Charles W. Reitsch Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of four subgroups. The first subgroup consists of records of Charles W. Reitsch including biographical materials (1918-1990) including family tree for Reitsch and Howell families; school notes and records (1926-1928) from Montana State College, Bozeman; and a scrapbook (1924-1938, undated) The second subgroup for Charles Q. Alley of Rockford, Illinois (grandfather of Charles W. Reitsch) consists of diaries (1879-1906), and financial records (1873-1880, 1914-1927) including account and expenses books. The third subgroup for Ethan Howell (father-in-law to Charles W. Reitsch) consists of a letter (1920) to Mrs. Blythe concerning an illness in the family, a clipping (undated) announcing Ethan Howell's promotion to President of First National Bank in Hardin; and a memorial (1952) from Billings Board of Realtors on passing of Ethan Howell. The fourth subgroup for Eloise Garrard Howell (wife of Charles Reitsch) includes biographical materials; school records (1916-1925) from Hardin and Montana State University, Bozeman; and a scrapbook (1927-1928, undated) The fourth subgroup for Elizabeth Howell (daughter of Charles and Eloise) includes an autographed "Rules of the Senate, 1945"
Dates
- Creation: 1875-1990
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:
Charles William Reitsch was born in Mount Vernon, Illinois, on October 10, 1907, the son of Julius Gustavus Reitsch and Alice May (Alley) Reitsch. About 1912 the family moved to Carrington, North Dakota, and in 1918 to Musselshell, Montana, where the senior Reitsch opened a bank. Charles attended the local high school and worked after school and weekends as a bookkeeper in the bank. About 1924 Julius Reitsch moved the bank to Roundup. Charles graduated from Roundup High School in 1924. He attended Montana State College in Bozeman, majoring in electrical engineering. After graduation he got a job working for American Telephone and Telegraph Company in Denver, Colorado. While there he got interested in gem cutting. He was one of the founders of the Colorado Mineral Society. In 1938 the telephone company transferred him the El Paso, Texas, and later to Salt Lake City, Utah. He retired from the company in 1969 and moved to Bozeman, Montana, where he died January 14, 1990.
Extent
1.2 linear feet
Abstract
This collection consists of papers for the Charles William Reitsch Family--including Howell (mother-in-law's family) and Alley (mother's family). Papers include diaries (1879-1906) for Charles Q. Alley (Charles' grandfather, of Rockford, Illinois), and financial records (1873-1880, 1914-1927) consisting of account and expenses books. Collection also contains papers for Eloise Garrard Howell (wife of Charles Reitsch) including biographical materials; and school records (1916-1925) from Hardin and Montana State University, Bozeman. Also includes an autographed "Rules of the Senate, 1945" belonging to Elizabeth Howell (daughter of Charles and Eloise); and a letter (1920) written by Ethan Howell, a clipping (undated) announcing Ethan Howell's promotion to President of First National Bank in Hardin; and a memorial (1952) from Billings Board of Realtors on passing of Ethan Howell.
Arrangement
Arranged by subgroup and series. Some material housed in Archives Map Case, See Location of Collection information above and inventory below for more information.
Physical Location
15:4-6
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
- Title
- Guide to the Charles W. Reitsch collection 1875-1990
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Jodie Foley, 2000
- 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