Herbert M. Peet was born April 22, 1892, in Wellsville, New York. He came to Montana in 1916, as editor of the Equity News in Great Falls. During World War I he served in the U.S. Army, and upon his discharge purchased the Harlowton Press, which he published for several years before returning to Great Falls to join the editorial staff of the Great Falls Tribune . In March 1931, Peet resigned at the Tribune to become co-publisher of the Everett Morning News in Everett, Washington. While he lived in Washington, Herbert Peet served as the state's rural relief director and assistant regional director for the Farm Security Administration headquartered in Portland, Oregon. During World War II he again returned to the Great Falls Tribune to supervise the state news and special features. Leaving the Tribune a few years later, he worked for the federal government, and finally completed his newspaper career in Seattle, retiring in 1953. Peet died in Vancouver, British Columbia, on December 15, 1959. As an amateur historian Peet had intended to publish a book on Montana's territorial period and spent many years researching his subject. However, business conflicts and the lack of publishing house encouragement prevented the book's completion. The most thorough research was the work Peet did on the life of Helena banker and governor, Samuel T. Hauser. Herbert Peet published some of his work in historical quarterlies, as well as in the Tribune's Sunday tabloid section.
From the guide to the Herbert M. Peet Research Collection, 1833-1958, (Montana Historical Society Archives)
