The Gathering: Collected Oral Histories of the Irish in Montana is a long-term interdisciplinary oral history project fostered in 2009 by the University of Montana’s Irish Studies department. The Gathering seeks to record and to archive the Montana Irish and Irish-American folk histories, memories, practices, and traditions. Interviews conducted from 2010 to 2012 are held as Oral History collection OH 435 at Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.
This collection includes 88 interviews.
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Marie "Mary" McAlear Interview, May 17, 2011
Marie McAlear
Mary McAlear of Helena, Montana, remembers her family's experiences in the state of Montana, after arriving by way of Leadville, Colorado. She remembers her family as being very important to her and the traditions and the influence of the Irish in Montana.
The interviewee's full ... Read More
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Marie Mooney Interview, April 3, 2011
Marie T. Mooney
Marie Mooney of Butte, Montana, recalls emigrating to the United States and her time spent on the Queen Mary. She speaks of being in London during WWII, witnessing bombing runs, and the relationships between people of different faiths.
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Marilyn Enderson Interview, March 5, 2011
Marilyn Sweeney Enderson
Marilyn Enderson of Belt, Montana, describes how her great-grandmother arrived in Montana and how she made her living. She discusses her experiences with working on her genealogy and speaks to family folk traditions.
The interviewee's full birth date has been restricted in this interview.
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Marjorie "Margie" Jacobs Interview, January 19, 2011
Marjorie Jacobs
Margie Jacobs of Missoula, Montana, discusses her family history, how they immigrated to the United States, and their experiences during the process. She discusses the process of becoming an Irish citizen, the documentation required, and how genealogy has an impact in the final decision.
The ... Read More
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Martin "Tom" Mangan Interview, January 12, 2011
Martin T. Mangan
Tom Mangan of Helena, Montana, recalls his involvement with the FBI and Army Reserve and his eventual transfer to work exclusively as an investigator with the FBI. He relates his work for the Attorney General's Office, how he helped to establish the Capitol Police Force, ... Read More
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Mary Ellen Romensko Interview, November 18, 2010
Mary Ellen Romensko
Mary Ellen Romenesko of Cascade, Montana, discusses her family's history in the state of Montana, as well as the types of work they did and the connections they had through the state. She speaks of family traditions and customs, as well as some stories originating ... Read More
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Mary "Kitte" Robbins Interview, April 7, 2011
Mary "Kitte" Catherine Robbins
Mary Robbins of Missoula, Montana, remembers growing up in Butte and her experiences in the larger Montana community. She speaks of how her family came from Ireland and how they were able to make ends meet and survive in the early part of the twentieth ... Read More
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Mary Lou Garrett Interview, July 21, 2011
Mary Lou Garrett
Mary Lou Garrett of Helena, Montana, describes her family history, originating in Tipperary, Ireland, and their experiences immigrating to the United States through Canada. She speaks to the family connection to the Battle of the Little Big Horn and her youth in East Helena, Montana.
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Mary Lou Gilman Interview, August 19, 2010
Mary Lou Gilman
Mary Lou Gilman of Great Falls, Montana, describes her childhood, education, and work history, as well as her marriage, family, and ethnicity. She recalls her family history, originating in Tipperary, and her great-grandfather, John Egan, who emigrated to the U.S. 1849-'50. Gilman discusses why she ... Read More
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Mary Maxwell Interview, April 5, 2011
Mary Ahern Maxwell
Mary Maxwell of Melstone, Montana, discusses how her family came to be in Montana and the family place on the Big Horn River, on what is now the Crow Reservation. She describes growing up in Montana in the early 20th century and the changes she has experienced in her life.
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Mary McQuade Interview, July 29, 2010
Mary Frances McQuade
Oral history interview of Mary McQuade by Maureen Edwards conducted on July 29, 2010 in Spokane, Washington.
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Mary Young Interview, January 17, 2011
Mary Laughlin Young
Mary Young of Anaconda, Montana, discusses her family history, her experiences growing up, as well as her experiences with Ancient Order of Hibernians [AOH] and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians [LAOH] festivities. She speaks of a trip she took with her mother to Ireland in ... Read More
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Maureen Edwards Interview, February 16, 2011
Maureen Edwards
Maureen Edwards of Missoula, Montana, discusses her familial history in the Missoula Valley and the house in which she lives. She discusses historical moments in history and the impacts they had on her family members and recites a poem written by her uncle.
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Michael O'Connor Interview, March 18, 2011
Michael O'Connor
Mike O'Connor of Helena, Montana, remembers his family's process of migration, eventually reaching Butte. He describes his involvement in the Ancient Order of Hibernians [AOH], the experience of being national director of the organization, and the various cultural projects in which the organization partakes.
The ... Read More
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Mike McGree Interview, April 4, 2011
Mike McGree
Mike McGree of Butte, Montana, describes his experiences growing up in Butte and how the community has changed over the last 40 years. He speaks of traditions, foods, and superstitions surrounding an old church in Centerville.
The interviewee's full birth date has been restricted in ... Read More
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Natalie Morrow and Stephanie Morrow Interview, October 16, 2010
Natalie Morrow and Stephanie Morrow
Natalie and Stephanie Morrow of Missoula, Montana, discuss their family history in the Swan Valley, Montana, and the enterprises in which they engaged. They discuss the family genealogy and how their family of Scots-Irish, came from Northern Ireland in the mid-1800s.
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Patricia Pitsch Interview, April 5, 2011
Patricia Pitsch
Patricia Pitsch of Hardin, Montana, discusses how she came to be in Montana after being offered a job teaching special education. She remembers being in Chicago during the riots of the Democratic National Convention and family traditions, customs, and practices.
The interviewee's full birth date ... Read More
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Patrick "Pat" Robbins Interview, April 7, 2011
Patrick Ralph Robbins
Patrick Robbins of Missoula, Montana, discusses his family history and how they came to be in the United States, eventually leading to Butte, Montana. He remembers his growing up in Butte, the traditions, character and customs of the community, and his experiences beyond the city.
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Phyllis Bookbinder Interview, March 11, 2011
Phyllis Begley Bookbinder
Phyllis Bookbinder of Corvallis, Montana, details her family history and how they made their way, with her growing up in many locations, as her father was in the Army. She speaks to her father's involvement with the Kennedy administration and the effects of growing up ... Read More
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Ray Ryan Interview, September 22, 2011
Ray Ryan
Ray Ryan of Anaconda, Montana, discusses the family arrival in Butte and his father's working for the Anaconda Company for 60 years. He recalls the history of the area and events, customs, and practices he experienced, as well as what it was like to grow ... Read More
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Rita Casagranda Interview, November 4, 2010
Rita McLaughlin Casagranda
Rita Casagranda of Butte, Montana, discusses her time growing up in Butte, her family's long history in that town, and how her Irish heritage impacted her growing up. She speaks of her work in the community and her interactions with other people of Irish descent.
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Robert "Bob" O'Boyle Interview, October 17, 2011
Robert C. O'Boyle
Bob O'Boyle of Potomac, Montana, discusses his personal connections and work within the Irish community of Montana, working with the Irish Studies Program at University of Montana. He also speaks of the anthropology of Irish culture and his current work in that field on the ... Read More
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Robert "Bob" Whaley Interview, October 14, 2011
Robert Whaley
Bob Whaley of Missoula, Montana, discusses his joining the Officer Candidacy Program, while attending Carroll College, as a U.S. Marine. He speaks to his crashes in helicopters, his experiences in Vietnam, and his thoughts on Operation Dewey Canyon, as well as his travels to Ireland.
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Sarah O'Donnell Interview, July 17, 2011
Sarah O'Donnell
Sarah O’Donnell, whose mother died giving birth to her in Butte, Montana, recounts how her grandmother sent an aunt to bring O’Donnell back to County Donegal, Ireland, after O’Donnell was born. She discusses living with her grandparents on a farm in Carndonagh and the difficulty ... Read More
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Shannon Dolphay Interview, April 14, 2011
Shannon Dolphay
Shannon Dolphay of Missoula, Montana, discusses her grandmother and family experiences of Ireland. She speaks of her grandmother and remembers interactions with her, and the family's traditions, customs and practices.
The interviewee's full birth date has been restricted in this interview.
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Shirley Budd Interview, April 3, 2011
Shirley Budd
Shirley Budd of Anaconda, Montana, describes the Irish heritage of her mother and father's families. She discusses her relationship with her maternal grandparents, both Irish immigrants from County Galway [Contae Gaillimh], as well as some of the Irish traditions that they observed when she was ... Read More
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Shirley Wales Interview, October 26, 2010
Shirley Wales
Shirley Wales of Missoula, Montana, recalls growing up in Helmville, Montana, on a ranch and the work her family did to get by. She describes the farm and the special gates they made to allow them opened from horseback, as well as the importance of ... Read More
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Terrence Dunfee Interview, October 29, 2010
Terrence L. Dunfee
Terrence Dunfee of Butte discusses his family traditions, background, and customs. He speaks of his own experience with the Ancient Order of Hibernians and how that led him to expand his involvement in the Irish community.
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Thomas Satterly Interview, April 11, 2011
Thomas G. Satterly
Thomas Satterly of Dillon, Montana, discusses his time spent with the unions during his tenure at the winding down of underground mining in Butte, Montana. He speaks of the importance of storytelling, unions, and history, as he tells miner's tales and explains where they come ... Read More
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Thomas "Tom" Furlong Interview, April 14, 2011
Thomas F. Furlong
Tom Furlong of Great Falls, Montana, discusses his father's history, working for the railroad and the family connection to Mike Mansfield, as well as the family's life in Ireland. He speaks of his service in England as part of the Army Air Corps, where he ... Read More
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Thomas "Tom" Powers Interview, April 1, 2011
Thomas E. Powers
Tom Powers of Butte, Montana, describes his relationship with music, his influences as a musician, and his experiences being a musician. He demonstrates playing the bodhran. He discusses the ethnic diversity of Butte neighborhoods and how they are tied together by their respective faiths.
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Tom Carey and Helen Carey Interview, November 18, 2010
Tom Carey and Helen Carey
Tom and Helen Carey of Boulder Valley, Montana, discuss Tom's growing up in the Boulder Valley and the customs and interactions that occur in the valley. They recall their family stories and folklore and how their children worked on the family ranch.
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Tom Kelly Interview, December 22, 2010
Tom Kelly
Tom Kelly of Butte details his family history in the Butte, Montana area, the kinds of work they did, their associations, and their relations with other individuals in the community. He also speaks to the tradition of labor strikes and the history of Montana.
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Tom Morris Interview, April 4, 2011
Tom Michael Morris
Tom Morris of Billings, Montana, remembers his time spent in the military and the work he did there as a qualifier. He speaks of his family history, the character of Butte and Anaconda, Montana, and of the people of those communities.
The interviewee's full birth ... Read More
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Tom Sullivan Interview, October 27, 2010
Tom F. Sullivan
Tom Sullivan of Missoula, Montana, recalls his family development and migration to Butte, Montana, from County Cork. He speaks of his family and the role his uncle, Father Bud, had on his development, and of the culture of the Irish in Montana.
The interviewee's full ... Read More
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Una Koontz Interview, September 9, 2010
Una M. Koontz
Una Koontz of Great Falls, Montana, describes her family's process of immigration to the United States from Ireland and the family history leading to the current day. She recalls growing up on a farm in Belt with no electricity or plumbing, family traditions, and her ... Read More
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Valerie Danby Smith Interview, October 31, 2011
Valerie Danby Smith
Valerie Smith of Bozeman, Montana, recalls growing up in Dublin with an Irish Catholic mother and an Anglo-Irish Protestant father, her experiences with boarding school, and being separated from her family. She talks about how she came to be in the United states and why ... Read More
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William "Bill" McLaughlin Interview, April 1, 2011
William A. McLaughlin
Bill McLaughlin of Butte, Montana, discusses the role unions played in his long employment in the masonry industry. He tells union stories and remembers the family's involvement in the building of Our Lady of the Rockies, where he and his brothers did the stonework.