Evelyn J. Cameron and Ewen S. Cameron papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of two subgroups: Evelyn J. Cameron Subgroup, and Ewen S. Cameron Subgroup.
Evelyn J. Cameron's Papers consist primarily of diaries (1893-1928) that chronicled her daily life including books she read, chores, lists of letters written and received, local and national events, photographs taken, social activities, verbatim copies of special letters, and weather. The diaries also include innumerable tidbits of information that reveal the fabric of her life--the number of eggs gathered and chickens killed per month; notes on the amount of butter she churned; methods of skinning a coyote or breaking a horse; accounts of money made from her photos and garden produce; lists of supplies; and Evelyn's favorite poems and quotes. In addition to the diaries, this subgroup also contains letters (1903-1929, 1974) both to and from Evelyn Cameron. The letters, especially those written to her family, are particularly valuable because they provide more insight into Evelyn's personality, and are more detailed than the diary entries. Also included are legal documents (1916-1917) regarding land purchases; miscellany (1893-1928) including lists of books and ranch animals, Christmas and sympathy cards, and notebooks; and clippings (1893-1923) removed from the diaries.
Ewen Cameron's papers consist of incoming correspondence (1908-1914), and legal documents (1903-1914) primarily related to property ownership and water rights. Also included in this subgroup are typescript and handwritten copies of various articles written by Ewen Cameron concerning Montana wildlife (1898-1914).
Dates
- Creation: 1893-1929
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Original diaries are restricted due to fragility. Typed transcripts are available for use.
Conditions Governing Use
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Biographical Note:
Evelyn Jephson Flower was born August 26, 1868, near Streatham, England. The Flower family was tied to England's elite--her half brother Cyril Flower became Lord Battersea in 1892. Ewen Somerled Cameron was born in 1854 in Scotland, to a genteel, but penniless family.
Evelyn and Ewen Cameron were married in the fall of 1889 and spent their honeymoon in Montana. Both were avid hunters and were lured to Montana by English magazines that boasted of the abundant wildlife, the ease of living on the plains, and the fiscal rewards of polo pony raising. The Camerons moved to Montana in 1893 and established the Eve ranch near Terry to breed and train polo ponies. The horse breeding venture proved disastrous, however, as the ponies were difficult to transport--many dying on the boat to England. The animals that survived the trip were too wild for English riders who were not accustomed to "breaking" horses. Although Evelyn's family provided her with an annual allowance, the Cameron's were unable to make a profit and by 1897 were forced to abandon polo pony raising and find other sources of income. They took in wealthy boarders, who they tried to convince to invest in the ranch, and Evelyn sold her garden produce and photographs. The Cameron's took their first trip back to England in 1901, and remained for a year. In 1902 they returned to Montana and bought land outside of Terry near the Yellowstone River. They remained at that location until 1907 when they moved to a ranch near Fallon, Montana.
In addition to the polo pony business, Ewen Cameron was interested in Montana wildlife, especially birds. He became a noted ornithologist, with several articles being published in various British science magazines, including The Auk. He worked for many years on a book describing birds of the western United States. He was also a skilled and enthusiastic hunter.
Evelyn Cameron, in addition to her work on the ranch, took a keen interest in photography. In 1894 she purchased her first camera, and learned basic photographic techniques from one of her boarders. Photography served many purposes for Evelyn, it relieved some of the loneliness of living on the plains, provided much needed income, allowed her to work with Ewen on his wildlife studies, and provided an avenue for meeting and learning about her neighbors. She was especially fascinated with the strength and perseverance of the Russian-German immigrants. Her photographs captured the experiences of men and women on the plains of Eastern Montana in starkly vivid and candid terms. Cowboys, women, ranchers, farmers, children, itinerant workers, sheep herders, and the stark landscape all found their way into her photos. Her work was carried in magazines throughout the country. Unlike Ewen, whose wildlife interests took him farther and farther from the ranch, Evelyn was fascinated with the ranching lifestyle. She developed close friendships with their neighbors, the Williams family. Janet Williams became her dearest lifelong friend, to whom she bequeathed all her diaries, photos and belongings after her death.
In 1914 Ewen Cameron became ill and had to be taken to Pasadena, California, to receive cancer treatments. He died the following year and was buried in California. Evelyn, contrary to the requests of her family, returned to Fallon to run the ranch by herself. She continued her photography for the remainder of her life. She died in 1928 following an operation for appendicitis. She was buried in Terry, Montana.
Extent
6.5 linear feet (Located at 12: 5-2)
Abstract
Evelyn J. Cameron was a pioneer photographer and rancher in eastern Montana. Her husband, Ewen S. Cameron, raised polo ponies and studied and wrote about wildlife, particularly birds, of eastern Montana. Collection consists of letters, postcards, and greeting cards (1903-1929); 35 diaries (1893-1928) kept by Evelyn; a journal (undated) kept by Evelyn containing notes, copied poems and sayings, and clippings; clippings removed from Evelyn's diaries and journal; a scrapbook (1900-1915) containing clippings on wildlife; 7 articles (1905-1914) written by Ewen; various manuscripts (1904-1912) written by Ewen; and homestead papers (1903-1917). There are also typed transcripts of the diaries.
Arrangement
by subgroup and series
Physical Location
12:5-2
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
Separated Materials
Evelyn Cameron photograph collection is in Photo Archives
- Title
- Guide to the Evelyn J. Cameron and Ewen S. Cameron papers 1893-1929
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Kathryn Otto, 1991
- 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