Gladys Costello was born in Malta, Montana, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Robinson, who were among the first settlers in the area. She graduated from the University of Montana School of Journalism and maintained a long time interest in writing with a special focus on regional history. In addition to co-authoring Top o' the Mountain: Charley Whitcomb, Mining Man, some of her stories were published in The Golden Era of the Little Rockies . Gladys Costello lived in Zortman, Montana, which is in Phillips County, for most of her adult life until her death on July 16, 1978.
Dorothy Whitcomb Klimper, born in Zortman, was one of two surviving children of Charley and Katie B. Whitcomb. She married Max E. Klimper, mining engineer, educator and sportsman. By 1976 she lived in Stanford, Montana. Costello's writing skills and Klimper's memorabilia and reminiscences were combined for the book Top o' the Mountain: Charley Whitcomb, Mining Man .
From the guide to the Dorothy Whitcomb Klimper Papers, 1904-1975, (Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)
