Title: Evan W. Hall Papers
Dates: 1918-1975
Collection Number: 10407
Quantity: 1.25 ft.
Abstract: Contains diaries, correspondence, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and agricultural agent monthly reports relating to Hall's activities in organizing the Mizpah-Pumpkin Creek Grazing Association; work as an agricultural supervisor for the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad; history of Fort Berthold; and research and scholarship on agricultural matters. Hall was an agricultural agent and son of Charles Lemon Hall.
Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired the Evan W. Hall Papers as a gift from Evan W. Hall, which cover the years, 1963-1975. Juliann Henriksen prepared the inventory to the Evan W. Hall Papers in February 1984.
Property rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to the collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: Two books were transferred to the Library on February 13, 1984. Montana-High, Wide, and Handsome by Joseph Kinsey Howard, 1943 and The Memoirs of Chief Red Fox by Chief William Red Fox, 1971.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Evan Webb Hall, son of Charles Hall, was born on May 9, 1887 at the Fort Berthold Mission, Dakota Territory. In 1909, Evan Hall graduated from North Dakota Agricultural College, Fargo, North Dakota; and was later hired as an Indian Service farmer at the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. In 1911 he became the Assistant Superintendent at the Demonstration Farm, North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Hall was the first county agent in Williams County, and later became the assistant county agent leader from 1913 to 1919. After leaving Williams County, Hall was the assistant county agent leader for the Wyoming Extension Service in 1920. Hall then served for six years as the Lawrence County Agricultural Agent, Spearfish, South Dakota. In 1926 he became an agricultural agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. As an agent of the railroad, Hall initiated the idea of farming an experimental co-operative called the Mizpah-Pumpkin Creek Grazing Association. This experimental cooperative led to passage of the Taylor Grazing Act by Congress in 1934.
In 1952 Hall retired and made his home in Warden, Washington. He was an active community member serving on the town council and was secretary of the chamber of commerce. The town of Warden dedicated a street in his honor, "Evan Hall Avenue." He wrote numerous articles published in North Dakota newspapers. He also authored the book Fifty Years in the Saddle.
Evan Hall married Aline Newcomb in 1909. In the summer of 1935, Hall was married for the second time to Edna Ann. Evan had two children, Webb and Susan. He died on November 16, 1976 at Mitchell, South Dakota.
Sources:
Minot Daily News, 23 November 1976
McLean County Independent, 24 November 1976
Evan Hall Papers, State Historical Society of North Dakota
Evan Hall Papers, Montana Historical Society Archives
Minot Daily News, 14 October 1940
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Evan Hall Papers dated from 1918 to 1975 and occupy one and one-fourth cubic feet and one oversize folder. The papers have been divided into two series: diaries and miscellany.
The diaries date from 1926 to 1968 and contain information concerning the weather and daily events. The early diaries trace Hall's efforts to form the Mizpah-Pumpkin Creek Grazing Association. The Montana Historical Society Archives has more materials from Evan Hall concerning the Mizpah-Pumpkin Creek Grazing Association.
The miscellany series dates from 1918 to 1975 and consists of agricultural supervisor monthly reports; correspondence; scrapbooks; a manuscript; newspaper and periodical clippings; and ephemera. The agricultural supervisor monthly reports date from 1926 to 1929 and contain monthly activities reported by Hall as agricultural supervisor for the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. The correspondence, dating from 1918 to 1975, consist of incoming letters arranged chronologically; many concern Hall's unpublished manuscripts. The scrapbooks date from 1920 to 1935 and contain newspaper clippings and correspondence concerning agriculture. The manuscript dates July 1956 and is entitled "Short History of Fort Berthold." The newspaper and periodical clippings date from 1934 to 1971 and consist of published articles written by or concerning Hall. The ephemera consist of greeting and business cards, a program, and pamphlets authored by Hall.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
Series I. Diaries, 1926 to 1968, Box 1-2
Consists of diaries containing information concerning the weather and daily events
Series II. Miscellany, 1918 to 1975, Box 2-3
Consists of agricultural supervisor monthly reports; correspondence; scrapbooks, a manuscript; newspaper and periodical clippings; and ephemera
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Series I. Diaries
Box 1:
1 Diaries 1926
2 Diaries 1927
3 Diaries 1928
4 Diaries 1929, 1930
5 Diaries 1930-1933
6 Diaries 1934-1937
Box 2:
1 Diaries 1938-1940
2 Diaries 1941-1944
3 Diaries 1945, 1950, 1951, 1961
4 Diaries 1962-1965
5 Diaries 1966-1968
Series II. Miscellany
6 Agricultural Supervisor Monthly Reports, 1926-1929
7 Correspondence, 1918-1975
Box 3:
1 Scrapbook, 1920-1927
2 Scrapbook, 1928-1935
3 Fort Berthold, 1956
4 Newspaper and periodical clippings, 1934-1971
5 Ephemera, n.d.
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