Granville Stuart sketches, circa 1861-1898

Series — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSS 1534 Series 5

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of sketches and watercolors done by Granville Stuart while he was the State Land Agent, circa 1861-1898. A few of the watercolors were done by others, and then given to Stuart. Most of the sketches are of scenic locations in Montana, such as Missoula Mills, Deer Lodge City, and Mammoth Hot Springs. A few others were done during Stuart's travels in South America. The watercolors done by others are also mostly of locations in Montana, with a few regarding Native American society in Montana.

Dates

Creation: circa 1861-1898

Creator

Stuart, Granville, 1834-1918 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from Granville Stuart papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

From the Collection:

Granville Stuart (1834-1918) was a prominent rancher and historian in Montana.

Granville Stuart was born August 27, 1834, near Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia, to Robert Stuart and Nancy Currence Hall. He was the second of five children. Stuart left Iowa in 1852 with his brother James to seek a fortune in the gold fields of California. They traveled with their father, Robert Stuart, from the American Valley (Quincy) to Bidwell Bar, then on through Morris Ravine near Cherokee, finally arriving at Sam Neal's ranch near present-day Durham. He and his brother moved up the mountain to Dogtown trying their luck in several different mining ventures. After prospecting all over northern California, Stuart eventually ended up in Montana, becoming the state's largest cattle owner in the 1880s. A horrible freezing winter later killed his entire herd. In 1862, Stuart married Awbonnie Tookanka, and had eight children with her before her death in 1888. On June 8, 1890, he married Allis Isabelle Brown. Stuart became the state librarian for Montana and wrote several books describing his Western experiences before he died on October 2, 1918, in Butte, Montana.