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Russell, Charles M. (Charles Marion), 1864-1926

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1864 - 1926

Biography

Charles Marion Russell (1864-1926) was an artist and cowboy known for his artwork.

Charles Marion Russell born on March 19, 1864, in St. Louis, Missouri to Charles Silas Russell and Mary Elizabeth Mead. He grew up on a large farm and adopted a love for art and the west at a young age. By the age of 16, he moved to Montana. His first job was as a sheep herder but did not enjoy it. He learned outdoor skills while living with his friend, Jake Hoover, in Judith Basin in Central Montana. Eventually he found a job as a cowboy which he worked at until he was 30. Russell worked with Jesse Phelps in the rough winter of 1886. When Phelps asked in early spring for a report on his stock, Charles sent his now famous sketch of the lone steer surrounded by coyotes, with the legend, "Waiting for a Chinook." Russell wintered with the Bloods of Canada in 1888-1889, then returned to Montana with a wagon freighting outfit. Harper's Weekly had published his "Caught in the Act" in 1888, and Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper on May 18, 1889, printed a full page of his drawings. A portfolio came out in 1890, and an article about him appeared in New York in 1891. His fame grew steadily from then forward. He married Nancy Cooper on September 9, 1896. They settled the following year in Great Falls, where he established the studio where he would work for the remainder of his life. Nancy appreciated his unique talent and caused him to place more value upon his work. After two trips to New York, he was established as a major artist, if unique and specialized, and he held his first one-man show on Fifth Avenue in 1911. By 1920 he had reached the peak. He produced more than 2,600 pieces of preserved artwork in all. His first Rawhide Rawlins book was published in 1921 with the second published in 1925. Charles died on October 24, 1926, in Great Falls, Montana.

Citation:
UPB files, March 26, 2024 (Charles Marion Russell; artist; cowboy)

Ancestry.com, March 26, 2024 (Charles Marion Russell; b. March 19, 1864, in St. Louis, Missouri to Charles Silas Russell and Mary Elizabeth Mead; grew up on a large farm and adopted a love for art and the west at a young age; age 16, he moved to Montana; first job was as a sheep herder but did not enjoy it; learned outdoor skills while living with his friend, Jake Hoover, in Judith Basin in Central Montana; found a job as a cowboy which he worked at until he was 30; Jesse Phelps in the rough winter of 1886; Phelps asked in early spring for a report on his stock, Charles sent sketch of the lone steer surrounded by coyotes, with the legend, "Waiting for a Chinook;" wintered with the Bloods of Canada in 1888-1889, then returned to Montana with a wagon freighting outfit; fame grew steadily; married Nancy Cooper on September 9, 1896; settled the following year in Great Falls, where he established the studio where he would work for the remainder of his life; Nancy appreciated his unique talent and caused him to place more value upon his work; He produced more than 2,600 pieces of preserved artwork in all; d. October 24, 1926 in Great Falls, Montana)

Montana Historical Society, via WWW, March 26, 2024 (Harper's Weekly published his "Caught in the Act" in 1888; held his first one-man show on Fifth Avenue in 1911)

Amon Carter Museum of American Art, via WWW, March 26, 2024 (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper on May 18, 1889, printed a full page of his drawings; portfolio came out in 1890; article about him appeared in New York, in 1891; Nancy appreciated his unique talent and caused him to place more value upon his work; after two trips to New York he was established as a major artist; By 1920 he had reached the peak; first Rawhide Rawlins book was published in 1921 with the second published in 1925)

Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:

Charles M. Russell ephemera

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230312487]
Identifier: MSS SC 1428

Charles M. Russell letters

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 125
Scope and Contents

Handwritten, typewritten, and signed letters addressed to Frank B. Linderman, a historian in Great Falls, Montana. Russell writes about his work and about the exhibition of his paintings.

Dates: 1913-1920

Charles M. Russell papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS P 269
Scope and Contents

Collection includes 15 photographs, 74 sketches, 124 postcards, four pamphlets, two newspapers, and 13 placemats with images of cowboys, animals, and scenes of Western life. Dated approximately 1880-1929.

Dates: approximately 1880-1929

Charles M. Russell papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197230219914]
Identifier: MSS 1651
Scope and Contents

Sale catalogs and circulars, exhibition announcements, prints of Russell's art works, news and magazine articles and clippings, and miscellaneous items. The materials relate to Russell's career as an artist. They document how some of his art work was marketed and published.

Dates: 1904-1971

Charles M. Russell photograph collection

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233620019]
Identifier: MSS P 748
Abstract

These eight photographs, with one possible exception, were apparently once part of Russell's personal photograph collection. All are original prints except for two, which appear to be copies of prints.

Dates: 1864-1926

Charles Marion Russell collection

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227654883]
Identifier: MSS 3702
Scope and Contents

This collection includes five photographs of Charles Marion Russell and four photographs of his artwork.

Dates: Approximately 1864-1926

Nancy Cooper Russell letters

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233284840]
Identifier: Vault MSS 124
Scope and Contents

Handwritten, typewritten, and signed letters addressed to Frank B. Linderman, a historian in Great Falls, Montana. Russell writes about the work of her husband and the exhibition of his paintings.

Dates: 1912-1928

Nancy Cooper Russell papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230309517]
Identifier: MSS SC 1167
Scope and Contents Typewritten and signed letter, newspaper clippings, and a catalog. The letters, dated from March 21, 1928 to April 23, 1930, are addressed to T.C. Abbott of Gilt Edge, Montana and discuss the book Mrs. Russell is compiling of her husband's letters. The book was first published in 1930 and was entitled "Good Medicine: the Illustrated Letters of Charles M. Russell." The newspaper items cover Charles Russell's death. The Dawson's Book Shop catalog contains a listing of the Charles M....
Dates: 1926-1970

Additional filters:

Subject
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 5
Fine Arts 5
Letters 3
Material Types 3
Photographs 3