Photograph Collections

The Montana Historical Society's photograph archives contains approximately 400,000 images, in a variety of photographic formats, that document the diverse history of Montana and adjacent areas. Both local photographers and nationally recognized artists have recorded images of city and rural life as well as industrial and technological developments in the state. Also included in the collection are photograph records of state government including such topics as highway construction, travel promotion, institutions, and environmental issues.

Collections of images by individual photographers
Collections of images compiled by individuals
Collections of images arranged by subject
Collections of images arranged by subject State Government Records

Collections of images by individual photographers: (Click on images for larger version.)
Ball Collection. (1888-1895) 80 photoprints. James P. Ball was a Black photographer in Helena, Montana. With his son, James P. Ball, Jr., he operated a small commercial studio. Although portraits of local people, including many black people, make up the majority of his work, it also contains views of notable community events like the laying of the Montana Capitol cornerstone and several hangings.
Barthelmess Collection. (1888-1906) 770 photoprints and 400 copy negatives. Christian Barthelmess was a musician with the United States Army. Stationed at Fort Keogh in 1888, he photographed the daily life of frontier soldiers. Included in his work are portraits of Indians, landscapes, and views of activities in surrounding towns and on area ranches.
Brings Collection. (1908-1912) 67 photoprints, 33 negatives. William J. Brings had a brief photographic career in Montana, operating studios in Hardin and later Laurel, Montana. His views were taken mainly of the Hardin community, Crow Indians on the neighboring reservation and St. Xavier's Mission.
Cameron Collection. (1895-1920) 3,000 photoprints and 2,000 glass and film negatives. Evelyn Jephson Cameron, an amateur photographer, moved from England to Montana in 1890, with her husband, Ewen S. Cameron. For almost forty years they operated ranches in eastern Montana. Her photographs reflect her and her naturalist husband's interest in Montana birds and other wildlife. Her views include photographs of herself and her husband, their friends, cattle, horses, sheep, homesteading and ranching activities and scenery. 1895-1920.
Dean Collection. (1903-1934) 1,850 negatives and 260 photoprints. Walter Dean, Jr. was a jeweler by profession, and he ran a jewelry and drug business in Forsyth, Montana, from 1905-1945. He took views of numerous Rosebud County activities, including a flood, railroad accidents, county fairs and farming operations and equipment. His early photographs of coal veins near Colstrip were instrumental in encouraging the development of this area.
DeCamp Collection. (1890-1910) 250 negatives and 80 photoprints. Ralph Earl DeCamp, although known better for his talent with the paintbrush, expressed himself equally well with the camera. His photographs primarily depict the scenic beauty of Montana; and views taken near Helena, Montana, make up the majority of images in his collection.
The Haynes Foundation Collection. (1876-1960) 24,000 glass and film negatives. F. Jay Haynes (1853-1921) owned photographic studios in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Yellowstone National Park. He was the official photographer for the Northern Pacific Railroad for 20 years, and both he and his son, Jack Ellis Haynes (1884-1962), were the official photographers for Yellowstone National Park. The collection includes views of Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. It documents the construction and operation of the Northern Pacific Railroad and the historical events and scenic beauty of this region, particularly Yellowstone Park.
Huffman Collection. (1879-1926) 1300 glass and film negatives. Laton Alton Huffman came to Fort Keogh as post photographer and later set up a studio in Miles City, Montana Territory. He took photographs of military life, Crow and Cheyenne Indians, the slaughter of the buffalo, cattle and ranch life, and the Custer Trail Expedition in 1916.
Kopac Collection. (1920-1940) 17,000 negatives and photoprints. This collection of photographs, taken by brothers Ed and Emil Kopac, contains a broad range of views, including early 20th century scenes of Nebraska, South Dakota, and Montana, focusing on the Kopac Bros. Ford and White Truck dealership in Nebraska, the various wheat farms owned by the Kopacs, cattle, farm machinery, towns and natural landmarks; scenes from all over the West and Midwest, focusing primarily on landscape, architecture, industrial sites, farming activities, historical sites and markers; and portraits.
Reinig Collection. (1910-1940) 640 film and glass negatives. Edward M. Reinig was a professional photographer who operated a small, commercial studio in the basement of his home in Helena, Montana. His photographs include views of this community and the nearby towns of Elliston, Marysville and Radersburg. The collection also includes photographs of group activities and scenic areas near Helena.
Stevens Collection. (1890's) 300 negatives and 300 photoprints. Myrta Wright Stevens, an amateur photographer, lived with her husband, Albert M. Stevens, and children in Missoula, Montana. In her collection are several photographs taken by E.W. Phillips, who, like Mrs. Stevens, was a member of the Missoula Camera Club. Their photographs include views of Missoula, the surrounding countryside, the Stevens family and friends and numerous recreational activities such as camping, fishing and hunting.
Syverud Collection (1907-1964) 1,476 photoprints. Henry Syverud was a farmer and an amateur historian in northeastern Montana. His collection includes four scrapbooks of personal snapshots documenting life in Sheridan County. His photographs were taken mainly of church and community activities and farming operations. The narrative, which accompanies his photographs, identifies each view and provides an excellent historical account of homesteading experiences.
Collections of images compiled by individuals:
Edwin J. Schroeder Collection. (1860-1940) 470 negatives and photoprints This is a collection of historical views acquired by Schroeder, who used many of the images in his book, Historic Helena. The collection also holds photographs of Marysville, Alhambra and Elkhorn, Montana, as well as views of Yellowstone National Park.
Orr Family Collection. (1890-1940) 2900 negatives and photoprints. This is a collection of images of the Orr and Burdick families, Dillon, Montana and Salmon, Idaho, mining, the Montana Normal College in Dillon, and Orr studio subjects.
Edmund B. Craney Collection. (1914-1950) 2174 photoprints This collection contains views pertaining to E.B. Craney and his broadcasting operations (Z-Bar network) throughout the Pacific Northwest, with an emphasis on Butte, Montana. Includes images from his childhood at Swan Lake, Montana, and a logging operation there.
Collections of images arranged by subject:
Agriculture Collection. (1880-1960, emphasis 1880-1920) 1800 photoprints and negatives. This collection provides a comprehensive history of rural life in Montana. It includes photographs of livestock, crops, orchards, farm machinery, farm activities, farm and ranch buildings, irrigation projects and cowboys, farmers and ranchers at work.
Helena, Montana, Collection. (1860's-1970 emphasis 1870-1940) 2,000 photoprints and negatives. This collection contains photographs documenting the growth and development of Helena from a mining camp to a modern city. Included in this collection are views of the community, its activities and events, businesses, residences, schools, streets and local organizations.
North American Indian Collection: (1870-1950) 1,115 photoprints and negatives. This collection has representative views of Assiniboine, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Chippewa-Cree, Crow, Flathead, Gros Ventres, Nez Perce and Sioux Indians, and documents life among these Indian tribes after white settlement began in Montana. It includes portraits of tribal leaders and other Indian persons, photographs of their daily activities, ceremonies, dances, dwellings, costumes and agencies.
Mining Collection. (1860's-1950) 13,300 negatives and photoprints. This collection illustrates the history of mining in Montana. It contains photographs of all facets of this industry's development and includes views of placer diggings, dredges, underground mines, stamp mills, smelters, miners, mining techniques and equipment. In addition, the collections of the Boston and Montana / Anaconda Minerals Company smelters at Great Falls and Anaconda contain images documenting all aspects of the smelting and refining processes at those two plants from 1901-1936.
Transportation Collection. (1860-1970) 3,000 photoprints and negatives. This collection records the progression of transportation in Montana. It includes photographs of the conveyances which helped the state to overcome its problems of isolation, such as freight wagons, stagecoaches, steamboats, railroads, airplanes and automobiles.
State Government Records
Montana Travel Promotion Unit Collection. (1960-1985) 28 cubic feet. This collection includes photographs of tourist attractions and recreational areas throughout the state, and includes some items related to the advertising and motion picture business in Montana.
Governor J. Hugo Aronson Collection. (1925-1960) 3700 photoprints and negatives. This is a collection of images taken during Aronson's term as Governor of Montana, 1953-1960, but also includes photographs of the governor's early day business in the oil fields near Sunburst and Cut Bank.
Governor Tom Judge Collection. (1973-1980) 900 photoprints and negatives. This is a collection of images documenting governmental activities during Judge's term as Governor of Montana.
Montana Aeronautics Commission Collection. (1910-1960) 4.5 cubic feet. This collection contains material from the Montana Aeronautics Commission's files and their Aviation History project including many of the images used in Frank Wiley's Montana and the Sky.
Montana Department of Transportation Collection. (1920's - 1970's) 21 linear feet of negatives and photoprints. Although much of this collection documents road building in Montana, the MDOT photograph department was, in the late 20th century, also responsible for taking the formal photography involved with the constitutional convention of 1972, legislative and gubernatorial activities, and produced some of the material related to tourist promotion and Territorial Centennial events.
All photographs are property of the Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives. Material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).