Friends of
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Doris Swenson Whithorn was born December 18, 1916, in Davenport, Nebraska. She taught rural children for three years before attending the University of Nebraska, then she married Bill Whithorn, an unemployed printer. A new job brought them to Montana, and four children were born to them in Billings. In 1948, the Whithorn's bought the WAN-I-GAN, a roadside business (gas station, store, cabins) near Emigrant, midway between Livingston and Gardiner, in Park County, Montana. It was an ideal place to collect history and photos. Bill, an amateur photographer, was an expert in reproducing photos. Doris became interested in the history behind the photos and in writing about it. Doris and Bill lived at the Wan-I-Gan for 28 years. In 1965, Bill and Doris were asked by Fred Martin, editor of The Park County News, to prepare the annual PIONEER EDITION of his newspaper. They did this for many years to follow. These publications later evolved into paperback books which Doris sold. The Park County Museum in Livingston was established in 1976 by the Whithorn's and many other Volunteers. Doris served as museum curator for 14 years. Bill passed away in 1990. Doris has now retired to apartment living, but she continues her interest in Park County history. Doris has authored or co-authored a total of 21 books and many magazine articles. |
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- The Whithorn Books - |
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In 2005, the Friends of the Yellowstone Gateway Museum, purchased all of the publications by Bill and Doris Whithorn, who wrote extensively on the history of Park County, Montana, along the northern border of Yellowstone Park. The Friends are a non-profit organization. All proceeds from the sale of these books help to support the museum.
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1 |
 Photo History of Livingston, Montana. By Bill and Doris Whithorn |
The town of Livingston came into existence as the first Northern Pacific construction train arrived from the East in 1882. The town was named after a wealthy stockholder and director of the NPRR. The railroad chose the exact town location and they quickly built large machine shops and a repair facility there. The shops were equipped to repair disabled engines, and by 1900 they could rebuild seven locomotives a month. The authors present a detailed view of businesses, street scenes, and social activities of the early residents.
Published 1966 by The Park County News, Livingston, Mont. Size: 5.4” x 8.5”. Paperback, stapled. 48 pages (unpaged), 100 black & white photos. Indexed. Click here to view index Price: $6.95
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2 |
 Photo History of Gardiner, Jardine, Crevasse. By Bill and Doris Whithorn |
A well-researched history of three early gold-mining towns in the upper Yellowstone Valley, along the northern border of Yellowstone National Park. Jardine and Crevasse were important mining locations from the 1880’s through the 1940’s, but have largely disappeared. The town of Gardiner lies at the north entrance of Yellowstone Park and has been important as a jumping-off place for tourists. In 1903 Gardiner became the terminus of the Park Branch of the Northern Pacific Railway.
Published 1968 by The Park County News, Livingston, Mont. Size: 6” x 9”. Paperback, stapled. 48 pages (unpaged), 100 black & white photos. Indexed. Click here to view index Price: $6.95 |
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3 |
 Photo History of Shields Valley. By Bill and Doris Whithorn |
As Captain Wm. Clark traveled through Montana in 1806, following the Yellowstone, he passed the mouth of a river entering from the north. He named the river after John Shields, who served as blacksmith for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In the 1880’s several farm and ranch communities sprang up in the Shields Valley. The authors have documented the events and the people who lived and worked along the Shields River and in the principal centers of population: Clyde Park and Wilsall.
Published 1969 by The Park County News, Livingston, Mont. Size: 5.5” x 8 .5”. Paperback, stapled. 48 pages (unpaged), 100 black & white photos. Indexed. Click here to view index Price: $6.95
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4 |
 Photo History of Livingston – Bozeman Coal Country. By Bill and Doris Whithorn |
When coal is heated in ovens to drive off gases and impurities, it yields a material called coke. In the late 19 the century, only coke gave smelters the high heat necessary for refining metals. In Park and Gallatin County, Montana, coke production was centered in several small towns: Cokedale, Chestnut, Timberline, Mountainside and Hoffman. The washed coke was taken by train to smelters in Helena, Butte, and Great Falls. The authors present a pictorial history of this era (1882 to the 1920’s) and also document the families and the workplace. Published about 1976 by the Livingston Enterprise, Livingston, Montana. Size: 6.0” x 9.0”. Paperback, stapled. 48 pages, 100 black & white photos. Indexed. Click here to view index Price: $6.95
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5 |
 Calamity’s In Town. By Bill and Doris Whithorn |
Calamity Jane was a frequent visitor to the Northern Pacific Railway town of Livingston, Montana, and the local newspapers wrote some amusing and awful things about her. She first wandered into the news columns in March 1884. From then to her death in 1903, Calamity was in and out of town -- and in and out of the newspapers. She became a legend partly because of these printed words. Here is her story from 41 news clippings. Published about 1977 by the Livingston Enterprise, Livingston, Montana. Size: 6.0” x 9.0”. Paperback, stapled. 48 pages, 16 black & white photos. Indexed. Click here to view index Price: $6.95
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6 |
 Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane, by Herself. By Marthy Burk (Calamity Jane) |
This is a copy of the little pink booklet that Calamity Jane sold during her travels in the West. In her own words she tells her life story starting from her birthplace in Missouri and of her family’s travels to the Montana gold fields. She describes her adventures working for the Railroad, the Pony Express, driving ox teams, and her exploits as a Scout and Indian fighter with the 7th Cavalry. Calamity also tells of how she captured Jack McCall, the desperado who killed her friend Wild Bill Hickok, the famous gambler from Deadwood. The original booklet dates from about 1896. Paperback, stapled. Size: 5 ½“ x 8 ½”. Reprinted 2005 by the Friends of the Yellowstone Gateway Museum. Price: $2.95
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7 |
 Yankee Jim’s National Park Toll Road and The Yellowstone Trail. By Doris Whithorn |
Yankee Jim (his real name was James George) came to the Paradise Valley in the 1870s. He took over a wagon road built alongside the Yellowstone River and soon built a way station to charge a toll to all travelers. He charged a toll of $2.50 for each wagon and team, $1.00 for each rider on horseback. In 1883, the Park Branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad laid their tracks through the very dooryard of his way station. As you might expect, the railroad refused to pay him for their “trespass”, and Yankee Jim proceeded to sue them. He was a long-winded and colorful storyteller, but he was also known to be generous to any hungry or thirsty wayfarer. One of his guests was Rudyard Kipling Originally published 1989, reprinted 2006 by the WAN-I-GAN Press. Paperback, stapled. Size: 5.5" x 8.5", 60 pages, 40 photos. Indexed. Click here to see Index of the 1989 version. Price: $9.95
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8 |
 Why?? – Pray, Montana. By Doris Whithorn |
The author traces the origin of this very small town in the upper Yellowstone Valley. Also included are biographical notes about Charles N. Pray, the popular Montana politician who’s name it bears. Pray used to have a train station, a store and a small bar. [And then there was the fellow who told his wife that he was going to Pray for beer!] The Pray Bar is gone now, but in case you were wondering, the residents of Pray still have their very own zip code . . . 59065. The book was self-published in 1997. It is spiral bound, measuring 5 ½” x 8 ½”. 70 pages with 26 black & white photos. Click here to view Index. Price: Out of Print
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9 |
 Photo History of Harvats and their Woolies. By Bill and Doris Whithorn |
A compelling photo history of the John H. Harvats family who ran a major sheep ranch in Park County, Montana from the 1890's through the 1940's. Beautifully illustrated in black & white by John C. Haberstroh, a well-known western photographer. The photos and text capture the daily life of the sheep and the herders on the slopes of the Absaroka Mountain Range on the northern border of Yellowstone Park.
Self-published about 1976. It is hardbound in brown leatherette. Size: 8 7/8” x 11 ¼”. 80 pages with 134 black & white photos. Click here to view Index. Price: $14.95
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10 |
 Twice Told on the Upper Yellowstone, Volume 1. By Doris Whithorn |
Here is the full story of Teddy Roosevelt’s 1903 visit to Gardiner, Montana when he dedicated the Arch at the North Entrance to Yellowstone Park. Using newspaper reports and many black & white photos of the day, the author reveals the enjoyment had by President Roosevelt during his visit to this small Montana town. Also included are stories about Wm Loeb Jr., the personal secretary of the President; James C. McCartney, the Mayor of Gardiner; and a former associate of the President named Bill Jones who had known him during his 1883 ranching days in the Badlands of North Dakota.
This book was self-published in 1994. It is spiral bound, measuring 8 ½” x 11”. 79 pages with 87 black & white photos. Price: $17.95
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11 |
 Twice Told on the Upper Yellowstone, Volume 2. By Doris Whithorn |
Here are five stories about former residents in the northeast section of Yellowstone Park and in Montana, north of the park border on Slough Creek. The stories take place between the 1870’s and the 1960’s. There are five chapters: The Silver Tip Ranch; The Lady and the Grizzly; A Grizzly Got Frenchy; “Uncle John” Yancey; and Jack Baronett.
This book was self-published in 1994. It is spiral bound, measuring 8 ½” x 11”. 75 pages with 74 black & white photos. Price: $17.95
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12 |
 Twice Told on the Upper Yellowstone, Volume 3. By Doris Whithorn |
Because the stories all involve the crime of murder, the author decided that the book should have a red cover. The murders all took place in small Montana towns in the Upper Yellowstone Valley from 1895 to1951. These coal- or gold-mining towns were named Aldridge, Crevasse, Dailey, Fridley, Gardiner, Horr, Jardine, Pray, and Trail Creek. The true stories are taken from newspaper accounts of the trials, accompanied by plenty of black & white photographs.
The book was self-published in 2000. It is spiral bound, measuring 8 ½” x 11”. 105 pages with 72 black & white photos. Price: $22.95
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13 |
 Paradise Valley on the Yellowstone. By Doris Whithorn |
Paradise Valley, located midway between Gardiner and Livingston, Montana, is surrounded by spectacular mountain peaks and forests. The valley follows the curves of the scenic Yellowstone River after it exits Yellowstone National Park. But the stark beauty of the territory belies the difficult way of life encountered by the area’s early inhabitants. Author Doris Whithorn has made this area her home for 56 years. For many of these years she and her husband, Bill, ran a small gas station and roadside shop. Bill was an expert photographer and together they collected photographs of the area. Doris researched the stories behind the images and became the area’s foremost historian. Published 2001 by Arcadia Publishing, Chicago. Size: 6 ½” x 9 3/16”. Paperback, 128 pages, 229 black & white photos. Indexed. Price: $19.99
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14 |
 Emigrant Gulch, Searching for Gold in Park County, Montana. By Doris Whithorn |
In 1864, a group of pioneers from the Oregon Trail found their way to Emigrant Gulch along the Yellowstone River. Soon prospectors discovered placer gold and miners came from all over the country to try their luck. They established a place called Yellowstone City and founded the town of Old Chico. Pictured here are the miners, residents, businesses, street scenes, and social activities that made Park County what it is today. Commercial gold mining continued in Emigrant Gulch into the 1940’s. The author has documented her visits to several of the old “ghost” mining camps.
Published 2002 by Arcadia Publishing, Chicago. Size: 6 ½” x 9 3/16”. Paperback, 128 pages, 237 black & white photos. Indexed. Price: $19.99
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Shipping Information:
All items will be shipped by USPS.
Make checks payable to Friends of YGM. For information on wholesale prices, please contact: Friends of the Yellowstone Gateway Museum
Dick Dysart, Publications |
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Background on the Whithorn's . . .