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Lewis and Clark National Forest Passport in Time oral history project, 1997
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Lewis and Clark National Forest (Mont.)
- Title
- Lewis and Clark National Forest Passport in Time oral history project
- Dates
- 1997 (inclusive)19971997
- Quantity
- 15 interviews
- Collection Number
- OH 365
- Summary
- The Passport in Time interviews were part of a heritage research project of the region done by United States Forest Service employees and regional volunteers. The fifteen interviewees, recorded for the Lewis and Clark National Forest Passport in Time Oral History Project by staff and volunteers in 1997, describe growing up on Montana ranches, sheepranching, grazing in national forests the Crazy Mountains, and other areas and towns in or near the National Forest from about 1930 to 1950.
- Repository
-
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
- Languages
- English.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Lewis and Clark National Forest was named for the leaders of the 1804 Corps of Discovery, Captain Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. It is located east of Helena, Montana and southeast of Great Falls, Montana. The Crazy Mountains are at the southern end. On a map this National Forest appears to be a large island with several smaller islands nearby. Those "islands" are actually mountain ranges.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The fifteen interviews, recorded for the Lewis and Clark National Forest Passport in Time Oral History Project by staff and volunteers in 1997, describe growing up on Montana ranches, sheepranching, grazing in national forests the Crazy Mountains, other areas and town in or near the National Forest from about 1930 to 1950.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
The Lewis and Clark National Forest Ranger's Office holds a copy of the audio cassettes and transcripts.
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to the University of Montana - Missoula
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Lewis and Clark National Forest Passport in Time Oral History Project, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Description | Dates |
---|---|
OH 365-001: Interview with Roy
Brewington Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 23 leaves
Roy Brewington recalls his family history in various Montana towns
including Swimming Woman and Judith Gap, dealings with Indians, shared
telephone lines, going to dances, and logging in isolated areas during the
1930s. He gives descriptions of various trails before they were roads such as
the Buffalo Trail that mostly became Highway 191.
|
11 September 1997 |
OH 365-002: Interview with Wayne
Carpenter Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 25 leaves
Carpenter recalls his step-father’s (Jess Sterling) involvement in
making moonshine during Prohibition, horse rustling, and various cattle
operations. He provides an account of the execution of Lee Simpson, the last
public hanging in Montana.
|
11 September 1997 |
OH 365-003: Interview with Emmet Tieg and Elsie
Tieg Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 14 leaves
The Tiegs recall how they came to be working the home ranch,
grazing on Forest Service land with a permit, care and use of the trails on
that land, and logging. They describe encounters with hobos, fighting fires,
sparse wildlife in the Crazy Mountains, and sheepherding in central
Montana.
|
9 September 1997 |
OH 36-005: Interview with Joe Morse and Diane
Morse Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 22 leaves
The Morses discuss their family’s history of running sheep and
cattle in the Lewis and Clark National Forest around Two Dot, Montana. They
describe their relationship with the Forest Service, based on the need for
grazing permits. They mention other families in the region, including the
Magers, Martins, Cosgriffes, Brannins, Wards, Arthurs, Muirs, Cass, Sedgewicks,
and Glenns. They explain the Elk Horn Ranch history, the Elk Lake area of
Yellowstone National Park, specifically the Elk Lake area, the Crazy Mountains
and Musselshell River areas, and Bozeman, Montana.
|
10 September 1997 |
OH 365-006: Interview with Lew Miller
Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 11 leaves
Lew Miller describes his early childhood, including his move from
Kansas to Montana with his family. He discusses the Snowy Mountains including
his first job herding sheep in the “Big Snowies.” He mentions Careless Creek
and Swimming Woman Creek, hunting, forest fire fighting, and moonshining in the
area. Miller describes an incident with summer tourists and speculates on the
scattered history of mining in the area.
|
11 September 1997 |
OH 365-007: Interview with Byron Berg and
Lauretta Berg Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 32 leaves
Byron describes his father growing up in Castle, Montana, and
attending school in Ringling, Montana. Lauretta recalls her history with
Martinsdale, Montana, and her family’s logging background in Washington state.
Byron discusses the jail in Martinsdale, coal camps and mining in the
mountains, and prospectors during and after the Depression era, particularly
Bill LaClair. The Bergs offer anecdotes on the changing wildlife population in
the area, both prey and predators, particularly ungulates, mountain lion and
wolves.
|
11 September 1997 |
OH 365-008: Interview with Dennis
Tanberg Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 26 leaves
Dennis Tanberg of Harlowtown, Montana, describes the geography of
the Crazy Mountains, particularly the Loco Peak area. He describes some
practical details of mountain sheepherding, such as food caching and trail
traversing. He discusses Forest Service grazing allotments, the Billings
remount station, and other ranchers.
|
12 September 1997 |
OH 365-009: Interview with Glenn Lillegard
Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 36 leaves
Glenn Lillegard recalls his childhood and early career in
carpentry, horseherding and sheepherding. He discusses his family’s ranch,
their daily routine and business of running a ranch. He describes the effects
of forest fires on the ranching practices and run-ins with rangers over
out-of-season hunting. He gives his opinion on modern Forest Service policies,
and recalls the relationship of the Hutterite community with other area
residents.
|
16 September 1997 |
OH 365-010: Interview with Ruth Hardenbrook
Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 28 leaves
Ruth Hardenbrook provides stories from her childhood, including
those of her parent’s involvement with JB Long Company at Long Ranch, Montana.
She discusses packstrings, moonshining, the Blue Dick mine and mining in
general in the mountains. She mentions specific Forest Rangers, describes WPA
and CCC projects in the Lewis and Clark National Forest, and offers memories of
fire lookouts.
|
16 September 1997 |
OH 365-011: Interview with George
Cameron Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 24 leaves
George Cameron describes his childhood, sheepherding, mines and
fire lookouts in the Crazy Mountains in Montana. Cameron details his school
years, his career with the Forest Service, and the introduction of the
telephone to the area. He explains his relationship with traveling laborers who
came to his ranch, especially after WWII. He discusses the CCC, particularly
the workers’ camps and their work and living routines. Cameron describes some
specific ranger stations around Montana, as well as the individuals who manned
them. He mentions Fort Howe.
|
17 September 1997 |
OH 365-013: Interview with Ernie Jellison
Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 26 leaves
Ernie Jellison describes the construction and layout of his
family’s cabin, homesteads and other buildings in Two Dot and Harlowton,
Montana. He recalls sheepherding and ranch work as well as his father and
grandfather’s sawmill and ranching activities.
|
17 September 1997 |
OH 365-014: Interview with Jim McDonald and
Jackie McDonald Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 21 leaves
Jim McDonald begins with his grandparents’ move to Montana and his
father’s ranch work. The McDonalds explain their relationship with the Forest
Service as it pertains to Block Management for allowing the public to hunt elk
on their ranchland and rotation grazing. The McDonalds offer childhood memories
and detail some of the livestock problems with the wolves’ return, as well as
conflicts with other predators.
|
18 September 1997 |
OH 365-015: Interview with Grant Canoy and Herb
Sherburne Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 34 leaves
Canoy discusses mining in the Little Belt Mountains of Montana,
specifically the Yogo Peak district. He recalls old prospectors including Paul
Vdovic. He describes homesteading, farming and sheepherding in the area,
including Basque sheepherders. He returns to mining in discussing false mining
rush at Alton about 1892, near Glacier National Park, and the consequences of
that rush on the Blackfeet nation. Grant and Sherburne discuss assessment work,
“gold witching,” claim jumping, and sniping.
|
19 September 1997 |
OH 365-016: Interview with Irwin Allen
Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 31 leaves
Allen describes working with the Forest Service for his grazing
allotments. He discusses his sheepherding days, and briefly, mining. Allen
moves on to his schoolboy days, and his intermittent summer employment and
firefighting with the Forest Service. He relates his experiences with
individual rangers, such as John Inman and David Lake.
|
11 September 1997 |
OH 365-017: Interview with Ruth Cameron and Ray
Blaquiere Sound Recording, audio
cassette
Transcript, 29 leaves
Ruth Cameron recounts her childhood in Harlowtown, Montana, and
her experience with the Forest Service through her husband’s career. She
discusses their residences at several Forest Service ranger stations. She
details her married activities, such as cooking and hiring transient help for
her family’s ranch. Cameron recounts some local history of the railroad, and
finishes with commentary on the relationship between the Forest Service and the
community.
|
12 September 1997 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Animals--Montana
- Distilling, Illicit--Montana
- Education--Montana
- Fire extinction--Montana
- Fire lookouts--Montana
- Forest fires--Montana
- Frontier and pioneer life. Montana
- Hunting--Montana
- Land use--Montana
- Logging
- Men--Montana--Interviews
- Mineral industries--Montana
- Mines and mineral resources--Montana
- Ranching--Montana
- Sheepherding--Montana
- Women--Montana--Interviews.
Personal Names
- Allen, Irwin, interviewee (interviewee)
- Berg, Byron, 1935- , interviewee (interviewee)
- Berg, Lauretta, interviewee (interviewee)
- Blaquiere, Ray, interviewee (interviewee)
- Brewington, Roy, interviewee (interviewee)
- Cameron, George, interviewee (interviewee)
- Cameron, Ruth, interviewee (interviewee)
- Canoy, Grant, interviewee (interviewee)
- Carpenter, Wayne, 1922- , interviewee (interviewee)
- Hardenbrook, Ruth Hazel, 1922-2010, interviewee (interviewee)
- Jellison, Ernie, interviewee (interviewee)
- Lillegard, Glenn, 1917- , interviewee (interviewee)
- McDonald, Jackie, interviewee (interviewee)
- McDonald, Jim, interviewee (interviewee)
- Miller, Lew, interviewee (interviewee)
- Morse, Diane, interviewee (interviwee)
- Morse, Joe, interviewee (interviewee)
- Sherburne, Herb, interviewee (interviewee)
- Tanberg, Dennis, interviewee (interviewee)
- Tieg, Elsie, interviewee (interviewee)
- Tieg, Emmet, interviewee (interviewee)
Corporate Names
- JB Long Company
- Blue Dick Mine
- Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.)--Montana--History
Geographical Names
- Castle Town (Mont.)--History
- Crazy Mountains (Mont.)--Geography
- Fergus County (Mont.)
- Harlowton (Mont.)--History
- Long Ranch (Mont.)--History
- Martinsdale (Mont.)--History
- Montana--History
- Ringling (Mont.)--History
- Stanford (Mont.)--History
- Twodot (Mont.)--History
Form or Genre Terms
- Interviews--Montana
- Oral histories--Montana
- Sound recording
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Jaffe, Sarah, interviewer (interviewer)
- Klein, Kelly, interviewer (interviewer)
- Luiken, Cathy, interviewer (interviewer)
- Pressmar, Judith, interviewer (interviewer)
- Wanderaas, Dave, interviewer (interviewer)