The Montana Memory Project is in the process of transitioning to a new database system so many of these links to collections are not working. Please visit their site directly to explore collections. They hope to have all their collections up on the new site by the end of September and we’ll update these links then.
Montana Memory Project (MMP) is a statewide project of the Montana State Library and the Montana Historical Society and Research Center and other contributing organizations. They have digitized city directories, maps, newspapers, yearbooks, histories, photographs, and more.
Birth, Marriage, & Death Records
Obituaries
Big Horn County Obituaries – Obituaries are important to family members researching their genealogy whether for personal information or for school projects. Big Horn County is unique in that it is home to parts of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Reservations plus we have had an influx of migrant workers. The obituaries for these special areas as well as the farmers and city and county patriarchs are in the obituary collection.
Liberty County Obituaries – A full century of obituaries from Liberty County, Montana, this collection of 5000 obits covers the period 1905 through 2010. The Broken Mountain Genealogical Society collected the obituaries from the pages of the Chester Signal, Joplin Independent, Joplin Times, Chester Democrat, Chester Reporter, Liberty County Farmer, and Liberty County Times.
Residence Records
Directories
Central Montana R.L. Polk Directories – This collection of R.L. Polk Directories consists of directories published from 1904 to 1923. The directories cover the geographical areas of Fergus County, Petroleum County, Judith Basin County and Musselshell County. The specific coverage varies with each book. City directories contain a wealth of information about individuals, towns and businesses. Information about individuals may include addresses, occupations, spouses, and in some volumes death dates or place of relocation.
Conrad City History – The following books, directories, and photographs tell the story of the people who settled and developed the town of Conrad. Conrad originally began in Teton County than later was later included in the boundaries of Pondera County.
Flathead and Lincoln Counties Directories – The Flathead and Lincoln Counties Directories Collection consists of 10 R.L. Polk city directories originally published from 1901 to 1922. The directories cover the geographical area that is now…
Leland Cade Books Collection – This collection of nine books covers aspects of the homesteading era in eastern Montana. Six books are centered in Golden Valley County, with many memorable stories and additional information about schools and ghost towns. Three books are business directories for Fort Benton, Culbertson, and Roundup up to the 1930’s. The author, Leland Cade, grew up on a homestead on Tuffley Bench north of Lavina in Golden Valley County.
Maps
Montana Place Names Explore this zoomable map to learn the origins of Montana place names, from Alzada to Zortman.
Mapping Montana and the West – Research Montana and the West using maps from the collections of various institutions throughout the state of Montana, including contributions from the Montana Historical Society Research Center and The University of Montana Mansfield Library. This collection includes everything from territorial maps to present day topographic maps. Institutions are always adding new content, so check back often.
Land
Original Abstracts of Land Deeds, Jefferson County – Jefferson County was created February 2, 1865 as one of the 16 original counties in Montana. Homestead Entry # 1 Abstract was issued to Henry A.L. Tanner and is part of the collection. This land is currently part of the Marks Ranch in Jefferson County. Another early settler in the collection is Ernest Marks, the grandfather of Robert Marks. Other family names included are Haynes; Haab; Cassimer Kamber, notary; and Matheson.
Daily Life Records
African American & Slavery
Montana’s African American Heritage Resources is a gateway for exploring this understudies aspect of Montana history. Select the For Teachers tab to find a PowerPoint presentation and script, Profiles of African American Montanans, and two model lesson plans for ways to use the site with your students: Overcoming Prejudice (grades 4-6) and Creation of a Community (grades 7-9).
African Americans in Montana and the West Montana The Magazine of Western History Digital Issue, Summer 2020
Black history matters. This special digital issue of Montana The Magazine of Western History focuses on African American history in Montana and the diversity of Black experiences in the West. We draw attention to this history with a selection of articles from the past twenty-five years of Montana The Magazine of Western History, excerpts from two MHS Press books, and a new essay from Herbert Ruffin II on the state of the field.
Books
Early Montana Histories – A collection of books exploring topics such as the exploration and occupation of Montana, Indian history, wars, trading and military posts, mining, newspapers,
Rosebud County History Collections – Rosebud County treasures include They Came and Stayed, the county history book, Forsyth 100 Years from the centennial of the county seat, and an extensive collection of pictures taken by Walter Dean III. These fascinating pictures chronicle the history of the county and many special events in the 1910’s, 1920’s, and 1930’s.
Business & Industry
1995 Cattle Drive from Texas to Miles City, MT – The Great American Cattle Drive (GACD) of 1995 left Fort Worth, Texas stockyards on March 5, 1995 and arrived in Miles City, Montana on September 1, 1995. The cattle drive was a re-enactment of the cattle drives from the 1880’s. This collection was a cooperative project of the Range Riders Museum and Miles City Star Newspaper. The photos were processed in Photoshop by Lara Hartley, former Miles City Star Photographer, who spent several days riding on the cattle drive and photographing the event. Lara Hartley researched and included information from GACD cowboys and other historians to provide names and captions for the photos.
AERO’s 45 years of impact – Finding the Energy to Make Change: AERO’s 45 years of impact promoting alternative energy and sustainable agriculture in Montana 1974–2019. In the 1970s, a small group of Montanans founded the organization AERO, the Alternative Energy Resources Organization. Together, these farmers, ranchers, lobbyists and activists not only introduced new techniques and technologies, but wrote laws, lobbied legislatures and taught neighbors about new approaches to food and energy production. Their stories hold critical knowledge about how to create change and work across political, geographic and social divides; knowledge that will benefit all Montanans, especially food producers, policy makers, community organizers and educators. These oral histories are preserved to inspire more Montanans to join the legacy of sustainability sculptors in our state.
Anaconda Copper Mining Company – Great Falls – The Anaconda Copper Mining Company Refinery of Great Falls began in 1891 as the Boston and Montana Smelter. It was the industrial giant of Great Falls during its entire existence, providing jobs and supporting the community. It was used as a copper refinery and smelter, zinc refinery, copper rod, wire and cable plant, and aluminum rod, wire and cable plant. In 1959 the facility was billed as the state’s largest manufacturing plant. It closed in 1980, and the iconic stack was blown up in 1982.
Arrowhead (The) – Great Falls Anaconda Copper Mining Company Newsletters
The Arrowhead was the internal newsletter produced by the ACM Club for the Great Falls Anaconda Copper Mining Company Smelter. It covered goings-on in the company and all the sporting events they participated in. It covers 1939-1942. From there war production took over and the newsletter was abandoned. There were a couple of promotional newsletters after that are included, giving an idea of the wonderful job the ACM Company did in support of the war effort.
Yellowstone National Park Army Era Records – The Yellowstone National Park Army Era Records contain materials documenting the U. S. Army’s administration of Yellowstone National Park, 1886-1918. There are also a few records from the years immediately preceding the Army Era, when the Park was overseen by civilian superintendents, 1882-1886. The documents include correspondence, reports, financial records, leases and contracts, rules and regulations, scout diaries, and other administrative records.
Rocky Mountain Laboratories Lab News 1944-1945 – During World War II employees from Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton developed a folksy, unofficial newsletter to mail to RML employees who were serving in the military. The newsletters were designed to brighten the spirits of those who were away from home, while also keeping them apprised of local events. Sixty pages of the newsletters are available below, from May 1944 through December 1945. Some of the writing may be considered off-color in contemporary times, but for this era were considered appropriate.
Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives – The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives collections are comprehensive and interrelated and provide dynamic insights into the second Industrial revolution -the electrification of America-the history of copper mining and the rise of the Gibraltar of the labor movement in the American West. Butte is home of the world’s largest copper deposit, once one of the most radically and ethnically diverse settlements of the West.
Central Montana Historical Documents – The Central Montana Historical Documents collection consists of many of the early articles written by local historians. It also includes some of the early books that local communities wrote about the early settlers. This collection contains High School annuals, Judith Basin real estate brochures, ghost town articles and many interviews that tell a story of the homesteaders and their business ventures.
Charles Hauswirth Papers – Charles Hauswirth was born in Butte, Montana in 1882 to Simon and Mary Hauswirth. In 1906 Hauswirth was a grocer at Forrest and Hauswirth Grocer, and later he owned the Western Fuel Company.
Colstrip United Collection – As a social media based movement run by women in a rural energy industry-based community fighting for its survival, the Colstrip United Collection will provide the public with context for a number of interesting topics in Montana history as well as Colstrip, Montana’s current status.
John J. Powers, Safety Poster Collection – The World Museum of Mining currently houses over 200 of John J. Powers’ screen prints. These screen prints were developed as safety posters for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company (ACM) in Butte, Montana throughout the 1960s and 1970s. John Powers was a well-known cartoonist for the company’s safety department and also worked as a miner. This collection of prints is a stunning representation of safety procedures and examples, both of men’s actions mining underground and taking part in everyday life above. The safety posters were designed and printed specifically for the safety department of the ACM. Unique by creator and location, the posters are a treasure to the city of Butte and the state of Montana.
Lewis-Wedum General Store Ledgers – This important collection of store ledgers, dating 1891-1903, includes the names of many early pioneers in northeast Montana, some of whom were not recorded elsewhere. Some examples of noteworthy area history are customer’s physical address and employment information, items bought, prices of items sold, and complete store inventory, as well as daily cash and charge sales records. A BIT OF HISTORY: A Minot, North Dakota, businessman sent a small stock of goods with James. W. Wedum, a young clerk, to Glasgow, Montana Territory, December 20, 1888. Wedum opened a general merchandise store two days later in an 18’x40′ log shack. John M. Lewis arrived from St. Paul, Minnesota in March of 1889 when the Wedum and Lewis families took over the newly formed business. A prefabricated building was built in sections in St. Paul and shipped via railroad to Glasgow for final assembly in early 1890 to house the new company. Montana became a state November 1889, Glasgow being a part of a huge Dawson County covering 26,000 square miles, until the formation of Valley County in 1893 and remains the county seat to the present. When John’s brother, Robert M. Lewis, arrived in 1891, to be bookkeeper, it was noted Glasgow’s population was 300. The Lewis-Wedum General Merchandise Store carried a full line of women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing and shoes, as well as fine china and porcelain. They also sold everything from farm equipment, lumber, seed, tobacco, dry goods, groceries, housewares and furniture, and even caskets. The business closed in 1937 after over 49 years in existence.
Sheep Ranching in Judith Basin County – This is a photo collection of some of the past and present sheep ranches in the Judith Basin and the towns which grew up around those ranches.
Saddlemakers of Miles City – This collection has two parts. The first part is an interview with retired saddlemaker Glenn VerBeck about the history of saddlemaking in Miles City, including the tools and processes used. The last part is a register of saddlemakers.
County Histories
Early Montana Histories – A collection of books exploring topics such as the exploration and occupation of Montana, Indian history, wars, trading and military posts, mining, newspapers…
Rosebud County History Collections – Rosebud County treasures include They Came and Stayed, the county history book, Forsyth 100 Years from the centennial of the county seat, and an extensive collection of pictures taken by Walter Dean III. These fascinating pictures chronicle the history of the county and many special events in the 1910’s, 1920’s, and 1930’s.
Diaries/Journals
Billings – Historic Document Collection – The Billings – Historic Document Collection contains letters, diaries, papers, and other significant recorded or written documents from the Billings Public Library concerning the people, places, and events important to the history of Montana.
Darby Diaries – The Darby Diaries Collection resulted from the compilation of personal accounts and published information on the history of Darby Montana and its residents. The materials are arranged in chapters because the original intent of the compilers was to create a book. The historical information dates from the mid- 1800’s through the Darby Centennial Celebration in 1988 ending with the Montana Centennial in 1989.
Diaries, Letters and Ledgers from the University of Montana – The diaries, letters, and other unpublished materials in this collection were selected from the University of Montana’s Archives and Special Collections. They represent a variety of subject areas and share lives, events and experiences from Montana’s past.
Evelyn Cameron Diaries – Evelyn J. Cameron was a pioneer photographer and rancher in eastern Montana. Originally from England, she moved to Montana with her husband Ewen in 1893. Evelyn kept extensive diaries from 1893 until her death in 1928. The diaries (35 in total) presented here chronicle her daily life including books she read, chores, lists of letters written and received, local and national events, photographs taken, social activities, verbatim copies of special letters, and weather. The diaries also include innumerable tidbits of information that reveal the fabric of her life and by extension that of many women in eastern Montana at the time. For instance, her diaries include the number of eggs gathered and chickens killed per month; notes on the amount of butter she churned; methods of skinning a coyote and breaking a horse; accounts of money made from her photos and garden produce; lists of supplies; and Evelyn’s favorite poems and quotes. In order to make ends meet Evelyn also became an accomplished photographer, working for hire for local families wanting to records special events. Her images capture the surprising ethnic and cultural diversity that marked life in the Terry, Montana area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The diaries record when and where she took images, for whom, why and on what occasions, and what her thoughts were at the time. Taken together the images and diaries provide wonderful insights into the life of early eastern Montana ranch families.
Letters, Diaries and Documents from the Montana Historical Society – Research Montana’s rich history using materials from the collections of the Archives at the Montana Historical Society. This collection includes digitized manuscript materials like diaries and letters, as well as the records of government agencies, corporations and organizations. Collection strengths include documentation of state and local government, 19th century businesses, overland journeys, mines and mining, political figures, national parks, wilderness and environmental issues, fraternal and/or service clubs, and women’s history. Check back regularly for new materials being added to this collection.
Montana Historical Society Civil War Era Diaries and Correspondence – Montana Territory was formed during the waning months of the Civil War, but her people, politics, culture and subsequent history are steeped in the issues of the war and the tumultuous period that followed. These records consist of wartime diaries, letters, and reminiscences that share the experiences, thoughts and daily lives of those who came to the region during the 1860s. Some came directly as a result of the upheaval, some to rebuild lives, and others to simply make money and return home. The issues and ideas presented through these records form a bedrock for Montanan’s to understand the beginnings of the territory, its role on the regional/national stage, and especially the beginnings of the state’s earliest communities.
Mydas Capps Zieg Diaries – Diaries (1920-1997) kept by Mydas Capps Zieg, teacher and Missoula County Deputy Superintendent of Schools. The diaries include descriptions of Zieg’s daily life as a teen; a flapper in the 1920s; college life; teaching in Rapelje, Montana
Yellowstone National Park Army Era Records – The Yellowstone National Park Army Era Records contain materials documenting the U. S. Army’s administration of Yellowstone National Park, 1886-1918. There are also a few records from the years immediately preceding the Army Era, when the Park was overseen by civilian superintendents, 1882-1886. The documents include correspondence, reports, financial records, leases and contracts, rules and regulations, scout diaries, and other administrative records.
Ethnic
Char-Koosta News – Published by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation, the newspaper started in 1956 and continued through five decades. With the exception of a ten-year hiatus from December 1961 through May 1971, the paper continues to publish a weekly issue. The name Char-Koosta is a combination of the names of the last two traditional leaders of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Charlo was the last traditional chief of the Bitteroot Salish and among the last of his people to move to the Jocko. Chief Koostahtah was the last of the Kootenai traditional leaders. His office was eliminated by the Constitution of 1935.
Fort Missoula Alien Detention Camp Collection – During World War II, Fort Missoula in Missoula, Montana, was turned over to the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service for use as an Alien Detention Center (ADC) to hold foreign nationals and resident aliens. This collection includes correspondence, telegrams, memoranda and maps documenting the creation of the Fort Missoula Detention Camp between 1941 and 1942. The majority of the records originate from Willard F. Kelly, Chief Supervisor of Border Patrol, Immigration and Naturalization Service. Details are provided about the construction of new facilities; the renovation of existing facilities; the securing of supplies including vaccinations, clothing and food; and other logistics such as sanitation and entertainment. Some documents include personal information about the detainees including name, rank, age, hometown, and marital status. Some of the documents also relate to provisioning Fort Lincoln just south of Bismarck, North Dakota. Between 1941 and 1944, the ADC held 1,200 non-military Italian men, 1,000 Japanese resident aliens, 23 German resident aliens, and 123 Japanese Latin and South Americans. The 1,200 Italian men were merchant seamen, World’s Fair employees and the crew of an Italian luxury liner seized in the Panama Canal. Many of the Italians, who referred to the Fort as “Bella Vista,” spent the war as paid laborers replacing American men working in forestry, farms, the sugar beet industry and constructing Highway 12. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the FBI arrested more than a 1,000 of the most prominent Japanese leaders on the west coast as potential security risks. Ultimately, over 1,000 Japanese men – all resident aliens barred by law from American citizenship – were held at Fort Missoula for loyalty hearings. None was ever charged with any act of disloyalty but all were held at Fort Missoula or other camps for the duration of the war.
Fort Missoula Alien Detention Center Photograph Collection – The Fort Missoula Alien Detention Center was one of a handful of internment camps run by the Department of Justice during World War II. Roughly 1000 Italian merchant sailors were held for several years, and roughly 1000 more Japanese immigrant men, known as Issei, were held temporarily following the Pearl Harbor attack. The photos in this collection are part of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula’s permanent collection. They offer a look into the lives of these detainees during their time at Fort Missoula.
Mountain-Plains Native Americans – A broad and growing collection of reference materials related to the Native American tribes Montana. The collection will ultimately contain government documents, archival documents, photographs, and other materials.
Natives of Montana Archival Project – The Natives of Montana Archival Project (NOMAP) includes over 65,000 pages from 126 boxes of Bureau of Indian Affairs records (Record Group 75) held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Scanned from the Central Classified Files (CCF), 1907-1939, this collection includes letters, reports, photographs, petitions, leases, bonds, wills, and other legal documents. The NOMAP project focused specifically on that portion of the CCF which are organized according to individual field units or jurisdictions within Montana, such as the Blackfeet Agency.
Montana Indian Law – This collection emerges from a effort of the Montana State Office of Public Instruction’s Indian Education Division and the State Law Library to acquire and preserve tribal legal documents. Included are constitutions, codes, court opinions, water rights and gaming compacts, fish and game regulations, and more.
Chippewa Cree Tribe Water Rights Settlement Records – This collection includes files used by the Chippewa Cree Tribe, and in particular the Tribal Water Resources Department, during their negotiations with the Montana Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission and the Federal Negotiating Team for the Rocky Boy’s Reservation to settle the Tribe’s water rights claims. The records include information about the history of the area that is now Rocky Boy’s Reservation in north central Montana, the history of water system development in the region, and legal files related to Rocky Boy’s case for water rights.
Government Records
Helena, Montana City Council Minutes, 1881-1970 – In April 1881, the Helena City Council began meeting after the public approval of a charter incorporating the City of Helena. Minutes were created after each meeting and they detailed the actions of the mayor and aldermen in establishing the framework and continuance of their municipal government. The information typically captured in these minutes included, but is not limited to, the date, time and location of the meeting, the elected officials present, members of the public who offered business for the council to consider and any action taken by the council. These minutes were handwritten in a bound volume. When a volume, or minute book, was filled, a new one was started and this process continued. Handwritten minutes were kept in this fashion until October 1910, when minutes were then typewritten. Each successive volume was continuously and carefully maintained in secure storage by the Helena City Clerk, such that today a complete history of the activity of Helena’s governing body exists. These bound volumes are carefully secured and maintained by the City Clerk and staff to the present day.
Justice Under the Big Sky – The State Law Library of Montana’s Justice Under the Big Sky collection pulls together a number of facets of the Montana legal system in a never-seen-before photo ensemble. Included in the collection are group photos of the Montana Supreme Court, individual portraits of Montana Supreme Court Justices and Montana district court judges, as well as Montana Judges Association group photos and historic photos of the State Law Library. Of particular interest in the collection are photos memorializing the groundbreaking of the current Montana Justice Building. The State Law Library strives to provide access to legal information for Montana’s judges and court personnel, members of the State Bar of Montana, state officers and employees, and members of the general public.
Montana Council of Defense Records – The membership of the Montana Council of Defense, established in response to an executive order by President Woodrow Wilson, was initially appointed by Governor Sam Stewart. Challenges to their authority however led Stewart to call a special session of the legislature in February 1918. The legislature officially established the Council in on February 20, 1918 and empowered it to “do all acts and things not inconsistent with the Constitution of laws of the State of Montana, or of the United States, which are necessary of proper for the public safety and for the protection of life and public property… and things necessary or proper so that the military, civil and industrial resources of the State may be most efficiently applied toward maintenance of the defense of the State and nation… “ The Council first concerned itself with agricultural production and boosting enthusiasm for the war to counteract Montana’s strongly anti-war labor unions, radical farmers, and large immigrant population. The war propaganda campaign however gradually led to the suppression of all dissent with which the Council eventually became identified. With the Armistice signed in November 1918, the Council quickly ceased active functioning although it was not formally dissolved until July 1921 after the United States had signed a treaty with Germany.
History
Historic Montana is a website and mobile app to help you discover Montana’s rich cultural resources. Curated by the Montana Historical Society, Historic Montana shares the history and architecture of selected buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s official list of cultural resources deemed worthy of preservation.
Marlene Saccoccia Quilt Heritage Project – This collection documents over 100 quilts made from circa 1775 to 1994 that are preserved in the cultural history collection of the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT. The quilts in this collection hold family memories, connect communities, and tell stories about the people who made or used them.
Libraries, Museums, & Archives
Sidney-Richland County Library – The collection includes one locally published book, several newspaper collections and special editions, and early annuals from the Richland County High Schools.
Magazines & Periodicals
African Americans in Montana and the West Montana The Magazine of Western History Digital Issue, Summer 2020
Black history matters. This special digital issue of Montana The Magazine of Western History focuses on African American history in Montana and the diversity of Black experiences in the West. We draw attention to this history with a selection of articles from the past twenty-five years of Montana The Magazine of Western History, excerpts from two MHS Press books, and a new essay from Herbert Ruffin II on the state of the field.
Manuscript Collections
Montana Memory The Montana Historical Society has added many photographs, documents, books, maps, audio, and other historical materials to this statewide project, including livestock brand records, military enlistment cards, and hundreds of photographs by esteemed eastern Montana photographers Evelyn Cameron and L. A. Huffman.
Appropriate, Curious, & Rare: Montana History Object by Object Objects from the past comprise the heart and soul of the Montana Historical Society. Individually, these items provide fascinating glimpses into the lives of earlier generations of Montanans. Together, however, the stories told by the hundreds of thousands of items that the Society holds in trust intertwine to form a rich tapestry illustrating our shared history. This online exhibit features only a few “appropriate, curious, and rare” gems from the Society’s vast collections. While each item is, in its own unique way, somehow outstanding, when considered together they help us better understand who we, as Montanans, are today, and how we got here.
Boone and Crockett Club Records – The Boone and Crockett Club was the United States’ first hunting and big-game conservation organization. It was founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887 and continues to this day. This online collection contains scans of content held at the University of Montana’s Archives and Special Collections. The mission of the Boone and Crockett Club is to promote the conservation and management of wildlife, especially big game and its habitat, to preserve and encourage hunting and to maintain the highest ethical standards of fair chase and sportsmanship in North America. Among its many activities, the Club advocated for passage of conservation laws and policies such as the Alaska Game Law, the establishment of Glacier and Mt. McKinley National Parks, a bill to enlarge Yellowstone National Park, and many forest reserve and game refuge bills. The Club was able to lend effective support to conservation efforts due to its number of notable members, including Aldo Leopold, Gifford Pinchot, Theodore Roosevelt, Grinnell, Charles Sheldon, John F. Lacey, Stephen Mather, Jay N. “Ding” Darling, and many other prominent conservationists.
Billings – Historic Document Collection – The Billings – Historic Document Collection contains letters, diaries, papers, and other significant recorded or written documents from the Billings Public Library concerning the people, places, and events important to the history of Montana.
Books, Pamphlets and Ephemera from the University of Montana – The books, pamphlets, serials and other materials in this collection were selected from Archives & Special Collections at the University of Montana and represent a variety of subject areas documenting Montana and the region including Glacier National Park, homesteading and mining. Each item is full-text searchable. The digitization and addition of items to this collection is ongoing.
Boone and Crockett Club Records – The Boone and Crockett Club was the United States’ first hunting and big-game conservation organization. It was founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887 and continues to this day. This online collection contains scans of content held at the University of Montana’s Archives and Special Collections. The mission of the Boone and Crockett Club is to promote the conservation and management of wildlife, especially big game and its habitat, to preserve and encourage hunting and to maintain the highest ethical standards of fair chase and sportsmanship in North America. Among its many activities, the Club advocated for passage of conservation laws and policies such as the Alaska Game Law, the establishment of Glacier and Mt. McKinley National Parks, a bill to enlarge Yellowstone National Park, and many forest reserve and game refuge bills. The Club was able to lend effective support to conservation efforts due to its number of notable members, including Aldo Leopold, Gifford Pinchot, Theodore Roosevelt, Grinnell, Charles Sheldon, John F. Lacey, Stephen Mather, Jay N. “Ding” Darling, and many other prominent conservationists.
Bozeman and Gallatin Valley Documents – Bozeman has always been a community of readers. The first effort to establish a library occurred in 1872 by the Young Men’s Association. The Bozeman Free Library was founded in 1890. During those early years, the Library changed locations several times and it was not until January 19, 1904 that it had its first permanent home with the opening of the Carnegie Library located at 35 North Bozeman Avenue. The Bozeman and Gallatin Valley Documents Collection includes materials from 1891-1944 pertaining to the Carnegie Library’s construction and furnishing, as well as governance documents including minutes of the board of directors meetings and reports from the head librarian to the city manager and commission. Also included are two donations by local authors given to the library during that period.
Founding of the Carter County Geological Society – In 2019, the Carter County Museum had an archive of 6,000 letters, documents and scrapbooks from 1930-1990 digitized with the eventual goal of creating a resource for current museum leadership and staff, researchers, and others of the first sixty years of the museum’s history. This sub collection of 72 documents include letters written by museum founder and amateur paleontologist Walter H. Peck, who served as a senator to Montana’s State Legislature and was a lead author on the bill that established funding systems for county museums, leading the Carter County Museum to become the first county museum in the state. His correspondence and those of other founders and directors, reflect the early age of paleontology in Eastern Montana, the establishment and growth of a cultural and natural history collection, and relationships with collaborative partners across the country, including Barnum Brown of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
From the Beginning – Ulm, Flood, Gore Hill and Riverdale – These photos were collected and used in the “From the Beginning” book published in 2012. It covered business and families in Ulm, Montana and the surrounding areas.
Glacier National Park Naturalist Newsletters – This collection contains newsletters produced by Glacier’s naturalist rangers, such as “Nature Notes from Glacier National Park” (1927-1930) and “Glacial Drift” (1931-1938). These publications focus on the park’s natural history and include original essays, wildlife observations, poetry, drawings, and assorted musings by park staff. Through this miscellany of instructive and entertaining content, rangers sought to develop a better understanding and appreciation of nature among readers.
Glacier National Park Superintendent’s Annual Reports -This collection contains annual reports from the Superintendent of Glacier National Park for the period 1911-1982. These reports provide fascinating glimpses into the park
Granite County Lower Flint Creek Valley Historical Society – This collection contains documents and scrapbooks related to the history of the community of Drummond, Montana. These original items are maintained by the Granite County Lower Valley Historical Society.
Historical Neighborhoods of Missoula – A growing collection of documents relating to neighborhoods in the city of Missoula, Montana.
History of Fort Keogh, Montana – This brief history of FortKeogh, established at the mouth of the Tongue River in 1876, was written by a high school student as a class assignment in 1965.
History of Medicine in Fort Keogh and Miles City, 1876-2005 – This booklet contains brief biographies of physicians in MilesCity, starting with the first doctors who served FortKeogh when it was established at the mouth of the Tongue River in 1876. Dr. Winters updates his booklet every few years.
Home Ground Radio Interviews Collection – Home Ground Radio Interviews Collection consists of digitally recorded interviews conducted by Brian Kahn on the Home Ground Radio program between 1996 and 2016. Topics covered in the interviews range from the economy, religion, education, the judicial system, wildlife, medicine, the timber industry, conservation, agriculture, among other topics.
Hormay (August ‘Gus’ Ludwig) Papers – August “Gus” Ludwig Hormay (1907-1999) developed the rest-rotation grazing management system of the Western United States rangelands and spent more than seventy years working in natural resource conservation. In 1931, after he completed his academic studies at the University of California, Berkeley, Hormay started working for the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. For the next thirty-six years, Hormay worked out of the Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station in Berkeley, California and developed the theory of rest-rotation. In 1966, Hormay transferred to the Bureau of Land Management and spearheaded educating government officials, land stewards, and livestock-holders in rest-rotation grazing techniques. The Hormay Collection of his personal and professional papers includes: daily activities during 1930-1999; numerous publications; research files on Modoc National Forest, Lassen National Forest, and Plumas National Forest; experimental forests and ranges of Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest, Burgess Spring Experimental Range, and Harvey Valley Grazing Allotment; grazing allotments and rangelands throughout the intermountain and Trans-Mississippi West 1965-1977; and Hormay’s experiments with reproduction and germination of bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) 1942-1979.
James (Will) Collection – A selection of 184 drawings by Western artist Will James (1892-1942). The bequest of Virginia Snook to the Yellowstone Art Museum comprises the largest collection of Will James-related material in any public collection.
Johns (Sam) Collection – This 10-volume collection of newspaper articles and other early writing provides a unique look at the Flathead area of Montana in the late 1800s. It includes information about Native Americans, settlers, and early towns (such as Demersville). Also included are 20 bizarrely varying, but fascinating papers which Mr. Johns also wrote. Its compiler, Samuel Enoch Johns (1866-1945) was 23 years old when he arrived in the Flathead area in 1889. Johns was a Kalispell, Montana businessman and local historian who compiled the histories at the urging of his brother-in-law, Frank Bird Linderman.
Little Rockies Miner 1907-1909 – The Little Rocky Mountains is an island of tree-covered buttes that rises abruptly from the surrounding prairie and reaches peaks exceeding 5000 feet. Named for Alabama native Oliver Peter (“Pete”) Zortman, the towns of Zortman and Landusky were active mining camps by 1890. The area would eventually generate $25 million in gold. Charles Whitcomb later built the second largest cyanide mill in the world there, and gold was profitably extracted until the beginning of World War II. The Little Rockies Miner published its first issue on July 4, 1907, boasting: “There is no country on earth presenting greater opportunities to the miter, prospector, business man or the ranchman, than is to be found within the Little Rocky mountains and the country tributary, and its apparent lack of development, is in a large measure due, no doubt, to the fact that the region and its riches were unknown to the outside world.”
Livestock Brand Registrations for Montana – This 60,000-page collection of historical livestock brands encompasses the beginning of brand registrations in Montana in 1873 and includes new brand registrations, transfers, and re-registrations. Starting in 1911 brands were registered for a period of 10 years and were re-registered at the start of each decade (1921,1931, etc.). The original records were compiled by the Brands Enforcement Division of the Montana Department of Livestock and digitized by the Montana Historical Society. The online collection contains records from 1873-1980 and 2001-2010.
Mike Mansfield Papers – This digital collection consists of speeches by, statements of and interviews with Mike Mansfield (1903-2001) drawn from the extensive Mike Mansfield Papers held at the University of Montana’s Mansfield Library. Mansfield was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1942 and served five terms as representative of Montana’s 1st District. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1952 and reelected in 1958, 1964 and 1970. He became Assistant Majority Leader (Majority Whip) of the Senate in January 1957, and served in that capacity until 1961 when he was elected Majority Leader of the Senate. He held that position until he retired from the Senate in 1977 – longer than any other Majority Leader in the history of the U.S. Senate. He served as Ambassador to Japan from 1977-1988, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989. The digitized content in this online collection spans Mansfield’s career as a candidate, legislator and ambassador. The majority of the content is from the 1940s to the 1970s. The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library and the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center partnered to make this digital collection available. You may search or browse this collection.
Montana Foodways – Richland and Roosevelt Counties – Food production, preparation and consumption–especially eating together—is essential to the formation of communities. For most women in early Montana, food occupied their days. They grew gardens, preserved fruits, vegetables, and meats, and cooked in all conditions. Explore this collection to view the artifacts, recipes, and document that reveal the relationship between women, food and community in eastern Montana.
Montana in the National Register of Historic Places – Complete nominations for 89 historic sites located throughout Montana. In addition to detailed descriptions and discussion of historical significance, the nomination packets include
Montana State Prison Records 1869-1974 – The physical collection consists of records of the Montana State Prison (1869-1974), the Board of Pardons (1890-1965), the Board of Prison Commissioners (1890-1962), and the United States Penitentiary, Montana Territory. This digital collection will ultimately comprise approximately ten thousand prisoner description sheets with mug shots. Post-1932 records may also include FBI arrest sheets. Check back regularly for new materials being added to this collection.
Montana State Publications – Montana State Library provides descriptions of more than 14,000 contemporary and historic Montana state agency publications from the 1870s to the present. You will find annual reports, environmental impact statements, financial audits, and other informational treasures about Montana’s infrastructure—its highways, airports, railroads, banks, businesses, mines, schools, prisons, hospitals, recreation areas and more. This collection is contains links directly to each digital document at The Internet Archive.
Montana Vintage Postcards – Postcards from the Billings Public Library archive date back to the early 1900’s and depict life in Montana cities, as well as the conditions of recreation areas, roads, waterways and highways. The images show sights that residents and travelers were fascinated by in the early days of Montana. The city images portray government buildings, street scenes and shops. Recreation areas illustrate lakes, rivers, campers, rodeos and early vehicles. Some postcards have personal messages about travel in Montana.
Publications and Ephemera from the Montana Historical Society – Research Montana’s rich history using published materials from the collections of the Library at the Montana Historical Society. This collection includes pamphlets, posters, books, and state and federal documents. Check back regularly for new materials being added to this collection.
Range Riders Museum Early Frontier History – Miles City was a hub for early development of the frontier west. It was a market for horses and cattle, location for pioneers to purchase supplies, had a railroad, housed a military base at Fort Keogh, was the start of the Miles City Roundup (Bucking Horse Sale), and was located near many large ranches that played a prominent place in Montana history.
Rosetta Kamlowsky Radio Interviews
Newspapers
Digitized Newspapers Explore a small fraction of the Montana Historical Society’s newspaper holdings through two, freely accessible resources that offer almost 700,000 full-text pages from over 125 newspapers.
Beaverhead County, Montana Newspapers – Beaverhead County in southwestern Montana was founded in 1865. The largest county by area in Montana, it consists of 5,572 square miles. The county is named for a rock formation that the Shoshone described as being shaped like a beaver’s head. The original county seat was the gold-mining town of Bannack. In 1881 it was moved to Dillon. Beaverhead County is one of the largest cattle and hay producing areas in the state. The county has had a number of newspapers in its history, with the Tribune starting in 1881 and continuing today.
Daily Tribune-Examiner 1971-1973
Dillon Tribune Examiner 1982-current
Dillon Daily Tribune 1941-1962
Dillon Daily Tribune-Examiner 1962-1971
Big Timber Pioneer – The town of Big Timber in south central Montana was settled when the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1882. By 1892, Big Timber was one of the world’s largest exporters of wool, shipping out as much as two million pounds a year. In 1893, Big Timber had a population of 500. The Big Timber Pioneer started in 1889 and is still in print. It has followed the community through its colorful history, including encounters with Indians, the arrival of Chinese and Norwegian immigrants, the fire of March 1908, the decline of the wool industry, the rise of cattle and cowboys, and more.
The Big Timber Pioneer 1890-1975
The Big Timber Pioneer 1983-current
Char-Koosta News – Published by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation, the newspaper started in 1956 and continued through five decades. With the exception of a ten-year hiatus from December 1961 through May 1971, the paper continues to publish a weekly issue. The name Char-Koosta is a combination of the names of the last two traditional leaders of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Charlo was the last traditional chief of the Bitteroot Salish and among the last of his people to move to the Jocko. Chief Koostahtah was the last of the Kootenai traditional leaders. His office was eliminated by the Constitution of 1935.
Fallon County Newspapers – Fallon County in southeastem Montana was formed in 1913 when it was determined that the current county’s area was too large for government and commercial purposes. Until 1936, when oil was discovered, agriculture and livestock were Fallon County’s chief forms of revenue. Fallon County has had a newspaper since 1910, namely, The Ismay, Ismay Journal, The Baker Sentinel, The Advocate, The Fallonite, and the Fallon County Times.
Lincoln County High School Newspaper – Eureka, Montana, didn‘t always have a community newspaper. For many years, the Lincoln County High School student newspaper served the area, publishing biweekly during the school year. In addition to school news, the Evergreen and the Ksanka Annex carried community stories and ads as well as editorials; farm, ranch and logging reports; and Libby Dam preconstruction news. Local births and deaths were news items, along with club meetings, accidents, weddings and hunting successes. These newspapers were vital to the Tobacco Valley of Northwest Montana, and today much of the history of this area is preserved in these student publications.
MSU Billings Student Newspapers – A collection of student produced newspapers from Eastern Montana State Normal School, Eastern Montana College of Education, and now known as Montana State University Billings (MSU Billings), ranging from 1940 to 2013.
Polson’s Early Newspapers – Early-day Polson, Montana, located on the shores of Flathead Lake, boasted two weekly newspapers, The Flathead Courier and The Lake Shore Sentinel. Their stories, pictures, and ads give a clear
Poplar, Montana Newspapers – A collection of newspapers from the Assiniboine and Sioux tribal communities of the Fort Peck reservation. Included are the Poplar Shopper, and Poplar Standard. Dates for the collection range from the 1950s through the 2000s.
Prospector (The), Carroll College Newspaper – From its founding in 1909 until 1932, Carroll College was Mount St. Charles College. The college’s student-produced newspaper began publication in 1911 as the Mount Saint Charles Scholastic, continuing in 1916 as The Prospector. Until 1922, the paper consisted of articles on historical and contemporary topics, poetry, and a small amount of local news and reportage on College athletics. From September 1975 through April 1977 the newspaper changed its name to The Tumbleweed; it resumed as The Prospector in September 1977. The newspaper is not published during the summer and has been issued irregularly, with anywhere from two to twelve issues within the academic year.
Mount Saint Charles Scholastic 1912-1916
Saco Independent 1912-1922 – Saco sits along the Hi-Line at the eastern edge of Phillips County, in the Milk River Valley along meandering Beaver Creek. It acquired a post office in 1892.
Sidney-Richland County Library – The collection includes one locally published book, several newspaper collections and special editions, and early annuals from the Richland County High Schools.
Teton County Newspapers – Teton County’s history officially begins in 1893 with its founding. A region of diverse terrain nestled against the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, its actual history stretches over 80 million years: it rests on the fossil bed of an ancient inland sea. Today it features rich farmland and six small townships. Five newspapers, the Choteau Calumet, Choteau Acantha, Montanian, Teton Chronicle and Montanan, have kept the residents of the county informed on local, national, and worldwide events. The Calumet, which was first published four years before Montana achieved statehood, is an excellent place to begin exploring this county’s rich history.
Tooke Bucking Horse Collection – The original, and first bucking horse breeding program with horses that were bred specifically for rodeo livestock, created by the legendary Chandler Earl (Feek) Tooke in the early 1930s. Inducted into the PRCA Hall of Fame 2008.
UM Western Newspapers – A publication of campus news and events was published from 1922 to 1949 under the flag of The Montanomal. Renamed The Wescolite in 1949, it published under that name until 1999. The name changed to Western Wire from 2002 to 2004 but reverted back to The Wescolite in the fall of 2004. Publication ceased after 2009.
Oral Histories
Danvers, Montana Oral Histories – Danvers is a small agricultural community settled largely by Bohemian Catholics and located on the Milwaukee Road. St. Wenceslaus Church, a symbol of the Bohemian religious and cultural heritage, was built in 1916. Much of the town’s social gatherings revolved around the church and the hall located across the road.
Gregg Family Oral Interviews – Virgil Gregg, first came to Montana in 1907, and worked on Intake diversion dam on the Yellowstone River, near Glendive. In 1909, he returned and homesteaded in the South Valley of Burns Creek (near Bloomfield, MT). He also taught at several one room schoolhouses in the area. His future wife, Fern Moore came to Eastern Montana in 1911 as a school teacher. She also homestead in the same area. Their union celebrated 5 children. Mr. Gregg was very civic minded and was on several founding boards including: the Grain Association, Rural Electric & Telephone Coop and Agriculture lending institutions. His business dealings extended from the local communities of Bloomfield, Richey and Glendive. He was also instrumental in housing developments in Glendive, a direct result of growth due to both agriculture and oil. There is a local park in Glendive named in his honor. Fern who was born in 1889, the same year Montana became a state, lived to be 100 years old! She frequently shared stories of the early homesteading days, much of which her grandchildren and great grandchildren continue to share. Fern was interviewed by Ivan Doig and is mentioned in the Acknowledgments of his book ‘Dancing at the Rascal Fair.’ The Gregg family heirs, a fourth generation Montana family, continue to farm the original homesteads of Fern and Virgil, along with other neighboring parcels. In 1969, what started out as an 80th birthday party for Grandma Gregg started the tradition of a 5 year family reunion. This family reunion has continued to this day, at a camp located near these original homesteads. The oral interviews share interesting stories of early homesteading life, one room school houses and life on the prairie.
Huntley Irrigation Project Oral Histories – Included in this collection are the oral histories of 15 individuals, most of them from the families who originally homesteaded on the Huntley Irrigation Project; many of whom still farm and own land on the Project today. June 26, 2017 will mark the 110th anniversary of the opening of the Huntley Irrigation Project. Generations yet to be born will listen to these recordings and hear the stories and experiences of people whose voices will soon be gone. Join me in hearing their incredible stories of ingenuity, faith, perseverance and ultimately, success.
LGBTQ Voices of Butte – LGBTQ Voices of Butte is a project conducted by the Butte Public Library to document oral histories of leaders, members, and allies of the LGBTQ community.
Tales from Carter County – Oral Histories – These audio tapes cover the early history of Ekalaka, Carter County, including ranching, homesteads, the EMT program, and schools. Founded in 1885, when Montana was still a territory, Ekalaka has undergone periods of growth and decline. Throughout its 133 year history, it has maintained a primarily agricultural industry, with many 100 year ranches and ranching families. The individuals on these tapes represent a wide swath of experiences, from teaching in one room schoolhouses to ranching and serving as an EMT. All but one are now deceased. These recordings preserve a vanishing generation of pioneers and will serve as a foundation for future additions.
Teton County Oral Histories – The Teton Canyon Oral Interviews are a compilation of the memories of ten people from the South Fork and North Fork of the Teton River Canyons west of Choteau on the Rocky Mountain Front. Their lives, not unlike the two forks of the Teton River at the confluence near the WWII internment camp constructed steel bridge, are connected to each other by acquaintance, residency, employment, a passion for The Front and the history of the people that lived there.
Yellowstone National Park Oral Histories – This collection documents the development of Yellowstone National Park and major events such as 1988 fires, wolf reintroduction, bear management as well as social life and customs.
Voices of Labor Oral History Collection – Describe your collection for visitors to your site.
Parks & Recreation
Yellowstone Maps and Drawings – This collection includes unique and rare maps, plans and drawings of roads, trails, and structures from Yellowstone, the world’s first National Park and a world heritage site.
Yellowstone National Park Publications and Ephemera – This collection includes publications and ephemera created to highlight the park.
Yellowstone National Park Superintendent’s Annual Reports – These details include information about roads, road construction, and access to the park, hotel construction and leasing information, park boundaries, park rules and regulations, park trails, and recommendations for wildlife protections. Some reports include maps and additional information in an appendix.
Photographs
Montana Memory The Montana Historical Society has added many photographs, documents, books, maps, audio, and other historical materials to this statewide project, including livestock brand records, military enlistment cards, and hundreds of photographs by esteemed eastern Montana photographers Evelyn Cameron and L. A. Huffman.
Archival Photographs from the University of Montana – Images in this collection include UM campus students, buildings and events, and scenes from around Missoula, Montana, and the region. They were selected from Archives & Special Collections and represent only a fraction of what is available onsite. The digitization and addition of images to this collection is ongoing.
Armstead, Montana – The photos of Armstead, Montana depict a town that disappeared beneath Hap Hawkins lake behind the Clark Canyon Dam in the early 1960’s. It was important because it is the site of Camp Fortunate where the Lewis and Clark Expedition met the Shoshone Indians and Sacajawea recognized her brother. Both the Union Pacific Train that ran from Salt Lake City to Butte and the Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad had depots there. The collection was housed in the archives of the Beaverhead County Museum where the originals continue to be held.
Relationships, Agency, and Power Dynamics: Photographers of the US West and Their Photographic ‘Subjects’ (The Bud Lake and Randy Brewer Collection) Explore this online exhibit featuring photographs of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow people taken from over a thousand images donated to the Montana Historical Society.
1988 Yellowstone Fires – A collection of photographs documenting the 1988 Yellowstone Fires which burned nearly 800,000 acres in and around Yellowstone National Park throughout the summer of 1988. These photos are primarily from West Yellowstone and the surrounding area. West Yellowstone was threatened by the fires and relied on several local and national agencies as well as volunteers to prevent the town from burning.
Bozeman and Gallatin Valley Photographs – The Bozeman and Gallatin Valley History Collection is largely made up of three collections that provide a glimpse of the area and its inhabitants during the early part of the twentieth century. The life of a cowboy on the famous Flying D Ranch is conveyed by photographs taken during the 1930-1940s by Jim Pratt and Bill Shunk. Early colorized photos of the Bozeman Pass and Gallatin Canyon are the work of Wyoming photographer Jessamine Spear Johnson during a visit in 1927. The excitement of Bozeman’s own first wildwest show and rodeo, the 1920 Bozeman Roundup, appears in images captured by an unknown photographer.
Brook (Thomas B.) Photographs – Thomas Brown Brook (1890-1966) was the son of a Nevada City gold miner who came to Montana in 1863. His father, John Brook, established a ranch on the Beaverhead River eight miles south of Twin Bridges, Montana in 1870, and Thomas grew up on the ranch and attended local schools. Thomas Brook graduated from the Gallatin County High School in Bozeman and in 1913 earned a degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State College. After working on a ranch and serving in France during World War I, Brook returned to Twin Bridges where he worked as an electrician. As a hobby, Brook began taking photographs of various locations in and around Twin Bridges. Eventually, he engaged in copying historical photographs brought to him by various individuals. Before his death in 1966, Brook had compiled a substantial collection of both original and copied photographs. The Thomas Brook Photograph Collection consists of nature landscapes and town views of southwest Montana, particularly in Twin Bridges area of Madison and Beaverhead Counties. Subjects include: natural history, ranch and farming operations, bridges and bridge construction, mining and timber outfits, schools and school groups, and early settlers of the Twin Bridges area.
Bud Moore Photographs and Sound Recordings – William Robert ‘Bud’ Moore (1917-2010) was a well-known Montana forester, trapper, conservationist, and author of ‘The Lochsa Story: Land Ethics in the Bitterroot Mountains. This collection contains photographs Moore took and stories he recorded about those photos. Photo descriptions and dates were provided by Moore; the online collection was transferred by the University of Montana from a spreadsheet Moore maintained at his home. Today the original files are housed at UM as part of the Bud Moore Papers.
Billings – Historic Photo Collection – The Billings – Historic Photo Collection is comprised of photos from Billings Public Library which depict people, places, events, or other information important to the history of Montana beyond Billings and Yellowstone County.
Billings – Images of Events – This collection contains photographs of events that occurred in the Billings area.
Billings – Images of People – The purpose of the Billings Public Library collection is to convey the history of Billings and Yellowstone County (Montana) in photographs, images of noteworthy documents and monographs. These records include information about the pioneers who first settled in the area, historic documents and letters. At the time the items were chosen for inclusion in the Montana Memory Project, they were part of the physical collection in the Montana Room at the Billings Public Library in Billings, Montana.
Billings – Images of Places – The purpose of the Billings Public Library collection is to convey the history of Billings and Yellowstone County (Montana) in photographs, images of noteworthy documents and monographs. These records include information first buildings and industries. At the time the items were chosen for inclusion in the Montana Memory Project, they were part of the physical collection in the Montana Room at the Billings Public Library in Billings, Montana.
Butte Digital Image Project – Mines and immigrant neighborhoods, labor unions and socialism, progressive schools and thriving theaters, saloons and brothels, the Columbia Gardens and the Berkeley Pit—all of these contribute to the historical legacy of Butte, Montana. The landscape of Butte today is filled with historic buildings and headframes, along with outdoor areas like the Highland Mountains and the nearby Boulder River. This collection contains books, pamphlets, scrapbooks, articles, and photographs exploring and showcasing the Butte area’s rich history, including privately held items contributed by community members.
Carter County Centennial Collection – In 2017, Carter County, Montana celebrated its centennial year. To commemorate this occasion, the Carter County Museum has compiled a collection of photographs taken throughout Carter County’s storied history, from pioneers and paleontology to present day rodeo and ranching families. Within this collection, the viewer can choose to explore scenic history of the Medicine Rocks and Custer National Forest, or take a look at the human occupation of the county, from the timber industry to bucking horses. Founded in 1885, Ekalaka, the county seat, is featured prominently, as are images from dinosaur and archaeology digs conducted by members of the Carter County Museum, Montana’s oldest county museum.
Charles M. Russell and Joe De Yong Research Materials from Richard J. Flood II – The Richard J. Flood II Collection at the C.M. Russell Museum consists of the collected papers, correspondence, and photographs of Joe De Yong. As Charles Russell’s only protége, De Yong spent a significant portion of his time living with the Russell family and working with Russell in his studio, particularly during the last decade of Russell’s life. The digitized portion of the Flood Collection available online consists of approximately 350 loose, double-sided pages of handwritten notes and pencil sketches produced by Charles Russell and Joe De Yong during their time together in Russell’s studio. As De Yong was deaf, he and Russell often relied on handwritten notes and sketches to discuss the subject matter and methodology of Russell’s art, as well as various other topics of the day. These informal papers therefor offer a window into the artist’s methods and thought processes, preserving conversations that would otherwise have been lost to history. Furthermore, a number of the pencil drawings found in the Flood Collection have been identified as preliminary sketches for major Russell paintings, providing further insight into Russell’s artistic processes.
Early Agriculture and Homesteading in Judith Basin County – This collection of photos shows the arrival of newcomers to the Judith Basin area and their daily life as homesteaders. Also featured in this collection is the highly productive growing season of 1915.
Central Montana Historical Photographs – The Central Montana Historical Photograph collection shows a representative sample of the Lewistown and Fergus County area from 1880-1930. It includes the early Metis settlers, the Croatian stonemasons who constructed the buildings that still exist today and the homesteaders who shaped early Fergus County. Many of these photos were taken by the early photographer, William Culver.
Charles M. Russell Research Materials from the James B. Rankin Collection – James Brownlee Rankin–a New York and San Bernadino, California, teacher and historian–collected information concerning Montana artist Charles M. Russell in preparation for a Russell biography and an illustrated catalog of his work. The collection consists primarily of correspondence concerning Russell’s life and work as remembered by his friends, acquaintances, and art owners. This series, constituting eighty percent of the collection, is the most valuable for research on Russell and on ranching and cowboy life in the open range era. Many friends and acquaintances of Russell corresponded extensively with Rankin, and their reminiscences would have been the basis of his book. Other correspondents discussed the Russell paintings and sculpture in their collections. The letters also reflect the provenance of much of the artist’s work, kinds of shows that it appeared in, and methods by which it was acquired. The collection also contains photographs, clippings, and research notes. The Research Notes series of the collection contains listings of paintings, notes on interviews, and transcriptions of letters of Russell and others. Also, there are several photographs of pieces of Russell’s work owned by various institutions and individuals at that time. The collection is completed by a series of Clippings gathered by Rankin which generally concern Russell’s life.
Construction of the Hungry Horse Dam – From August 1948 to April 1953, progress reports were issued monthly on the building of the Hungry Horse Dam in northwest Montana. The reports consisted of one to three pages of narrative, plus (during construction season) three to six photographs. In many cases, a photograph of the same site was taken at regular intervals, clearly showing what had been accomplished during the previous thirty days.
County Histories of Montana – These locally-produced books of 100-1000 pages contain the rich, detailed stories of small Montana communities from the homestead era and beyond. Fully searchable by keyword, the books include family histories, photographs, maps, diary excerpts, letters, and first-hand recollections of significant events. This growing collection currently covers 29 of Montana’s 56 counties.
Early Edgerton County and Lewis and Clark County Records – Lewis and Clark County Archive collections include materials of historical interest and research value from the earliest days of governmental operations within historic Edgerton and its successor Lewis and Clark County. Papers dating from the early 1860s to present times are represented in the collections along with maps and photographs, ephemera, real estate and property documents, election materials, official declarations and findings, court documents, road and bridge plans, correspondence relating to various county offices, plans and mining records. The Archives serves as an adjunct to materials held by offices such as the clerk and recorder, clerk of courts, the superintendent of schools and other depositories regulated, required or established by statute. The collection is also adjunct to those materials of sufficient value to warrant acquisition by the State Archives. The collection serves as a reference center for legal questions when historical documentation is required and also provides historical background for studies on land development, environmental changes and phenomena (floods, etc), road and route development and uses, agricultural history, mining and construction. Its materials show the processes employed by county government over the decades and reveal legal and commercial relationships from various eras. Finally, the Archives catalogs the materials and provides means of public access to the collections as well as seeing to their proper storage and their promotion as items of historical relevance.
EMC and MSUB Photographs – A collection of photographs from Eastern Montana College now known as Montana State University Billings, beginning in 1930-2016. The images captured campus buildings, various on-campus activities, and the faculty, staff, and students who have worked and attended MSU Billings.
EMC and MSUB Posters – A collection of posters from Eastern Montana College now known as Montana State University Billings, beginning in 1972 to 2015. The collection contains posters from American Indian outreach, art, music, sports, theatre, and other campus events that have taken place at MSU Billings.
Fallon County History and Pictures – A locally-compiled history of Fallon County containing profiles of communities, industries, churches, schools, and public officials, with photographs.
Fort Missoula Alien Detention Center Photograph Collection – The Fort Missoula Alien Detention Center was one of a handful of internment camps run by the Department of Justice during World War II. Roughly 1000 Italian merchant sailors were held for several years, and roughly 1000 more Japanese immigrant men, known as Issei, were held temporarily following the Pearl Harbor attack. The photos in this collection are part of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula’s permanent collection. They offer a look into the lives of these detainees during their time at Fort Missoula.
Glacier National Park Historical Photographs – This collection features selected photographs from the Glacier National Park Archives that showcase the history of the park. These images capture the park’s mountains, roads, trails, and buildings as well as people that worked and played in its spectacular landscape. Some of the notable photographers represented in this collection are George Grant, Fred Kiser, and T.J. Hileman.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site Photographs – Wide open spaces, the hard-working cowboy, his spirited cow pony, and vast herds of cattle are among the strongest symbols of the American West. Once the headquarters of a 10-million-acre cattle empire, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site preserves these symbols and commemorates the role of cattlemen in American history. The Site’s history began when Johnny F. Grant built his home on the confluence of the Deer Lodge River and Cottonwood Creek in 1862. He would amass a herd of cattle, before selling the ranch to Conrad C. Kohrs in 1866. Under Conrad with his brother John Bielenberg and wife Augusta, the ranch grew to over 50,000 cattle and countless draft, saddle and race horses. After Conrad and John passed, Conrad K. Warren, grandson of Conrad and Augusta, took over the ranch in 1934 and managed it until he and his wife Nell sold it to the National Park Service in 1972. This collection of photographs cover from the 1860s until the NPS acquired the ranch. Images include historic buildings, people, livestock and other ranch activities. The digitization and addition of items to this collection is ongoing.
Great Falls Downtown Postcard Collection – A collection of postcards depicting Downtown Great Falls, Montana over a period of about 60 years.
History of Gardiner, Montana – A growing collection of materials housed in the Yellowstone National Park Heritage and Research Center. This collection includes photographs of early
History of the Missoula Public Library – A collection of photographs and documents relating to the history of the Missoula Public Library of Missoula, Montana.
Huntley Project – Homesteads, People, & Harvests – A collection of photographs of the homesteads, people and harvests from the Huntley Irrigation District Project.
Huntley Project – Town, Churches, & Schools – A collection of photographs of the towns, churches, and schools from the Huntley Irrigation District Project
Images of Montana Tech Campus – Photos of the Montana Tech Campus in Butte, Montana.
Jack L. Demmons’ Photographs of Bonner, Montana – Assembled in the mid-1970s by Bonner School Superintendent Jack L. Demmons, this collection of approximately 1,600 photographs depicts life in and around Bonner, Montana, from the late 1800s through the 1950s. The images were digitized for online access by the University of Montana in 2007; the original photographs were retained by Bonner School.
Jim Annin Photo Collection – James T. Annin, eldest son of Senator Joseph (J. B.) and Janet (Haldine) Annin, was born in Livingston, MT, and moved with his family to Columbus in 1892. After graduating with the first senior class of Columbus in 1906, he then graduated from Montana State College (Bozeman) and became the publisher for the Columbus News until 1932. He went on to become a rancher, forester, and state representative, as well as secretary and finance officer of the state Republican party (see page 13, They Gazed upon the Beartooths). In 1960 he began the collection and copying of photographs of Stillwater families, which, along with text, became the three-part county history mentioned in the cross-reference above. Originally intended as something less comprehensive than the ultimate end product, the photograph collection grew to over 2,300 8 x 10 inch prints before the history was published in 1964. Many of the photographs are composites of several smaller snapshots; some were not included in They Gazed upon the Beartooths; others were included without explanation as to their subjects’ significance in the settling of Stillwater County.
Kalispell Water Department Reports – From 1914 through 1940 the Kalispell Water Department published an annual report covering that year’s activities. Many of these reports also include information about the Fire Department and other city departments. The reports from 1920 through 1930 contain a lot of historically valuable information and photographs about notable buildings and organizations in and around Kalispell. Also included in the collection is a 1912 report of the Water Commission.
Mining in Butte – The World Museum of Mining Photo Archives has a vast collection of photographs of the history of mining and the historical and cultural aspects of Butte and the surrounding area. The collection spans the timeframe from the 1880’s to the 1950’s. It contains over 14,000 photographs, negatives and glass plates. Browse this sampling of mine photographs found in the collection Mining in Butte. Most of these mines and mining activities are long gone, but their legacy lives on in this photograph collection. This project was made possible in memory of Donald F. Cooney, a lover of Butte and its history.
Montana’s African American Heritage Places – The Montana’s African American Heritage Places collection consists of histories, photographs, and architectural descriptions of properties across the state associated with African American history. Although African Americans never totaled more than one percent of the state’s population, they have been in the place that would become Montana since the earliest days of non-Indian presence and contributed greatly to Montana’s culture, economy, and religious life. Each corner of the state has significant stories to tell about the African American experience in the West. From 2014-2016, the Montana Historical Society oversaw the survey of 51 historic properties – 26 in Helena and 25 in other communities – and created Historic Property Record forms for each. These forms constitute this collection.
Musselshell Valley Historical Museum Photographs – Images in this collection include coal mining, ranching, farming, schools, railroads, businesses and other activities from the Musselshell Valley in and near Roundup, Montana and surrounding areas. Images were selected from the archives of the Musselshell Valley Historical Museum.
Mountain-Plains Native Americans – A broad and growing collection of reference materials related to the Native American tribes Montana. The collection will ultimately contain government documents, archival documents, photographs, and other materials.
Natives of Montana Archival Project – The Natives of Montana Archival Project (NOMAP) includes over 65,000 pages from 126 boxes of Bureau of Indian Affairs records (Record Group 75) held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Scanned from the Central Classified Files (CCF), 1907-1939, this collection includes letters, reports, photographs, petitions, leases, bonds, wills, and other legal documents. The NOMAP project focused specifically on that portion of the CCF which are organized according to individual field units or jurisdictions within Montana, such as the Blackfeet Agency.
Northwest Montana History Museum Photographs – This is a compilation of selected photos of historical downtown Kalispell Montana, the town of Demersville that preceded Kalispell and steam boats that transported passengers and products on Flathead lake in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Photo Albums of Yellowstone National Park – A collection of photograph albums of various trips to and through Yellowstone National Park throughout the first half of the 20th century including an album compiled by a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
Photographs from the Montana Historical Society – Learn about Montana’s rich history through these images—a sampling of the 500,000 photos in the collection of the Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives that illustrate the diverse history of the state and its people, as well as the beauty of its landscape.
Photographs of Yellowstone National Park – A collection of photographs of Yellowstone National Park, highlighting scenery, wildlife, geothermal features, tourists, summer employees, transportation, and more.
Polson Area Historical Photographs – The Paul Fugleberg Collection
This unique collection contains significant photographs of Polson, Montana, and the surrounding areas from 1865 to 1998. The items were collected for more than 50 years by Paul Fugleberg (1930-2017), Polson historian, freelance photojournalist, and co-owner, publisher, and editor of the weekly Flathead Courier newspaper from 1963 to 1980. Many of the photos are his own. The collection depicts local people, landscapes and landmarks, recreation, tourism, transportation, Native American culture, agriculture, and the Homestead Era.
Rocky Mountain Laboratories Historical Collection – This is a small selection of photographs from the historical archives at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health) in Hamilton, Montana. Included are photographs of: reserachers (portraits and group photos); buildings used as laboratories in the Bitterroot Valley in the early 1900s; the construction of laboratory buildings in Hamilton; laboratory equipment, fieldwork; and tick illustrations by artist Tom Moore. The collection dates from 1900-1960.
Sax and Fryer Collection – The material in the Sax and Fryer Collection is comprised of material donated to the Fryer family for approximately the past 72 years. The historical photographs document life in Park County primarily from the 1890s through the 1960s. The Sax and Fryer Store museum began with Frank Fryer’s personal collecting in the 1940s. The Sax and Fryer collection documents the events, families and towns in Park County. It does not document the daily operations of the Sax and Fryer Store or the Fryer family.
Schultz (James Willard) Photographs – James Willard Schultz (1859-1947) lived in and wrote about the northwestern portion of Montana which now includes the Blackfeet Reservation and Glacier National Park. In 1877, at the age of 18, he traveled from his birthplace in Boonville, New York to Fort Benton, Montana Territory. He became interested in American Indians, and lived for many years with the Blackfeet Indians as an accepted member of their nation. Drawing upon his experiences on the western frontier, he wrote books and articles to make a living as an author. The Schultz Collection includes photographs of: Blackfeet, Blood, Kutenai, Shoshoni and Arapaho Native Americans, Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks, and historic views of Montana, Wyoming and Arizona.
Swan Valley Historical Photographs – This photo collection illustrates how people in the Upper Swan Valley, Montana settled and established an economy in a forested environment from 1890 – 1940.
Yellowstone National Park Photographs – This collection visually documents Yellowstone National Park; people, places, events, wildlife.
Sheep Ranching in Judith Basin County – This is a photo collection of some of the past and present sheep ranches in the Judith Basin and the towns which grew up around those ranches.
Prisons & Prisoners
Fort Missoula Alien Detention Camp Collection – During World War II, Fort Missoula in Missoula, Montana, was turned over to the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service for use as an Alien Detention Center (ADC) to hold foreign nationals and resident aliens. This collection includes correspondence, telegrams, memoranda and maps documenting the creation of the Fort Missoula Detention Camp between 1941 and 1942. The majority of the records originate from Willard F. Kelly, Chief Supervisor of Border Patrol, Immigration and Naturalization Service. Details are provided about the construction of new facilities; the renovation of existing facilities; the securing of supplies including vaccinations, clothing and food; and other logistics such as sanitation and entertainment. Some documents include personal information about the detainees including name, rank, age, hometown, and marital status. Some of the documents also relate to provisioning Fort Lincoln just south of Bismarck, North Dakota. Between 1941 and 1944, the ADC held 1,200 non-military Italian men, 1,000 Japanese resident aliens, 23 German resident aliens, and 123 Japanese Latin and South Americans. The 1,200 Italian men were merchant seamen, World’s Fair employees and the crew of an Italian luxury liner seized in the Panama Canal. Many of the Italians, who referred to the Fort as “Bella Vista,” spent the war as paid laborers replacing American men working in forestry, farms, the sugar beet industry and constructing Highway 12. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the FBI arrested more than a 1,000 of the most prominent Japanese leaders on the west coast as potential security risks. Ultimately, over 1,000 Japanese men – all resident aliens barred by law from American citizenship – were held at Fort Missoula for loyalty hearings. None was ever charged with any act of disloyalty but all were held at Fort Missoula or other camps for the duration of the war.
Fort Missoula Alien Detention Center Photograph Collection – The Fort Missoula Alien Detention Center was one of a handful of internment camps run by the Department of Justice during World War II. Roughly 1000 Italian merchant sailors were held for several years, and roughly 1000 more Japanese immigrant men, known as Issei, were held temporarily following the Pearl Harbor attack. The photos in this collection are part of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula’s permanent collection. They offer a look into the lives of these detainees during their time at Fort Missoula.
Montana State Prison Records 1869-1974
Recipes
Community Cookbooks – A collection of historic cookbooks from various community organizations.
Religion
Sister Genevieve McBride Collection – Sister Genevieve McBride was an Ursuline Nun in Great Falls. She traveled around Montana collecting photos and information about St. Peter’s mission and other Ursuline missions. She wrote the definitive history about St. Peter’s Mission titled “The Bird Tail”.
Schools
Books, Pamphlets and Ephemera from the University of Montana – The books, pamphlets, serials and other materials in this collection were selected from Archives & Special Collections at the University of Montana and represent a variety of subject areas documenting Montana and the region including Glacier National Park, homesteading and mining. Each item is full-text searchable. The digitization and addition of items to this collection is ongoing.
Boone and Crockett Club Records – The Boone and Crockett Club was the United States’ first hunting and big-game conservation organization. It was founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887 and continues to this day. This online collection contains scans of content held at the University of Montana’s Archives and Special Collections. The mission of the Boone and Crockett Club is to promote the conservation and management of wildlife, especially big game and its habitat, to preserve and encourage hunting and to maintain the highest ethical standards of fair chase and sportsmanship in North America. Among its many activities, the Club advocated for passage of conservation laws and policies such as the Alaska Game Law, the establishment of Glacier and Mt. McKinley National Parks, a bill to enlarge Yellowstone National Park, and many forest reserve and game refuge bills. The Club was able to lend effective support to conservation efforts due to its number of notable members, including Aldo Leopold, Gifford Pinchot, Theodore Roosevelt, Grinnell, Charles Sheldon, John F. Lacey, Stephen Mather, Jay N. “Ding” Darling, and many other prominent conservationists.
Columbus School of Nursing Collection – The Columbus Hospital School of Nursing was one of two nursing programs in the city of Great Falls. It produced Nurses from 1898 to 1968. This collection features all nursing classes from 1900 to 1968 when the school ended.
EMC and MSUB General Bulletins – A collection of the general bulletins/course catalogs from Eastern Montana Normal School, Eastern Montana State Normal School, Eastern Montana College of Education, Eastern Montana College (EMC), and now known as Montana State University Billings (MSU Billings), ranging from 1927-2015.
Missoula County and Hellgate High School Literary Journals – The Bitter Root was a literary magazine from students at Missoula county High School for the years 1906-1908. The Troubadour, an anthology of poetry, artwork and fiction from students at Hellgate High School, was created first in 1965 and was published sporadically through 2015.
Rocky Mountain College Historical Photographs – The Rocky Mountain College Historical Photographs is a collection of photos from Rocky’s Heritage Archives. The photos document many aspects of college student life in Montana, from sports to social events, images of faculty to pictures of graduation. The images span the entire 20th century and also include images from Rocky’s predecessor institutions, Montana Wesleyan College, Intermountain Union College, and Billings Polytechnic Institute.
University of Montana Western Catalogues and Bulletins – A description of academic programs, fees, policies, facilities, services, faculty and staff of the school.
University of Montana Western Club Meeting Minutes and Scrapbooks – A collection of individual, club and organization scrapbooks and meeting minutes showcasing aspects of life at the school variously known as Montana State Normal College (1903-1949); Western Montana College(1949-1988); Western Montana College of The University of Montana (1988-2000); University of Montana Western (2001-).
University of Montana Western Images – Forty-six candid shots across the decades of college life at the University of Montana Western (Dillon), as well as materials from the public relations department in the 1950s. Founded in 1893 as Montana State Normal School, it was known as Western Montana College of Education before joining the University of Montana system.
Western Montana College Master’s of Education Theses 1956-1988 – Theses submitted by graduate students at Western Montana College in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Education between the years 1956 and 1988.
Western Montana College Sports Media Guides, 1989-2007 – Booklet provided to sports media journalists by WMC/UMW athletic department containing information related to players, team history, statistics, and conference standings for the academic year.
UMW faculty/administration publications – This collection contains the MSCN Alumni News 1941-43 and the Normal College Index 1926-37.
Women
Women’s History Matters Created by the Montana Historical Society as part of a commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of women’s suffrage in Montana, Women’s History Matters promotes an increased appreciation and understanding of the role of women in the Treasure State’s past.
Montana Woman Magazine – The Montana Woman is the official newsletter for the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Montana “GFWC of Montana”. GFWC is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. The Montana Women’s Clubs Federated with GFWC International in 1904. This history began in 1921 as the Woman’s Voice. The name was changed to The Montana Woman in 1924. The collection records the actions and history of the GFWC Montana clubs, their projects, and their membership. GFWC of Montana is actively “Living the Volunteer Spirit.”
Kamlowsky (Rosetta) Radio Interviews – Rosetta Kamlowsky was one of the first female broadcasters in Montana. She hosted the Scooter radio show on KBLL Radio beginning in 1968. Over the course of her broadcasting career she interviewed everyone from her local friends and neighbors to Montana Governors and Hollywood celebrities. This is a collection of those interviews dating from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Yearbooks
Anaconda High and Anaconda Central School Yearbooks – A collection of high school annuals from Anaconda High School and Anaconda Central High School.
Augusta Yearbooks – The Augusta High School yearbook collection includes annuals from 1920-2013. There is also a history of one-room schoolhouses in the Augusta School District from circa 1870-1920 as well as a booklet created in 1971 looking back at 1921, “Then and Now”.
Beaverhead County High School Yearbooks – High School Annuals from Beaverhead County High in Dillon, Montana. The books feature pictures of faculty, staff, and students from 1945-2017.
Big Sandy High School Yearbooks – Big Sandy High School Yearbooks from 1921-1927, 1929-1931, 1936, and 1939-2019.
Billings Central High School Yearbooks – The Billings Central High School Yearbooks Collection contains yearbooks from 1947 and 1954-1968. Central High is the only Catholic High School in Billings an
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Billings Senior High School Yearbooks – The Billings Senior High School Yearbooks Collection contains yearbooks from the years between 1908 and 2015. Senior High was originally called Billings High School and it’s mascot was a Kyote, today the mascot is a Bronc.
Billings West High School Yearbooks – The Billings West High School Yearbooks Collection contains the “WestWard” yearbooks from Billings West High School in Billings, Montana. Built in 1959, the school accepted only sophomores in the spring of 1960. The first graduation took place in the spring of 1962.
Brady High School Yearbooks – A collection of school annuals from Brady, Montana from 1929-2004. The yearbook contains images of staff and students, including grades 1-12.
Buffalo High School Yearbooks, Buffalo, MT – Collection of high school annuals from Buffalo, Montana in Fergus County. The colleciton includes the yearbooks from 1921-1961 with some gaps.
Cascade High School Yearbooks – Cascade High School Annual collection includes annuals from 1926 to 2018 with the years from the 1940’s, 2013 and 2014 missing. The collection includes high school pictures and some elementary and middle school pictures, depending on the year.
Chinook High School Yearbook Collection – A collection of high school annuals from Chinook, Montana. These books include pictures of faculty staff and students from 1917-2018.
Choteau High School Yearbooks – This collection contains the Choteau High School Yearbooks for the years 1952-2015.
Conrad High School Yearbooks – Collection of Conrad High School Yearbooks. The annual books include pictures of faculty, staff, students, and school activities.
Cut Bank High School Yearbooks – The Cut Bank High School Yearbook collection contains Owlets (the previous mascot was an owl [1922, 1928, and 1931]). There are two Livewires (the school newspaper [1923 and 1924]) also included in the collection. The yearbook title and the mascot changed to the Wolf in the 1934 yearbook. The collection contains “The Wolf” from 1934, and 1936-2015.
Drummond High School Yearbooks – A collection of high school yearbooks from Drummond, MT beginning in 1961.
EMC and MSUB Yearbooks – A collection of college yearbooks from Eastern Montana Normal School, Eastern Montana State Normal School, and Eastern Montana College of Education (now known as MSU Billings), beginning in 1929 with the last yearbook in 1972.
Fallon County Yearbooks – Baker High School Annuals
Fergus County High School Yearbooks and School Documents – This collection includes the Fergus County High School annuals for the years one was produced. Senior class images are included for years there was no yearbook created. This collection also includes commencement programs and other school related items.
Fort Benton High School Yearbooks – Fort Benton High school annuals with pictures of faculty, staff, and students from 1950-2018.
Garfield County High School Yearbooks – The Garfield County High School Year book Collection includes annuals from 1943 thru 2016.
Geraldine High School Yearbooks – Geraldine Highschool yearbooks covering 1950 through 2018.
Highwood High School Yearbooks – Highwood Highschool yearbooks covering 1950-1954, 1956-1958, 1960, 1968-1969, 1973, 1975-1979, 1981-1987, 1993, 1996-1999, 2001-2018.
Hilltopper (The) – Carroll College Yearbook – Carroll College’s yearbook collection spans seven decades, and is frequently requested by both Carroll Alumni and members of the community. The yearbooks provide a record of the student body, faculty, and student life; taken as a whole, the collection provides a record of academic life in Montana. Many issues contain photographic materials found nowhere else in our collections.
Livingston High School Annuals – Livingston Park High Annuals is a growing collection of high school yearbooks from Park High School (formerly known as Park Senior High and as Park County High). The digital collectiion is based on the hard copies owned by Park High Library supplemented by annuals held in other collections and by private individuals. The most recent edition posted is within 10 years of the present. Geneologists as well as local historians will find much of interest here.
Missoula County and Hellgate High School Yearbooks – Missoula County and Hellgate High School Bitterroot yearbooks were printed from 1906-1965, with 1917, 1918, 1934, 1943, and 1944 years missing due to war and fire. In 1966, the county built Sentinel High School, renaming the original MCPS building Hellgate High School and their yearbooks were dubbed The Halberd. In 2012, yearbooks were names The Canyon, then reverted toThe Halberd in 2017.
Missoula County High School, The Bitter Root Yearbooks – Missoula County High School yearbooks and literary magazines dating from 1906 to 1965.
Northern Montana College (MSU Northern) Yearbooks – Northern Montana College and Montana State University – Northern yearbooks were published from 1953-2007. The title of the publication varies from The Big Man to (The) Northerner. The yearbooks present a pictorial history of university life on the Northern campus.
Plentywood High School Yearbooks – The Plentywood High School yearbooks provide a look back at the history of the largest school in Sheridan County. It is also a record of photos that were lost when the school burned in 1991.
Rocky Mountain College Yearbooks – Beloved of researchers and genealogists alike, school yearbooks can offer a surprisingly fresh and intimate glimpse into the lives of students and faculty. Beginning in 1910, these college year books from Billings include The Poly, The Prickly Pear, and The Yellowstone for Rocky Mountain College and its predecessor schools. They feature photographs, faculty bios, membership lists, team rosters, nicknames, theatre programs, and student officers.
Seeley-Swan High School Yearbooks – A collection of high school annuals from Seeley-Swan High school. The collection includes most of the yearbooks from 1966-2017, however there are some gaps.
Shelby High School Yearbooks – The Shelby High School Yearbooks Collection includes yearbooks from 1950 to 2017. The yearbooks feature photographs of the faculty and students.
Sweet Grass County High School Yearbooks – Sweet Grass County High School yearbooks from 1950-2013.
University of Montana Western Yearbooks – The Chinook began as the yearbook of Montana State Normal College in 1906 and continued through 2006. The yearbook retained its name while the school transitioned
Valier High School Yearbooks – This collection contains the Valier High School Yearbooks for the years 1930 and 1946-2015.
Wheatland County Yearbooks – This collection is of yearbooks from Harlowton High School which includes students from Judith Gap. This collection also includes a few issues of the Ryegate High School yearbooks.
Yearbooks of Carter County – Yearbook collection from high schools in Carter County, Montana during the years 1930-2017. The collection includes The Medicine Rock, a publication by Carter County High School (1930, 31, and 1940-2017), Carter Broadcaster Review by Carter County High School, and two yearbooks from Capitol High School (1941 and 1942).
Sidney-Richland County Library – The collection includes one locally published book, several newspaper collections and special editions, and early annuals from the Richland County High Schools.
Military Records
Montana and the Great War Created to commemorate the centennial of the U.S. entry into World War I, this site provides resources to investigate the war’s transformative and complicated legacy in our home state, including two lesson plans, story maps, digitized articles, and a World War I scavenger hunt.
Miles City WWII Peggy Letters – The Miles City WWII Peggy Letters consists of newsletters written by the Miles City branch of American Women’s Voluntary Services (AWVS) from late 1942 until early 1946. The newsletters were sent to every service man and woman from Miles City, Custer County, and neighboring areas for whom they had addresses to keep them abreast of events at home while they were serving in the military. The AWVS chose “Peggy” as a pseudonym: several AWVS women took turns writing the newsletters. The bulk of the collection consists of the letters these same service men and women wrote back to “Peggy”. Some letters are typed, many are handwritten, and a few are V-mails. Many letters include envelopes, and a few include photos or drawings. It is unknown whether the Peggy writers anticipated responses to their newsletters.
Military Enlistments (Montana), 1890-1918 – This digital collection is comprised of State of Montana enlistment cards for the Montana National Guard from 1890 to 1918, arranged alphabetically by surname. It
Military Enlistments (Montana), World War I – The bulk of this collection consists of WWI army enlistments, organized into groups by surname. The collection also includes marines, marine officers, and nurses, as well as dishonorable discharges, fraudulent enlistments, and enemy aliens. This card file is part of the Montana Adjutant General’s Office Records 1889-1959 (RS 223).
Military Enlistments (Montana), World War II – This collection consists of military enlistment records for World War II (1939-1945), arranged alphabetically by surname. All branches of military service are included together, with their respective branches marked on the individual cards. This card file is part of the Montana Adjutant Generals Office Records 1889-1959 (RS 223).
Rocky Mountain Laboratories Lab News 1944-1945 – During World War II employees from Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton developed a folksy, unofficial newsletter to mail to RML employees who were serving in the military. The newsletters were designed to brighten the spirits of those who were away from home, while also keeping them apprised of local events. Sixty pages of the newsletters are available below, from May 1944 through December 1945. Some of the writing may be considered off-color in contemporary times, but for this era were considered appropriate.
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