - June 1943 | |
90 | June 1943 - April 1950 | |
91 | April 1950 - August 1956 | |
92 | August 1956 - December 1962 | |
Subseries 9: Trial Balance 2 volumes (1
oversize)
|
1919-1953 | |
box-volume | ||
4/93 | 1919 - 1930 | |
Volume | ||
94 | 1942 - 1953 | |
Subseries 10: Bills Receivable and
Payable 2 volumes
|
1904-1941 | |
box-volume | ||
6/95 | 1904-1920 | |
6/96 | 1933-1941 | |
Subseries 11: Payroll Summary 1 volume
|
1960-1963 | |
box-volume | ||
5/97 | 1960-1963 |
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
6/3 | Contract |
1911 |
Series IV: Clippings, 1932Return to Top
This series contains an article presenting a brief history of McGowan Commercial Company. The article was published in the November 1932 edition of The Plainsman, a local newspaper.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
6/4 | Brief history of McGowan
Commercial Company |
1932 |
Series V: Personal, 1895-1901Return to Top
This series contains some records and memorabilia from James A. McGowan and Clifford H. Rittenour. Materials include an unsigned, undated draft copy of James A. McGowan's will. Clifford H. Rittenour was a manager of McGowan Commercial Company and became President after James McGowan's death. These items include records and memorabilia from Rittenour's student days at the University of Montana, Missoula.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
6/5 | Records and
memorabilia |
1895-1901 and undated |
Series VI: Photographs, 1898 - circa 1960Return to Top
This series includes fifteen photographs. Most of the photographs depict Plains, Montana, particularly the McGowan Mercantile Company store and hotel. Also included are five photographs documenting the procession to James A. McGowan's funeral, two photographs of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford H. Rittenour's 60th anniversary, an circa 1950s store anniversary, and images of the 1898 and 1901 football teams at the University of Montana.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
74-47: Main Street, Plains,
Montana
Tevis Hoblitt
|
circa 1900 | |
74-48: McGowan Hotel, Plains,
Montana
Tevis Hoblitt
|
circa 1900 | |
74-49: Main Street, Plains,
Montana
Tevis Hoblitt
|
circa 1900 | |
74-50: McGowan Commercial Company and
Hotel, Plains, Montana
Tevis Hoblitt
|
circa 1900 | |
74-51: Main Street, Plains,
Montana
Tevis Hoblitt
|
circa 1900 | |
Box/Folder | ||
6/6 | 47(VI):1: Funeral of James A.
McGowan |
1911 |
6/6 | 47(VI):2: Funeral of James A.
McGowan |
1911 |
6/6 | 47(VI):3: Funeral of James A.
McGowan |
1911 |
6/6 | 47(VI):4: Funeral of James A.
McGowan |
1911 |
6/6 | 47(VI):5: Funeral of James A.
McGowan |
1911 |
6/6 | 47(VI):6: Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Rittenour
60th Anniversary Celebration |
circa 1960 |
6/6 | 47(VI):7: Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Rittenour
60th Anniversary Celebration |
circa 1960 |
6/6 | 47(VI):8: Anniversary Sale, McGowan
Commercial Company, cake |
circa 1950 |
6/6 | 47(VI):9: University of Montana football
team, champions |
1898 |
6/6 | 47(VI):10: University of Montana football
team |
1901 |
Series VII: Promotional calendars, 1920-1930Return to Top
This series includes four promotional calendars distributed by McGowan Commercial Company between 1920 and 1930. Each calendar has a large photograph including one of the Clark Fork River near Plains, Montana, a Herman Schnitzmeyer photo of buffalo, hunters with their deer, and Nick Lascu's sheep ranch near Plains.The calendars were transferred from Special Collections at Montana State University-Bozeman in September, 2009.
Description | Dates |
---|---|
OS 7: Calendar |
1920 |
OS 7: Calendar |
1928 |
OS 7: Calendar |
1930 |
OS 7: Calendar |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
Geographical Names
Form or Genre Terms
Other Creators
-
Personal Names