1873-1924

File — Box: 1, Folder: 2

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: The James B. Power papers are organized into three series: Correspondence, Financial and legal papers, and Subject files. The Correspondence Series consists almost exclusively of Mr. Power’s letterpress books of out-going correspondence from 1873 to 1903. They are very complete and document his career fully during this period with the Northern Pacific and Great northern Railways, the North Dakota Agricultural College and his business and farming interests. All fourteen volumes are indexed, and quite legible with several having been transcribed including the 1878 and the 1890-1894 volumes. These correspondence volumes provide good insights into the early settlement and rise of bonanza farms in the Red River Valley. There is some incoming correspondence, but it is extremely scattered. The letters for 1953 to 1957 are from family members, related to the donation of the papers and reminiscences. The Financial and Legal Records Series includes various loan agreements, property tax statements and miscellaneous receipts, mainly from 1872 to 1894. They are by no means complete but give an indication of the varied business activities and property holdings of Mr. Power. The legal material includes property deeds and land abstracts for his and other lands, and legal briefs form several court cases in North Dakota, related mainly to conflicts in property ownership. The miscellaneous legal documents include mortgage papers, power of attorney, foreclosure, affidavits of publication, and sheriff’s certificate of sale. The Subject Files Series is not extensive but do contain various speeches of Mr. Power including: wheat, cattle, prohibition, business, and for commencements. Other items include pencil scale drawings of the Helendale farm home and a few abstracts of Helendale Township, Richland County board minutes. The newspaper clippings include copies of obituaries of Mr. J.A. “Allie” Power, and articles written by James B. Power about him.