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Montana Cowbelles, Inc. records, 1952-1986

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana CowBelles, Inc.
Title
Montana Cowbelles, Inc. records
Dates
1952-1986 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.5 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 192
Summary
The Montana CowBelles, Inc. is an organization of ranch women. Records (1952-1986) include general correspondence; minutes of board meetings, conventions, and workshops; organizational materials, including articles of incorporation and membership lists; subject files of materials from local CowBelles groups; writings on local ranches, ranchers, early settlers; and miscellany.
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
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The American National CowBelles was organized in 1952. That same year the Montana CowBelles was organized in Butte as an auxilliary of the Montana Stockgrower's Association. The group's original purpose was to organize social activities for the Stockgrower's meetings and conventions. By 1962 the Montana CowBelles organization had incorporated with forty local groups and 1600 members working to promote the beef industry through education and advertising. Programs include working with home economics departments in high schools and universities teaching students nutrition and the preparation of beef dishes; beef cook-off contests at the local, county, and state levels; scholarships for home economics majors; lobbying for legislation to assist and promote the beef industry; commercials promoting beef on radio and television; all-beef cookbooks; Beef for Father's Day beef give-away; beef recipe packets; Calcutta auction and dinner; a youth camp for future ranchers; Nutrition Month; and three major annual promotions including Farm City Week (co-sponsored by the Kiwanis), Beef Week in Montana, and Ag Day, recognizing the impacts of the beef industry nationally.

The state organization functions with elected officers including a president, president elect, second vice president, and secretary-treasurer, composing an executive board. The state is divided into ten districts and each district has one representative elected to the Board of Directors. The past president also serves on the Board. In addition, committees are appointed to work on projects for the organization. The local CowBelle groups are organized by region (North Central CowBelles, Southeastern CowBelles, Western CowBelles, etc.), by county (Phillips County CowBelles, Yellowstone County CowBelles, etc.), by town (Wibaux CowBelles, Baker CowBelles, etc.), or by other geographical designation (Blackfoot Valley CowBelles, Fallon Creek CowBelles, etc.). These organizations promote the beef industry on the local level in a variety of ways including programs, fashion shows, place mats, napkins, calendars, etc. The local CowBelle groups submit annual reports of projects to the Montana CowBelles. In the late 1980s Montana CowBelles changed its name to Montana CattleWomen.

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Content Description

The records of the Montana CowBelles include general correspondence (1951-1984, n.d.); minutes (1952-1984) of board meetings, conventions, and workshops; organizational materials (1952-1985) including articles of incorporation, lists of officers and members, and convention booklets; subject files (1957-1985) of materials sent to the state organization from the local CowBelle groups arranged alphabetically by name of the local group; writings (n.d.) by CowBelle members on local ranches, ranchers, early settlers, etc. which were compiled in a scrapbook entitled "Tales to Treasure"; miscellany (1972-1983) including histories of the organization, etc.; and clippings (1967-1981).

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

by series

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

Separated Materials

Printed materials, artifacts (including Montana CowBelles scrapbooks), and photographs have been separated to the Library, Museum, and Photo Archives respectively.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: Chronological (correspondents include Montana Stockgrowers Association, Gov. J. Hugo Aronson, local CowBelles clubs, Betty Brownfield, Peggy Myhre Fillenworth, American National CowBelles Inc., and circular letters)
      Dates: 1959-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Minutes

    • Description: Board meetings, conventions, workshops
      Dates: 1952-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: Minutes

  • Organizational Records

    • Description: Articles of incorporation; bylaws
      Dates: 1969-1970, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Convention booklets and materials [scattered]
      Dates: 1952-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Lists of local CowBelle organizations and officers
      Dates: 1963-1989
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Lists of officers, board members, and committee chairwomen
      Dates: 1952-1986
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Membership lists
      Dates: 1952-1973
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7-9
      Location: Organizational Records
    • Description: Membership lists
      Dates: 1974-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1-4
      Location: Organizational Records

  • Subject Files

    • Description: Baker CowBelles
      Dates: 1969-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Beaverhead CowBelles
      Dates: 1967-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Big Horn County CowBelles
      Dates: 1962-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Big Muddy CowBelles [Plentywood area]
      Dates: 1974-1979
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Big Sky CowBelles [Jordan area]
      Dates: 1970, 1980
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 5
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Bitter Root CowBelles
      Dates: 1982-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 6
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Blackfoot Valley CowBelles
      Dates: 1970-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 7
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Branded CowBelles
      Dates: 1972-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Broadwater County CowBelles
      Dates: 1978, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 9
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Carter County CowBelles
      Dates: 1970-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 10
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Cascade County CowBelles
      Dates: 1959-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 11
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Central Montana CowBelles
      Dates: 1962-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 12
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Chouteau County CowBelles
      Dates: 1959
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 13
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Clark Fork CowBelles [Deer Lodge area]
      Dates: 1972, 1980
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 14
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Cowtown CowBelles [Miles City area]
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 15
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Ding Dong CowBelles [Sidney area]
      Dates: 1976-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 16
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Estrayed CowBelles [Wolf Point area]
      Dates: 1968-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 17
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Fallon Creek CowBelles [Plevna/Ismay area]
      Dates: 1960-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 18
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Five Valleys CowBelles [Missoula area]
      Dates: 1959-1961, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 19
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Flathead Valley CowBelles
      Dates: 1969-1977
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 20
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Gallatin CowBelles
      Dates: 1968-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 21
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Gateway CowBelles [Glendive area]
      Dates: 1969-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 22
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Golden Valley CowBelles
      Dates: 1976-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 23
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Judith Basin CowBelles
      Dates: 1980-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 24
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Leather and Lace CowBelles [Boulder/Cardwell area]
      Dates: 1984-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 25
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Lewis and Clark CowBelles [formerly Inter-County CowBelles]
      Dates: 1954-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 26
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Liberty County CowBelles
      Dates: 1974-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 27
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Madison County CowBelles
      Dates: 1977-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 28
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Maverick CowBelles [Miles City area]
      Dates: 1958-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 29
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Meagher County CowBelles
      Dates: 1975-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 30
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Moon Creek Rustlers CowBelles [Miles City area]
      Dates: 1958-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 31
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Morningstar CowBelles [Lame Deer area]
      Dates: 1969-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 32
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Musselshell Valley CowBelles
      Dates: 1957-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 33
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: North Central CowBelles
      Dates: 1958-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Northwestern Montana CowBelles
      Dates: 1961-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 2
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Park County CowBelles
      Dates: 1960-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 3
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Petroleum County CowBelles
      Dates: n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Phillips County CowBelles
      Dates: 1958-1984
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 5
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Powder River CowBelles
      Dates: 1973-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 6
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Prairie 'Belles [Terry area]
      Dates: 1975-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 7
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Red Butte Belles [Angela/Cohagen area]
      Dates: 1973-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 8
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Rosebud CowBelles
      Dates: 1975-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 9
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: 'Round Circle CowBelles [Circle area]
      Dates: 1968-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 10
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Ruby Valley CowBelles
      Dates: 1975-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 11
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Southeastern Montana CowBelles
      Dates: 1959-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 12
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: T-Bone Montana CowBelles [Sweetgrass, Carbon, and Stillwater counties]
      Dates: 1960-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 13
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Teton County CowBelles
      Dates: 1980-1981, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 14
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Tobacco Valley CowBelles [Eureka area]
      Dates: 1957-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 15
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Tongue River CowBelles
      Dates: 1976-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 16
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Treasure CowBelles [Bighorn/Hysham/Sanders area]
      Dates: 1971-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 17
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Tri-County CowBelles [Glacier, Teton, and Pondera counties]
      Dates: 1959-1978
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 18
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Valley County CowBelles
      Dates: 1976-1982
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 19
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Western Montana CowBelles [Sanders County]
      Dates: 1961-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 20
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Wheatland County CowBelles
      Dates: 1969-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 21
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Wibaux Belles
      Dates: 1976, 1980
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 22
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Yellowstone County CowBelles
      Dates: 1962-1985
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 23
      Location: Subject Files

  • Writings

    • Description: "Tales to Treasure" articles (re ranches, ranchers, early settlers; includes Beaver Creek Valley, Roy E. Ayers, Lonepine, Town of Custer, Yellowstone cattlemen, Cloverdale Ranch, Ingvard Svarre, Abner R. Farnum, blizzard of 1903, Jeanie Johnson, Linda Bennett Murphy, Brockway Dairy Day, Dave Anderson, Susan Haughian, Ramsey family, Millard F. Trask ranch, Blackfoot Valley pioneers, Harvey Kile, Ruth Stearns, White Sulphur Springs fire 1905, George and Elizabeth Clemow, Lillian Viall, Big Hole Basin, Hiram and Anna Laphman, Wenger family,Sam and Tilda Peterson)
      Dates: 1973-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
      Location: Writings
    • Description: "Tales to Treasure" articles (re ranches, ranchers, early settlers; includes Mayn Ranch, Luppold Ranch, Elizabeth Pfaff Weldon, Horse Prairie, Park County place names, Kenney family, Park County pioneers reunion, Broadwater County ranches including history of Canton, Stone Shack, William "Wild Bill" Williams, David Harrison Russel, Weydemeyer family, Walter and Wilda Mannix, Jemison Perkins, Bitterroot Valley, murder of M. McMillan, Ekalaka, Lucy Frost West, Jack and Dora Jerrett, Hazel Spidel)
      Dates: 1973-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 2
      Location: Writings

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Histories of CowBelles; song by J. Bruce Orcutt; recipes; programs; etc.
      Dates: 1975-1983
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Workshop brochures
      Dates: 1972-1983
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 4
      Location: Miscellany

  • Clippings

    • Description: Miscellaneous (primarily re CowBelles activities)
      Dates: 1967-1981
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 5
      Location: Clippings

  • Transfers

    • Description: List of artifacts transferred to Museum; printed material transferred to Library; and photos transferred to Photo Archives
      Dates:
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 6
      Location: Transfers

Finding aid prepared by Sue Jackson, 1989
2005

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