Dorothy Floerchinger, the daughter of Ralph and Willie Mae Bracegirdle Bruner, was born on February 22, 1901, in Scotia, Nebraska. Graduating from Valier High School in Great Falls, Montana, in 1920, Mrs. Floerchinger began a career of teaching in Pondera County Schools. Due to an acute teacher shortage following World War I, the State Superintendent of Schools issued a special permit allowing her to teach elementary school with no professional training. She married Louis Floerchinger on November 15, 1924 and raised five children on the family farm near Conrad, Montana.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Floerchinger was an avid historian. Mrs. Floerchinger published several historical pieces on Northern Montana - from the history of the City of Conrad to the history of Pondera County. She did extensive research on the Conrad family of Kalispell, who founded the city of Conrad, and was involved in the preservation of local Conrad history. She also wrote literary pieces, publishing an anthology of poems and short stories called
Mrs. Floerchinger was active in many organizations, including the Montana Library Association, the Montana Farmer's Union, and the Montana Democratic Party. Besides an interest in history, Mrs. Floerchinger was a poet and an artist. Mrs. Floerchinger died in Choteau, Montana, on May 8, 1996.
This collection contains a manuscript written by Mrs. Floerchinger, clippings and research materials on the Conrad family of Kalispell, Montana, and scrapbooks reflecting Mrs. Floerchinger's personal interests into historic events throughout Montana and the rest of the United States. Particular subjects include the history of the Marias River Valley; the history of Conrad, Montana; the Whoop-Up Trail; and Montana organizations, including the Montana Democratic Party, the Montana Farmers Union, and the Montana Library Association.
The collection is divided into three series:
Series I: Manuscript, 1 folder, 1977
Series II: Conrad Family Research, 3 folders, 1883-1978
Series III: Scrapbooks, 105 volumes, 1940-1991
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.
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.
[Name of document or photograph number], Dorothy Floerchinger Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
All materials in this collection were collected and retained by Dorothy Floerchinger until donation to the K. Ross Toole Archives.
Gifts of Dorothy Floerchinger, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, and 1991
The actions of the original processors are unknown. As materials in this collection were received they were arranged into three separate entities. In 2001, the three entities were combined into one collection and re-described. Materials from SC 177 became Series I, SC 370 became Series II, and Scrapbook Collection 23 became Series III.
A ledger book from Clinton, Virginia, 1882-1883; an indenture from Cumberland County, Virginia, 1828; and a Confederate flag were removed during processing and de-accessioned.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
This series contains a manuscript written by Mrs. Floerchinger called "Quietly Flows Maria's River." The manuscript is somewhat a history of the Marias River, which is located in northern Montana. Included within the text are various maps of the area and a letter from Charles M. Russell regarding the Marias River and the Whoop-Up Trail, which is also located in northern Montana.
Contained within this series are correspondence, biographical information, and clippings regarding the Conrad family of Kalispell and north central Montana. The correspondence is between Mrs. Floerchinger and several Conrad descendants and generally regards mutual requests for information on the family. Mrs. Floerchinger includes biographical information on the Conrad Family, such as histories written by others and a Conrad family tree. Clippings included in this series relate to various Conrad family events, such as weddings and funerals, along with any other news worthy items involving members of the Conrad family (society columns and business articles).
This series contains scrapbooks assembled by Mrs. Floerchinger. The first 50 scrapbooks reflect Mrs. Floerchinger's personal life; they include vacation mementos, letters, birthday and other holiday cards, news clippings, and various items relating to her interests (local Conrad events, the Montana Farmer's Union, the Montana Library Association, and the Montana Democratic Party). The remaining scrapbooks deal with various subjects, such as the Persian Gulf War, arts in Montana, education in Montana, and Montana history (in particular the Centennial Celebration in 1989). The majority of the scrapbooks are composed of news clippings regarding each subject.
The scrapbooks relating to Mrs. Floerchinger's personal life are arranged in chronological order; the remaining scrapbooks are grouped according to subject.