Charles Benton Power papers
Scope and Contents
Papers consist primarily of personal papers of Charles Benton Power, including incoming correspondence (1881-1953), diaries (1929-1949), minor financial records and legal documents, school notes and records (1880-1893), subject files, miscellany, and clippings.
The Charles Benton Power Estate Subgroup (1953-1960) includes general correspondence of co-administrators Blanche Mares and C.M. Wall, court papers; financial records, and subject files.
There are family subgroups for Power's wife Mabel Larson Power, his son Benton Power, his daughters Jane Power Tobin and Margaret Power Drum Carrick, and for the Flanagan Family.
There are also business subgroups for T.C. Power and Brother, T.C. Power Company, Benton Group of Mines, Benton Hardware Company, Benton Transportation Company, Big Sag Land and Livestock Company, Faith Mining Company, Helena Building and Realty Company, Phoenix Development Company, and Unit Petroleum Company.
This collection inter-mingles closely with the Thomas C. Power Papers (MC 55). The two collections should be used together, as many subgroups appear in both collections. See "Seperated Materials" under the Administrative Information below.
Dates
- Creation: 1870-1971
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Collection open for research.
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
Charles Benton Power was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on November 9, 1868, the only child of Thomas C. Power and his wife Mary Flanagan Power. While Charles was still an infant, his father moved the family to Fort Benton, Montana, where he established a steamboat and mercantile empire. The family moved to Helena in 1878.
Charlie, as he was always known, graduated from Georgetown College in Washington, D.C., in 1888. He got a second bachelor's degree from Columbia College in New York in 1891 and a law degree from Columbia Law School in 1893. He practiced law in Helena for two years, before going to work in his father's enterprises, including T.C. Power and Brother, the American National Bank, and the various ranches. Eventually he took over management of these companies, and became president on his father's death in 1923.
In December 1902, Charles Power married Mabel Larson, niece and adopted daughter of Peter and Margaret Larson. The Powers had three children: Margaret Power Drum Carrick (b. 1904), Benton Power (b. 1907), and Jane Power Tobin (b. 1912). Mabel Power died July 4, 1918. In 1943 Charles Benton Power married Pauline McGuire Ely. He died November 15, 1953, six days after his 85th birthday.
Extent
10 linear feet
Abstract
Charles Power (1868-1953) was a Helena, Montana, attorney and businessman, and son of Thomas C. Power. Collection (bulk, 1870s-1950s) includes incoming correspondence (1881-1953), diaries (1929-1949), subject files, and miscellany. There are also subgroups for family members and for several businesses of Power's.
Arrangement
Arranged by subgroup and series. Some material housed in oversize folder in archives map case. See inventory below for more information.
Physical Location
2:6-3
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
Separated Materials
Artifacts transferred to Museum. See inventory below for more information
For other related material see the Guide to the Thomas Charles Power papersMC 55, and the Guide to the Thomas C. Power papersMC 55b, at the Montana Historical Society.
- Title
- Guide to the Charles Benton Power papers 1870-1971
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau, 2005
- Date
- 2006
- 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