This is a collection of stand-alone interviews pulled together by Archives and Special Collections around the topic of dude ranches in Montana. The interviewees, all former dude ranch owners, discuss the history and development of the Elkhorn, OTO, S / R, and the Nine Quarter Circle Ranches. They also describe their personal experiences as dude ranchers, their opinions of the benefits of dude ranches, and the role of railways and airlines in promoting tourism to Montana. These interviews were conducted in 1977. The original interviews are held at Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.
This collection includes 4 interviews.
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Chan T. Libbey Interview, April 19, 1977
Chan T. Libbey
Chan T. Libbey recalls his experiences owning and running the OTO Dude Ranch in Gardiner, Montana. He describes the process of convincing dudes to come to the ranch, his interest in Montana from a young age, and how the Great Depression affected the dude ranching ... Read More
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Grace Nutting Miller Interview, June 21, 1977
Grace Miller
Grace Miller describes the founding of the Elkhorn Ranch at Gallatin Gateway, Montana. She talks about the general development of dude ranching in Montana and Wyoming.
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Howard Kelsey Interview, April 19, 1977
Howard Kelsey
Howard Kelsey recalls the history of the Nine Quarter Circle Ranch, a dude ranch in Montana near Yellowstone National Park. He describes how the ranch was started in the 1890s and its operations from then until the 1970s. He includes a detailed description of how ... Read More
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Traver "Shorty" Smith and Catherine Finney Smith Interview, June 24, 1977
Traver Smith and Catherine Smith
Traver Smith and Catherine Smith discuss visiting dude ranches in Montana during the 1930s, which prompted them to buy one in 1943, which they called the S / R Ranch. The Smiths recall the perceived benefits of dude ranching, which they list as access to ... Read More