This collection is open for research.
Interview synopsis, transcriptions, notes, audiotapes, audiocassette tapes and related documentation created or gathered by MSU Special Collections Librarian Minnie Paugh were accessioned at various times between 1964 and 1980. The materials in this collection incorporate former accession numbers 155, 208, 231, 232, 281, 330, 341, 344, 352, 358, 361, 363, 383, 456, 520, 521, 527, 579, 596, 639, 868, 1020, 1053, 1139, 1181, 1182, 1310, 2008, and 2362. Former accession number 458 was added to the collection on October 5, 2011. Former accession number 535 was added to the collection on March 29, 2012. Former accession number 372 was added to the collection on June 5, 2018. Former accession number 456 was added to the collection on June 14, 2018.
Minnie Ellen Paugh was born in Virginia City, Montana on April 7, 1919 and grew up on the family ranch at Jack Creek. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Montana in Missoula, a Master's of Education degree from the University of Montana, a Master's in Library Science from the University of Denver.
Paugh first worked as a school teacher in various eastern and northern Montana communities and, in 1961, joined the faculty of Montana State College (later Montana State University) in Bozeman as a reference librarian and instructor. The bulk of her time at MSU she was assigned to the Special Collections Department at Renne Library, an area she actively built to preserve collections about Montana, Yellowstone National Park, agricultural history, and Montana Native Americans. During the course of her career, Paugh interviewed many old-time residents of Madison County and periodically borrowed original documents from them to photocopy. In some cases, these copied materials were given accession numbers and added to the holdings of the Special Collections department, but she kept others in her personal research files. In 1974, Paugh was granted an eight-month sabbatical to research and write a history of the Madison Valley and, while doing so, used many of the photocopies and interviews she had previously collected. The manuscript history she produced was never published.
Following her retirement, Paugh was awarded the rank of associate professor emeritus of library science by the Board of Regents of Higher Education for her many contributions. Paugh also received the Blue and Gold Award for bringing national distinction and dedicated service to Montana State University, and she died in Billings, Montana on March 20, 2003.
This collection was processed 2018 June 14
The interviews represented in this collection are an eclectic mix of Montana citizens sought out by Paugh to document the state's history. Paugh's interviews are represented by complete transcriptions, partial transcriptions, summary notes, and sometimes only by the tape itself. Interviewees include: Allinson, Elsie Nave (1895-1987); Brewington, George (1888-1979); Brooks, Elizabeth (1898-1979); Byran, Joseph M. (1881-1968); (Chattin, Lavina (1877-1974); Davis, Susan (1886-1967); Davis, Wiley S. (1886-1980); Foster, John (1890-1974); French, Florence Conway (1885-1971); Gilkerson, Winifred H. (1885-1981); Harper, Jewell (1909-1996); Heidel, Albert W. (1889-1974); Jackson, Dorman (1883-1973); Jones, Marlyn J. (1901-1980); Kifer, Alma Fly (1890-1978); Lawton, William H. (1892-1973); Martin, Wayne (b. 1895); Merrilies, Louise N. (1879-1966); Moen, Oscar A. (1883-1973); Mueller, Josephene (1883-1976); Ross, Marie Server (1885-1968); Salisbury, Grace (b. 1885); Saxton, Ruth (b. 1885); Sedgwick, Mollie Fay (1885-1986) SunChild, John (1930-2004); Talbot, Robert William (1924-2004); Todd, James (1889-1977); Toman, J. Fred (1886-1975); Wampler, David Cloyd (1879-1968); Zellick, Mary (1884-1974). Montana places mentioned include: Fergus County, Gallatin County, Madison County, Powder River County, Bercail, Bozeman, Broadus, Browning, Butte, Fort Custer, Judith Gap, Lewistown, Two Dot, and Wisdom. Subjects include sheep and cattle ranching, homesteading, electric power generation, education, Battle of the Big Hole, the Yellowstone Expedition of 1869, Sisika Indians, Chippewa Cree Indians, and commerce.
Interview synopsis sheets, transcriptions, and related documentation for all persons contacted by Paugh in the course of her efforts to build research collections. Each interview has been placed into a numbered folder, and in those cases where a recording exists, the object has the same folder number as the transcript or synopsis. Some interviewees loaned Paugh documents and photographs to copy, and in those cases the additional material has been placed in the folders immediately following the transcription or synopsis.
In the cases where no transcription or summary was performed of the tape, a folder has been placed to contain whatever accession information is available with the intention to replace that record with a more thorough description as time and resources allow. The interview subjects have been arranged in alphabetical order, with supporting information files containing substantive groups of copy photographs, clippings, and related materials in folders immediately following the subject's numbered interview file. Numbers in brackets following the transcription file synopsis represent the original accession numbers assigned by Paugh. The Allen Johnson interview, former accession number 458, was added to the collection on October 5, 2011.
The Madison County interviews which were specifically conducted for Paugh's research have been placed with her work on that project in Collection 2051, and the remaining interviews, which range over a wide variety of topics, have been gathered in this collection.
Montana native raised in Radersburg and Townsend. Experiences growing up, homesteading, and being a dressmaker in Bozeman. The original tape was defective and discarded. [1310]
Native of Livingston, Montana. Transcribed reminiscences include information on school at Careless Creek and Bercail, Montana; experiences in shearing sheep and freighting, ranching, and horse trading in the Judith Gap area. Brewington also mentions the following individuals: Alfred j. Bouchard, John Burke, James A. Craig, Charles A. Evans, Willard L. Halbert, Ramus E. Indreland, David Lake, Angus McKay, Edward Massing, Charles Meyers, P. I. Moule, John Ross, Lewis Patterson Stigen, and Louis Weber. The original tape of the Brewington interview was added by Paugh to a reel used to record a Montana Institute for the Arts, Bozeman History group meeting and can be found in Collection 298, Box 6, Tape 16. [383]
Gallatin County resident and owner of a ranch in the Bozeman Pass that incorporates the townsite of Chesnut, Montana. Brooks mentions Una B. Herrick and the Turkey Trail in her interview. The audiocassette recorded interview was never transcribed and details Brooks memories about her life in Chestnut. The land abstract was provided to Paugh following the interview to establish the ownership history of the property. The tape has been placed in Series 2.[2008]
Early resident of Fort Benton, and Browning, Montana. Daughter of Blackfoot mother. Information regarding Charles Russell, Sacagawea, Jesse Donaldson Schultz. [281]
Early resident of Madison County. Childhood reminiscence and family history, along with remarks by Maude Beals and her memories of going to school in Red Bluff, Montana. Audiocassette was never transcribed or adequately described. It has been placed in Series 2. [1139]
Madison County native, son of Bannack settler N. J. Davis. Some information regarding Roecher's Drug store in Bozeman where Davis worked during the first decade of the twentieth century. Also worked for the Montana Power Company from 1920-1944. [155]
Resident of Lewistown, Montana. Interview covers topics such as the DHS Ranch, the Vigilantes of 1884, Chinese at the town of Maiden, and general history of Fergus County. Audiocassette was never transcribed, and recorded on the same cassette as Susie Davis. It has been placed in Series 2. [2362]
Early resident of Beaverhead County. Information regarding Dillon and the Beaverhead County Museum. [232]
Resident of Bozeman, Montana and proprietor of a restaurant there and in West Yellowstone from approximately 1922 to 1940. Reminiscences about operating the Gilkerson cafeteria, customers, and some family history. The original audiocassette tape has been placed in Series 2. [1181]
Rancher near Two Dot, Montana. Basic family history and some ranching experiences. The original audiotape reel also contains interviews from folder 21, Wayne Martin and folder 25, Josephene Meuller and has been placed in Series 2. [521]
Early resident of Brodus, Montana. Established Powder River County Bank. [208]
Fergus County rancher. Mentions Charles M. Russell, area ranchers. No recording available. Two photocopied maps have been removed for oversize storage. Second recording of Jackson reading selections of his poetry, date unknown. [361, 547]
Canadian native and resident of Bozeman. Jones worked at the Hauseman and McCall retail store in Bozeman and helped establish skiing in the area. The original audiocassette has been placed in Series 2. [1182]
Interview with Herbert Kirk, conducted by Minnie Paugh and Kim Allen Scott. Discussion includes the history of the Kirk family.
Son-in-law of Simeon Buford, pioneer sheep rancher, financier and store owner in Virginia City and the Madison Valley. In 1965 Lawton was a wool buyer, business known as the Whiteman Lawton ranch. No tape available. [363]
Sheep rancher near Two Dot, Montana. Basic family history, with little detail regarding ranch operations. Original audiotape reel also contains interviews from folder 14, Jewell Harper and folder 25, Josephene Mueller and has been placed in Series 2. [520]
Early resident of Butte, Montana and daughter of brewer Christian Nissler. Memories of Butte, mentions meeting Marcus Clark. No recording available. [358]
Early resident of Flathead county. Describes road building along Flathead Lake using convict labor and the Flathead Lake "Monster." No recording available [231]
Resident of Lewistown, Montana. Reminiscence regarding her life with husband Oscar Mueller and her father, Charles W. Cook, who was on the 1869 Yellowstone expedition. Original audiotape reel also contains interviews from folder 14, Jewell Harper and folder 21, Wayne Martin and has been placed in Series 2. [596]
Native of Big Horn County daughter of Second United States Cavalry Sergeant Fred Server. Information on Server Hotel at Crow Agency and Fort Custer. No recording available [352]
Gallatin County native, born 1885 near Reece Creek. Ranch ownership locations and childhood incidents. [154]
Resident of Hilger, Belt Montana and Fergus County. Family memoirs and some information pertaining to Charles M. Russell, Fort Benton, and John S. Matheson. The original audiotape reel has been placed in Series 2. [579]
Member of the Chippewa Cree tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation in central Montana. Remarks on changes on the Rocky Boy's Reservation with particular emphasis on education. This interview was never transcribed, and the audiocassette has been placed in Series 2. [1053]
Early resident of Henry's Lake area. Information on Sherwood Store and Museum, Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins, I. A. Hutchens, Dick Rock, Sawtelle, and a strange animal killed in the area in 1887. [341]
Early resident of Gallatin Gateway (Gallatin County, Mont.) area. Information on the Flying D. Ranch, W. W. (William Wallace) Wylie, Gallatin Gateway, Camp Creek Basin, the Riverside Boarding House, Havana, and Gallatin Canyon. The interview was never transcribed and the original audiotape reel has been placed in Series 2. [868]
Early resident of Wisdom, MT. Recollections of visiting Big Hole Battlefield nine years after the fight and hotel operation in Wisdom. Taped interviews not transcribed, and the two original audiotape reels have been placed in Series 2. [330, 344]
Mary was an immigrant from Yugoslavia who settled with her family on a homestead near Divide, Montana in 1907 and moved, in 1910, to Lewistown. Her daughter, Anna, was born in Lewistown. Information on difficulties in farming and functioning as non-English speaking immigrants. Original audiotape reel has been placed in Series 2. [639]
Johnson was former homesteader of Valley County, Montana northwest of the town of Glasgow. He recalled the isolation of the farm and the difficulty with securing teachers in the local school and transporting grain. Owner of the former Two Dot, Montana, hotel, Johnson also gives some background on the building. [458]
Kifer was the daughter of Jennie Curtis Fly, an early Gallatin County pioneer who had come to Montana with her family from Utah around 1864. The William Fly property was at Central Park and his son, J.D. Fly's farmstead was on Dry Creek. The interview describes the Curtis family background of Jennie, her marriage to J. D. Fly, and her subsequent move to the Laurel, Montana area after Fly's death. [535]
Sedgwick was the daughter of Robert Culbertson, the brother of Major Alec Culberson, a pioneer Fort Benton trader. Mollie's interview details the Culberston family genealogy and gives sparse details on her own life in Kalispell, Montana. [372]
The Bryans were ranchers in Powder River County, Montana and interviewed in their Brodus home by Paugh, Jack Jenkins, and Merrill G. Burlingame. Bryan rcalls how he came to Miles City first in 1890 and to Otter Creek in 1891. He and his wife describe their ranching and social life in the area. [456]
Toman was a rancher who came to Montana from Nebraska and interviewed in Brodus cCafe by Paugh, Jack Jenkins, and Merrill G. Burlingame. Toman recounds his life in Powder River County and his extisive writings and correspondence that were subsequently donated to the Montana Historical Society and held by them as MC 351 . [456]