Alphabetical Catalog
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Alberta-Montana Discovery Guide: Museums, Parks and Historic Sitesby Alberta-Montana International PartnershipAlberta and Montana have much to offer the modern-day explorer: world-class museums, parks set in spectacular natural surroundings, and historic sites that bring the past to life. This indispensable guide includes over 300 color photographs, descriptions, easy-to-follow directions, and contact information for nearly 500 attractions across Alberta and Montana. 358 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Guidebook section. |
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Autobiography of Red Cloud: War Leader of the OglalasEdited by R. Eli PaulA brilliant military strategist, Red Cloud honed his skills against his tribe's traditional enemies-the Pawnees, Shoshones, Arikaras, and Crows-long before he fought to close the Bozeman Trail. Here, for the first time in print, is Red Cloud's "as-told-to" autobiography, where he shares the story of his early years. This manuscript-which has rested ignored for decades at the Nebraska State Historical Society-brings us closer than the historical record has yet allowed to understanding the life of one of the Sioux's greatest war leaders. 234 pages Read the Excerpt! Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife and Frontier Military sections. |
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AUDIOBOOKBeyond Spirit Tailings: Montana's Mysteries, Ghosts, & Haunted PlacesBy Ellen Baumler and Philip AabergIn a new and exciting twist, Ellen Baumler's ever-popular historical ghost stories found an enthusiastic reader in world-famous composer Philip Aaberg. Inspired by the stories, he encouraged Ellen to produce and audio version of Beyond Spirit Tailings to which he could add his music. Ellen and Philip's spooky collaboration will evoke those places and images that make our imagination such a wonderful (and sometimes unearthly) destination. For more information about ordering your copy of this five-disc set, visit the MHS Museum Store online, or call 1-800-243-9900. Five-disc set |
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Beyond Spirit Tailings: Montana's Mysteries, Ghosts, and Haunted Placesby Ellen BaumlerMontana is alive with things that go bump in the Big Sky night. A World War II serviceman who lingers in a Billings business, a dearly departed priest who still hitchhikes around Helena, and a Hamilton socialite who adorns her mansion with the scent of roses-these are a few of the creepy tales from across the state collected in Beyond Spirit Tailings. Passed down through generations, these "spirit tailings" illustrate the subtle presence of the past in the everyday lives of modern Montanans. Ellen Baumler has again traversed the state, interviewing and researching to present history with a ghostly twist. Her first book, Spirit Tailings, introduced Montanans to their haunted past. Beyond Spirit Tailings again offers ghostly encounters from Montana's heritage places, but Baumler also branches out to explore such historical mysteries as the monster said to lurk in the deep waters of Flathead Lake, the power of an ancient object revered by native peoples, and a possible explanation for the suspicious death of Thomas Francis Meagher.Richly embroidered with Montana's unique historical legacy, these eerie and mysterious tales will leave you looking over your shoulder, sleeping with the lights on, and always craving more. 200 pages, 20 illus., index Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. |
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Western History ClassicsBlackfeet Tales of Glacier National Parkby James Willard SchultzIntroduction by Darrell Robes KippAfter journeying to Montana in the late 1800s, James Willard Schultz married Fine Shield Woman and lived on the Blackfeet reservation for nearly two decades. In his time among the Blackfeet, he absorbed hundreds of stories about the tribe, its history, and its oral tradition. He also became intimately familiar with the land that would become Glacier National Park. A Western History Classic, Blackfeet Tales of Glacier National Park, originally published in 1916, is Schultz's rich account of Blackfeet tribal tradition. Copublished with Riverbend Publishing240 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. Learn more about the Western History Classics series |
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Bound for Montana: Diaries from the Bozeman TrailEdited by Susan Badger DoyleOn May 14, 1866, Perry Burgess summed up the expectations and hopes of countless westering Americans when he wrote in his diary: "packed up and started on our journey toward the land of gold." Here are stories of the prospectors, freighters, wives, and merchants who, like Burgess, traveled the Bozeman Trail in search of fortune, adventure, or a new life. A shortcut from the Platte River Road to the Montana goldfields, the Bozeman Trail was relatively short in length-less than five hundred miles-yet it has the enduring distinction of being the last great overland emigrant trail in the American West. Encounter the trail as it was experienced by seven travelers: the leader of a company of Michigan men who traveled with one of the first groups to cross it; a new bride traveling with her husband; two young men-a store clerk and a typesetter-for whom the trip was a thoroughly enjoyable adventure; a prospector out to make his fortune in the West; a sober Civil War veteran concerned about the possibility of Indian attack; and the supervisor of a freight train who found time to write despite his heavy responsibilities. Join their journey through these annotated diaries, and discover the dangers and pleasures, frustrations and joys of travel on the Bozeman Trail. 372 pages, illus., maps Books of related interest available in the Biography/Memoir and Mining sections. |
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Charlie Russell Roundup: Essays on America's Favorite Cowboy ArtistEdited and with an introduction by Brian W. DippieIllustrated with black-and-white and color illustrations-including a never before reproduced Russell painting-Charlie Russell Roundup contains many of the best stories and critical thinking on Russell, an artist who portrayed the Old West in all its vibrancy. Early press accounts of the cowboy artist, reminiscences by his friends and fellow artists, interpretive and biographical studies, and a few words from Russell himself are all included in this engaging anthology. Fresh insights into the man and his art, and his enduring legend are enhanced by historic photographs and a large sampling of Russell's work. Brian W. Dippie is Professor of History at University of British Columbia, Victoria, editor of Charles M. Russell, Word Painter, and author of Looking at Russell and West-Fever, as well as many other books. 360 pages, 49 black-and-white and 15 color illustrations |
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Christmastime in MontanaCompiled by Dave WalterAn entertaining assortment of Christmas memoirs, newspaper accounts and editorials, poems, and menus collected from the vast archives of the Montana Historical Society, Christmastime in Montana connects readers to the state's rich and varied history through celebrations of Christmas day. From shoot-outs and dances in Virginia City to the finery of a Billings hotel, from dinner with friends to visits from Santa, from lonely nights away from home to joyful family celebrations, Christmastime in Montana examines nearly two centuries of Montana history through observances of this sacred day. Spend Christmas with Montana's early prospectors, ranchers, and homesteaders, and learn how Montanans came together to make Christmas bright. Including handsome historic photographs and illustrations, Christmastime in Montana is a great way to preserve your family's attachment to Montana's past. It is the book of Christmas for all Montanans and Montanans at heart. Dave Walter is a historian at the Montana Historical Society and the author of several books on Montana history. 264 pages, illus. |
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Conveniences Sorely Needed: Montana's Historic Highway Bridges, 1860-1956By Jon AxlineOld bridges do more than just span rivers. They provide an important historical connection between the hopes and dreams of the people who built them and those who continue to benefit from their use today. Montana's historic highway bridges are symbols of the cooperative spirit that led to the economic and social stability of communities throughout the Big Sky Country for over a century. Other bridges, such as those built during the Great Depression, are physical reminders of significant periods in American history and tell stories about the breadth of Montana's transportation past. Nonetheless all are representatives of the best in engineering practices and are testaments to the science of practical bridge design. From the aesthetically delightful Fort Benton Bridge to the more mundane Fred Robinson Bridge in the Missouri Breaks Country, Montana's bridges signify the best in American bridge engineering. Today, Montana's bridges are a visible, often overlooked, and fast disappearing part of the state's historic landscape. Yet the story they tell is significant to understanding the dynamics of Montana's development in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the optimism many had in its future. 174 pages, 80 illus., maps, index Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. |
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Comprehensive Index, 1951-1990, Montana The Magazine of Western HistoryIndexed and compiled by Douglas J. EastonThis forty-year index to Montana The Magazine of Western History is the finding tool you have been waiting for. This index includes articles, book reviews, essays, photographs, artwork, people, places, and things. The well-researched and documented articles in Montana are now more accessible. 390 pages Learn more about Montana The Magazine of Western History. |
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Copper Chorus: Mining, Politics, and the Montana Press, 1889-1959by Dennis SwiboldThis is the first book devoted to Montana's long history of industrial newspaper ownership and the consequences for democracy. The work also reveals the costs paid by owners and their journalists, whose credibility eroded as their increasingly constricted newspapers lapsed into ambivalence and indifference. The story offers a timeless study of the conflict between commerce and the notion of a free and independent press. Copper Chorus is the colorful story of how a ruthless mining company secretly bought control of Montana's major daily press--and eventually gave it up. 432 pages, 100+ illus. |
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Cowboy Trout: Western Fly Fishing As If It Mattersby Paul SchulleryIn Cowboy Trout, historian-angler Paul Schullery chronicles many great moments in western fly fishing, from pioneer anglers casting the first flies on wilderness streams to the unexpected modern emergence of fly fishing as a political, commercial, and even spiritual presence in the lives of many westerners. 288 pages, 30 illus., bibliography, index |
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Indian Reading SeriesCoyote Stories of the Montana Salish IndiansDeveloped by the Salish Culture Committee, Confederated Salish and Kootenai TribesThree Coyote tales-"Coyote Gets Lovesick," "Coyote and Raven," and "Coyote's Dry Meat Turns into Live Deer-are told and illustrated by members of the Salish Indian tribe. The tribe historically lived in the mountains and plains of Montana and now makes its home on the Flathead Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana. The Salish have long taught their youth through stories, including stories about Coyote the Trickster. Illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings, and written at a fourth grade reading level, these ancient Coyote stories are now available to a new generation of children everywhere. Copublished with Salish Kootenai College Press64 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. Learn more about the Indian Reading Series. |
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Fifty Years after The Big Sky: New Perspectives on the Fiction and Films of A. B. Guthrie, Jr.Edited by William W. Bevis and William E. FarrWriters, historians, and public intellectuals from James Welch and Mary Clearman Blew to Dan Flores, William W. Bevis, and Daniel Kemmis explore A. B. Guthrie's life and legacy in Fifty Years after The Big Sky: New Perspectives on the Fiction and Films of A. B. Guthrie, Jr. Best known for his novels, The Big Sky and The Way West and as the author of the screenplay for the movie classic Shane, A. B. Guthrie is a much-loved but under-studied Montana author. There has been almost no serious study of Guthrie's work, until now. This wide-ranging anthology examines this beloved western author in multiple contexts. Essays examine Guthrie's relationship with the movie industry; how the Cold War influenced Guthrie's work; how people in his hometown of Choteau, Montana, and others close to him remember the man; and how the myths that lie at the core of Guthrie's fiction haunt today's Montanans. 224 pages, illus. |
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Frontier Soldier: An Enlisted Man's Journal of the Sioux and Nez Perce Campaignsby William F. ZimmerEdited by Jerome A. Greene"Not many enlisted men recorded their adventures in Indian warfare. Still fewer actually kept a journal to lend immediacy to their observations. Frontier Soldier is such a journal, by a literate private who left his story of plains warfare in a chronicle rich in detail. It is the richer for the annotations of Jerome A. Greene, whose understanding of the campaigns in which Zimmer marched is surpassed by few historians." paper, ISBN 0-917298-55-1, $15.95 Books of related interest available in the Frontier Military section. |
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Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronanas told to Margaret RonanEdited by Ellen Baumler"One of the most important personal recollections of Montana's mining frontier." A covered wagon on a dim road, the promise of a long journey, and the wonder of what lay ahead filled the shadowy spaces of Mary Sheehan Ronan's earliest memories. By the time she was a married woman in her twenties, she was a well-seasoned pioneer, having crossed most of the country and retraced her steps back across a third of it. Ronan tells her story in this highly readable, entertaining account of one woman's life in the West during the second half of the nineteenth century. This detailed memoir recalls a girl's growing up on the Montana mining frontier, her ascent to young womanhood on a farm in southern California, her experiences as a student in a Los Angeles convent school, her return to Montana as a bride, and her life on the Flathead Indian Reservation as wife of the Indian agent. The exhilaration of a forbidden sled ride, the creaking of the hangman's rope, her father giving the last of their water to his dying mule-these things Ronan remembers with vivid clarity. A highly readable, entertaining account, Girl from the Gulches'unique perspective is a joy to read. 158 pages, illus., maps Books of related interest available in the Women's History section. |
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Montana Mainstreets, Volume 1A Guide to Historic Virginia Cityby Marilyn GrantThe gold-rush-era town of Virginia City, recently purchased by the State of Montana to preserve for posterity, makes a fitting first subject for the Montana Mainstreets series. Once it was Montana's acting territorial capital and the center of trade for Alder Gulch, the site of the richest placer mines in the world, but Virginia City became a town almost frozen in time once gold deposits played out and the state capital moved to Helena in 1889. Today, Virginia City attracts visitors from all over the world, who marvel at its intact architecture. If walking down Virginia City's streets is like a trip backwards in time, the road map for that journey is Guide to Historic Virginia City. 80 pages, maps, illus. Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks and Mining sections. Learn more about the Montana Mainstreets series. |
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Montana Mainstreets, Volume 2A Guide to Historic Glendiveby Montana Historical SocietyRooted in the railroad and ranching industries, Glendive lies in the lower Yellowstone Valley about thirty miles from the North Dakota border in southeastern Montana. First and foremost a railroad town, Glendive's development and architecture reflect its Northern Pacific heritage and the spirit of its residents. Discover the history of "Gate City" of the Yellowstone Valley in this lively guide to Glendive's historic buildings. 88 pages, maps, illus. Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. Learn more about the Montana Mainstreets series. |
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Montana Mainstreets, Volume 3A Guide to Historic Lewistownby Ellen and Ken SievertIn the geographic center of Montana sits Lewistown, whose rich history is still reflected in today's streets. A testament to the homesteading boom at the turn of the century, Lewistown grew with the surrounding communities. A service center, rail stop, and county seat, its population tripled between 1900 and 1910, then doubled again by 1920. The architectural heritage of this homesteading community awaits your discovery, on the streets of Lewistown. 92 pages, 40 illus. Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. Learn more about the Montana Mainstreets series. |
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Montana Mainstreets, Volume 4A Guide to Historic Hamiltonby Chere JiustoFounded in 1890 against the backdrop of the lush Bitterroot Valley, the town of Hamilton's history revolves around timber, the railroad, and agriculture. Hamilton owes its early history to copper baron Marcus Daly, whose Anaconda Company sawmill and private Bitter Root Stock Farm dominated the community through the late nineteenth century. The drama of the twentieth-century apple boom and the saga of the battle to cure Rocky Mountain tick fever enrich the town's more recent past. Drawing the reader into the historical mosaic that is Hamilton, Montana, with architectural and historical information on town and valley history, buildings and historic sites, this guide is a treat for all those who would explore "the jewel of the Bitterroot." 88 pages, illus., maps Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. Learn more about the Montana Mainstreets series. |
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Montana Mainstreets, Volume 5A Guide to Historic Kalispellby Kathryn McKayFounded in 1891 as a railroad town for the transcontinental Great Northern Railway, Kalispell, Montana, faced bitter disappointment when the railroad relocated its route to the north in 1904. Most towns suffering similar fates fell into decline, but not Kalispell, which had become Flathead County seat in 1894, remained a trade center of a large area, and later became a gateway to Glacier National Park. Discover the history and architecture of this leading town of northwest Montana. 80 pages, maps, illus. Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. Learn more about the Montana Mainstreets series. |
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Montana Mainstreets, Volume 6A Guide to Historic Missoulaby Allan James MathewsWinner of a Certificate of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History Situated west of the Continental Divide, the town of Missoula started in 1860 as a trading post called Hellgate. Supplying miners with produce, flour, other trade goods, and later with lumber was Missoula's early reason for being. Its designation as county seat in 1866 and the arrival of the Northern Pacific in 1883 and the Milwaukee Road in 1909 cemented the community's role as a center of commerce. Its economy diversified further when it became home to the state university-now called University of Montana-in 1895 and the U.S. Forest Service's regional district headquarters for the Rocky Mountains in 1908. With a flourishing downtown district and well-preserved historic homes, Missoula's streetscapes today reflect the town's abundant history, thanks, in part, to a successful historic preservation program that has preserved the community's rich architectural legacy. Explore Missoula's buildings, parks, and historic sites through this guide. 181 pages, illus., maps Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. Learn more about the Montana Mainstreets series. |
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Montana Mainstreets, Volume 7Montana Mainstreets Volume 7: A Guide to Historic Bozemanby Jim JenksFounded in the 1860s on an important emigrant route to the territory's gold camps, Bozeman, Montana, grew rapidly from frontier farming settlement into a bustling center of commerce. The arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1883 and the establishment of the Montana State College twenty years later secured the town's bright future. As Bozeman prospered, substantial buildings of brick and stone grew up along its Main Street and in its newly platted neighborhoods. Today, the town's historic center, substantial public buildings, and charming homes remain a vibrant part of the community. Discover Bozeman's rich history and architectural heritage through this lively guide. |
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Hope in Hard Times:New Deal Photographs of Montana, 1936-1942by Mary MurphyWinner of the 2003 Montana Book Award In the 1930s and 1940s, four Farm Security Administration photographers were detailed to Montana to document the effects of the Depression on the state. The four-Arthur Rothstein, Marion Post Wolcott, Russell Lee, and John Vachon-captured the many facets of the Depression in Montana: rural and urban, agricultural and industrial, work and play, hard times and the promise of a brighter future. Men and women who became some of America's best-known photographers, Rothstein, Wolcott, Lee, and Vachon's photographs are both stunning pieces of art and important historical documents. Today these striking images present an unforgettable portrait of a little-studied period in the history of Montana. Selected from the FSA Collection at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the photographs in Hope in Hard Times offer viewers an unparalleled look at life in Montana in the years preceding the United States' entry into World War II. 256 pages, 144 illus., map |
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Indian Reading SeriesHow Marten Got His Spots and Other Kootenai Indian StoriesDeveloped by the Kootenai Culture CommitteeIllustrated by Debbie Joseph Finley and Howard Kallowatt, Jr.Recorded by Kootenai elders and illustrated by Kootenai artists from the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana, these Kootenai stories were originally intended to help educate young tribal members about their history and culture. The collection includes "How Marten Got His Spots," in which Marten learns a hard lesson in obedience; "Coyote and Trout," in which Coyote learns the consequences of greed; "Little Weasel's Dream," in which the child Little Weasel learns the importance of listening to his elders; and "Tepee Making," an illustrated lesson in tepee construction. For centuries, Kootenai children and adults gathered on cold, dark winter nights to listen and learn from stories like these. Copublished with Salish Kootenai College Press48 pages, illus., map Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. Learn more about the Indian Reading Series. |
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Indian Reading SeriesHow the Morning and Evening Stars Came to Be and Other Assiniboine Indian Storiesby Jerome Fourstar and Richard Blue TalkIncluding three stories from the Indian Reading Series, a collection of authentic material cooperatively developed by Indian people, How the Morning and Evening Stars Came to Be includes explanatory and cautionary tales from the Assinboine tribe, a tribe whose members are now located primarily on the Fort Peck and Fort Belknap reservations in northern Montana. Recorded by Indian storytellers and illustrated by Indian artists, these traditional tales have been handed down for generations and were designed to teach young tribal members Assiniboine history and culture. Perfect for reluctant readers, these high interest stories will appeal to anyone who is interested in exploring the world of the Assiniboines. Copublished with Fort Peck Tribal Library48 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. Learn more about the Indian Reading Series. |
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Indian Reading SeriesHow the Summer Season Came and Other Assiniboine Indian Storiesby Jerome Fourstar, Isabel Shields, George Shields, Sr., and othersRecorded by Assiniboine storytellers and illustrated by Indian artists from the Fort Peck reservation in northern Montana, these Assiniboine stories were originally intended to help educate young tribal members about their history and culture. Enter into the legendary world of the Assiniboine through six traditional tales: "How the Summer Season Came"; "Assiniboine Woman Making Grease"; "Indian Love Story"; "How the Big Dipper and North Star Came to Be"; "True Story of a Ghost"; and "Duckhead Necklace." Copublished with Fort Peck Tribal Library104 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. Learn more about the Indian Reading Series. |
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I Will Be Meat for My Salish: The Montana Writers Project and the Buffalo of the Flathead Indian Reservationby Bon I. Whealdon and othersEdited by Robert BigartThe story of the Salish's relationship to the buffalo-including their role in protecting the species-is preserved in this collection, which includes all extant interviews from the Montana Writers Project conducted on the Flathead Reservation. These firsthand accounts of Salish elders-legends, information about traditional lifeways, biographies of important figures on the reservation, and most of all buffalo-offer a glimpse into tribal life as it was lived in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Copublished with Salish Kootenai College Press288 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. |
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Jeannette Rankin, America's Conscienceby Norma SmithPreface by Joan HoffIntroduction by Kathryn AndersonSuffragist, social worker, first woman elected to the United States Congress, a lifelong peace activist, and a tireless advocate for political reform, Jeannette Rankin is often remembered as the woman who voted "No" to the United States' involvement in both world wars. Rankin's determined voice shines in this biography, written by her friend, Norma Smith. 168 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Women's History section. |
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Journeys to the Land of Gold: Emigrant Diaries from the Bozeman Trail, 1863-1866Edited by Susan Badger DoyleForeword by Charles E. RankinAfterword by Elliott WestCollected here for the first time ever are the surviving eyewitness accounts of the Bozeman's Trail's civilian emigrants: twenty-four diaries written during the journey and nine reminiscences prepared afterward. These accounts describe life on the West's last great emigrant trail, the shortcut from the Platte River Road to the Montana goldfields, from 1863 until 1866, when the route was closed by "Red Cloud's War." Ample introductions, extensive annotation, historical illustrations, and detailed maps enrich this oversized, two-volume compendium. 64 pages, illus., maps Books of related interest available in the Mining section. |
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Legacy: New Perspectives on the Battle of the Little BighornEdited by Charles E. Rankin"As a glaring media spotlight continues to play on General Custer and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, here is a truly outstanding contribution to knowledge and understanding. In a superbly organized symposium in 1994, an array of talented specialists offered new findings and fresh perspectives. Their presentations are here assembled in a finely crafted book that sheds new light on both history and legend. It is certain to be counted among the few works basic to perceiving the context, the event, and the legacy of the Little Bighorn." In this collection of essays from the 1994 Little Bighorn Legacy Symposium, an astounding array of scholars discuss the battle's context, historical significance, and cultural impact from both white and Native American perspectives. Contributors include Richard A. Fox, Jr., Paul Andrew Hutton, Edward T. Linenthal, and Richard S. Slotkin. Essays examine such diverse topics as the environmental context of the northern plains, new archaeological discoveries about the battle, Custer in art and the movies, and the battle's symbolic legacy. 384 pages, color and black-and-white illus., map Read the Excerpt! Books of related interest available in the Frontier Military section. |
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Indian Reading SeriesMary Quequesah's Love Story: A Pend d'Oreille Indian TaleTold by Pete BeaverheadDeveloped by the Salish Culture Committee, Confederated Salish and Kootenai TribesIn Mary Quequesah's Love Story, a tale from the buffalo-hunting era of the nineteenth century, Mary Quequesah confronts the difficulties of love. After Mary's husband leaves her, a wise old woman dreams of her sorrow and tells her how to win him back. Elegant woodcuts by noted Native American artist Dwight BilleDeaux accompany this complex story, which, while written at a fifth-grade reading level, will speak to readers of all ages. Copublished with Salish Kootenai College Press32 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. Learn more about the Indian Reading Series. |
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Mavericks: The Lives and Battles of Montana's Political Legendsby John Morrison and Catherine Wright MorrisonBorn of admiration for the careers and contributions of Montana's distinguished public leaders and concern for the effective conduct of public affairs, Mavericks offers readers a look at Montana's remarkable political heritage. The lives and careers of Montana's political giants-Joseph K. Toole, Ella Knowles, Joseph M. Dixon, Thomas Walsh, Jeannette Rankin, Burton K. Wheeler, James E. Murray, Mike Mansfield, and Lee Metcalf-are inextricably interwoven with Montana political history. Their careers were launched and their values hewn by a state rich with populism, progressivism, and activism. At a time when Americans search for reasons to reinvolve themselves in government, the stories of these nine politicians remind us of the qualities that underpin effective leadership. This is essential reading for Montanans, those interested in the dynamics of politics, and general readers wishing to gain a greater understanding of our nation's political heritage as exemplified in the lives of nine dedicated individuals. 340 pages, illus. |
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Revised and ExpandedMontana's Historical Highway MarkersMontana's Historical Highway MarkersBy Jon Axline Remarkable stories from Montana's historical highway markers combine with easy-to-follow maps, historical photos and sketches, and geological information to illuminate the paths of Montana's past and present. This guidebook alerts travelers about places that merit a stop and allows them to read about the site at their leisure. But even if time is short, travelers can refer to descriptions and historical photographs to learn about Montana's past as they journey across the state. 224 pages, Know of a good site for a Montana historical highway marker? Submit your idea. Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. |
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Montana Legacy: Essays on History, People, and Placeby Harry W. Fritz, Mary Murphy, Robert R. Swartout, Jr.A rich and varied tapestry, Montana Legacy looks at the people, cultures, places, and events that shaped present-day Montana from Plentywood to Butte, Great Falls to Virginia City, and Billings to Browning. Designed to make you think about Montana history in a new way, this anthology features sixteen essays chosen for their relevance, readability, and scholarship. The volume's editors-all well-known Montana historians-carefully selected topics, from the fur trade to power deregulation, that range across two centuries and expose Montana's cultural and geographical diversity. 320 pages, illus., maps |
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Montana Native Plants and Early Peoplesby Jeff HartIllustrated by Jacqueline MooreFrom Alder to Yellowbells, sixty native Montana plants are featured in this fascinating and informative guide, now in a new, easy-to-use format. Learn how Native Americans and other early inhabitants of the area used these plants for food, medicine, and religious rituals. Each illustrated entry also gives a detailed description of the plant and its habitat and range. 168 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. |
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Montana's State Capitol: The People's Houseby Patricia M. Burnham, Kirby Lambert, and Susan R. NearAn imposing symbol, Montana's Capitol reflects the values and aspirations of the Treasure State's founders. Its neoclassical design echoes the architecture of early Greece and Rome, while the murals and statues that embellish the building's grand interior spaces commemorate important events and people in the state's history. Lavishly illustrated with both historic and modern photographs, Montana's State Capitol: The People's House provides a long overdue tribute to the crown jewel of Montana architecture. Essays explore the building of the Capitol and the creation of the sculpture and murals that adorn its halls-murals that include one of artist Charles M. Russell's most admired works. Published to honor the building on its centennial anniversary, Montana's State Capitol will provide readers with a fresh appreciation for this "Temple of Democracy." 112 pages, 88 illustrations |
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Nez Perce Summer, 1877: The U.S. Army and Nee-Me-Poo Crisisby Jerome A. GreeneForeword by Alvin M. Josephy, Jr.Winner of 2001 Eastern National Authors Award Written by one of the foremost experts in frontier military history and reviewed by members of the Nez Perce tribe, Nez Perce Summer, 1877 details the dozen armed encounters between U.S. Army troops and a desperate body of Nez Perces during the long summer of 1877. A meticulously researched narrative, this definitive history of the Nez Perce War chronicles a people's epic struggle to survive spiritually, culturally, and physically in the face of unrelenting military force. Sixteen maps detail troop and Indian movements and skirmishes, while forty-nine photographs further illuminate this dramatic conflict. 550 pages, 49 illus., 16 maps Praise for Nez Perce Summer Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife and Frontier Military sections. |
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Over a Century of Moving to the Drum: Salish Indian Celebrations on the Flathead Reservationby Johnny ArleeFor over a hundred years, the Arlee Fourth of July Celebration, or Powwow, on the Flathead Indian Reservation has brought people together to honor the traditions of the Salish. Over a Century of Moving to the Drum: Salish Indian Celebrations on the Flathead Indian Reservation, by Salish teacher and spiritual advisor Johnny Arlee, offers a tribute to this longstanding event. Lavishly illustrated with pen and ink sketches of powwow scenes and photographs of powwows in the 1940s, the main narrative is based on interviews Arlee conducted with Salish elders in the 1970s. Excerpts of the interviews-and interviews with modern powwow participants-round out the volume. Copublished with Salish Kootenai College Press104 pages, map, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. |
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Indian Reading SeriesOwl's Eyes and Seeking a Spirit: Kootenai Indian StoriesDeveloped by the Kootenai Culture Committee, Confederated Salish and Kootenai TribesThese Kootenai Indian stories were recorded by Kootenai elders and illustrated by Kootenai artists from the Flathead Indian Reservation. Copublished with Salish Kootenai College Press32 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. Learn more about the Indian Reading Series. |
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Perilous Passage: A Narrative of the Montana Gold Rush, 1862-1863by Edwin R. PurpleEdited by Kenneth N. OwensIn 1862 Edwin Ruthven Purple seized the chance to strike it rich in the newly discovered goldfields of the northern Rocky Mountains. With an introduction and thorough annotations by Kenneth N. Owens, Perilous Passage offers Purple's never-before-published, first-person narrative. On hand for the crimes that led to vigilante justice, Purple chronicled the story of a raucous, sometimes murderous life among bonanza miners. 216 pages, illus. Read the Excerpt! Books of related interest available in the Mining section. |
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Scottish Highlanders, Indian Peoples: Thirty Generations of a Montana Familyby James Hunter"A superb book, well researched and excitingly written." Members of Montana's McDonald family trace their roots to the chiefs of the Nez Perce tribe and to the chiefs of Scotland's most formidable clan. On two continents, first as Highlanders, and then as Indians, the family suffered massacre and dispossession. Those who survived continue to sustain both of the cultures-Scottish and Native American-that nurtured them. Theirs is a real-life family saga that spans two continents, eleven centuries, and more than thirty generations to link the clans of Scotland and the native peoples of the American West. 224 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. |
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Searching for Yellowstone: Ecology and Wonder in the Last Wildernessby Paul Schullery"In Searching for Yellowstone [Schullery] has given us a refreshingly unhyperbolic look at the place he loves, and has thus notably honored its beauty, its mystery, its people, its past-and its future." Searching for Yellowstone: Ecology and Wonder in the Last Wilderness traces Yellowstone's social and ecological history from the Pleistocene to the present in a seminal work that the press is pleased to bring back into print. Paul Schullery, the former director of the American Museum of Fly Fishing, is the author of Lewis and Clark among the Grizzlies (2002) and coauthor with Lee Whittlesey of Yellowstone's Creation Myth (2003) 360 pages, illus., maps Books of related interest available in the Environmental History section. |
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Smoke Wars: Anaconda Copper, Montana Air Pollution, and the Courts, 1890-1924by Donald MacMillanIntroduction by William L. LangSmoke Wars traces the campaign against air pollution in southwestern Montana from the fight to abolish open-heap roasting-a process that created dense clouds of low-lying, noxious smoke and caused death rates in Butte to exceed those of New York City-to the battle against toxic emissions released from the great stacks of the Anaconda Reduction Works. This landmark environmental study raises issues of corporate responsibility, the rights of citizens, and the costs of industrialization, issues still hotly contested today. 304 pages, illus., map Books of related interest available in the Environmental History section. |
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Spirit Tailings: Ghost Tales from Virginia City, Butte, and Helenaby Ellen BaumlerIf ghosts are the restless spirits of those who died violently or in a state of unreadiness, then Montana's violent frontier history explains the richness and depth of these haunting stories. This wonderful collection-based on oral testimony, diaries, journals, and newspaper accounts-presents an eerie history of the state's legendary mining towns. In addition to their ghoulish intrigue, these stories combine to provide new perspectives and a great appreciation for Montana's past. 160 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. |
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Western History ClassicsThe Story of Mary Maclane, by Herselfby Mary MaclaneIntroduction by Julia WatsonThe Story of Mary MacLane shocked the literary world when it was published in April 1902. Within six months it had sold 100,000 copies, an astonishing number then and now. Within a few years it had been translated into 36 languages, and writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Hart Crane, and Gertrude Stein lauded it as an important influence in their quests for a new American style. The author was a 19-year-old girl from the raw, masculine mining town of Butte, Montana. With the publication of Story, Mary MacLane became an overnight sensation. She was called the "Wild Woman of Butte," a Bohemian, a radical, a feminist, a rebel. Although MacLane went on to write other books, none had the impact of Story, which was-and is-fresh, frank, and funny. Readers are swept along in a breath-taking tour de force about life, love, and longing that is as powerful today as it was provocative when first published. Copublished with Riverbend Publishing256 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Women's History section. Learn more about the Western History Classics series. |
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A Tenderfoot in Montana: Reminiscences of the Gold Rush, the Vigilantes, and the Birth of Montana Territoryby Francis M. ThompsonEdited by Kenneth N. OwensFrank Thompson's lively memoir details his experiences in the upper Missouri country at the beginning of the Montana gold rush. A young man at the outset of the Civil War, Thompson supported the Union cause but realized that military life was not for him. Turning to the frontier, he headed west from St. Louis in 1862, arriving aboard the first steamboat ever to reach Fort Benton, in what would later become Montana Territory. Thompson's sojourn was relatively brief-he returned east after only two and a half years. But in that time he hunted for gold, ran a Bannack City mercantile business, traveled to the Pacific Coast and back, served in Montana's first territorial legislature, and became a speculator in mining properties. Thompson also formed a relationship with controversial sheriff Henry Plummer. Thompson knew the sheriff well, but he early stated his dark suspicions about the gold camp lawman. Drawing from his intimate knowledge of the circumstances and players involved, Thompson vividly describes one of the deadliest incidents of vigilante justice in U.S. history. A self-styled tenderfoot, Frank Thompson recalls his days on the mining frontier with clarity and insight, making him an unmatched eyewitness for Montana's formative era. A specialist in western history, Ken Owens is also the editor of Perilous Passage: A Narrative of the Montana Gold Rush by Edwin Ruthven Purple (Montana Historical Society Press, 1995) and a frequent contributor to Montana The Magazine of Western History. 192 pages Books of related interest available in the Biography/Memoir section. |
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Western History ClassicsTenting To-Nightby Mary Roberts RinehartOriginally published in 1918, Tenting To-Night-the lively story of best-selling author Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1916 family camping trip through Montana's Glacier National Park and Washington's Northern Cascades-has been reprinted as part of the Western History Classics series. Including photographs of Rinehart, her companions, and majestic Glacier National Park, this humorous adventure about "roughing it" in the Northwestern wilderness is sure to charm readers. Copublished with Riverbend Publishing224 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Women's History section. Learn more about the Western History Classics series. |
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A Traveler's Companion to Montana Historyby Carroll Van WestRegion by region this book gives you a roadside look at Montana's historical landscapes. Ideal armchair reading or keep in a day pack or glove box for travel reference. Illustrated with map and historical and contemporary photographs. 256 pages Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks section. |
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Traveler's Guide to the Great Sioux War: The Battlefields, Forts, and Related Sites of America's Greatest Indian Warby Paul L. HedrenWaged over the glitter of Black Hills gold, the Sioux War of 1876-77 transformed the entire northern plains from Indian and buffalo country to the domain of miners, cattlemen, and other Euramerican settlers. Keyed to official highway maps, this richly illustrated guide leads the traveler to virtually every principal landmark associated with the war, from Fort Phil Kearny where the Sioux besieged soldiers sent to guard the Bozeman Trail in the 1860s to Fort Buford, the site of Sitting Bull's surrender in 1881. 128 pages, maps, illus. Books of related interest available in the Guidebooks and Frontier Military sections. |
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Indian Reading SeriesThe Turtle Who Went to War and Other Sioux Storiesby Eunice Alfrey, Ann Lambert, Lavina Perry, and George WhitebirdThe Turtle Who Went to War includes five stories from the Indian Reading Series, a collection of authentic material cooperatively developed by Indian people. These traditional Sioux tales, originally designed to help educate young tribal members about their history and culture, include elements of friendship, bravery, loyalty and revenge. Recorded by Indian storytellers and illustrated by Indian artists, these high interest stories are perfect for reluctant readers and offer a fascinating way for readers of all ages to learn about the Sioux. Copublished with Fort Peck Tribal Library64 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Native American History and Folklife section. Learn more about the Indian Reading Series. |
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Western History ClassicsUp on the Rimby Dale EunsonOriginally published in 1970, Up On the Rim is the story Dale Eunson's childhood adventure on a homestead northwest of Billings, Montana. This Western History Classic begins with six-year-old Dale's 1910 journey from Wisconsin to the desolate Montana prairie. The first two years on the family homestead were marked by drought, blizzards, and storms. As the Eunsons learned to survive in the turbulent Montana climate, Dale learned the value of family, neighbors and the friendship of a loyal collie dog. Copublished with Riverbend Publishing248 pages Learn more about the Western History Classics series. |
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Voyages of Discovery: Essays on the Lewis and Clark ExpeditionEdited by James P. Ronda"Finally, in one place, we have a sense of the remarkable breadth of knowledge Jim Ronda, John Allen, Gary Moulton and other Lewis and Clark scholars bring to this immensely important moment in American history. All of us who follow along the trail are indebted to them." 368 pages, illus., maps |
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Western History ClassicsThe War of the Copper Kingsby C. B. GlasscockGreed and corruption, bribery and fraud, insiders getting fabulously rich while workers get robbed. Sound familiar? That was the great battle for Butte, Montana, at the dawn of the twentieth century when it was the richest hill on earth. Copper was the treasure, eagerly sought after for wiring the modern world, and the hard rock below Butte was riddled with veins of the precious metal. At the time, Butte was the largest city between Minneapolis and Portland, and it was a wide-open town, only recently born in the rugged Rocky Mountains. Illustrated by rare, historical photographs, The War of the Copper Kings tells the story of Butte and the copper kings, a story of raw human drama and timeless historical significance. This edition features an index, the first ever compiled for The War of the Copper Kings. Copublished with Riverbend Publishing304 pages, illus. Books of related interest available in the Mining section. Learn more about the Western History Classics series. |
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Wheel Boats on the Missouri: The Journals and Documents of the Atkinson-O'Fallon Expedition, 1824-26Edited by Richard E. Jensen and James S. HutchinsIn 1824 Brig. Gen. Henry Atkinson and Indian Agent Benjamin O'Fallon traveled up the Missouri River, along with 475 soldiers of the First and Sixth Infantry regiments. Their mission: to negotiate peace treaties with tribes along the Missouri River, and to secure their promise to trade exclusively with American citizens. It was hoped this combination of military power and proffered friendship would put an end to Indian attacks on American fur trappers and traders. The full record of this early military expedition is now available. The diaries of General Atkinson and Maj. Stephen Watts Kearny describe the trip from St. Louis to Fort Atkinson in the fall of 1824, the expedition from the fort to the Yellowstone River and back in 1825, and the return of a portion of the troops to St. Louis in 1826, while the diary of Angus Lewis Langham, the expedition's secretary, describes the passage of the wheel boat Antelope from St. Louis to Fort Atkinson in early spring of 1825. This fully annotated volume also includes a discussion of the early use of the wheel boat to travel the Missouri and the expedition's financial records. 272 pages, illus., maps |
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Yellowstone: The Creation and Selling of an American Landscape, 1870-1903by Christopher J. MagocFifty-four images of early Yellowstone illustrate this fascinating look at the early history of the park, which explores early conflicts over Yellowstone's identity. The author introduces the tastemakers, stewards, financiers, and boosters who jockeyed in turn to protect the wilderness, commodify the scenery, and exploit the park's valuable natural resources. And he finds that while Yellowstone's defenders won the battle to keep hunters and miners outside the park's borders, they did nothing to challenge the promotion of tourism and nearby industrial development that now threaten Yellowstone's ecological health. Copublished with University of New Mexico Press304 pages., 54 illus. Books of related interest available in the Environmental History section. |
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