DORIS WHITHORN CURATOR COLLECTION (United Garment Workers of America, Local Union 169, 1919 #1997.072.0115) Yellowstone Gateway Museum of Park County 118 West Chinook Street Livingston Montana 59047 0 DORIS WHITHORN CURATOR COLLECTION PROVENANCE: The material was donated and collected by Doris Whithorn for several decades. Additional material was donated by the Whithorn family. The collection remains open for additional donations. Funding for processing a part of collection and digitizing a portion of the images was provided by the Montana History Foundation. ACCESS: The collection is open for research. This pdf document can be searched online by simultaneously hitting keys Control and F. OWNERSHIP: Literary rights and copyrights have been assigned to the Yellowstone Gateway Museum of Park County. PUBLICATION RIGHTS: All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Yellowstone Gateway Museum of Park County as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Museum does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis. PREFERRED CITATION: [Identification of item], Doris Whithorn Curator Collection, YGM1997.072, Yellowstone Gateway Museum of Park County. SIZE: Number of manuscript boxes: 11 Number of object boxes: 1 Oversize manuscript boxes: 3 Number of audio/visual boxes: 1 Number of photograph and glass slide drawers: 4 Number of negative boxes: 1 Number of oversize photographs: 1 box, 2 folders PROCESSED BY: Ellen Zazzarino 1 DORIS WHITHORN CURATOR COLLECTION BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Born in 1916, Doris Swenson (Whithorn) grew up on a farm located between Davenport and Shickley, Nebraska. Doris Swenson graduated as valedictorian from high school and then taught at a rural high school for three years. She then attended the University of Nebraska for two years. After marrying Bill Whithorn in 1939, they moved to Worden, Montana, where Bill worked for several weeks. The couple relocated to Billings, Montana where Bill worked for The Yellowstone News. In 1948, Bill began working for the Billings Times. During his tenure at the newspaper the family grew with the birth of Alta, Bruce, Carol, and Duane. After six years with the Billings Times, and three years with the Gazette, the Whithorns moved to Park County, Montana. They lived at the Wan-I-Gan in Pray, south of Livingston for 28 years. They operated the store, gas station, and cabins at the one-stop tourist service. In 1951, Doris began creating jewelry and souvenirs from deer and elk horns. They built the Horn House in 1954 to display and sell these souvenirs. When a new highway was built diverting the traffic from the East River Road, Bill began working in Yellowstone Park as a seasonal maintenance man. In 1954, Bill Whithorn began reproducing old photographs, which motivated Doris to begin researching these images. In1960, Doris began writing illustrated stories based on the images and her research. In 1965, Fred Martin, editor of the Park County News asked them to prepare the annual edition of the pioneer issue for the newspaper. The pioneer issue became an annual 48- page paperback that led to a series of photo histories on nearby areas. In 1964, the Park County Museum Association was formed. In 1967, the Association leased rooms in the West Side School. Doris Whithorn served as the Museum Director and both she and Bill became quite involved with the development of the Museum. In 1974, the Museum is forced to move to the Lincoln School. In 1976, the Park County Museum Association agreed to purchase the North Side School. The purchase was split with Park County. In 1976, Bill and Doris Whithorn sold the Wan-I-Gan to move to the old North Side School in Livingston. An apartment was built in the basement allowing them to live in the museum as volunteer caretakers and overseers. Doris continued to serve as the Museum Director. Four large display rooms are completed with one focusing on Native Cultures. Doris and Bill devoted their time to the expansion and development of the museum and additional publications. The History of Park County 1984, a 512 page book, authored by Doris and 45 volunteers, was a major accomplishment. In 1986 they move from the museum to a house in Livingston. Doris and Bill Whithorn continued to publish books on the history of towns located in Park County. They traveled extensively to all 50 states and abroad. In 1990, Bill Whithorn died and in 1993, Doris moved back to the museum apartment. Doris continued to serve as Museum Director until 1997 when she moved to the Senior Center. In 1997, Mark Baker was hired as 2 part-time Museum Director and Doris continued to offer her knowledge and experience to the Yellowstone Gateway Museum of Park County for the next several years. Doris Whithorn wrote over 90 articles that were published in newspapers and magazines both regionally and nationally. She wrote 18 books with Bill and continued to write after he passed away. Doris was active in numerous organizations including: the Genealogy Society, Yellowstone Club, Park County Pioneers, Park County Historical Society, Montana Historical Society and the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. Doris won several awards including: the Peter Yegen Lifetime Achievement Award from the Montana Historical Society, the Montana Governor’s Award as the District Senior Citizen of Distinction and the Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award for Preserving Park County History. Doris had 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. In the summer of 2013 Doris Whithorn passed away. SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE The collection comprises of material that Doris Whithorn collected throughout the years from Park County residents or relatives located out-of-town and her extensive research. The material was discovered in her files at the Yellowstone Gateway Museum of Park County. Doris stored the photographs and manuscript material in files according to subject or type of material. These items comprised a collection that Doris stored with her papers as Museum Director along with a large collection of newspaper clippings. Additional material was donated by family members after she passed. The historic material dates from the 1880s to 2013. The photographs document the early settlers, businesses and towns in Park County. The subjects range from churches to schools to events. SERIES DESCRIPTION SERIES 1 PUBLICATIONS – BOOKS AND ARTICLES 1950s – 2003 BOX 1- BOX 4 The series comprises of the original manuscripts for the books and articles published by Doris and Bill Whithorn. Doris Whithorn wrote the majority of the books and all of the articles in the series. The material includes handwritten and typed manuscripts with handwritten notes by Doris. Once a book was published she continued to research the subjects for future revised editions. The published articles appeared in newspapers in Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman, and Livingston. Doris’ articles were published in regional and national magazines. It’s important to note that many of the family histories submitted for the History of Park County, Montana 1984 book were written by one or more member of the families contain information that was not included in the book due to the length of the narrative. Numerous letters from researchers, Park County residents, students, and readers encompass a portion of the series along with several folders that Doris Whithorn retained on the writing process and her ideas. The series ends with manuscripts Doris Whithorn wrote for tours including the Park County Historical Society’s annual tours. She actively participated in these tours by writing the guides, 3 providing photographs and organizing several of the tours. In addition, Doris Whithorn wrote self-guided tours to Livingston’s historic areas, including downtown. The papers document the tours that began in the 1970s until 2003. SERIES 2 RESEARCH 1880S – 2003 BOX 4- BOX 11 The research material in the series primarily consists of articles, clippings and notes. Doris Whithorn was a thorough researcher and historian. Every piece of paper or article was analyzed for information pertaining to her publications, the museum or relevance to the history of Park County and Montana. She maintained a reference library for her research. All the clippings, articles or published material was organized according to subject or publication. The folders retain her original subject titles with additional information that may assist a researcher. Arranged in alphabetical order by subject, the folders document the history and culture of Park County and the surrounding areas. The series also includes the numerous letters Doris Whithorn received from researchers across the U.S. The correspondence is organized in chronological order. SERIES 3 PERSONAL AND FAMILY PAPERS 1927–2008 BOX 11 Material in the series includes family correspondence, personal business, diaries, clippings and documents. The documents are organized by individual family member in chronological order. Bill Whithorn’s personal papers start the series with his papers for writing school, diary, studies in photography and his passing in 1990. Bill and Doris Whithorn’s personal business papers follow documenting their work at the Wan-I-Gan, travels, family and involvement in the community. SERIES 4 OBJECTS, BOX 12-BOX 13, ca 1916-1925, 1985, 1998 The series includes childhood mementos such as a bracelet, sewing project, baby shoes and toys and two awards. One award Bill and Doris Whithorn received for their dedication and numerous contributions to Park County, Montana. The second award was presented to Doris Whithorn by the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs.