Carmen Louise Cross papers, 1945-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Cross, Carmen Louise, 1919-2014. creator.
Title
Carmen Louise Cross papers
Dates
1945-1984 (inclusive)
1970-1973 (bulk)
Quantity
2.5 linear feet of shelf space and 1 oversize box
Collection Number
MC 449
Summary
(Carmen) C. Louise Cross (1919-2014) was a 1972 Constitutional Convention delegate from Dawson County, Montana. Cross served as chair of the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee at the Convention—the only woman to chair an Article Committee. Due in large part to Cross’ efforts, Montana’s Bill of Rights contains a constitutionally protected right to a “clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.” The collection (1971-1974) consists primarily of correspondence to and from her constituents during the Convention, as well as subject files and clippings on issues important to her.
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

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

(Carmen) C. Louise Jarussi was born on October 26, 1919, in Columbus, Montana, to Louis and Carmen Jarussi. Her parents immigrated from Rivisondoli, Italy, in 1907. After finishing high school in Red Lodge, Montana, Jarussi attended the University of Montana where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and speech, with minors in music and French. On June 23, 1943, Jarussi married John Melvin Cross, whom she met during a speech tournament her senior year at UM. John Cross served in the European Theater during World War II, and when the war ended, the couple settled in Helena, Montana until 1952 when they relocated to Glendive. The couple had six children: Melvin, Gregory, Brian, Justin, Mark, and Catherine.

Cross was active in the American Association of University Women, and in local Democratic Party politics. In 1971 she ran for and was elected a delegate to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention. Her interest in the Convention stemmed from her concerns related to land reclamation and the environmental impact of strip mining in eastern Montana. Cross served as chair of the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee at the Convention—the only woman to chair an Article Committee. Due in large part to Cross’ efforts, Montana’s Bill of Rights contains a constitutionally protected right to a “clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.” It also provides for land reclamation and water rights. The article was challenged in 1991, but the Montana Supreme Court upheld it.

After the Convention, Cross ran for a seat on the Dawson County Commission, but lost. She remained active politically locally, serving as an election judge and working to establish the Frontier Gateway Museum to preserve eastern Montana history. She was the museum’s first curator.

An ardent environmentalist until she died, Cross was a member of organizations such as the Audubon Society, National Wildlife Foundation, and Northern Plains Resource Council. In 1997, she advocated for the protection of Montana’s largest state park, Makoshika State Park from oil development.

On March 21, 2014, two months before her death, Cross and four other Constitutional Convention delegates, Wade Dahood, Jean Bowman, Michael McKeon and Arlyne Reichert, went to court challenging Supreme Court justice candidate Lawrence VanDyke’s eligibility to run, arguing he was ineligible to run under the constitutional requirement that requires an attorney to be admitted to the practice of law in Montana for 5 years prior to election.

Louise Cross died on May 16, 2014. Her husband, John, preceded her in death on January 25, 1980.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The (Carmen) C. Louise Cross papers are arranged in six series: correspondence (1971-1974), organizational records (1972), reports (1972), ephemera (1972), subject files (bulk 1970-1974), and news clippings (1971-1973). Subject files relate to environmental issues, particularly strip mining, and the Constitutional Convention make up the bulk of the collection. While some of the correspondence relates to Cross’ work on the Natural Resources and Agricultural Committee, much of it contains suggestions from constituents about other constitutional issues. Correspondence is arranged by subject, mostly relating to Cross’ work during the Constitutional Convention, and consists mainly of constituent concerns and suggestions. The organizational records series contains information about the Constitutional Convention that was authored by Cross and the other delegates. The reports and ephemera series each contain only a few items, and the clippings series contains mostly information about environmental issues related to coal mining.

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

[item description and date]. Carmen Louise Cross papers. MC 449. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Helena, Montana.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

In most cases the original order was retained as the creator appears to have arranged the correspondence, subject files and clippings by subject.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Processing Note

Collection came in a single accession. Most duplicates were weeded from the collection.

Separated Materials

The bulk of the print materials were separated to the Library. The photographs were transferred to the Photo Archives.

Related Materials

Several other collections about the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention are held at the Montana Historical Society including: the Dorothy Eck papers(MC 448), Arlyne Reichert papers (MC 450),Montana Constitutional Convention Records (RS 22), and Montana Constitutional Convention Commission Records (RS 21).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Correspondence , 1971-1974Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1 / 1
Citizen Suggestions
1971-1972
1 / 2
Coal
1971-1973
1 / 3-4
Constituent Correspondence
This folder contains a letter from Jeannette Rankin to Georgia State Senate
1971-1972
1 / 5
Land Reclamation
1973
1 / 6
Personal / Con Con related
1971-1973
1 / 7
Ratification
1972-1974

Organizational Records, 1972Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1 / 8
Organization and Procedures
1972
2 / 1-2
Con Con Natural Resources Proposals
1972
Volume
Volumes 1-2
Committee Proposals, final drafts
Annotated by Cross.
1972

Ephemera , 1972Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/ 1
Con Con Name Plate, Bumper stickers and other Con Con materials
1972

Reports, 1972Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/ 2
Con Con committee reports
Annotated by Cross.
1972

Subject Files, 1945-1984Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3 / 3
Coal
1972
3 / 4
Coal: Strip Mining
1972-1973
3 / 5
Con Con: Constitutional Revision Examples
1972
3 / 6
Con Con: Constituent Suggestions
1972
3 / 7
Con Con: Organization
1971-1972
3 / 8
Con Con: Orientation
1971-1972
3 / 9
Con Con: Ratification
1972
3 / 10
Con Con: Seminar
This folder contains an address by Margery Brown.
1972
3 / 11
Con Con: Testimony
Testimony of constituents directed toward the Education and Public Lands Committee.
1972
4 / 1-3
Con Con: Testimony
Testimony of constituents directed toward the Natural Resources and Agricultural Committee.
1970-1972
4 / 4
Environmental Issues
1972-1984
4 / 5
Montana Citizens for Constitutional Improvement
1971
4 / 6
Montana Constitutional Convention Instructional Idea and Resource Filie
1972
4 / 7
Northern Rockies Action Group
1973
4 / 8
"Water, Water Rights (Yellowstone River)"
1945-1983
4 / 9
Water Use
1973

Clippings, 1969-1983Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
5 / 1-3
Coal / Coal Mining
1969-1971
5 / 4
Coal: Bull Mountains
1972-1973
5 / 5
Coal: Colstrip
1973-1979
5 / 6
"Coal: Eastern Montana, Dawson County, Glendive"
1972-1973
5 / 7
Coal: Legislation
1972-1983
5 / 8
Coal: Native American Concerns
1973
5 / 9
"Coal: Sarpy Creek, Burlington Northern, Decker, Birney"
1973
5 / 10
Coal: Strip Mining
1972-1979
5 / 11
Con Con: Support
1971-1972
oversizebox
Oversize Box 1
Strip Mining
1973-1979

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • American Association of University Women. Montana Division--History.
  • Coal mines and mining.
  • Conservation of natural resources.
  • Constitutional conventions--Montana.
  • Constitutional history--Montana.
  • Environmental policy--Montana.
  • Local elections--Montana.
  • Local government--Montana.
  • Reclamation of land--Montana.
  • Strip mining.
  • Watersheds.
  • Women politicians--Montana--Glendive.
  • Women--Political activity--Montana.

Personal Names

  • Cross, Carmen Louise--Political activity.
  • Eck, Dorothy, 1924- --Political activity.
  • Graybill, Leo--Political activity.

Corporate Names

  • Montana. Constitution Convention Commission.
  • Montana. Constitution Revision Commission.
  • Montana. Constitutional Convention (1889)--History.
  • Montana. Constitutional Convention (1971-1972)
  • Montana. Constitutional Convention (1971-1972)--Constituent communication.
  • Montana. Constitutional Convention (1971-1972)--History.
  • Montana. Constitutional Convention (1971-1972). Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee.

Geographical Names

  • Colstrip (Mont.)
  • Dawson County (Mont.)
  • Glendive (Mont.)
  • Helena (Mont.)
  • Montana--Politics and government--20th century.