Help Plentiful Under The Big Sky

Sun., Oct. 20, 1996

Donna Potter Phillips The Spokes

In our Big Sky neighbor to the east, the Montana State Genealogical Society (MSGS) is a confederation of nine districts and 31 societies. Helena’s Montana Historical Society also stands ready to help Big Sky researchers. This means if you need research assistance in any Montana county or area, the help is there.

The Montana State Society “queries person” is Kay Beck, 651 Greenhouse Rd., Deer Lodge, MT, 59722, phone (406) 846-2457. If you contact her with a specific query, she will direct it to the appropriate area of the state. Do not forget your stamped, self-addressed envelope when you write.

“About Montana” is a new project of the society. Members hope to identify all literary works concerning Montana: books, pamphlets, theses, microforms, paperbacks, newspapers, manuscripts or handwritten papers. They want to know if the items can be purchased or borrowed. Coby Johnson of the University of Montana, and Paulette Parpart of the Missoula Public Library, are project coordinators.

Another society project is to catalog the location, size and number of burials for every Montana cemetery. If you have information that would help, send it to Pauline Parpart, Missoula Public Library, 301 E. Main St., Missoula MT, 59802.

The Montana State Genealogical Society plans its next annual conference for March 14-15, 1997, in Missoula. For information, contact MSGS at P.O. Box 555, Chester, MT, 59522.

The Montana State Historical Society was founded by the Montana Territorial legislature in 1865. Located near the state capitol, it features the Mackay Gallery of Charles M. Russell art, a large exhibit on “The Montana Homeland,” and an extensive archive.

This archive library is the repository for all old marriage and naturalization records, all newspapers ever published in Montana, local histories, city directories, biographies, photographs, oral histories and federal and Indian censuses.

The society does not do research by mail, but will send a list of in-house private researchers for your SASE.

Membership in the historical society brings you subscriptions to Montana, the Magazine of Western History, and their newsletter, Montana Post. Members also receive discounts from the group’s large catalog of Montana and Western books, plus special invitations to their annual Montana History Conference. Send your $20 membership check to Montana Historical Society, Box B, 225 N. Roberts, Helena MT, 59620.

Nothing beats traveling to Montana to use these resources yourself, and if you plan such a trip, contact the societies first to schedule their guidance and help.

According to the book State Census Records, By Ann Lainhart, Montana has no state censuses, but it does have two items useful for locating early people in the state:

In 1876, the Montana Society published a list of early settlers (except Indians) who were in Montana during the winter of 1862-1863. The names on this list are arranged alphabetically by geographic area. In 1864, the territorial secretary produced a poll list of registered voters for the October election. Inquire of the Montana Historical Society about both lists.

, DataTimes MEMO: Donna Potter Phillips welcomes letters from readers. Write to her at The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. For a response, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Donna Potter Phillips The Spokesman-Review

Donna Potter Phillips welcomes letters from readers. Write to her at The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. For a response, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Donna Potter Phillips The Spokesman-Review

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