ScholarWorks at University of Montana

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  Agnes Mattson Cramer Interview, March 28, 1980

  Agnes Cramer

  Agnes Cramer discusses growing up in the boarding houses where her mother worked in Butte, Montana. She describes meeting her husband in 1929, working in boarding houses until 1945, and the gradual decline in popularity that boarding houses faced during the mid-20th century. Cramer also ... Read More

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  Aili Maki Goldberg Interview, March 22, 1980

  Aili Goldberg

  Aili Goldberg describes growing up as a part of the Finnish community in Butte, Montana. She recalls her mother’s work as a cook in a boarding house, the types of food her mother prepared for the guests, and the working conditions for women in boarding ... Read More

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  Alice Smith Interview, August 11, 1981

  Alice Smith

  Alice Smith discusses her father, who designed buildings in Butte, Montana, during the early 20th century. She describes growing up in Butte during the 1920s and 1930s, attending school and joining the glee club in high school. Smith talks about getting married and going camping ... Read More

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  Anna Marinovich Interview, May 28, 1980

  Anna Marinovich

  Anna Marinovich recalls the story of her mother moving to Anaconda, Montana, as a mail-order bride from Yugoslavia. Marinovish describes her family’s experiences in Butte, Montana, the boarding house her mother ran, and meeting her own husband in that boarding house. Marinovich discusses her relationship ... Read More

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  Blanche Averett Copenhaver Interview, March 13, 1980

  Blanche Copenhaver

  Blanche Copenhaver describes her experiences working as a waitress and cashier in various towns in the American West which eventually led her to Butte, Montana, in 1937. She talks about her involvement with the union which began after she learned about union benefits. Copenhaver reminisces ... Read More

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  Chester Kinsey Interview, April 14, 1980

  Chester Kinsey

  Chester Kinsey discusses his experiences living in Havre, Montana, and in the Great Falls area of the state. He describes his lifelong belief in socialism and Communism and his support of unions. He also discusses his work with the farmer’s union, Mine-Mill, and the Progressive ... Read More

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  Clarence Goldberg Interview, March 22, 1980

  Clarence Goldberg

  Clarence Goldberg recalls his family history, including his parents’ emigration from Sweden to the United States. He describes his experiences as a miner, the development of Butte, Montana’s mining industry, the health and safety conditions in the mines, and the rise of organized labor. Goldberg ... Read More

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  Donald A. Calder Interview, June 19, 1980

  Donald A. Calder

  Donald Calder discusses his family history in Butte, Montana. He describes how his father, a tailor from Scotland, moved to Butte in 1894. Calder discusses his early years in the blacksmith trade, the blacksmith’s union, and the 1960s union merger with boilermakers. He also describes ... Read More

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  Dorothy Melvin Interview, May 16, 1980

  Dorothy Melvin

  Dorothy Melvin discusses the events leading up to her parents’ marriage, the ranches her family owned in Jackson, Montana and Wisdom, Montana, and the bar and ice cream parlors they later owned in Butte, Montana. She describes attending Butte High School, going to dances, and ... Read More

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  Elizabeth Christy Interview, May 13, 1980

  Elizabeth Christy

  Elizabeth Christy discusses growing up in Butte, Montana, during the Great Depression. She describes the mining culture, Butte nightlife, the Columbia Gardens, and the Ringling Brothers Circus. She also reminisces about running a grocery store with her husband, Matt Christy, on the corner of Granite ... Read More

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  Helen B. McGregor Interview, April 16, 1980

  Helen B. McGregor

  Helen McGregor describes growing up in Butte, Montana, during the early 20th century. She talks about her father’s veterinary practice, the Butte red light district, miners, strikes, and economic changes during her lifetime. McGregor also discusses studying speech and drama at the University of Montana ... Read More

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  Helmi Hannuksela Jackson Interview, March 27, 1980

  Helmi Hannuksela Jackson

  Helmi Jackson describes her childhood in Finland and how her mother died when Helmi was only three. Jackson talks about visiting her sister in 1923 in Butte, Montana, and deciding to stay. She recalls working as a waitress in a boarding house in Butte and ... Read More

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  Henry Stanley Interview, May 2, 1980

  Henry Stanley

  Henry Stanley talks about his early introduction to labor unions and progressive politics when his mother lived in South Dakota and advocated for an eight-hour work day. Stanley describes moving to Butte, Montana, with his mother and siblings and attending high school there. He recalls ... Read More

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  James Curtin Interview, April 8, 1980

  James Curtin

  James Curtin describes his Irish Catholic family as well as his childhood memories of attending a home wake held for his uncle, a secretary for the Wobblies. He discusses growing up in Butte, Montana, during the Great Depression and working for the mines in that ... Read More

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  Margaret Cunningham Interview, April 24, 1980

  Margaret Cunningham

  Margaret Cunningham describes growing up in Butte, Montana during the early 20th century. She talks about her social life, working as a clerk, and living through the Great Depression. Cunningham discusses Butte’s Columbia Gardens, dance halls and entertainment venues as well as the different local ... Read More

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  Margaret Lemm Interview, May 9, 1980

  Margaret Lemm

  Margaret Lemm describes growing up in the McQueen neighborhood of Butte, Montana, and her father’s work in the mines. She talks about receiving nurse’s training at St. James in 1929, marrying her husband, and reporting for special duty nursing in 1942 during World War Two. ... Read More

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  Marjorie Dunstan Interview, April 23, 1980

  Marjorie Dunstan

  Marjorie Dunstan describes growing up in a strong Norwegian community in Butte, Montana. She talks about visiting Butte’s Columbia Gardens and Holland Rink as well as the circuses that passed through the town. She also discusses attending Butte High School where she was a part ... Read More

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  Matt Christy Interview, March 13, 1980

  Matt Christy

  Matt Christy, who emigrated from Yugoslavia to the United States as a young man, describes working as a grocery store clerk and becoming the owner of multiple stores in Butte, Montana. He discusses various aspects of life in Butte, including the mines, city economics, prostitution, ... Read More

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  Maurice "Sonny" Powers Interview, April 17, 1980

  Maurice Powers

  Maurice Powers discusses growing up and working in Butte, Montana. He describes his involvement with unions, specifically the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers, during the early and mid-20th century. Powers details the union’s interactions with Montana State Legislature. He also provides specific ... Read More

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  Perdita E. Duncan Interview, March 18, 1980

  Perdita E. Duncan

  Perdita Duncan describes her experiences as a young African American growing up in Butte, Montana, during the early 20th century. She recalls the racial discrimination her parents and other African Americans faced trying to find employment in Butte as well as her father’s work as ... Read More

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  Raymond F. Calkins Interview, May 14, 1980

  Raymond F. Calkins

  Raymond Calkins discusses his experiences living and working in Montana. He describes logging for the United States Forest Service, moving to Butte, Montana, and working as a mine draftsman for the Anaconda Company. He talks about the 1946 miners’ strike and his perspective as a ... Read More

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  Richard Grace Interview, March 15, 1980

  Richard P. Grace

  Richard Grace describes growing up and working in Butte, Montana, during the early to mid-20th century. He talks about various sports teams in Butte, the Columbia Gardens, and the entertainment available in the city during his childhood. Grace discusses labor issues in Butte, detailing the ... Read More

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  Robert Melvin Interview, March 17, 1980

  Robert Melvin

  Robert Melvin discusses his experiences growing up in Butte, Montana, during the early 20th century. He describes his Irish parents and his father’s mining and involvement with the miners’ union. Melvin recalls working for the Civilian Conservation Corporation (CCC) during the Great Depression, working in ... Read More

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  Stephen Reardon Interview, April 30, 1980

  Stephen Reardon

  Stephen Reardon describes his father’s work as a troubleshooter in the mines in Butte, Montana, after he returned from World War One and his involvement in certain mine disasters. He discusses ethnic and race relations between the Chinese, Irish, English and Finnish in Butte and ... Read More

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  Valentine Catherine "Val" Webster Interview, May 8, 1980

  Valentine Catherine Webster

  Val Webster describes growing up in a labor union family in Butte, Montana. She recalls working as waitress, waiting on the miners, and joining the Women’s Protective Union in 1929. Webster talks about serving as recording secretary for the union in 1936 and then its ... Read More