Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Featherman Mercantile Company Records, 1898-1920
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Featherman Mercantile Company
- Title
- Featherman Mercantile Company Records
- Dates
- 1898-1920 (inclusive)18981920
- Quantity
- 1.0 linear foot
- Collection Number
- Mss 243 (collection)
- Summary
- The Featherman Mercantile was located in New Chicago and Drummond, Montana. The collection contains correspondence and financial records.
- 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 encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
John A Featherman was born in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, on March 26, 1836. He arrived in New Chicago, a stage stop along the Mullan Military Road, on July 4, 1872. He opened a mercantile store in partnership with his nephew, James B. Featherman. After the establishment of Drummond along the route of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1883, the Feathermans moved their store to the new town. They operated the store until 1915 when they sold the business to H. J. Faust and C. N. Bassett. J. B. Featherman was also the postmaster both at New Chicago and at Drummond.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains incoming correspondence, 1898-1918; outgoing correspondence, 1906-1918; and financial records, 1898-1920. Numerous materials are undated.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into three series:
Series I: Incoming Correspondence, 1898-1918
Series II: Outgoing Correspondence, 1906-1918
Series III: Financial Records, 1898-1920
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], Featherman Mercantile Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Incoming Correspondence , 1898-1918 Return to Top
This series consists of three personal letters, two of which are World War I correspondence written by a soldier to "My dear Mother and Father." They are arranged chronologically.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | 1898-1918 and undated
|
Series II: Outgoing Correspondence , 1906-1918Return to Top
This series consists of two letterpress books that contain copies of outgoing business correspondence from the Mercantile. The letters are mostly concerned with accounts payable and other business matters. Most are difficult to read. The correspondence is arranged chronologically; those producing the letter copies did not utilize the alphabetical index at the beginning of the book.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/2 | 1906-1917 | |
| 1/3 | 1916-1918 |
Series III: Financial Records , 1898-1920 Return to Top
This series consists of financial records of the Mercantile. There are copies of individuals' accounts continued from the previous ledger of outgoing correspondence; they are arranged by the personal name attached to each account. An inventory book contains records of invoices for Feb. 15, 1898 (pp- 1-75), assets and liabilities for Feb. 15, 1898 (pp. 78-81), and assets and liabilities for 1900 (pp. 166-167). There is an unidentified, undated ledger and notes on ledgers. There is also a folder of three receipts from the Featherman Mercantile; the Drummond Auto, Team Livery and Feed Stable (1913); and the Society of Montana Pioneers (1920). The last indicates paid dues for 1920.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/3 | Invoices |
1911-1915 |
| 1/4 | Ledger |
1908-1909 |
| 1/5 | Inventory |
1898-1900 |
| 1/6 | Unlabeled ledger |
undated |
| 1/7 | Notes on ledgers |
undated |
| 1/8 | Receipts |
1913-1920 and undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- General stores--Montana--Drummond
- General stores--Montana--New Chicago
Personal Names
- Featherman, James B., b. 1856
- Featherman, John A., b. 1836
Geographical Names
- Drummond (Mont.)--Commerce
- New Chicago (Mont.)--Commerce
Form or Genre Terms
- Business records--Montana--Drummond
- Business records--Montana--New Chicago
Finding aid prepared by Dave
Robertson, Julie Eklund, and Jodi Allison-Bunnell
1997
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
