Arthur L. Jordan papers, 1894-1930

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Jordan, Arthur L., 1874-1937
Title
Arthur L. Jordan papers
Dates
1894-1930 (inclusive)
Quantity
.75 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 295
Summary
A.L. Jordan was a Columbia Falls businessman and legislator. This collection consist of correspondence (1922-1930) primarily relating to A.L. Jordan's efforts to promote the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway; scattered financial records (1912-1935) including an account book (1935-1938) for Hartford Company insurance policies (presumably sold by Jordan), a sales receipt for A.J. Jordan Lumber Company, and home loan papers. The collection also contains two subgroups. A subgroup for the Columbia Falls & Southern Railway Company (Jordan was president) (1894-1911) includes by-laws, contracts, stock certificates, scattered minutes, and reports. The subgroup for the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway, Montana Division, consists of organization records (1922-1927) including annual reports, bylaws and constitution, membership lists, dues receipt books, meeting announcements, resolutions, speeches, clippings and miscellaneous pamphlets.
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
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Arthur Jordan was born June 8, 1874 in Shenandoah, Iowa. He came to Montana in 1899 and worked as a range rider in eastern Montana before settling in Columbia Falls. Jordan held several jobs in the Columbia Falls area, including serving as a teacher at Bad Rock School. He made his fortune, however, in the timber industry. The A.L. Jordan Lumber Company was one of the largest lumber operations in Western Montana. In addition Jordan was the president of the Columbia Falls & Southern Railway Company, a proposed Great Northern subsidiary line that would have extended from Clearwater, up the east side of Flathead Lake, north through Columbia Falls and into the coal fields of British Columbia. The railway was never built.

In 1913 Jordan was elected to the Montana Legislature, serving in the House of Representatives. At this time Jordan became very interested in the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway. He served as secretary for the Montana Division of this group from 1922 to 1929.

On October 11, 1899, Arthur L. Jordan married Eva Huntsinger. The couple had eight children; Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, Mrs. W.A. Warren, Mrs. B.F. Walker, Donald, John, and Robert. Arthur Jordan died October 28, 1937.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consist of correspondence (1922-1930) primarily relating to A.L. Jordan's efforts to promote the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway; scattered financial records (1912-1935) including an account book (1935-1938) for Hartford Company insurance policies sold by Jordan, a sales receipt for A.L. Jordan Lumber Company, and home loan papers.

The collection also contains two subgroups. A subgroup for the Columbia Falls & Southern Railway Company (1894-1911) includes bylaws, contracts, stock certificates, scattered minutes, and reports. The subgroup for the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway, Montana Division, consists of organizational records (1922-1927) including annual reports, bylaws and constitution, membership lists, dues receipt books, meeting announcements, resolutions, speeches, clippings and miscellaneous pamphlets.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged by series. Some material housed in Archives map case and Manuscript Volumes. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

15:4-1

Location of Collection

150:2-3 (Volume)

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

Arthur L. Jordan Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
General Correspondence
Box/Folder
1 / 1-5
Correspondence to and from A.L. Jordan (primarily regarding his work as Secretary of the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway Association, Montana Division. Also includes general business correspondence and scattered family letters)
1922-1930
Financial Records
Box/Folder
1 / 6
Freight bills for A.L. Jordan Lumber
1912
1 / 7
Home-Owner's loan agreement
1920
Volume
1
Insurance policy register (presumably sold by A.L. Jordan)
1931-1934
Miscellany
Box/Folder
1 / 8
Minutes for Central Committee Republican Party, Precinct #16, Columbia Falls, meeting (Jordan was elected as representative to attend County Convention)
1908
Oversize Folder
1
Petition regarding the completion of the Kalispell-Columbia Falls River Road; map of The Sunshine Trail; and clipping regarding the State Highway Commission (Oversize: see Archives map case)
undated, 1924, 1926

Columbia Falls & Southern Railway Company Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Financial Records
Oversize Folder
2
Corporate income tax returns (Oversize: see Archives map case)
RESTRICTED
1922-1929
Box/Folder
1 / 9-10
Stock certificates
1911
Organization
Box/Folder
1 / 11
Bylaws
1911
1 / 12
Shareholder list for right-of-way and contract for crossing
undated
Reports
Box/Folder
1 / 13
Coal mine report; engineers report
1894, 1911

Theodore Roosevelt International Highway Association, Montana Division Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Financial Records
Box/Folder
2 / 1
Annual reports (includes receipts)
1922-1928
2 / 2
Dues receipt book
1922-1927
Organization
Box/Folder
2 / 3
Bylaws and constitutions
undated
2 / 4
Meeting bulletins
1923-1924
2 / 5
Membership lists
1923, 1927
2 / 6
Reports (including an annual report and reports of resolution committee)
1922, 1929
2 / 7
Resolutions
1923
Printed Materials
Box/Folder
2 / 8
Promotional bulletins
1922-1924
Speeches
Box/Folder
2 / 9
Speeches promoting the completion of the highway
1929, undated
Clippings
Box/Folder
2 / 10
Newspaper clippings regarding the association's meetings and goals
1920-1925

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Insurance

Personal Names

  • Jordan, Arthur L., 1874-1937 (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Columbia Falls (Mont.)--Commerce