Montana's writing hotspot: The Pryors
Montana has a reputation as a writers' idyll. Numerous literary types congregate around Missoula, many of them sustained by the fine creative writing program at the University. Another literary community has sprung up around Livingston, nurtured by veteran freelancers such as Tim Cahill, Richard Wheeler, and Diane Smith. And certainly there are many of us scattered around other parts of the state.
But in the late 1920s, the situation was far different. I believe there were only three Montana residents then nationally known for their writing skill. Charlie Russell, who had started penning stories to go with his paintings, lived in Great Falls. (What can you say about the Great Falls literary scene today? Well, I can picture a latter-day JFK at a Missoula writers' dinner saying, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of literary talent that has ever been gathered together at a Montana dinner party -- with the possible exception of when Pete Fromm dines alone.")
The other two lived in the Pryor Mountains.
The Pryors today are hardly a literary hotspot. There's darned few people of any occupations living there. But in the 1920s both Caroline Lockhart and Will James invested the revenues from their bestselling Western novels in Pryor Mountain ranches.
I have never been able to find any evidence that they met. Running a ranch was time-consuming, and neither figure was exactly gregarious. But these days both are gaining a little more attention. During my research into Lockhart's life, I wanted to find James' ranch and writing studio, just to do a comparison. But all I could learn was that it was privately held. With yesterday's donation, as chronicled in another great article by Lorna Thackeray, it will become far easier.
I'm always interested in feedback, via info at johnclaytonbooks dot com
But in the late 1920s, the situation was far different. I believe there were only three Montana residents then nationally known for their writing skill. Charlie Russell, who had started penning stories to go with his paintings, lived in Great Falls. (What can you say about the Great Falls literary scene today? Well, I can picture a latter-day JFK at a Missoula writers' dinner saying, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of literary talent that has ever been gathered together at a Montana dinner party -- with the possible exception of when Pete Fromm dines alone.")
The other two lived in the Pryor Mountains.
The Pryors today are hardly a literary hotspot. There's darned few people of any occupations living there. But in the 1920s both Caroline Lockhart and Will James invested the revenues from their bestselling Western novels in Pryor Mountain ranches.
I have never been able to find any evidence that they met. Running a ranch was time-consuming, and neither figure was exactly gregarious. But these days both are gaining a little more attention. During my research into Lockhart's life, I wanted to find James' ranch and writing studio, just to do a comparison. But all I could learn was that it was privately held. With yesterday's donation, as chronicled in another great article by Lorna Thackeray, it will become far easier.
I'm always interested in feedback, via info at johnclaytonbooks dot com
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