Here are a few photos from the LOC's collection taken In June of 1939 at the Miles City Roundup (predecessor to the BHS).

http://tinyurl.com/o7sppj

I am new to town and loved looking at these photos. It is fun to see the pictures as I have been reading a little history on the BHS. Thanks for posting these!

Those are great photos Hal! Thank you for sharing them.

No problem at all.

I think I posted the link a few years back, but I didn't figure it would hurt to do it again ; -)
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I'm not certain what year this is from - anyone know?



[This message has been edited by Hal Neumann (5/11/2009)]

I don't know that these photos have anything to do with the Round Up - but they're neat pictures ; -)

I believe they were taken in 1942:

Is there anywhere the people in some of these photos (stockmen in front of bar??) are identified? Just curious...

Wow, a FULL LINE of Pabst beer.

>> Wow, a FULL LINE of Pabst beer.

And Buckaroos too.

These are mostly Early Miles City Roundup photos of the Nichols side of my family. I think I have them captioned.

http://s694.photobucket.c...es%20City/


[This message has been edited by Lorin Dixson (12/8/2009)]

Does anyone know whatever happened to the Foster Drug and Stephenson's round-up photos or negatives?

Bronko Billy

I don't know about the Roundup, but a great many of the Foster's Drug negative are in the photo archives at the Montana Historical Society.

Thanks Hal,
How does one go about getting access to the Libary? Do you know if the photos have been digitized?

Here's some information for the photo archives.
http://www.his.state.mt.u...ctions.asp

I'm not certain what the Foster's Drug collection is called - it's been a number of years since I thumbed through them. But I'm sure the archivists will be able to steer you in the right direction.

I very much doubt they are digitalized.

I looked through some notes I had hoping to find some reference numbers/info on the Foster collection.

This is the best I could come up with.



I'm not sure how or why the Donor was the Dept of Ag.

Many of the photos I saw when I browsed through those files were ones that were used to produce postcards of scenes & structures in Miles.

Example:

I could only find 22 photos indexed by using the Society's search engine & "Foster photo". The summary is below. Perhaps you can find others with using different searches. When I used "Foster Drug"- 2 pamphlets about Miles City were listed in the catalog.

http://mtscprod.msl.mt.go...097/2/1000

Summary: Views of the Washington School in Miles City, Mont.; Musselshell, Montana, train station; "Flying Circus" at Miles City, April 28, 1919 (by Foster Photo Co., Miles City, Mont.); school teachers, including Maude A. Goodwin, on hiking excursions along the Yellowstone River and to Signal Butte (ca. 1915-1920): teachers hiking, hunting for agates on bank of Yellowstone River, posed in badland formations; a home in a cave; herding cattle; a frozen water tank; bison on the prairie; and "Lynch Bulldogging at Miles City Roundup" (by Doubleday-Foster Photo Co., 1917).

I think there are more photos than that - but it's been sometime since I browsed the holdings there . . . so I could well be mistaken.

Where do you think all the photos may be if they only have a few generic post card negatives? Could Brud Foster have retained them and then conveyed them to his kids Elvanel (sp) and her brother, I think George? I guess that most people dont care much about the old cowboys much anymore. They are all long gone, as well as anyone who knew them. Too bad to loose the pictures, but I guess not much ever gets down the time tunnel

Hi, I collect Gene Autry items. I understand he appeared at Miles City Roundup twice in the 1950's. Anyone have any info on that. Newspaper articles, programs, photos. Thanks, Bob

I know that photographs of Gene Autry appearing in the Roundup parade were in the Star. I think he was here in 1951 and 1954 but I'm not certain. And I know people have stories of his visit that are still vivid in their memories. But I don't know that there are 'collectibles' beyond a few family photos.

Thanks for the fast reply. I will check the paper. Bob

Hi, I am looking for photos or other info on Gene Autry appearing at the Miles City Roundup. I believe he was ther twice, 1951, 1954. Not positive of years. Thanks, Bob

The art center (WaterWorks Art Museum) has a half dozen pix of his visit; parade and plane boarding shots in their collection. I'm sure copies could be supplied.

Additional information on old topics:

1) Foster Photo Negatives.
In traditional photography, there is ONE original, the negative. The photographer could make numerous photographic prints in his darkroom from that one negative. Foster Photo printed many real photo post cards, 3.5 x 5.5 inches. As detailed as they were, the original negatives would have revealed more detail and provided a greater range of luminescence.

The Montana Historical Society has advised that they have several Foster photos, but no negatives. Many of my peers will remember Leighton Brud “L.B.” Foster, who owned Foster Drug until his death in 1984. If he had retained the negative collection from his father’s business, I suspect that the negatives were thrown in a dumpster after Foster’s death. I have communicated with numerous people on the topic, and none have had any insights about the disposition of the negatives.

Starting in 1917, Foster partnered with Ralph R. Doubleday, who became the dean of American rodeo photography. The Doubleday-Foster Photo Company was dissolved about two years later. Foster later sold many Doubleday images under the Foster name. For some years, George Foster had a location in the basement of the Elks Building on North 7th Street. The photography business had its own manager. It is uncertain how many Foster Photo images were captured by George Foster versus Foster employees.

2) Miles City Roundup.
The first MC Roundup was held in 1913. The Roundup, always held on the July 4 weekend, had no connection with the Bucking Horse Sale. For at least two years, 1950 and 1951, both rodeos were held in Miles City.

3) Gene Autry.
Gene Autry’s first known appearance in a local parade was in the Roundup Parade of 1951. I have seen references to an Autry appearance in 1954. Reportedly, Autry appeared in Miles City for the 1959 Diamond Jubilee Celebration for the Montana Stockgrower’s Association. I have 1951 photos and some undated Autry images from his appearances in Miles City, downloaded from various sites over the years.

I can best be reached at gcoffrin at gmail dot com.

[Edited by Gary Coffrin (2/2/2020 9:35:24 AM)]

[Edited by Gary Coffrin (2/2/2020 9:43:01 AM)]

In 1954 my father let Gene Autry use our small travel trailer for a dressing room at the fairgrounds. I remember he signed his name on the back of one of the doors in the trailer. Wish I had some photos of him and the trailer.