Edward Charles "Teddy Blue" Abbott papers
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of five subgroups: Teddy Blue Abbott Subgroup, Mary Stuart Abbott Subgroup, Mary Inez Abbott Swanson Matejcek Subgroup, Robert and Granville Abbott Subgroup, and Katie Stuart Subgroup. The Teddy Blue Abbott Subgroup contains ten series: Incoming Correspondence (1889-1946, undated), Outgoing Correspondence (1888-1939), Miscellaneous Correspondence (1909-1939, undated), Court Papers (1910), Diaries (1887-1890), Financial Records (1907-1963), Legal Documents (1888-1941), Writings (1938, undated), Miscellany (1888-1939, undated), and Clippings (1920-1939, undated). The Incoming Correspondence includes letters from Abbott family members, the Democratic Central Committee for Fergus County, Kenneth M. Ireland, Oscar O. Mueller, D.J. O'Malley and Mary Alicia O'Malley, Margot Pringle, Charles M. Russell, Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle), Mary Stuart before she married Teddy Blue, and Johnnie W. Young. The Outgoing Correspondence includes letters to Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle) re their authorship of "We Pointed Them North," and Mary Stuart before she married Teddy Blue. The Miscellaneous Correspondence is neither to nor from Teddy Blue Abbott. Included is letters between the U.S. General Land Office and the U.S. Land Office in Lewistown, from publisher Farrar and Rinehart to Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle), and from James Fergus to the Lewistown "Argus" re the funeral of Mrs. Granville Stuart. The Court Papers consist of the testimony of Stephen E. Suitor in his trial for the murder of Tom Burke, and miscellaneous other papers re other cases. The Legal Documents include mortgages, warranty deeds, leases, recorded brands, and a homestead certificate. Some plats and land descriptions can be found in the Miscellany series. The Diaries series contains four diaries: 1887-1888, 1888-1889 (includes entries at the end from 1910, 1912, 1938, and a list of his children and when they were born), 1889 (includes a list of wedding expenses), and 1890 (includes an extensive list of expenses, some from 1889). The Miscellany series contains 18 notebooks, which also include diary entries and financial notations. The Financial Records contain check stub books (1907-1923), insurance policies, promissory notes, tax statements, a list of brands, and miscellaneous bills of sale, receipts, and invoices. The Writings series consists of handwritten and typed drafts of "We Pointed Them North." A promotional pamphlet for "We Pointed Them North" can be found in the Miscellany series. Also in the Miscellany series is a campaign statement by E.C. Abbott as a candidate for the state legislature, a legislative bill for the disposition of strays, and precinct lists of registered voters. The Clippings series contains miscellaneous newspaper articles by Abbott; obituaries of Abbott, and of brother-in-law Edward Stuart and son Charles E. Abbott, Jr.; and historical articles. The Mary Stuart Abbott Subgroup consists of a General Correspondence series (1888-1951, undated), Financial Records series (1899-1948), Legal Documents series (1909-1938), and a Miscellany series (1885-1934). Correspondents include Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle), Abbott and Stuart family members, and D.J. O'Malley. Financial records include tax statements, bank statements, and Land Office receipts. The miscellaneous legal documents include seed liens, crop mortgages, and land patents. The miscellany series contains an autograph book (1885) and invitations (1918-1934). The Mary Inez Abbott Swanson Matejcek Subgroup consists of a General Correspondence series (1931-1953), Court Papers series, Financial Records series, and a Miscellany series. The correspondents include Helena Huntington Smith (Pringle) and Jack Abbott. The court papers consist of a subpoena (1949) and the financial records contain a tax assessment list (1952). The miscellany series contains a sketching instruction book (1857) and a sketchbook (undated) used by Mary and by James and Granville Stuart. The Robert and Granville Abbott Subgroup contains two series, Incoming Correspondence, consisting of a postcard (undated) from a friend to Granville Abbott, and Miscellany, consisting of notebooks (1915-1919) of Robert and Granville. The Katie Stuart Subgroup contains Katie Stuart's autograph book (1881-1887). Katie Stuart was Mary Stuart Abbott's older sister. She died of tuberculosis and the Abbotts postponed their wedding for six months out of respect for her.
Dates
- Creation: 1865-1963
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Biographical / Historical
Edward Charles "Teddy Blue" Abbott was born December 17, 1860, in Cranwich Hall, Norfolk County, England. In 1871, he came to the United States with his father, J.B. Abbott. They went to Texas, eventually purchased a cattle herd, and drove it north to Nebraska. Teddy Blue settled with his family at the end of the Texas cattle trail near Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1883, he entered Montana with a herd of longhorns, and two years later, signed on with the DHS Ranch at Fort Maginnis. He became engaged to Mary Stuart, daughter of one of his employers, Granville Stuart. The couple married on September 29, 1889, and settled on the 3 Deuce Ranch at Giltedge. They had ten children: Katie Anne (1890), Charles Edward, Jr. (1892), Mary E. (1895-1904), William (1897-1897), Elsie Blue (1898), Granville S. (1901), James (1903), William Robert [Robert] (1906), Teddie Blue [Ted] (1909), and Mary Inez (1912). Teddy Blue Abbott was a longtime member of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, he served six years on the Montana Stock Commission for Fergus County, thirty years as a member of the Democratic Central Committee, and sixteen years as a school trustee, and, in 1924, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the state legislature. In 1938, Abbott collaborated with Helena Huntington Smith (Mrs. Henry F. Pringle) on his autobiography "We Pointed Them North," the story of his years as a cowpuncher on the Texas cattle drives and his experiences on Montana's open range in the 1880s. Teddy Blue Abbott died of pneumonia April 7, 1939, days after the book was published. Mary Stuart Abbott was born February 2, 1870, in Deer Lodge, Montana, to Granville and Arbonnie Stuart. She died February 5, 1967, in Lewistown. She spent her later years with daughter Mary Inez Swanson Matejcek.
Extent
1.9 linear feet
Abstract
Edward Charles "Teddy Blue" Abbott was a Giltedge, Montana, cattleman, Fergus County school trustee, and author. The papers (1865-1963) contain general correspondence; financial records, including mortgages and taxes; clippings; photographs; legal documents; and writings. The latter contains handwritten and typed drafts of his autobiography, We Pointed Them North (1939). The general correspondence includes letters with co-author, Helena Huntington Smith, concerning various aspects of the book's contents; and a letter from Charles M. Russell.
Arrangement
Arranged by series
Physical Location
2:6-1
:
Acquisition information available upon request
Separated Materials
Photographs and selected printed material were transferred from this collection to the M.H.S. Photo Archives and MHS Library respectively. See inventory below for more information.
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Edward Charles "Teddy Blue" Abbott papers 1865-1963
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by MHS Staff
- Date
- 2004
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Repository
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)
mhslibrary@mt.gov