Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Helena Businesses Oral History Project, 1986-1998
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Montana Historical Society
- Title
- Helena Businesses Oral History Project
- Dates
- 1986-1998 (inclusive)19861998
- Quantity
-
25 interviews
Number of pages in transcript or summary provided in container list. - Collection Number
- Helena Businesses Oral History Project
- Summary
- This oral history project focuses on the development of Helena businesses from World War I through urban renewal in the 1960s.
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Begun in 1986, this project focuses on the development of Helena businesses from World War I through urban renewal in the 1960s. Montana Historical Society staff and volunteers interviewed people who established or worked in Helena's communications, entertainment, manufacturing, service, grocery, and retail businesses.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The project consists of 25 interviews in which narrators discuss business practices, changing consumer demands, changing technologies, and the impact of the automobile. The project not only reflects changes in the economy of the "Capital City" but also sheds light on the fiscal development of towns across Montana and the West.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Researchers requesting copies of interviews should refer to the OH number when ordering.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
[OH number][Interview title] Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Inventory is arranged by item, with each oral history interview listed by its unique OH number. An abstract for each interview is provided in the inventory to allow keyword searchability. The abstract includes the number of cassettes, CDs or transcript pages for the interview, as appropriate. Researchers requesting copies of interviews should refer to the OH number when ordering.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Description |
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OH 1171: BILL AND FREDDY DEWOLF INTERVIEW
2 tape(s), Summary 5 pages
Bill and Freddy DeWolf discuss their parents; their father's
grocery stores and meat market in Townsend and Helena; the 1930s Depression;
the 1935 earthquake; buying the Union Market in Helena in 1945; the development
of chain stores; customers; Chinese vegetable sellers; store operations; urban
renewal related litigation; and the affects of state and federal health
regulations on their businesses. Interviewed by Patti Borneman, August 21,
1986, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1172: WARD AND VIRGINIA THOMPSON
INTERVIEW 1 tape(s), Summary 2 pages
Ward Thompson (b. 1917) and Virginia Thompson discuss Ward
Thompson's early life in Butte, Montana; his family's relocation to Helena in
1938; his family's paper business; changes in the paper industry; and their
marriage. Interviewed by Patti Borneman, March 23, 1987, Helena, MT.
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OH 1173: SUSAN EAKER INTERVIEW 2 tape(s), Summary 5
pages
Susan Eaker (1900-1992) discusses arriving in Helena, Montana in
1930; working as a speech and drama teacher at Helena High School; owning and
operating a bookstore on North Main Street; rebuilding her business after a
1951 fire; neighboring businesses; changes in the retail book industry; types
of books carried; and the effects of urban renewal. Interviewed by Loretta
Lindell, September 6, 1986, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1174: THOMAS C. POWER INTERVIEW
2 tape(s), Summary 8 pages
Thomas C. Power (b. 1919) remembers the Power family businesses in
Helena, Montana; his involvement in the transportation business including work
for the Community Transit Company from 1948 to 1968. Interviewed by Laurie
Mercier, September 19, 1986, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1175: LEWIS BRACKMAN INTERVIEW
2 tape(s), Summary 5 pages
Lewis Brackman (b. 1917) discusses his father's grocery business
in Powell, Wyoming, and his connections with Klein and Borne Company; his
family's relocation to Helena; opening a new grocery business; his work as an
automobile mechanic for Capital Ford; the 1935 earthquake; entering the grocery
business with his father; store operations and competitors; affects of gasoline
and food rationing during World War II; labor relations; and urban renewal.
Interviewed by Patti Borneman, Jan. 29, 1987, Helena, Mont.
|
OH 1176: WILLIAM R. MILES INTERVIEW
2 tape(s), Summary 4 pages
pages
William R. Miles discusses the immigration of his grandfather,
Frederick Gamer, in 1866 from Germany to Helena, Montana; his grandfather's
ownership of Gamer's Shoe Stores in Helena; his brewery partnership; his
ownership of shoe stores in Great Falls; the National Shoe Retailers of
America; helping establish God's Love Mission; the Helena Chamber of Commerce;
and urban renewal. Interviewed by Patti Borneman, November 17, 1986, Helena,
MT.
|
OH 1177: GEORGE "SHORTY" HUBER INTERVIEW
2 tape(s), Transcript 52
pages
George Huber (d. 1992) discusses his recollections of Helena,
Montana including his father's downtown blacksmith business, Central Garage,
Helena Gas and Electric and other establishments; the 1935 earthquake; and
other aspects of the city's business history. Interviewed by Laurie Mercier,
November 18, 1986, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1178: ROSCOE "ROCK" HAND INTERVIEW
2 tape(s), Summary 6 pages
Roscoe Hand (1904-1997) discusses his parents and his early life
in the Wise River area; the 1930s Depression; owning and operating Rock Hand
Hardware business in Helena, Montana; and recollections of various Helena
business establishments. Interviewed by Laurie Mercier, March 10, 1987, Helena,
MT.
|
OH 1179: GENE BROWN INTERVIEW 1 tape(s), Transcript 37
pages
Gene Brown (b. 1926) discusses his career as a musician and
science teacher; and his experiences as manager of the Marlow Theater in Helena
from 1959 to 1962. Interviewed by Patti Borneman, March 11, 1987, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1180: LAVERNE TRAUFER YUHAS INTERVIEW
1 tape(s), Summary 10 pages
LaVerne Traufer Yuhas discusses growing up in Helena; her father's
Helena grocery-business activities--such as home delivery, merchandise pricing,
advertising, meat processing, types of merchandise for sale, other grocery
stores, and various customers; her father's early work with the Helena Trading
Company; her father's partnership with Curt Dehler. Interviewed by Loretta
Lindell, January 26, 1987, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1181: JOHN TRAUFER INTERVIEW 1 tape(s), Transcript 19
pages
John Traufer (1899-1986) discusses the pioneer activities of his
family in Montana; living and growing up in Marysville; Marysville businesses;
the Drumlummon Mine and recollections of Thomas Cruse. Interviewed by Loretta
Lindell, April 1986, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1182: ALBERT LUNDBORG INTERVIEW
1 tape(s), Transcript 14
pages
Albert Lundborg (b. 1914) discusses his early life in South
Dakota; experiences during the 1930s Depression; and owning and operating
Lundy's Foods, a grocery business in Helena, Montana. Interviewed by Harriett
Meloy, June 13, 1986, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1183: JEAN G. WEEKS INTERVIEW
1 tape(s), Summary 5 pages
Jean Weeks discusses the origin and business operations of the
Globe Men's Store, Helena, Montana from 1890 to 1958. Interviewed by Harriett
Meloy, May 18, 1987, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1184: ROBERT "R.B." RICHARDSON INTERVIEW
1 tape(s), Summary 3
pages
Robert "R. B." Richardson discusses his early life in Illinois;
his college education and study in actuarial science; his service with the
United States Marine Corps as a sniper during World War I; relocation to
Helena, Montana; Montana Life Insurance Company merger with St. Paul Fire and
Marine Insurance in 1957; and recollections of the 1930s Depression.
Interviewed by Harriett Meloy and Clark Pyfer, May 14, 1987, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1185: GLENN AND EILEEN REDD BREED
INTERVIEW 3 tape(s), Summary 6
pages
Glenn Breed discusses his military service in World War II; his
family; his involvement in civic activities and organizations in Helena. Eileen
Breed describes; her parents ownership and operation of Redd's Grocery and
other businesses in Helena; her marriage to Glenn Breed; owning and operating
Rodney Street News and Confectionery; recollections of various Helena area
businesses. Interviewed by Patti Borneman, September 17, 1987, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1186: MARY FRIEL INTERVIEW 2 tape(s), Summary 4
pages
Mary Friel (1912-1987) discusses her early life in Idaho;
relocating to Montana; experiences during the 1930s Depression; owning and
operating a gift shop in Helena; the affects of government regulations on
business; and urban renewal. Interviewed by Loretta Lindell, September 18,
1987, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1187: J. HOWARD RETZ INTERVIEW
1 tape(s), Summary 14
pages
J. Howard Retz (1911-1988) discusses his early life in Polson,
Montana; his education and mortuary training; embalming and cremation in
Montana; the Montana mortuary industry; Helena funeral homes; and the affects
of the 1930s Depression on the industry. Interviewed by Harriett Meloy, April
20, 1988, Helena, MT.
|
OH 1188: BERNICE MITCHELL INTERVIEW
2 tape(s), Summary 4
pages
Bernice Mitchell (b. 1902) discusses her parents and their
operation of a Helena confectionary; the 1935 earthquake; the 1930s Depression;
her husband's World War II military service; owning and operating Clafin's
Furniture; Helena businesses; and urban renewal. Interviewed by Loretta
Lindell, April 9, 1988, Helena, MT.
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OH 1671: JOHN DELANO INTERVIEW Transcript
This is an interview with John Delano (b. 1921), a longtime
Montana Legislative lobbyist. In the interview Mr. Delano discusses growing up
in Billings; education at the University of Montana; selling life insurance in
the 1950s for Blue Cross; work for the Girl's Vocational School Board in Helena
and St. Peter's Hospital Board; lobbying for U of M, Montana Railroad
Association, and his company, John Delano and Associates; work with the Timber
Industry, Tobacco companies and on various environmental regulation cases.
Interviewed by Paul Verdon, March 14, Apr. 9, 1996, Helena MT
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OH 1670: HAROLD L. PAULSEN INTERVIEW
Transcript
Harold Paulsen describes his Norwegian parents and childhood in
Helena, Montana; attendance of Intermountain College in Helena; early
employment with Montana Life Insurance Company; experiences in the Air Force
during World War II; work as an insurance salesman with Western Life in Helena;
involvement with Helena Jaycees, Kiwanis, and Shriners; experiences as a
Montana legislator; and performing as a singer at churches and community events
in Helena. Interviewed by Paul Verdon, April 25, 1996, Helena Montana.
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OH 1672: JOSEPH MAIRLE INTERVIEW
Transcript
Joseph Maierle describes his Croate-Slovenian parents; childhood
in East Helena, Montana, and Helena; attendance of Mount St. Charles school;
employment as an engineer including work with the Montana Highway Department,
the Montana Water Board, designing bridges in Iran during World War II, and his
own national and international consulting business, Morrison-Maierle; design
and construction of Koocanusa Bridge at Libby Dam, and the Interstate highway
through Wolf Creek Canyon; environmental engineering; and work with the board
of Carroll College Interviewed by Paul Verdon, April 4, 1996, Helena, Montana.
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OH 1779: LUCILLE PONTET INTERVIEW
Transcript
In this interview Lucy Pontet describes her experiences growing up
in Helena, Montana; and her family's catering business; family ownership of
Jorgenson's restaurant; her own work as waitress, cashier, and hostess in the
restaurant. Interviewed by Paul Verdon, June 1998, Helena, Montana.
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OH 1780: CHARLES AND JEAN JORGENSON
INTERVIEW Transcript
In this interview Chuck and Jean Jorgenson describe their
experiences growing up in Helena; his father's early experiences growing up in
Helena; his father's early catering and restaurant work; family ownership of
Jorgenson's Restaurant in Helena from 1950s to date; World War II service; and
political and social events they catered over the years in Helena. Interviewed
by Paul Verdon, June 1998, Helena Montana.
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OH 1782: DON LARSON AND RUTH LARSON
INTERVIEW Transcript
Ruth Jorgenson Larson discusses her father's early work catering;
her work as a young girl in the family business; later work at Jorgenson's
Restaurant; major social and political events the family catered for. Don
Larson briefly discusses his family's arrival in Montana; growing up in Helena
in the 1930's; military service during World War II; working at Frontier Town
catering; expanding restaurant into a lounge and motel; and the impact of
gambling. Interviewed by Paul Verdon, July 15, 1998, Helena, Montana.
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OH 1810: VINCE MADDIO INTERVIEW 1 tape(s), Transcript 33
pages
Vince Maddio discusses his childhood in Red Lodge in the 1940s and
1950s; starting a shoeshine business as a young man; moving to Helena and
working in a shoeshine shop on Main, and later at Safeway; cutting hair in the
Navy to supplement his income; attending beauty school in Idaho; returning to
Helena and working as a barber/hairdresser; opening a beauty college Maddio's
Hairstyling and Cosmetology College; fire destroying his business in 1980s;
rebuilding; observations about changing hairstyles, hair products and pricing
over his career; public service activities; accreditation and training
requirements today. Interviewed by Harriet Meloy, June 12, 1998, Helena, MT
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Urban renewal--Montana
Geographical Names
- Helena--Montana