H A Publication of the Winter 2011 SocietyMontana Historical Society ST R “Chief Joseph” Sculpture: A Vision of History It is a vision that haunts Montana known as “Chief Joseph.” Hansen with a spirit that refused to be said Stockton posed the work in a abandoned. “style of recapitulation.” Kay Hansen covered many “It’s like when you go to sleep great Montana stories in her long and you remember things. That’s career as a journalist at seven what it represents,” she said. newspapers across the state. She Chief Joseph and members of is now part of a fascinating saga his tribe, seeking refuge in Can- that brought a sculpture of Nez ada, eluded U.S. troops on an epic Perce Chief Joseph into the Mon- journey from the Oregon’s Wal- tana Historical Society’s collection lowa Valley to Montana’s Bear Paw in a strange, even mystical, series Mountains, where they were cap- of events. tured after a final tragic battle. This haunting sculpture of Grass Range shepherd and Stockton created “Chief Joseph” Chief Joseph has noted Montana artist Bill Stock- and sent it to a Billings art retailer a mystic history ton, who was born in 1921, was in the 1950s. Thieves later broke of its own. troubled by the fate that befell into the store and stole the sculp- American Indians with the loss ture along with two other Stock- County sheriffs were dragging the of their lands and the effects ton artworks. What happened river from a bridge that crosses it had on their culture and his- next could be seen as coincidence the Yellowstone River near Billings tory. He captured his feelings in or the spirit world taking a strange for a young Indian man who had a metal statue called From Where part in keeping the Nez Perce story jumped into the river allegedly to the Sun Now Stands, I Will Fight No alive. commit suicide,” Hansen said. More Forever, which is commonly “A year later, Yellowstone Sculpture (cont. on p. 6) Preserving Post-WWII Buildings It might make you feel a little old, “Understanding how these but buildings constructed in the properties represent the post– 1940s and 1950s—which seems World War Two era; their asso- like only yesterday to some— ciations with developments in are now eligible for listing in the urban planning, with Civil Rights National Register of Historic movements, or the Cold War; and Places. the technological developments The Montana Historical Soci- they embody is the key to appre- ety’s State Historic Preservation ciating and preserving them,” said Office has launched a major effort Society Community Preservation to make the public aware of the Coordinator Kate Hampton. Kate Hampton and Pete Brown show off need to save and restore what The United States experienced a new exhibit promoting preservation of they are calling “Montana Mod- its largest peacetime economic “Montana Modern” buildings and properties. ern” buildings and homes. Montana Modern (cont. on p. 4)
1 DIRECTOR’S CORNER New Artwork Added New Society Director to Capitol Collection Bruce Whittenberg Listens to the Heart and Soul of Montana To know where you are going, you With a strong connection to have to know where you’ve been. our peers and colleagues across There is a spirit in Montana this state through outreach efforts that is reflected throughout our and support for the humanities in “In the Shadow of the Sixth,” giclee print history and will most surely shape every corner of Montana, the Mon- by R. Tom Gilleon our future. The Montana Histori- tana Historical Society provides cal Society is the heart and soul of leadership in shaping Montana by Among its other responsibilities, that Montana spirit. Reflecting on telling the stories that have made the Montana Historical Society the key themes that have shaped this place great. In doing so, we loans artwork to be displayed in Montana’s past, we can find guid- create friendships that will allow designated State Capitol offices. ance and wisdom for the future. us to expand the scope and influ- Thanks to House Speaker Mike Consider the resilient spirit of the ence of our work. As the divide Milburn of Cascade, his wife Car- homesteaders, trappers, and min- between rural and urban seems to leen, and their constituent R. Tom ers; natural resources as an eco- be widening, our shared history Gilleon—who also happens to be and core values can lead us away a great artist—a limited edition from division and towards con- giclee print of five colorful tepees nectedness and shared vision. The circled majestically on the plains is power of collaboration knows no now part of that collection. bounds if we broaden our defini- Called “In the Shadow of the tion of collaborators and consider Sixth,” Gilleon said he wanted the potential of existing and new to experiment with the power of relationships. Collaboration, in “symmetry of design” that holds fact, is the single most important that five is more pleasing to the leadership skill for the twenty- eye than six. “I tried breaking the first century. rule by presenting six, as opposed As your new Director, it is to five, tepees. It turns out that an honor to lead such a highly the principle is quite true unless, regarded institution with incred- of course, you place one of the ibly talented and energetic people. group of five ‘In the Shadow of the I take very seriously our role as Sixth.’ ” the trustholder of Montana and The framed artwork hung in the New Society Director Bruce Whittenberg. a steward of Montana’s past, and Speaker’s office last session, and the responsibility of providing the Milburn and his wife worked with leadership to build relationships Gilleon to donate it to the Soci- nomic driver; the urbanization of among the many who share this ety’s permanent Capitol collection western Montana; the impact of passion while telling the stories for future Montanans to enjoy. the railroad; and the immigrants that provide lessons for shaping a who flocked to Montana to pur- bright and exciting future. sue their dreams. Consider tribal That is a big job and one we About Us TheSociety Star is published quarterly history and the preservation of can’t do without the help of our by the Montana Historical Society native cultures, rural agriculture friends. I hope you take some time and is a benefit of membership. heritage, the mystique of the to consider our annual appeal on ʈʈSociety Director: Montana landscape and its allure page seven. We thank you for all Bruce Whittenberg to Montanans and visitors alike, ʈʈMembership Coordinator: you have done and all you will con- Rebecca Baumann 406-444-2918 and the authenticity of Montan- tinue to do for Montana history ʈʈEditor: Tom Cook 406-444-1645 ans grounded in an adventurous and heritage. www.montanahistoricalsociety.org and independent spirit.
2 The Society Star: Winter 2011 ON THE ROAD TO MONTANA’S GREAT MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES Yellowstone Gateway Museum of Park County There’s a new face for the history and are now using it to design our winter, which was not possible of Park County with the comple- exhibits.” during its first thirty-four years of tion of a major renovation proj- Shea has long been a leading operation. ect for the Yellowstone Gateway figure in museum work in Mon- “Park County is proud of its her- Museum in Livingston. tana and has been a friend of the itage, and the support shown dur- Director Paul Shea and his staff Montana Historical Society staff. ing this project is reflected in the and volunteers recently completed The improved museum not only exciting new look of our museum,” a year-long project that not only includes new exhibits but also Shea said. “We hope you stop by involved a new energy efficient draws heavily on its extensive his- and see us.” heating-cooling system for the toric photograph collection to tell historic 1910 North Side School the story of the county. One of which houses the museum, they the striking new features is a new also inventoried their collection of Lewis and Clark exhibit that fea- more than 40,000 objects. tures a four-foot by six-foot fresco “We took the opportunity of of the expedition and three murals being closed to look at the way the of the Lewis and Clark journals. It museum was interpreting the his- focuses on the expedition’s route tory of Park County and how we from Bozeman to Springdale. could improve,” he said. “We have The new heating system allows put together an interpretive plan the museum to be open in the The Gateway Museum in Livingston has a new look.
SOCIETY STAR PROFILE Sarah Nucci: Making Living History When Sarah Nucci was three her into history, and raised more than groups first in Civil War events mother taught her how to sew, and $5,000. She is planning other liv- and later the Revolutionary War, at age 13 she made her first histori- ing history events for the Society and worked as a re-enactor at cally accurate dress for a Civil War and has opened some new avenues Colonial Williamsburg before living history event that her dad to get people excited about their moving to Montana with her hus- took her to in Virginia where she history. band. “My family used to take me grew up. Nucci, 32, is a 2004 graduate every summer to the Battle of the Nucci has brought her skills of Mary Washington College in Crater re-enactment in Peters- as a seamstress and historical re- Fredericksburg, Va., with a degree burg. I don’t jump when I hear the enactor to the Montana Histori- in historic preservation and sound of cannons—I grew up to cal Society as the new Curator of museums. that sound,” she said. History. She has been involved for many Nucci said she sees lots of “I’m the kind of person who years in historic re-enactment opportunities in Montana for his- learns by touching and doing. I toric re-enactments. “If people are like to make history come to life interested in starting one, I would for people,” she said. be glad to walk them through the This past Halloween Nucci used process,” she said. her skills and enthusiasm to put When you walk in Nucci’s foot- together a popular event that steps, you better be ready to make featured ghosts from Montana’s and learn some history. past dressed in period costumes You can check out how she does at several locations in the his- her work as she reproduces a dress toric district around the Original from the Society’s collection by Governor’s Mansion in Helena. It following the Society’s Facebook drew more than 600 people out on page at www.facebook.com/ a cool night for a hair-raising trip Sarah Nucci sews and lives history. MontanaHistoricalSociety.
The Society Star: Winter 2011 3 Montana Modern (cont. from p. 1) rise apartments. expansion in the late 1940s “The first task in preserving through the 1950s, and many pub- is to recognize what the build- lic buildings and storefronts date ing represents architecturally to that era. and historically,” Society Historic Post-war architectural design Architecture Specialist Pete Brown rejected traditional and iconic said. “After that it’s a matter ornamentation. The new look of respecting the architecture relied instead on abstract orna- through constant care and main- mentation that comes from con- tenance or sensitive replacement trast of light and shadow, the use of its components.” of colors, and expressions of mate- Those interested in learning rials and texture. more about “Montana Modern” The design exists today on such preservation or in placing such things as curtain-walled school properties on the National Reg- buildings, futuristic community ister and caring for them can The design and materials make this facilities, avant-garde bank and contact Hampton and Brown by storefront a part of “Modern Montana.” car dealerships, and sleek high- calling 406-444-7715. Montana Historical Society’s 38th History Conference Big Success Engaging speakers, new events, to enrich the conference experi- of Sidney, and military leader and and great participants made the ence. It has worked hard to make educator Gen. John Womack of Montana Historical Society’s 38th sure that all of its presentations, Dillon for their efforts to preserve Annual Montana History Confer- events, and banquets are fun as Montana history and heritage. ence in Missoula a rousing success. well as informative for all. The Society was saddened in “This was my first History Con- The Montana Historical Society November with the news that ference, and I was amazed at how Board of Trustees honored historic Gen. Womack had died. But his the staff pulls all of this off and preservationist Jim McDonald of legacy and that of the others will makes it a great experience for Missoula, historian Mary Mercer continue. those who attend the three-day event,” Society Director Bruce Whittenberg said. “If you have never been to one, I hope you make an effort to get to the conference next year that will be in Helena.” The Society has made a strong commitment to partnering with other organizations and groups Montanans flocked to the Capitol rotunda to honor the nation and the 911 flag. Montana Honors National 911 Flag Montanans have stitched their Hundreds of people came to way into the history of 911. view the giant flag and 234 stood The Montana Historical Society in line to stitch Montana spirit was asked by the New York Says into what will now be a permanent Thank You Foundation to organize part of the National September 11 an event in the Capitol Rotunda Memorial Museum at the site of allowing Montanans a chance to the former World Trade Center. Society Board of Trustees President Steve Lozar (left) and new Society Director Bruce stitch part of a flag flown in Mon- Carolyn Deters of the founda- Whittenberg (right) with award winners tana into the restored U.S. Flag tion said Montana had the largest Gen. John Womack and Jim McDonald that was severely damaged when participation nationally. “You guys (center) and Mary Mercer. the Twin Towers came down. were great!” she said.
4 The Society Star: Winter 2011 Historic Barns Tell All in New Society Book The Society’s own photographer details of construction, interiors, Tom Ferris teamed up with Chere and use. The barns range from Jiusto and Christine Brown of the a luxurious horse barn built by Montana Preservation Alliance to copper baron Marcus Daly, to the produce a beautiful new book pub- Kent Dairy round barn remod- lished by the Montana Historical eled for use as a restaurant, to the Society Press, Hand Raised: The Jemison barn in Cascade County Barns of Montana. still in use as a sheep barn today, As historic barns continue to neglected barns that are in dan- to disappear from the Montana ger of collapse. landscape, the book is designed The beautiful coffee table–style to tell their stories and encourage book has more than five hundred Research Center Echoes people to save them for posterity. color images and is available at Ferris traveled the state to local bookstores or can be ordered Veterans Words photograph more than 140 his- directly from the Society by calling The Society Research Center is toric barns in color, documenting 1-800-243-9900 or online at www. Montana’s voice from the past. their majestic exteriors and the montanahistoricalsociety.org. It To honor veterans, the staff put sells for $39.95 in hardcover. together a program on veterans’ letters dating from the Civil War through today’s wars using its incredible collection. The program is very moving and has drawn rave reviews from all who saw it. If you missed the program it will be available within a month on the Montana History Wiki, http:// montanahistorywiki.pbworks. The art of com. storytelling can be beautiful as You can log on to www. shown by this montanahistoricalsociety.org to Sioux history in learn more about the Society’s the exhibit. great archives.
New Museum Exhibits Help You Find Your Way There are different ways to find cal events and visions. Narrative 10,000 since 1965 when the Soci- your way through life, and the scenes painted on buffalo robes ety marked the centennial of the Montana Historical Society and tipis told of personal exploits creation of Montana’s first map Museum has two new exhibits on and experiences. drawn by preeminent cartogra- two of those paths. The Art of Story Telling draws the pher and surveyor Walter de Lacy. The Art of Story Telling: Plains visitor in to explore many beauti- This collaboration between Indian Perspectives, and Mapping ful and powerful examples of pic- the Society Research Center and Montana: Two Centuries of Cartog- tographic art. It also challenges Museum tells the story of the raphy both draw heavily on Society viewers to think about what the state’s past from early exploration collections to present striking visual images mean—some are clear and to Indian conflicts to the arrival of as well as interpretive displays. concise, but others are open to the railroad and the development For countless years Plains interpretation, and the original of the modern state. The maps are Indians have chronicled their his- meaning remains enigmatic. beautiful artworks as well as tech- tories in graphic pictorial styles. Mapping Montana is the nical wonders. Powerful images carved in or museum’s first display of historic Both exhibits will be on display painted on rock marked histori- maps from its collection of over through summer 2012.
The Society Star: Winter 2011 5 Weddings Make Montana’s vibrant, multicultural past and provides fascinating Montana History insights into one of American’s most enduring traditions and rites in New Book of passage. Brides galore gathered on the Many guests wore historic front lawn of the Historical Soci- wedding attire, and prizes were ety to officially launch the Society awarded in several categories. Society staffer Caitlan Maxwell applies her Press’s new book, I Do: A Cultural “war paint” as she gets ready to celebrate I Do is available at book stores History of Montana Weddings. the Society Press’ new I Do book. Fellow across the state or can be ordered Society historical specialist Society archivists Rachel Lilley (left) and directly from the Society with a Martha Kohl wrote the book after Loreto Pinochet will have to wait for the discount to members by calling several years of research includ- next book! 1-800-243-9900, or online at www. ing oral histories with many of montanahistoricalsociety.org. The the people who came from across the social, political, and economic 212-page book with more than 70 the state for the event. The book trends that shaped our history. historic photos sells for $34.95 in focuses on the lives of ordinary Judging from the large turnout hard cover or $22.95 in paperback Montanans, examining how wed- for the event, interest in weddings and makes a great gift for newly- dings have been celebrated over is still strong in today’s generation. weds or anyone with a “romantic” time and what that tells us about The book captures the richness of feel for Montana history.
Society Hosts Major Museum Convention Sculpture (cont. from p. 1) The ten-state Mountain-Plains ference, which fell just short of They not only found the young Museums Association that the 353 that attended last year in man’s body but also the “Chief stretches from Texas to Montana Rapid City. It also exceeded the Joseph” sculpture that had been gave an official “Hurrah” to the 283 that attended the last confer- in the river for a year. Montana Historical Society and its ence held this far north in Fargo in Hansen later saw the piece in partners for hosting and organiz- 2007, she said. a pre-auction exhibit at the Great ing a major five-day conference in “So a big ‘Hurrah’ to all of you Falls Russell Art Show. “I only had Helena in October. who worked tirelessly to make $9 in my pocket, but I knew that it “We had concerns that Helena Helena the successful conference had to be mine,” she said. Paying was too far north for most of our that it was,” she said. in monthly installments, Hansen members to get to or the economy The conference involved many finally acquired it. “It remains one too far south for folks to find funds sessions, workshops, tours, an of Stockton’s most memorable cre- to attend,” said MPMA executive exhibitor’s hall, and other events ations,” she said. director Monta Lee Dakin. in the area surrounding Helena. Hansen donated the statue to But 329 members were drawn Many attendees spent time in the Montana Historical Society to Big Sky Country for the con- other parts of Montana after the this year. conference. Stockton died in 2002 after a She praised the entire Society long and illustrious career. His staff—especially membership work is in Montana museums and coordinator Rebecca Baumann private collections across the state who coordinated local arrange- and nation. His numerous awards ments. Her attention to detail include the Governor’s Award for and demand for an event that the Arts. would make Montana proud were Over her career, Hansen a major reason for the success of worked for the Billings Gazette, the conference. the Helena Independent Record, “I’m useless when it comes to the Madisonian, the Great Falls Tribune, the Lewistown News- The staff of the Montana Historical Society that sort of thing, which is why I pitched in to make a great Mountain Plains was happy to have Rebecca there Argus, the Montana Standard and Museums Association conference—the best to make it all happen,” Dakin said. the Dillon Tribune. She now lives they’ve ever had up north! “And boy, did she ever!” in Missoula.
6 The Society Star: Winter 2011 Show your Montana history spirit with a year-end gift!
Dear Friends, As we look back on an outstanding year for the Montana Historical Society, we are awed by what we have been able to accomplish through the help of our members, supporters and partners. Thank you for all of the moral and monetary support you have provided! At year-end we ask that you consider making a special donation to the Montana Historical Society to ensure a bright future for Montana history.
Both the quality and quantity of history programming during 2011 have been awesome! There was overwhelming response to Land of Many Stories: the People & Histories of Glacier National Park exhibit and the Native Words, Native Warriors traveling exhibit. Two new wonderful Montana Historical Society Press books were published, I Do: A Cultural History of Montana Weddings and Hand-Raised: the Barns of Montana, which have generated great reviews. Our free Thursday evening and Second Saturday programs drew large crowds of folks with a passion for history. Collaborations and communications with teachers have never been stronger, evidenced by the popularity of our educator’s blog that promotes sharing resources for teaching Montana history. The Society is connected to historic preservation efforts all over the state working with local advocates to save our tangible past. And we are building our digital resources and social network so information on our history can more easily be shared.
The Montana Historical Society is the trust holder of Montana—a steward of Montana’s past, providing the leadership to build relationships among the many who share this passion, while telling the stories that provide lessons for shaping a bright and exciting future.
Your year-end contribution to the Society will enable us to build relationships with others who share your spirit and your love for Montana’s rich history.
Thanks so much,
Bruce Whittenberg, Director
Help ensure a bright future for Montana history! Send your gift today with the enclosed donation form to: Montana Historical Society P.O. Box 201201 Helena MT 59620-1201
The Society Star: Winter 2011 7 Non-profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit No. 27 225 N. Roberts, P.O. Box 201201 Kalispell, MT Helena, MT 59620-1201
3,000 copies of this public document were published at an estimated cost of $.63 per copy, for a total cost of $1,890, which includes $424.75 for distribution.
Inside ʈʈNew Director Bruce Whittenberg puts “heart and soul” into job 2 ʈʈSociety profile a “real stitcher” 3 ʈʈMontanans help restore Grand Old Flag 4 ʈʈSociety barn book beautiful tribute to Montana 5 ʈʈNew museum exhibits The official launch of the Montana Historical Society Press’ new book I Do: A Cultural History of help you find your way 5 Montana Weddings by Martha Kohl brought new and old brides by the dozens to the Society for a gala party complete with prizes for costumes. Older brides—some of them still blushing in their old dresses—younger brides and brides to be, and guys who dressed up to make it all official had a great party and learned that weddings tell us a lot about Montana’s history and culture. Read more about it on page 6. We appreciate our members!