Archives West Finding Aid

On September 10, 1884, the Society of Montana Pioneers was founded in Helena, Montana. Formed as a separate (but closely related) organization, the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers was established on August 18, 1892. Stating their objectives as an organization to "perpetuate the sacrifices and heroic virtues of our parents who blazed the trail into this country," the Sons and Daughters chose the date of December 31, 1868 to determine eligibility for people to become members, the same date of qualification for the parent society. This meant that only those who could trace their lineage to a person who arrived in the territory prior to 1869 could join. Over the years the organization has participated in a wide variety of activities to promote Montana's historical heritage, including the purchase of land near the Capitol building in Helena on which the present building of the Montana Historical Society is located. The organization continues to use space in this building to house their historical records. In 1964, the Sons and Daughters sponsored a statewide essay writing competition for junior high school students. Winners of the contest in several different categories were determined by a committee of members from the organization and a printed edition of those essays was produced.