Podcasts about montana historical society

Today we are going to regale you with tales of keggers past… Jimmy recently stumbled upon an article in Good Beer Hunting on the rise and fall of the kegger at UM in Missoula, Montana. And there's a lot more to it than there just having been a lot of beer!Brian Alberts, a historian of beer in context, is joined by Cody Ewert, associate editor at the Montana Historical Society, to break it all down for us. These two storytellers have kept all the juicy lore to paint you a picture of the kegger's inception.Now tune in and let's party like it's ‘79! Photo Courtesy of The Missoulian. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Beer Sessions Radio by becoming a member!Beer Sessions Radio is Powered by Simplecast.

The Montana Historical Society has tabbed three more Montana legacy homesteads to the Centennial Farm and Ranch register: Birkeland Farms and the Woodmansey Ranch in Chouteau County, and Inbody Farms in Teton County. Siblings Kristen and Scott Inbody join the […] The post Inbody Farms, Others Added to Centennial Farm & Ranch Program first appeared on Voices of Montana.

This week's guest is Molly Kruckenberg, director of the Montana Historical Society, an organization charged with protecting and sharing Montana's past. The Historical Society is in the midst of building the Montana Heritage Center and Molly and Justin discuss the project in this episode. Molly describes the role the Historical Society plays in the state of Montana, how exhibit space in the new Heritage Center will be thoughtfully curated, and how she and her team highlight multiple perspectives to tell a story with as much accuracy as possible. Justin asks Molly about how the Historical Society is engaging with young people throughout the state. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZUP7HFnZHZ_C0r0wsOkklERt19xvB1i9TrTZOSDTyj4/edit?usp=sharing

Ellen Baumler an interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society and host of the show "History on the Go" on Cherry Creek Radio. In my spare time, I've made a hobby out of investigating the history behind Montana's ghosts and haunted places. Ellen joins me to talk about some of the haunted locations and experiences and also her book "Montana Moments: History on the Go" which distills the most funny, bizarre, and interesting stories from Montana's history into pure entertainment.

A rare white buffalo currently mounted at the Montana Historical Society will be returned to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Missoula's longest serving mayor died Monday. John Engen was elected in 2005 and served from 2006 until his death. According to the Montana Historical Society, that likely makes him one of Montana's longest-serving mayors.

LISTEN FIRST MONTANA Listen first. It is what all great leaders do. Episode 25: Bruce Whittenberg In this episode, Chantel speaks with the founding Executive Director of Leadership Montana, Bruce Whittenberg.  Bruce gives listeners an inside look into the earliest stages of Leadership Montana's formation including the original vision for how a leadership training program could positively impact people and communities across Montana.  Bruce also tells Chantel about his long tenure as Executive Director of the Montana Historical Society and why capturing and sharing Montana's history is so important to him.  Finally, Bruce talks about the significance of receiving Leadership Montana's most prestigious award, the Tom Scott Award for Leadership Excellence. Chantel Schieffer Host Chantel, Class of 2010 and Masters Class 2019 alumna, is also our President & CEO. An occasional host, she brings to Listen First Montana a deep knowledge of our alumni and the many ways they work to build a better Montana. Bruce Whittenberg Guest Bruce was the founding Executive Director of Leadership Montana, a statewide effort to develop a sustainable network of leaders who share a commitment to the future of the state. Prior to that, Bruce was publisher of the Helena Independent Record from 1993-1998, and publisher of the Billings Gazette from 1998-2000. His newspaper career spanned 25 years in three states. He recently retired as the Director of the Montana Historical Society. Bruce's long record of public service most recently includes the Board of Directors of the Friends of Montana PBS, the Board of Directors of the Myrna Loy Center in Helena, the Lewis and Clark Library Foundation and the Burton K. Wheeler Center for Public Policy.  He currently serves as executive director for The Greater Montana Foundation. Bruce has two sons. Jake is a graduate of Montana State University and Emmy Award-winning broadcast news journalist for KING5 NBC television in Seattle. Jonathan is also graduate of Montana State University in graphic design and works for Spark R & D in Bozeman, MT. Bruce is also blessed with a beautiful granddaughter, Lula and grandson, Oliver, and two wonderful daughters-in-law, Tara and Beth.

The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries (U Nebraska Press, 2021) is a groundbreaking history of death in Montana. It offers a unique, reflective, and sensitive perspective on the evolution of customs and burial grounds. Beginning with Montana's first known burial site, Ellen Baumler considers the archaeological records of early interments in rock ledges, under cairns, in trees, and on open-air scaffolds. Contact with Europeans at trading posts and missions brought new burial practices. Later, crude “boot hills” and pioneer graveyards evolved into orderly cemeteries. Planned cemeteries became the hallmark of civilization and the measure of an educated community. Baumler explores this history, yet untold about Montana. She traces the pathway from primitive beginnings to park-like, architecturally planned burial grounds where people could recreate, educate their children, and honor the dead. The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State is not a comprehensive listing of the many hundreds of cemeteries across Montana. Rather it discusses cultural identity evidenced through burial practices, changing methods of interments and why those came about, and the evolution of cemeteries as the “last great necessity” in organized communities. Through examples and anecdotes, the book examines how we remember those who have passed on. Dr. Ellen Baumler was was the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society from 1992 until her retirement in 2018. She is the author or editor of numerous books, including Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan and Dark Spaces: Montana's Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge. Baumler won Montana's Governor's Award for the Humanities and the Peter Yegen Jr. Award from the Montana Association of Museums for excellence and distinction in fostering the advancement of Montana's museums. Troy A. Hallsell, PhD is the 341st Missile Wing Historian at Malmstrom AFB. The ideas expressed in this podcast do not represent the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries (U Nebraska Press, 2021) is a groundbreaking history of death in Montana. It offers a unique, reflective, and sensitive perspective on the evolution of customs and burial grounds. Beginning with Montana's first known burial site, Ellen Baumler considers the archaeological records of early interments in rock ledges, under cairns, in trees, and on open-air scaffolds. Contact with Europeans at trading posts and missions brought new burial practices. Later, crude “boot hills” and pioneer graveyards evolved into orderly cemeteries. Planned cemeteries became the hallmark of civilization and the measure of an educated community. Baumler explores this history, yet untold about Montana. She traces the pathway from primitive beginnings to park-like, architecturally planned burial grounds where people could recreate, educate their children, and honor the dead. The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State is not a comprehensive listing of the many hundreds of cemeteries across Montana. Rather it discusses cultural identity evidenced through burial practices, changing methods of interments and why those came about, and the evolution of cemeteries as the “last great necessity” in organized communities. Through examples and anecdotes, the book examines how we remember those who have passed on. Dr. Ellen Baumler was was the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society from 1992 until her retirement in 2018. She is the author or editor of numerous books, including Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan and Dark Spaces: Montana's Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge. Baumler won Montana's Governor's Award for the Humanities and the Peter Yegen Jr. Award from the Montana Association of Museums for excellence and distinction in fostering the advancement of Montana's museums. Troy A. Hallsell, PhD is the 341st Missile Wing Historian at Malmstrom AFB. The ideas expressed in this podcast do not represent the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries (U Nebraska Press, 2021) is a groundbreaking history of death in Montana. It offers a unique, reflective, and sensitive perspective on the evolution of customs and burial grounds. Beginning with Montana's first known burial site, Ellen Baumler considers the archaeological records of early interments in rock ledges, under cairns, in trees, and on open-air scaffolds. Contact with Europeans at trading posts and missions brought new burial practices. Later, crude “boot hills” and pioneer graveyards evolved into orderly cemeteries. Planned cemeteries became the hallmark of civilization and the measure of an educated community. Baumler explores this history, yet untold about Montana. She traces the pathway from primitive beginnings to park-like, architecturally planned burial grounds where people could recreate, educate their children, and honor the dead. The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State is not a comprehensive listing of the many hundreds of cemeteries across Montana. Rather it discusses cultural identity evidenced through burial practices, changing methods of interments and why those came about, and the evolution of cemeteries as the “last great necessity” in organized communities. Through examples and anecdotes, the book examines how we remember those who have passed on. Dr. Ellen Baumler was was the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society from 1992 until her retirement in 2018. She is the author or editor of numerous books, including Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan and Dark Spaces: Montana's Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge. Baumler won Montana's Governor's Award for the Humanities and the Peter Yegen Jr. Award from the Montana Association of Museums for excellence and distinction in fostering the advancement of Montana's museums. Troy A. Hallsell, PhD is the 341st Missile Wing Historian at Malmstrom AFB. The ideas expressed in this podcast do not represent the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries (U Nebraska Press, 2021) is a groundbreaking history of death in Montana. It offers a unique, reflective, and sensitive perspective on the evolution of customs and burial grounds. Beginning with Montana's first known burial site, Ellen Baumler considers the archaeological records of early interments in rock ledges, under cairns, in trees, and on open-air scaffolds. Contact with Europeans at trading posts and missions brought new burial practices. Later, crude “boot hills” and pioneer graveyards evolved into orderly cemeteries. Planned cemeteries became the hallmark of civilization and the measure of an educated community. Baumler explores this history, yet untold about Montana. She traces the pathway from primitive beginnings to park-like, architecturally planned burial grounds where people could recreate, educate their children, and honor the dead. The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State is not a comprehensive listing of the many hundreds of cemeteries across Montana. Rather it discusses cultural identity evidenced through burial practices, changing methods of interments and why those came about, and the evolution of cemeteries as the “last great necessity” in organized communities. Through examples and anecdotes, the book examines how we remember those who have passed on. Dr. Ellen Baumler was was the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society from 1992 until her retirement in 2018. She is the author or editor of numerous books, including Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan and Dark Spaces: Montana's Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge. Baumler won Montana's Governor's Award for the Humanities and the Peter Yegen Jr. Award from the Montana Association of Museums for excellence and distinction in fostering the advancement of Montana's museums. Troy A. Hallsell, PhD is the 341st Missile Wing Historian at Malmstrom AFB. The ideas expressed in this podcast do not represent the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/archaeology

The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries (U Nebraska Press, 2021) is a groundbreaking history of death in Montana. It offers a unique, reflective, and sensitive perspective on the evolution of customs and burial grounds. Beginning with Montana's first known burial site, Ellen Baumler considers the archaeological records of early interments in rock ledges, under cairns, in trees, and on open-air scaffolds. Contact with Europeans at trading posts and missions brought new burial practices. Later, crude “boot hills” and pioneer graveyards evolved into orderly cemeteries. Planned cemeteries became the hallmark of civilization and the measure of an educated community. Baumler explores this history, yet untold about Montana. She traces the pathway from primitive beginnings to park-like, architecturally planned burial grounds where people could recreate, educate their children, and honor the dead. The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State is not a comprehensive listing of the many hundreds of cemeteries across Montana. Rather it discusses cultural identity evidenced through burial practices, changing methods of interments and why those came about, and the evolution of cemeteries as the “last great necessity” in organized communities. Through examples and anecdotes, the book examines how we remember those who have passed on. Dr. Ellen Baumler was was the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society from 1992 until her retirement in 2018. She is the author or editor of numerous books, including Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan and Dark Spaces: Montana's Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge. Baumler won Montana's Governor's Award for the Humanities and the Peter Yegen Jr. Award from the Montana Association of Museums for excellence and distinction in fostering the advancement of Montana's museums. Troy A. Hallsell, PhD is the 341st Missile Wing Historian at Malmstrom AFB. The ideas expressed in this podcast do not represent the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries (U Nebraska Press, 2021) is a groundbreaking history of death in Montana. It offers a unique, reflective, and sensitive perspective on the evolution of customs and burial grounds. Beginning with Montana's first known burial site, Ellen Baumler considers the archaeological records of early interments in rock ledges, under cairns, in trees, and on open-air scaffolds. Contact with Europeans at trading posts and missions brought new burial practices. Later, crude “boot hills” and pioneer graveyards evolved into orderly cemeteries. Planned cemeteries became the hallmark of civilization and the measure of an educated community. Baumler explores this history, yet untold about Montana. She traces the pathway from primitive beginnings to park-like, architecturally planned burial grounds where people could recreate, educate their children, and honor the dead. The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State is not a comprehensive listing of the many hundreds of cemeteries across Montana. Rather it discusses cultural identity evidenced through burial practices, changing methods of interments and why those came about, and the evolution of cemeteries as the “last great necessity” in organized communities. Through examples and anecdotes, the book examines how we remember those who have passed on. Dr. Ellen Baumler was was the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society from 1992 until her retirement in 2018. She is the author or editor of numerous books, including Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan and Dark Spaces: Montana's Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge. Baumler won Montana's Governor's Award for the Humanities and the Peter Yegen Jr. Award from the Montana Association of Museums for excellence and distinction in fostering the advancement of Montana's museums. Troy A. Hallsell, PhD is the 341st Missile Wing Historian at Malmstrom AFB. The ideas expressed in this podcast do not represent the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-west

Join us as we talk with historian Ellen Baumler about her new book, The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries. We talk about burial customs, headstone symbolism, the history of cemeteries in the west, boot hills, and cultural identity reflected in western cemeteries. Ellen Baumler was the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society from 1992 until her retirement in 2018. She is the author or editor of numerous books, including Spirit Tailings: Ghost Tales from Virginia City, Helena and Butte, The Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan, and Dark Spaces: Montana's Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge. Ellen is a master storyteller and public historian that makes history relevant through her writing, public appearances, radio spots, and historic walking tours.    To Learn More: Check out Ellen's new book, "The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries."  

A History of Montana in 101 Objects: Artifacts & Essays from the Montana Historical Society (Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 2021) showcases the remarkable collection of artifacts preserved at the Montana Historical Society. Since 1865, the Montana Historical Society has pursued its mission to collect and protect items of significance to Montana's past for the pleasure and education of residents and visitors. This assemblage of objects, interpretive essays, and beautiful photographs by Tom Ferris, draws attention to the diversity of experiences—the triumphs and the sorrows, the everyday struggles and joys—that made Montana. Kirby Lambert is the Outreach and Interpretation Program Manager with the Montana Historical Society in Helena, MT. Troy A. Hallsell is the 341st Missile Wing historian at Malmstrom AFB, MT. The ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

A History of Montana in 101 Objects: Artifacts & Essays from the Montana Historical Society (Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 2021) showcases the remarkable collection of artifacts preserved at the Montana Historical Society. Since 1865, the Montana Historical Society has pursued its mission to collect and protect items of significance to Montana's past for the pleasure and education of residents and visitors. This assemblage of objects, interpretive essays, and beautiful photographs by Tom Ferris, draws attention to the diversity of experiences—the triumphs and the sorrows, the everyday struggles and joys—that made Montana. Kirby Lambert is the Outreach and Interpretation Program Manager with the Montana Historical Society in Helena, MT. Troy A. Hallsell is the 341st Missile Wing historian at Malmstrom AFB, MT. The ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

A History of Montana in 101 Objects: Artifacts & Essays from the Montana Historical Society (Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 2021) showcases the remarkable collection of artifacts preserved at the Montana Historical Society. Since 1865, the Montana Historical Society has pursued its mission to collect and protect items of significance to Montana's past for the pleasure and education of residents and visitors. This assemblage of objects, interpretive essays, and beautiful photographs by Tom Ferris, draws attention to the diversity of experiences—the triumphs and the sorrows, the everyday struggles and joys—that made Montana. Kirby Lambert is the Outreach and Interpretation Program Manager with the Montana Historical Society in Helena, MT. Troy A. Hallsell is the 341st Missile Wing historian at Malmstrom AFB, MT. The ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

A History of Montana in 101 Objects: Artifacts & Essays from the Montana Historical Society (Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 2021) showcases the remarkable collection of artifacts preserved at the Montana Historical Society. Since 1865, the Montana Historical Society has pursued its mission to collect and protect items of significance to Montana's past for the pleasure and education of residents and visitors. This assemblage of objects, interpretive essays, and beautiful photographs by Tom Ferris, draws attention to the diversity of experiences—the triumphs and the sorrows, the everyday struggles and joys—that made Montana. Kirby Lambert is the Outreach and Interpretation Program Manager with the Montana Historical Society in Helena, MT. Troy A. Hallsell is the 341st Missile Wing historian at Malmstrom AFB, MT. The ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the 341st Missile Wing, United States Air Force, or Department of Defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-west

Each year Montana Historical Society historians write 50 to 100 National Register of Historic Places signs, but invariably have to leave out many juicy historical details in order to meet a 190-word limit. MHS interpretive historian Christine Brown highlights intriguing, sometimes macabre, and often sad stories from Butte and Anaconda that never made it onto the National Register signs. These stories left on the cutting room floor range from war heroes, abusive husbands, and powerful widows to suicide, robbery, and runaway horses.

Join us as we talk with Anthony Wood about his new book, Black Montana: Settler Colonialism and the Erosion of the Racial Frontier, 1877-1930. Anthony talks with us about his work on the Montana African American Heritage Resources Project and how this inspired him to delve deeper into the history of Montana's Black communities. His book explores the entanglements of race, settler colonialism, and the emergence of state and regional identity in the American West during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. By producing conditions of social, cultural, and economic precarity that undermined Black Montanans' networks of kinship, community, and financial security, the state of Montana, in its capacity as a settler colony, worked to exclude the Black community that began to form inside its borders after Reconstruction. We unpack this to better understand why Montana's Black community, and much of Montana's diverse early communities, left Montana before 1930. Anthony is a PhD candidate in the Department of History at the University of Michigan. He worked as a historian for the Montana Historical Society on Montana's African American Heritage Places Project.   For further reading: Black Montana: Settler Colonialism and the Erosion of the Racial Frontier, 1877 - 1930 by Anthony Wood What Comes Naturally: Miscegenation Law and the Making of Race in America by Peggy Pascoe Montana's African American Heritage Resources Project https://mhs.mt.gov/Shpo/AfricanAmericans/ Race and the Wild West: Sarah Bickford, the Montana Vigilantes, and the Tourism of Decline, 1870–1930 By Laura J. Arata

(Lander, WY) — When you visit a museum and look at the artifacts protected by glass or pieces of art mounted on the wall, it's easy to not think about how the item got there. If you are like me at all, you're focused on the textures of the paintings or who from history could have worn the artifact, not who carefully transported the item, potentially great distances, so I could experience it. Lander resident Reid Schell owns and operates Handle With Care, a fine art and artifact transportation service. He's transported a Congressional Medal of Honor, paintings headed to the Louvre Museum in Paris, a 150-year-old wine collection and so much more. He's actually the reason we currently have the exhibit “Native Americans of Wyoming's Wind River Country” currently at the Pioneer Museum in Lander. The pieces are from a collection by Joseph Sheuerle which features the artist's notes and sketches on the back of his portraits. The unique framing and presentation of his work allow viewers to appreciate both the polished portrait and his notes and sketches. h/t Pioneer Museum - “Native Americans of Wyoming's Wind River Country” The exhibit arrived in Lander last fall and will be on display through the end of September 2021. In 2016, the Montana Historical Society hired Handle With Care to package and transport dozens of framed pieces by Scheuerle from Cincinnati to Helena, Montana. As Reid prepared the works for transportation, he realized many were created in Fort Washakie and was determined to find a way to share the art with Fremont County. He approached the Montana Historical Society and the Lander Pioneer Museum, and over several years of collaboration and cooperation between the three, a loan of more than 20 portraits to Fremont County Museums was set. In the final step, he donated his high-end art transportation services to ensure the safe delivery of this local portion of the collection to the Pioneer Museum. Community News Manager Amanda Fehring sat down with Reid for an episode of Fehring in the Field. Listen to our entire interview below.

We talk with the director of the Montana Historical Society, Molly Kruckenberg, to find out the latest on their status and to find out what's happening with the upcoming renovation and remodel. Then we have a chance to chat with Sen. Tester about what the COVID relief package will do for Montanans. 

Martha Kohl has always had a strong connection to history, but not in a traditional way. She loved listening to the stories told by her parents and grandparents about how and where they grew up, the social and political environments of those times, and the ways those experiences shaped their lives. It was when she was 17 and stuck in a cabin without tv or radio, and only a handful of books, that she discovered her love for history as it is told through the stories of individuals living in ordinary and extraordinary times. She "accidentally" picked up a history book and read it because there was nothing else to do. I wish I had known Martha when I was in high school or college, because I had zero interest in history as it was taught in my school. The timelines of leaders, battles, Presidents and wars just did not hold my interest in any way. But that's not how Martha sees and teaches history. She teaches it through the stories of individual experience, because THAT'S history, WE are history. The everyday lives of people doing their thing, cooking, learning, gardening, being part of a community, that's history, and that is what can be fascinating when shared well. Martha's comment to me: "It brings me comfort to know that yes, people lived and thrived through historic events like the flu epidemics, the Great Depression, and war time. People died, and people lived, and life moved on, just like it will for us." Interviewing her for this podcast, at this time, was perfect. She's coordinating a program with the Montana Historical Society to collect everyday Montanan's stories of their current experiences during the pandemic. They created a survey to make it easy for people to answer questions that can then be collected and archived for future generations to truly understand this time in our global community's history. When hearing Martha's inspiring perspective on what history is, and the roles we play, especially now, I realized how relevant the timing of my book being published really is. The book is designed to help people collect stories in their own story portfolio. It's also designed to help people understand the value of their own stories, the meaningful moments they didn't realize were interesting or important. I hope you'll consider starting a journal or diary now, so your community, your children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren can learn about what you did, how you lived, and your experience of this time in our collective lives.  When they experience something similar, and you know they will, they will have your experience to bring them comfort, hope, and inspiration to collect their stories too. --- Sarah Elkins is an author, keynote speaker, communication coach, and Gallup certified StrengthsFinder coach. Her book, Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will is available on bookshop.org (support your local bookstore here!), Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Think about that title for a second. Your Stories Don’t Define You. Those things that happen in your life are not what define you, create your identity, and shape your relationships. It’s how you talk about those things that matters.   When you tell people about the experiences in your life, you shape those experiences for yourself through subconscious internal messages. According to researchers at Eastern Washington University, the stories told about you, in front of you, begin to shape your identity before you have words. And the stories you tell about yourself, your personal narrative, are what build on that identity.   So how do we apply that knowledge as adults to improve our lives and relationships?   We pay attention to the stories we’re sharing. And we look back at the incidents and situations that shaped those stories.   My book, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will, is based on what I’ve learned by hosting more than 100 episodes of this podcast. Most people cannot easily tell a story about pivotal moments that shaped who they are and how they think. The book is designed to help readers uncover those stories, find the meaning in them, and share them with the right audience at the right time, in order to strengthen relationships, address damaging internal messages, and inspire others through their personal stories. The ebook is available for preorder online for $0.99 on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble from now until May 31. I encourage you to purchase the ebook to get started, and then order the paperback from your local bookstore, or visit bookshop.org to support independent booksellers.   I finished writing this book in November 2019, just a few months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with absolutely no idea how 2020 would transform our global community. In a very short period of time, thousands lost their lives, millions lost their jobs and businesses, families were pulled apart and quarantined together, and the global economy realized how tightly connected we really are.  As communities, we saw healthcare workers sainted, bullied, and celebrated when entire cities howled like wolves during shift changes to recognize them for the risks they were taking to care for our sick.   Meanwhile, many of us hunkered down to shelter-in-place, faced with daily uncertainty of our health, our jobs, school closures, and being barraged with moment-by-moment shifts in the news about the short and long-term impacts of this pandemic.   People have found ways to cope, of course, and there have been beautiful stories of families reconnecting and spending quality time together making meals, taking walks, and reading together.   For me, a huge 50th birthday celebration was planned for April 18, 2020, complete with friends and family coming to Montana from all over the country. It didn’t happen, of course. What happened instead was a gorgeous hike with a friend – with appropriate social distancing, a virtual wine tasting, a brief paddle around in a nearby lake with a new kayak, a surprise Zoom birthday toast with friends and family from all over the world, some heartfelt, amazing video birthday messages, and a Facebook Live performance of a few songs by me and my husband, Bob.   When I had time to think about the events of the weekend, I found them truly inspiring. And while I was disappointed not to celebrate the way I intended, the stories we created together for this big birthday were probably more significant, more life-altering than if things had gone the way we planned. Instead of focusing on the disappointment, I lived each experience in the reality of the moment.   That’s what the book is about, finding out that the stories of the things that happen in our lives are significant, far more than the things that didn’t happen in our lives.   Some have called this time The Great Pause. One friend described his bike ride in a city north of London: “I could have ridden on either side of the street, it was so deserted. And the air. The air was crisp and fresh, I’ve never smelled it like this here.”   I have great empathy for the students and young adults whose lives were so disrupted in their final year of school, I cannot imagine the depth of disappointment in missing the major experiences they were expecting to have: Prom, graduation, parties, goodbyes, all of those “this is the last time…” moments. Those disappointments feel so big right now, and I can tell you they will pale in comparison to the adventures that await you.   Please take time now to begin collecting stories of this experience, to remember the details of incidents and situations that you can look back at, to see how pivotal they were in how you see yourself and how you see your future. Consider the tragic loss of life, and the courageous acts of our healthcare and service workers, and also the smaller acts that made a difference, like the many who took up the call to sew masks for themselves and others and neighbors delivering food to each other. Reflect on your stories of this time in the context of the stories of the people around you.   You’ve heard people ask each other: “Where were you on 9/11?” “Do you remember what you were doing when you heard the news about…?”   In the future, people will ask you those questions about your time during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope as you think about your experiences during this time, that you begin to collect details of some specific moments, conversations, walks, time you spent with your kids, your partner, your fur babies, in the kitchen, or on video calls. Take time periodically to jot down notes, the way you’re feeling, your thoughts, and how you spend your precious days.   “People have lived through historically significant events and forces, like WW2 & the Great Depression, the 1918 flu epidemic, etc., and I find great comfort in this knowledge and understanding.” Martha Kohl   The Montana Historical Society has been collecting the stories of individual Montanans for decades, including letters written by and to individuals across the state from the time settlers began making their lives here. These letters, archived for future generations to read and learn from have offered a unique perspective for students, giving important context to the history they’re learning and reading about in school.   When our younger son was a freshman in high school, his drama class performed letters from that  collection, written by and for Montanans from our territorial days up to around the time of the Gulf War. It was an incredible opportunity for them and for the audience, especially the Q&A session with the students following the performance. Many of them mentioned how much more meaningful the study of history was when they could touch and feel real people’s experiences like that. Martha, the program coordinator for that class, said: “They recognized themselves as actors in history, and that their behavior and choices matter.”   The Historical Society has shifted this brilliant collection to address our current situation by creating a survey asking people about their experiences in the time of this pandemic. The agency will archive the stories of everyday citizens, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the past for future generations, giving context to the world news and making it more relevant with  specific stories and incidents.   This is the time, my friends, to consider the stories you will share in the future, because YOUR stories, the ones you make right now, are what will give our collective future meaning, and will give context to the suffering, joy, and transformation we will see as a result of those experiences.   Do not waste this opportunity. Because it’s not what happens to you that shapes your identity and your relationships. It’s how you talk about it.   The book is available for preorder NOW. on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. The ebook will be just $.99 until the book’s launch on May 31st. A portion of each book preordered will be donated to the Prickly Pear Land Trust, a Helena, Montana-based non-profit devoted to preserving open land and recreation opportunities for everyone. Why PPLT? Because the open lands in my neighborhood have provided endless inspiration for me and my writing, and I am so grateful, especially now, for the people who continue to create a collaborative structure to preserve those spaces.   Please visit Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, to preorder the book before May 31st, or visit bookshop.org to purchase the book after May 31st.  

Part 2 of a conversation with Eve Byron of the Montana Historical Society

Part 1 of an interview with Eve Byron of the Montana Historical Society

On this episode of the show, Stout and I delve into a subject that has perplexed us for a while, the Yellowstone Kelly Gravesite in Billings, Montana.  Perplexed because with the Yellowstone valley is filled with so much history, why the site is mostly devoted to just one man, Yellowstone Kelly.   Join us as we take a walk through the site narrating our thoughts as we do, and then sit down with the executive director of the Western Heritage Center, Kevin Kooistra, to give us more perspective on the site. ------->Check out the links belowPretty-Shield: Medicine Woman of The Crow Joe Medicine Crow profiled in Ken Burns' documentary "The War" Listen and subscibe to the Montana Historical Society podcast *Email us at thefridaypacket@gmail.com with comments, questions, concerns. *Go to https://www.patreon.com/thefridaypacket to “buy that for a dollar” and become a sustaining member of the podcast!!

Forgotten dead have surfaced at one time or another in most Montana communities. Random burials and early cemeteries lie scattered across the state’s vast landscape, under roads, fields, housing developments, shopping centers, and other areas. Such unexpected discoveries make grisly surprises for those unaware of the history that lies beneath. From her forthcoming book on Montana’s cemetery history, retired Montana Historical Society interpretive historian Dr. Ellen Baumler examines the afterlife in the state, sharing some of these discoveries, the problems they created, and the stories they tell. (9/27/2019)

Montana Historical Society reference historian Zoe Ann Stoltz discusses the events leading up to homesteading’s bust and the attempts to alleviate the looming disaster by Montana’s extraordinary 1919 special session.

At the close of World War I, post-war dynamics, drought, and more combined to create one of the worst crises in Montana history. Montana Historical Society senior archivist Rich Aarstad examines the battle waged by Helena Independent editor Will Campbell against the twin threats to American democracy—the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), who advocated revolutionary industrial unionism; and the Non-Partisan League, which called for the takeover of farm-related industries from corporate control. (9/27/2019)

Montana Historical Society editor Dr. Diana Di Stefano explores the disasters that befell the Utter-Van Ornum Party on the Oregon Trail in 1860. In particular, she focuses on the experience of one of the survivors, Emeline Fuller, who was forced to eat her siblings to survive. (9/27/2019)

Early railroad companies quickly realized that the beautiful scenery along their routes would be an attraction to Americans enthralled by the romance of the West. Montana Historical Society outreach and interpretation program manager Kirby Lambert illustrates how advertising campaigns featuring beautiful promotional art lured adventure-seekers—and paying customers—to experience firsthand the spectacular scenery of national parks and other scenic wonders of the West. (9/27/2019)

Montana Historical Society photograph archives manager Jeff Malcomson discusses the work of Les Jorud, whose name was synonymous with photography in Helena from the 1930s into the 1960s. Beginning in his adolescence, Jorud photographed his hometown, documenting its people through group portraiture of families, wedding parties, and a wide variety of community groups. His commercial photography business specialized in photographic work for commercial businesses, government agencies, lawyers, and insurance companies, but Jorud also captured downtown street scenes, special community events, and natural disasters. Jorud’s photography not only reflected the life of the capital city, but also helped shape its identity. (9/28/2019)

New details surrounding Meagher's mysterious death surfaced at the Montana Historical Society.

How an artifact in the Montana Historical Society collection is connected to Quantrill's Raiders.

Among the great pleasures of research is the joy of discovery, learning things that startle you and make you reexamine your assumptions. MHS Historical Specialist Martha Kohl shares some of the surprises she encountered while working on the Montana Historical Society’s new website, Montana and the Great War.

Montana history continues to develop as a field of study, particularly in the areas of women’s history, environmental history, and Native American history. But how can these pieces of the Montana story be woven into the whole? How can a newer, updated Montana history be disseminated, popularized, and made relevant? What are the roles of various members of the Montana history community in this endeavor, and how can we work together to continue to develop Montana’s story? Jeff Malcomson, Montana Historical Society; Jon Axline, Montana Department of Transportation; Mary Murphy, Montana State University; Robert Swartout, Carroll College professor emeritus; and Jeff Wiltse, University of Montana, address these issues, and more.

Montana history continues to develop as a field of study, particularly in the areas of women’s history, environmental history, and Native American history. But how can these pieces of the Montana story be woven into the whole? How can a newer, updated Montana history be disseminated, popularized, and made relevant? What are the roles of various members of the Montana history community in this endeavor, and how can we work together to continue to develop Montana’s story? Jeff Malcomson, Montana Historical Society; Jon Axline, Montana Department of Transportation; Mary Murphy, Montana State University; Robert Swartout, Carroll College professor emeritus; and Jeff Wiltse, University of Montana, address these issues, and more.

Montana history continues to develop as a field of study, particularly in the areas of women’s history, environmental history, and Native American history. But how can these pieces of the Montana story be woven into the whole? How can a newer, updated Montana history be disseminated, popularized, and made relevant? What are the roles of various members of the Montana history community in this endeavor, and how can we work together to continue to develop Montana’s story? Jeff Malcomson, Montana Historical Society; Jon Axline, Montana Department of Transportation; Mary Murphy, Montana State University; Robert Swartout, Carroll College professor emeritus; and Jeff Wiltse, University of Montana, address these issues, and more.

Montana history continues to develop as a field of study, particularly in the areas of women’s history, environmental history, and Native American history. But how can these pieces of the Montana story be woven into the whole? How can a newer, updated Montana history be disseminated, popularized, and made relevant? What are the roles of various members of the Montana history community in this endeavor, and how can we work together to continue to develop Montana’s story? Jeff Malcomson, Montana Historical Society; Jon Axline, Montana Department of Transportation; Mary Murphy, Montana State University; Robert Swartout, Carroll College professor emeritus; and Jeff Wiltse, University of Montana, address these issues, and more.

Montana history continues to develop as a field of study, particularly in the areas of women’s history, environmental history, and Native American history. But how can these pieces of the Montana story be woven into the whole? How can a newer, updated Montana history be disseminated, popularized, and made relevant? What are the roles of various members of the Montana history community in this endeavor, and how can we work together to continue to develop Montana’s story? Jeff Malcomson, Montana Historical Society; Jon Axline, Montana Department of Transportation; Mary Murphy, Montana State University; Robert Swartout, Carroll College professor emeritus; and Jeff Wiltse, University of Montana, address these issues, and more.

What does it mean to be a “good American”? How are immigrants changing America? Do foreign nationals living in the United States pose a threat to our security or “way of life”? What should be the limits of free speech? These burning questions occupied Montanans, especially during 1917 and 1918 as thousands of Montana boys left the state to join the “the war to end all wars.” Exactly 100 years ago to the day after the United States entered World War I, Montana Historical Society staff members Senior Archivist Rich Aarstad and Historical Specialist Martha Kohl lead the audience in an opportunity to reexamine these questions, informed by the history of Montana and the Great War. (April 6, 2017)

Come along with Craig Zabransky of StayAdventurous.com as explores the capital city of Montana and spends 5 days / 4 nights in Helena, MT. In this episode Craig provides both facts and insights on the best things to do in Helena Montana sharing both his thoughts and obtaining interviews with four locals he met along the way. He interviews his "guide" (not an official guide) for fly fishing, explores the history of the city and state with Ellen from the Montana Historical Society, and interviews both his hosts for the Helena Symphony Under the Stars concert. You can also expect his top 3 travel tips and advice for planning your trip to Helena, Montana, along with his sunset story, and inspiration as your travel souvenir with his Staying Adventurous Mindset Moment. Although this trip was his second time to Montana and Helena, the first visit was twenty years ago (and just one night) so he is glad he had the opportunity to return thanks to the Helena Chamber of Commerce (his host). In fact leaving very impressed, he states he plans to return so listen in to discover why. Listeners can expect more episodes from the American west in the future. To learn more about Staying Adventurous and the other destinations Craig visits across the globe see the Staying Adventurous schedule podcast page > here.

As part of the celebration for the launch of Montana Historical Society's latest book—Beyond Schoolmarms and Madams: Montana Women’s Stories—photographer Evelyn Cameron (played by Karen Stevenson) talks about her life and work. May 26, 2016

Helena High School students from Rob Holter’s Theater One class read correspondence written to friends and family stateside from Montanans who participated in wars ranging from the American Civil War to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The presenters offer glimpses of average “citizen” soldiers’ thoughts, feelings, and emotions as they struggled to balance “life back home” with their operational realities. All material used in this reader’s theater is drawn from the Montana Historical Society archives. Presence of the Past Program Series, Jan. 7, 2016

Join MHS Historical Interpreter Bobi Harris and discover what historic dolls can reveal about our shared history, art, and culture. This presentation is one of the many regular activities offered by and for the Friends of the Montana Historical Society, MHS's premiere volunteer and support organization. (April 16, 2014) www.montanahistoricalsociety.org

Was territorial Montana the violent frontier typically portrayed in popular culture or was the public violence of highwaymen and vigilantes an aberration from a more settled culture that developed between 1864 and 1889? MHS photograph archivist Jeff Malcomson addresses that question in this presentation at the Montana Historical Society on October 21, 2015.

Letters constitute some of the most powerful and personal documents in archival collections. Montana Historical Society Archives staff members Jodie Foley, Rich Aarstad, Jeff Malcomson, Caitie Patterson, and Anneliese Warhank share their favorite letters from the collections. From soldiers’ letters home, to immigrant letters to family abroad, to angry or heartfelt missives of the betrothed, to chatty accounts of everyday life, these rich and revealing sources bring the past to life.

What can food tell us about Montana history? Montana’s foodways reflect the dynamic relationship between immigrant cultures and new environments. Drawing upon the Montana Historical Society’s impressive cookbook collection, Dr. Mary Murphy, professor in Montana State University’s Department of History and Philosophy, explores the ways in which the serious examination of food dishes up new ways of thinking about our shared past.

Fannie Sperry Steele was born in Montana in 1887 and began to ride in women’s bucking horse competitions in 1907. At the Calgary Stampede in 1912, her ride on the killer bronc, Red Wing, earned her the title “Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World.” Presented by Curt Synness at the Montana Historical Society on March 13, 2013.

A geologic river trip with Lewis and Clark through the Upper Missouri River Breaks. Presented by Otto Schumacher at the Montana Historical Society.

Mark Johnson, a teacher at Concordia International School in Shanghai and four of his students talk about the international collaboration they have created to recover the voices and stories of Montana's Chinese community by arranging to translate Chinese-language documents in the Montana Historical Society collections. Specifically, the collection examines the challenges facing the Chinese community in the post-World War II era as families struggled to reunite, but were hindered by the Chinese civil war and the tensions of the Cold War. June 4, 2014. www.montanahistoricalsociety.org

"Montana's Troubadour," Jack Gladstone, presents his newest program at Montana's Charlie Russell: 21st Century Perspectives on the Cowboy Artist, hosted by the Montana Historical Society in June 2015. Gladstone combines original music with interpretive narration, exploring the role that Russell played in the portrayal of western America during the early twentieth century.

Helena resident Randall LeCocq makes a presentation based on his book, Frank Lloyd Wright in Montana, published by the Drumlummon Institute in 2013. He includes photographs from the Frank Lloyd Wright archives at the Montana Historical Society and Montana State Historic Preservation Office, and focuses on Wright's architectural style and his projects in Montana. These projects—important parts of Wright's architectural legacy and Montana history—include the 1909 Como Orchards Clubhouse and cabins in Darby, now part of Alpine Meadows Resort; the 1910 Bitter Root Town and clubhouse in Stevensville; and the 1959 Lockridge Medical Clinic, now the Morrison-Frampton Law Office, in Whitefish. LeCocq also addresses some unanswered questions on the uncompleted Bitter Root projects in the context of Montana's development schemes and Wright's personal life at the time. www.montanahistoricalsociety.org

We pack a few topics in this show as we share about our most recent trip to Helena, Montana!  There’s so much to tell.  We’ll just dive into this episode covering our action-packed weekend. The Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Montana for 2015 began with a tour we took of the Montana Historical Society!  Then we traveled by bus for the Helena haunts.  And finally, we discussed our time at the conference and our trip home. Let"s Go Road Trippin'! Dia & Jewels www.montanaroadtripping.com