Interviewer
Gladys Peterson
Files
Description
Tom Haines discusses moving in and out of Montana before buying the OK Trading Company on South Fifth in 1932. He talks about how his business functioned during the height of the Depression, how credit systems and relief orders worked, and how people made money bootlegging. He also talks about the role that Missoula Mercantile played in keeping the grocery stores in Missoula running and how they helped to organize the Red and White Co-op. Haines also discusses the Civilian Conservation Corps [CCC] program and the places that people went for entertainment in Missoula, including the Rockaway Club. Haines discusses how he was elected GOP Precinct Committee Man in 1932 and his election into legislature in 1950. He talks more about his time in legislature, and also talks briefly about how he helped form the Friends of the Library at the University of Montana with Lud Browman. Haines discusses researching flour mills and the Franklin Papers, noting Franklin’s time as reporter of the first Territorial Legislature. He talks about the Historical Society records, Father Ravalli, and the red light district that existed in Missoula during the Depression. Haines also discusses Fort Missoula and Ralph Starr.
This audio has not been transcribed, but a tape counter index is available.
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Document Type
Oral History
Original Date
4-8-1985
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Depression Years in Montana Oral History Project, OH 131, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana-Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 131-017, 018
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
2 sound cassettes (60 min.) analog + 1 tape counter index (6 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:18:23 minutes
Local Filename
OH_131_017_018.mp3; OH_131_017_018.pdf
Citation
Haines, Tom, "Tom Haines Interview, April 8, 1985" (1985). Depression Years in Montana Oral History Project. 23.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/depressioninmissoula_oralhistory/23