Interviewer
Lenora Koebel
Files
Description
Grant Higgins, grandson of Missoula founder and businessman Christopher Higgins, discusses the Higgins family legacy in Missoula, Montana and their original homestead. He talks about growing up in Missoula and recalls the town’s night life and social activities during the early 20th century such as horse racing and gambling. Higgins talks about the small pox epidemic, the lack of knowledge about the spread of germs, and Missoula’s poor farm. He also describes the different immigrant and native communities in and around Missoula including Chinese-Americans and members of the Flathead and Blackfoot tribes. Higgins offers his opinions of Missoula public figures such as Judge Woody and Jeannette Rankin. He mentions the location of the Chinese cemetery and describes the former settlement of DeSmet. Higgins talks about the Missoula red light districts and local madams including Mrs. Line. He also discusses how Missoula acquired the nickname “The Garden City”.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Missoula, Montana, History; Higgins family, Missoula, Montana; Christopher P. Higgins; Francis G. (Frank) Higgins; Chinese immigration, United States; Chinese immigration, Montana; Blackfoot tribe; Flathead tribe; Gambling, Montana; Horse racing, Montana; Smallpox epidemic, Montana; Frank H. Woody; Jeannette Rankin; DeSmet, Montana; Red light districts; Prostitution, Montana
Original Date
1972
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Lenora Koelbel Missoula History Oral History Project, OH 027, 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 027-009, 010, 011
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
3 sound cassettes (03:00:00 min.) analog + 1 transcript (35 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
02:24:56 minutes
Local Filename
OH_027_009_010_011.mp3; OH_027_009_010_011.pdf
Citation
Higgins, Grant, "Grant Higgins Interview, circa 1972" (1972). Lenora Koelbel Missoula History Oral History Project. 1.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/lenorakoelbel_missoulahistoryinterviews/1