Frank Meinhart Family papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of biographical material, correspondence, scattered financial records, legal agreements, miscellany, and clippings regarding Frank Meinhart and his family. The collection is divided into three subgroups,the Frank G. Meinhart Papers, the Louise Espenscheid Meinhart Papers, and the Russell H. Meinhart Papers. The Frank Meinhart Papers consist of an obituary (May 22, 1947); incoming correspondence (1903-1947) primarily from Joseph Maurice regarding their cattle raising partnership; general correspondence (1959-1963) regarding the artwork of Frank Meinhart; financial records (1899-1934) including scattered bills and receipts, and dues books for the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators & Papermanagers of America; legal documents (1902-1907) including the business agreement with, and the Final Will and Testament of Joseph Maurice, and the marriage certificate for Frank and Louise Meinhart; miscellany (1915-1931, undated) including records of membership in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in Butte, blank forms and promotional materials for the Meinhard sign painting business; and clippings (1930-1947, undated) primarily regarding early Montana History, especially Native American articles.
The Louise Espenscheid Meinhart Papers consist of general correspondence (1904-1959) primarily from Frank during their courtship, but also including various family members; and scattered financial records (1939-1963) regarding investments, and a sale a painting; and miscellany (1959-1964, undated) including a Montana drivers license.
The Russell H. Meinhart Papers consist of school records (1913-1914) including a report card for Butte Public Schools and Newsboy's membership club card; and miscellany (1914, undated) including condolence calling cards from classmates to Russell's parents and three sketch books.
Dates
- Creation: 1899-1963
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:
Frank G. Meinhart was born on March 16, 1874, in St Louis, Missouri. Frank moved to Butte, Montana, around 1899 and soon thereafter began work as a sign painter for Schatzlein Paint Company. He worked there for a few years and then began taking contract painting jobs. By 1910, Mr. Meinhart built a large enough clientele to open his own sign painting business, located at 119 S. Main. He remained in Butte until the late 1920s, at which time he relocated his family to Hamilton, Montana.
In addition to his sign painting, Frank Meinhart drew some income from cattle ranching. In 1902 Mr. Meinhart entered into a business arrangement with Joseph Maurice, a ranch owner near the Wise River in Beaverhead County. Meinhart purchased forty head of cattle, which Maurice agreed to care for over a period of five years. The two were to share the profits accordingly. Maurice, however, died in 1907. Meinhart was made executor of his estate and took control over the ranch at that time.
Frank Meinhart was a self-taught painter whose art works focused on wildlife and Native American portraits. He is credited with starting a sketch club in Butte to assist local artists. Meinhart was prolific and gained local recognition for his work through small exhibits in towns across Montana. Some of his work was included in an exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., as part of the Victory Poster Contest held during World War II.
Frank Meinhart and Louise Espenscheid were married in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 1, 1905. The newlyweds relocated to Butte where they lived until about 1927. They had one son, Russell H. Meinhart, who died at the age of eight as a result of a tooth infection. Frank Meinhart died in Hamilton, Montana, on May 20, 1947. Louise Meinhart died in Missouri in 1959, but she was buried in Montana near her husband and son.
Extent
1 linear feet
Abstract
Frank G. Meinhart, a Western artist who lived in Butte and Hamilton, Montana, owned and operated sign painting businesses, in each community. He a was a prolific painter of Western landscapes and Native American portraits. This collection consists of correspondence (1902-1963) regarding the Reinhart businesses, family, and friends (a large portion of the letters are from Joseph Maurice, a business partner in a Pleasant Valley, Montana, ranch); financial records (1899-1934), including scattered bills and a dues book for membership in the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Papermanagers of America; legal documents (1902-1907), including a partnership agreement with and last will and testament of Joseph Maurice, and the marriage certificate of Frank and Louise Espenschied Meinhart; miscellany (1915-1931, undated), including scattered records regarding his membership in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in Butte, and blanks forms and promotional materials from the sign painting business; and clippings (1930s-1940s). The collection also contains two small subgroups, one for Louis Espenscheid Meinhart consisting of correspondence and scattered financial records (1904-1963), and one for Russell Meinhart consisting of school records (1913-1914).
Arrangement
Arranged by series.
Physical Location
14:6-5
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Frank Meinhart Family papers 1899-1963
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Jodie Foley, 1999.
- 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