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Charlie Russell
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Full NameCharles Marion Russell
NicknameCharlie RussellC.M. RussellDate of Birth1864-3-19Date of Death1926-10-24DescriptionCharles Marion Russell was born in St. Louis in 1864. He grew up on a large farm, and developed an early fascination with art and the West. He merged these two interests into a life in Montana and a career that earned him the nickname "The Cowboy Artist."
Charlie was a gifted artist as a child, even winning prizes in local fairs. He enjoyed all forms of art including drawing, painting, and sculpture. But he was a poor student, particularly in writing. Living in St. Louis, the "Gateway to the West," he closely watched the thousands of people heading out to the frontier, on stagecoaches and Mississippi steamships, dreaming of following them into the wilds. He eventually convinced his parents to allow him to quit school, and by 16 he was living in Montana.
Russell's first Montana job was as a sheep herder. He didn't like the work, and soon quit. His next stop was Judith Basin in Central Montana, where he learned outdoor skills from his friend Jake Hoover. He eventually landed a job as a true cowboy, which he worked at until he was almost 30.
Wherever he went, Russell brought his art supplies. He loved to sketch people, animals, and events all around him. He captured dynamic scenes of the West during the era when settlers and cowboys began to transform Montana. His first work to draw attention was a scene from the brutal winter of 1886-1887 which wiped out thousands of cattle. The image of a starving cow stalked by hungry wolves was displayed as a postcard in Helena and garnered attention.
Russell's life changed dramatically in his early 30s. He married a young woman, Nancy Cooper from Kentucky. They settled in Great Falls, where they would remain for the rest of their days. Russell put aside his dreams of becoming a cowboy to focus exclusively on his art. While he was a renowned storyteller, he didn't like to promote himself and his work - that was where Nancy came in. She worked tirelessly to promote his art and grow it into a business.
In addition to his focus on cowboys and wildlife, Russell produced a significant number of works devoted to the stories of Native Americans. His early life in Montana was influenced by his experiences with Native Americans. In his days in Judith Basin, he encountered many Metis people, and adopted their distinctive colorful woven sash. He also spent time with people of the Blackfeet Nation.
Russell's notoriety and fame grew into his older years, as his artwork highlighted his experiences from a period of western expansion that was soon over. With Nancy as his business manager, they led a good life. Charlie passed away in 1926, and Nancy in 1940.
Charlie Russell's fame has endured nearly a century after his death. He has been honored by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and has the 2nd largest National Wildlife Refuge in the country named after him. His name can be found on numerous other entities throughout Montana, and there is a statue of him in the United States Capitol.
The Russell materials available on the Montana History Portal are unique, behind-the-scenes documents which provide insight into his life and work. These include raw sketches, handwritten notes, letters about him written by friends, and photographs of the man himself. His actual artwork is held by a number of institutions around the country. Those interested in viewing this artwork may consider a visit to the Montana Historical Society in Helena, or the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls.Contributing InstitutionBillings Public LibraryC.M. Russell MuseumLaRue Hot Springs MuseumLewistown Public LibraryMontana Historical Society Research CenterMuseum of the Beartooths, Columbus, Mont.University of Montana Mansfield Library
NicknameCharlie RussellC.M. RussellDate of Birth1864-3-19Date of Death1926-10-24DescriptionCharles Marion Russell was born in St. Louis in 1864. He grew up on a large farm, and developed an early fascination with art and the West. He merged these two interests into a life in Montana and a career that earned him the nickname "The Cowboy Artist."Charlie was a gifted artist as a child, even winning prizes in local fairs. He enjoyed all forms of art including drawing, painting, and sculpture. But he was a poor student, particularly in writing. Living in St. Louis, the "Gateway to the West," he closely watched the thousands of people heading out to the frontier, on stagecoaches and Mississippi steamships, dreaming of following them into the wilds. He eventually convinced his parents to allow him to quit school, and by 16 he was living in Montana.
Russell's first Montana job was as a sheep herder. He didn't like the work, and soon quit. His next stop was Judith Basin in Central Montana, where he learned outdoor skills from his friend Jake Hoover. He eventually landed a job as a true cowboy, which he worked at until he was almost 30.
Wherever he went, Russell brought his art supplies. He loved to sketch people, animals, and events all around him. He captured dynamic scenes of the West during the era when settlers and cowboys began to transform Montana. His first work to draw attention was a scene from the brutal winter of 1886-1887 which wiped out thousands of cattle. The image of a starving cow stalked by hungry wolves was displayed as a postcard in Helena and garnered attention.
Russell's life changed dramatically in his early 30s. He married a young woman, Nancy Cooper from Kentucky. They settled in Great Falls, where they would remain for the rest of their days. Russell put aside his dreams of becoming a cowboy to focus exclusively on his art. While he was a renowned storyteller, he didn't like to promote himself and his work - that was where Nancy came in. She worked tirelessly to promote his art and grow it into a business.
In addition to his focus on cowboys and wildlife, Russell produced a significant number of works devoted to the stories of Native Americans. His early life in Montana was influenced by his experiences with Native Americans. In his days in Judith Basin, he encountered many Metis people, and adopted their distinctive colorful woven sash. He also spent time with people of the Blackfeet Nation.
Russell's notoriety and fame grew into his older years, as his artwork highlighted his experiences from a period of western expansion that was soon over. With Nancy as his business manager, they led a good life. Charlie passed away in 1926, and Nancy in 1940.
Charlie Russell's fame has endured nearly a century after his death. He has been honored by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and has the 2nd largest National Wildlife Refuge in the country named after him. His name can be found on numerous other entities throughout Montana, and there is a statue of him in the United States Capitol.
The Russell materials available on the Montana History Portal are unique, behind-the-scenes documents which provide insight into his life and work. These include raw sketches, handwritten notes, letters about him written by friends, and photographs of the man himself. His actual artwork is held by a number of institutions around the country. Those interested in viewing this artwork may consider a visit to the Montana Historical Society in Helena, or the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls.
Contributing InstitutionBillings Public LibraryC.M. Russell MuseumLaRue Hot Springs MuseumLewistown Public LibraryMontana Historical Society Research CenterMuseum of the Beartooths, Columbus, Mont.University of Montana Mansfield Libraryloading google map....
Charlie Russell. Montana History Portal, accessed 15/11/2026, https://www.mtmemory.org/nodes/view/100511
