Man Donates Beaded Scabbard To Museum Gift From Artist Charlie Russell Was Displayed Atop TV

A Kalispell man has given the C.M. Russell Museum a beaded knife sheath that once belonged to the cowboy artist.

Alan “Doc” Harkins presented the yellow-and-blue beaded rawhide scabbard to Lorne Render, museum director, who was in Kalispell while Russell’s painting, “The Exalted Ruler,” was on display.

Harkins’ maternal greatgrandfather, Albert Edmond Holdsworth, and Russell were friends as young boys in Missouri, and remained friends after Russell moved West as a teenager, said Harkins.

During a visit, Russell presented Holdsworth with the knife sheath. Holdsworth eventually gave it to his daughter, Evelyn Thorn, Harkins’ great-aunt. It eventually made it to Harkins, who has displayed it on top of his television set for years. A note from his mother said that Russell had gotten it from a chief.

“I thought it should be in the museum,” said Harkins. He does not know what tribe it came from, but he said museum officials expect to find out when they have the scabbard appraised.

Render said the appraisal will determine age, origin and value of the item.

“We value such items, because they tell the personal side of the artist,” he said.