Interviewer
Liam Cody
Files
Description
Jim Cusker describes growing up on a farm-ranch in Grass Valley just west of Missoula, Montana. He talks about the family homestead and how his father was taught him and his brothers a lot about farming and doing things by hand. Cusker describes their close friendships with many of their neighbors, social interactions such as dances, and attending school at Hell Gate. He recalls attending high school in Missoula and playing on the football team. He also notes that several of his math and science teachers mentored him, which inspired him to obtain a degree in zoology from the University of Montana. Cusker discusses his military service at Fort Benning, Georgia, and how it exposed him racism and people of color. He talks about returning with his wife to Montana, then teaching math at the high school in Havre until a job opened up in Missoula for a high school science teacher. Cusker reminisces about moving back to Missoula, raising his children on the same land that he grew up on, and running a small farm-ranch with his wife. He recalls how much he enjoyed his job as a teacher, and his retirement which allowed him to mentor graduate students at the University of Montana who were also studying to be science teachers. Cusker briefly mentions the loss of his first wife and remarrying some years later.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Grass Valley, Montana; Missoula, Montana; Hell Gate, Montana; Farming, Montana; Ranching, Montana; Family business; Family farm; U.S. military; U.S. Armed Forces; Military veterans; Racism; Fort Benning, Georgia; Science education; Science teachers; High school teachers; Land management; Biology; Zoology; Education, Montana; High schools, Montana; Havre, Montana; Animal husbandry; 4-H; Agriculture; Agriculture education
Original Date
10-30-2019
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Henry James “Jim” Cusker Oral History Project, OH 469, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana
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 at the University of Montana, Mansfield Library.
Oral History Number
OH 469-001
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 MP3 file (02:08:45 min.): digital + 1 transcript (20 pp.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
02:08:45 minutes
Local Filename
OH_469_001.mp3; OH_469_001.pdf
Citation
Cusker, Henry James, "Jim Cusker Interview, October 30, 2019" (2019). Henry James "Jim" Cusker Oral History Project. 2.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/jimcusker_oralhistory/2