Schultz, James Willard, 1859-1947

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James Willard Schultz (1859-1947) lived in and wrote about the northwestern portion of Montana now included within the Blackfeet Reservation and Glacier National Park. In 1877, at the age of 18, he traveled from his birthplace in Boonville, New York to Fort Benton, Montana Territory. He became interested in American Indians, and lived for many years with the Blackfeet Indians as an accepted member of their nation. Drawing upon his experiences on the western frontier he later wrote thrilling and colorful books and articles to make his living as an author. His success was notable in his own time, and many of his books remain in print. Dr. Daniel S. Gage was a graduate of the University of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, and later was employed by Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

From the guide to the James Willard Schultz Letters, 1915-1916, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)

James Willard Schultz (1859-1947) lived in and wrote about the northwestern portion of Montana now included within the Blackfeet Reservation and Glacier National Park. In 1877, at the age of 18, he traveled from his birthplace in Boonville, New York to Fort Benton, Montana Territory. He became interested in American Indians, and lived for many years with the Blackfeet Indians as an accepted member of their nation. Drawing upon his experiences on the western frontier he later wrote thrilling and colorful books and articles to make his living as an author. His success was notable in his own time, and many of his books remain in print.

From the guide to the James Willard Schultz Papers, 1867-1969, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)

Schultz and Grinnell both wrote about Indian folklore and life. Grinnel also wrote on conservation in the American West and was editor-in-chief of Forest and Stream magazine.

From the description of James Willard Schultz letters to George Bird Grinnell, 1903-1933 (bulk 1903-1908). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702138395

Author.

From the description of James Willard Schultz papers, 1867-1969. (Montana State University Bozeman Library). WorldCat record id: 154692337

Cultural researcher, writer, expert on the Blackfeet tribe in northern Montana and Glacier National Park.

From the description of James Willard Schultz papers, 1867-1969. (Montana State University Bozeman Library). WorldCat record id: 43941691

James W. Schultz was born in Booneville, New York, on August 26,1859. During a visit to St. Louis, Missouri, Schultz met trappers and fur traders from Montana at his uncle's establishment, the Planter's Hotel. Shultz listened to stories about the endless buffalo on the plains, and decided to go westward and shoot one. In the summer of 1877, he received $500 from his mother and her permission to go buffalo hunting in Montana. He promised to return in time for school at West Point in the fall, but found life in the west too exciting and never returned to live in the east.

Upon his arrival in Montana, Schultz went to Fort Conrad on the Marias River. There in 1880, he established a trading post with Joseph Kipp. Shultz remained at Fort Conrad from 1877 to 1885. During that time he traded with the Pikuni and Bloods and established another trading post at Carroll on the Missouri river where he also traded with the Crees.

Shultz became fascinated with the Native American way of life and joined the Blackfoot tribe. He developed further ties with the Blackfeet by marrying Fine Shield Woman of the Pikunis. Shultz lived with Fine Shield Woman until her death in 1884. They had a son from this union named Hart Merriam Schultz, "Lone Wolf," who later became a prominent artist in the southwest and illustrated some of his father's books.

After the death of Fine Shield Woman, Schultz moved to Los Angeles, where he became a literary critic for the Los Angeles Times. After a marriage to Celia B. Hawkins in 1907, Schultz finally settled down in 1932 with Jessie Louise Donaldson, a former professor at Montana State University. They collaborated together on the book The Sun God's Children .

Shultz explored the area that is now Glacier National Park with Dr. George Bird Grinnell in the 1880's. Many mountains, lakes, streams and glaciers still bear the names given during these explorations. This experience, along with Shultz's ties with the Blackfeet led him to begin to write stories about life out west. He published serials in Doctor Grinnell's Forest and Stream as well as Youth's Companion and American Boy magazines. His first book was My Life as an Indian, published in 1907. Numerous other books followed based upon the stories related by the Blackfeet and Shultz's experiences with them.

James W. Shultz was one of the few whites ever permitted to visit the sacred Blackfoot Tobacco Gardens in Bow River Valley, Alberta. Shultz was fluent in the language of the Blackfoot and well versed in their culture. He kept in contact with his adopted tribe until his death in 1947.

From the guide to the James Willard Schultz Papers, 1914-1946, (Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Alexander, J. B. Letter : Sacaton, Ariz., to George Bird Grinnell, New York, N.Y., 1906 Jun 7. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Schultz, James Willard, 1859-1947. James Willard Schultz papers, 1867-1969. Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library
referencedIn Jessie Louise Donaldson-Anne Banks Papers, 1922-1985 MSU-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
referencedIn James, Harry Clebourne, 1896-. Harry C. James papers, 1938-1978. Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library
referencedIn George Bird Grinnell papers, 1859-1939 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf James Willard Schultz Papers, 1867-1969 MSU-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
creatorOf Schultz, James Willard, 1859-1947. James Willard Schultz papers, 1867-1969. Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence and records, 1832-1944. Houghton Library
creatorOf Schultz, James Willard, 1859-1947. Letters, 1915-1916 : to Daniel S. Greer. Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library
referencedIn Harriette Eliza Cushman papers, 1893-1978. Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library
creatorOf Schultz, James Willard, 1859-1947. Letter, 1939 Mar. 24, Browning, Mont., to Katherine Watson, Denver. University of Michigan
referencedIn Harry C. James Papers, 1938-1978 MSU-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
creatorOf James Willard Schultz Papers, 1914-1946 Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Banks, Anne. Jessie Louise Donaldson-Anne Banks papers, 1922-1985. Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library
referencedIn Alexander, J. B. Letter : Sacaton, Ariz., to George Bird Grinnell, New York, N.Y., 1906 Jun 7. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Grinnell, George Bird, 1849-1938. George Bird Grinnell papers, 1859-1939 (inclusive), 1886-1929 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn James, Harry Clebourne, 1896-. Harry C. James papers, 1938-1978. Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library
creatorOf James Willard Schultz Letters, 1915-1916 MSU-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
referencedIn Grinnell, George Bird, 1849-1938. George Bird Grinnell papers, 1859-1939 (inclusive), 1886-1929 (bulk). Yale University Library
creatorOf Houghton Mifflin Company. Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence and records, 1832-1944. Houghton Library
referencedIn Harriette Eliza Cushman Papers, 1893-1978 MSU-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
creatorOf Schultz, James Willard, 1859-1947. James Willard Schultz letters to George Bird Grinnell, 1903-1933 (bulk 1903-1908). Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alexander, J. B. person
associatedWith Cushman, Harriette Eliza, 1890-1978. person
correspondedWith Gage, Daniel S person
associatedWith Goldsmith Publishing Company corporateBody
associatedWith Great Northern Railway Company (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Grinnell, George Bird, 1849-1938. person
associatedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith James, Harry Clebourne, 1896- person
associatedWith Pulitzer, Ralph. person
associatedWith Riverside Press (Cambridge, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Shultz family family
associatedWith Watson, Katherine Williams, b. 1889. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Glacier National Park (Mont.)
Glacier National Park (Mont.)
Waterton Lakes National Park (Alta.)
Montana
North America
Montana
Glacier National Park (Mont.)
Canada
Subject
Arapaho Indians
Authors
Blackfeet Indians (Dakota)-Blackfoot Indians (Dakota)
Indianists
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Kainah Indians
Kootenai Indians
Literature
Montana
National parks and reserves
Native Americans
Parks and Playgrounds
Photographs
Poaching
Shoshoni Indians
Siksika Indians
Siksika Indians
Siksika Indians
Siksika Indians
Occupation
Authors, American
Authors
Activity

Person

Birth 1859-08-26

Death 1947-06-11

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