Ranney Yale Lyman papers
Scope and Contents
The Ranney Yale Lyman Papers consist of a biography of Lyman by his wife Mabel Kelsey Lyman, a reminiscence (1970) also by her, general correspondence (1916-1953), survey field diaries (1913-1950), expense account books (1914-1922; 1946-1948), a record of Lyman's employment as a surveyor (1901-1950), lists of survey crew members and locations (1903-1949), and miscellany.
Dates
- Creation: 1901-1979
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 Note:
Ranney Yale Lyman was born in Mulberry Corners, Geauga County, Ohio, on February 29, 1880, the son of E.C. Lyman, a farmer. When R.Y. was only eight months old, the family moved to Huron, Dakota Territory, where he attended both public school and college. He was a member of the first graduating class of Huron College in 1903, with a major in surveying. During his summer vacations and after graduation Lyman worked as a contract cadastral surveyor for the General Land Office, first on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and after 1903 in Montana. In 1910 the General Land Office ended its contract work and hired permanent surveyors. From then until his retirement in 1950, Lyman worked as a cadastral surveyor for the General Land Office, and its successor the Bureau of Land Management. In 1905 Lyman married Grace May Kelsey. After Grace died giving birth to their second child, Lyman married his wife's sister Mabel. They had two daughters in addition to the two sons of Lyman's first marriage. R.Y. Lyman died January 16, 1952.
Extent
.5 linear feet
Abstract
Ranney Lyman (born 1880) was a cadastral surveyor in South Dakota and Montana for the U.S. General Land Office and its successor, the Bureau of Land Management. His papers consist of a biography (1954) and reminiscence (1970) by Lyman's wife Mabel Kelsey Lyman; general correspondence (1916-1953); survey diaries (1913-1950); financial records; and lists (1903-1949) of survey crew members.
Arrangement
Arranged by series.
Physical Location
12:4-7
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
Separated Materials
Photographs, printed materials, and artifacts have been transferred to the Photo Archives, Library, and Museum respectively. See inventory below for more information.
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Ranney Yale Lyman papers 1901-1979
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau, 1990.
- Date
- 2005
- 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