World War II Prisoners of War in Montana Research Collection

World War II Prisoners of War in Montana Research Collection, 1943-1997

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Yellowstone Historical Society
Title: World War II Prisoners of War in Montana Research Collection
Dates: 1943-1997 (inclusive)
19942011
Quantity: 0.8 linear feet
Collection Number: MC 331 (76:7-2)
Summary: This collection consists of materials gathered by Joyce Jensen in her capacity as president of the Yellowstone Historical Society regarding the use of prisoners of war as laborers in the Montana agricultural industry during World War II. Materials include correspondence, reminiscence, reports, newspaper clippings, ephemera, and photographs. Some materials date from the 1940s and others from the 1990s as recollections, including one audio recording.
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. Copyright restrictions on all images apply, as such duplication of photographs is prohibited. Contact Archivist for more information.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The Yellowstone Historical Society, located in Billings, Montana, was established in 1945 for the purpose of sharing the history of Yellowstone County and the surrounding area. It provides programs, tours, and locates, marks, and preserves historical sites in the region.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of research material collected by Joyce Jensen, who served as president of the Yellowstone Historical Society (1996-1997). The collection contains the following series: correspondence from and to Joyce Jensen regarding the research project as well as photocopies from MSS091 James E. Murray papers from Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana; reminiscences; photocopies of reports; writings; notes; ephemera and clippings; and reprints of photographs from personal collections, newspapers, and the Montana Extension Service of Montana State University.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Center and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Center 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]. Name of Collection. Collection Number. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Helena, Montana.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series. The filing system for the research collection has been kept substantially in its original form. That is, original order of documents within each folder and their titles have been retained, unless otherwise indicated. The processor devised the basic organization scheme for the collection and, where necessary, reorganized the papers within the various component groups. There is one cassette tape reminiscence that is foldered with the rest of the collection.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Processing Note

Processed in 2016

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1 / 1	Joyce Jensen	1996
1 / 2	Joyce Jensen	1996-1997
1 / 3	Photocopies from MSS 091 James E. Murray Papers 1876-1961, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana	1943-1946
1 / 4	Miscellaneous correspondence and transcripts	1946-1990

ReminiscenceReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1 / 5	Cassette tape regarding the use of prisoners of war on Hesper Farm Copyright held by Yellowstone Historical Society. Reference use only.	1944-1946
1 / 6	Derek Ehrich, Geraldine Borer, Duane and Mary Ann Guenthner, Dr. Ken Steffensen, Oren C. Burd, Reverend Bob Lamphere, Martin Hogan, George Bohl and Marvin Balzer, and Lawrence S. (Larry) Carter	1996-1997

ReportsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1 / 7	Photocopies of reports regarding the use of prisoners of war as laborers	1943-1975

WritingsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1 /8	"We Weren't Supposed to Feed Them, But We Did! The Story of German and Italian Prisoners of War in Montana Sugar Beet Fields during World War II," by Joyce Jensen	1996-1997

NotesReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1 /9	Research	1996-1997

Clippings and EphemeraReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2 / 1	Photocopies of newspapers, magazine articles, bulletins	1996-1997
2 / 2	Photocopies of newspapers, magazine articles, bulletins	1996-1997

PhotographsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
2 / 3	Riverside Park Laurel, Montana, originals owned by Alex Robertus	undated
2 / 4	Originals belong to Gladys Hawley Schiffer	undated
2 / 5	Cascade County Montana State University Photo Archives PAB45-352	undated
2 / 6	Italian POWs at Billings Polytechnic courtesy Billings Gazette	undated
2 / 7	Mexican, Japanese, and Italian laborers doing agricultural work, courtesy Montana State University Bozeman	undated
2 /8	Cascade County Extension Report 1945 "POWs topping beets" Montana State University Bozeman PAB45-351	undated
2 / 9	Big Horn County Extension Agent Annual Report 1944, Montana State University Bozeman	undated
2 / 10	Carbon County Extension Agent Report, 1945, Montana State University Bozeman	undated
2 / 11	Phillips County Extension Agent Report, 1945, Montana State University Bozeman	undated
2 /12	"Chalet made by unknown P.W." Riverside Camp, Laurel, Montana, owned by Adam Scheeler	undated
2 / 13	"P.W.s in Montana" originals owned by Milton Hein	undated
2 /14	Great Falls Tribune Photo Essay 1945	undated
2 / 15	Unknown	undated
2 / 16	Photographs of Gerhard and Lelo Mehlberg (Germany), originals owned by Duane and Mary Ann Guenthner	undated
2 / 17	RESTRICTED Negatives RESTRICTED	undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

History--Research--Montana--Yellowstone county
Prisoners of war--United States--20th century

Corporate Names

Yellowstone Historical Society (creator)

Geographical Names

Billings (Mont.)
Yellowstone County (Mont.)--History

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