Willard "Bill" J. Huber letters

Collection — Folder: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Identifier: SC-2825

Staff Only

Content Description

This collection includes approximately 120 letters from Willard “Bill” J. Huber to his wife, Cecilia ("Ciel" or "Cece"), while he worked as a travelling salt salesman in Montana, as well as letters from Cecilia to her mother, Cecilia Biglen (Mrs. Owen Biglen). Much of the correspondence was written on the stationery from the hotel Huber was staying in, with letters describing depression-era life, travelling conditions, weather, how much salt was sold, and problems such as fender-benders, overbooked hotels, and missing his family. The dates of the letters range from 1928 to 1956, with the bulk written between 1939 and 1942.

Dates

Creation: 1928-1956

Creator

Huber, Willard "Bill" J., 1906-1978 (Person)
Huber, Cecilia F., 1901-1990 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

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.

Extent

0.2 linear feet (Six folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains letters written by Willard "Bill" J. Huber to his wife, Cecelia, while he worked as a travelling salt saleman in Montana. There are also some letters written by Cecelia to her mother. The dates range from 1928 to 1956 with the majority of letters written between 1939 and 1942.

Bibliography

Willard “Bill” J. Huber was born April 2, 1906, in Calumet, Michigan, son of Charles Huber and Carolyn Huber (nee Volker). His parents moved with him to Butte, Montana in 1909. In 1931, at the age of 25, Bill Huber married Cecelia “Ciel” or “Cece” Biglen in Lewistown, Montana. They had three children together, Charles “Bill,” W., James “Jim,” O., and Nancy Huber. Bill Huber was a member of various organizations, including Knights of Columbus, where he served as treasurer, as well as Elks Lodge, Kiwanis, Eagles Lodge, and the United Commercial Travelers. He also worked for the Morton Salt Company (or possibly the Royal Crystal Salt Company) as a travelling salt salesman. He travelled to various towns across Montana and Utah between 1930 and 1956 selling salt by carloads, often writing letters to his family using the stationery from the hotel he was staying in. In 1940, he was drafted into the US Army during World War II, although it is unclear if he ever served. He retired from the Morton Salt Co. in 1968, and afterwards worked at a state liquor store. He died September 13, 1978, at the age of 72.