bsbarchives@bsb.mt.gov (406) 782-3280 17 W. Quartz, Butte, Montana

Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives

Every person, through their lives, shapes local and American history. Archives are here to protect that history.

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Today is National Read Across America Day! Picture Today is National Read Across America Day! Pictured is the children's librarian, Ruth Sultzer assisting two women and two boys at the Butte Public Library in 1961. What is your favorite book? 
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#ButteMontana #ButtePublicLibrary #Libraries #Books #Read #NationalReadAcrossAmericaDay
Look what is back in stock! Butte's Heritage Cookb Look what is back in stock! Butte's Heritage Cookbook is available again at the Butte Archives! Give us a call at 406782-3280 or visit the link in the bio to purchase!
It is National Engineers Week! Pictured today is t It is National Engineers Week! Pictured today is the 50th convention of the Montana Society of Engineers meeting in Butte at the Finlen in 1937. The Society formed on July 5, 1867 and is still active today! 
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#ButteMontana #Engineer #NationalEngineersWeek
The Archives has another great cookbook in stock! The Archives has another great cookbook in stock! You can order the Circle of Serbian Mother's Club Cookbook at the link in the bio or by calling (406) 782-3280. This cookbook is filled with delicious recipes including gluten free options as well as recipes with no meat or dairy.
Bundle up and get outside this weekend, like these Bundle up and get outside this weekend, like these little cuties! The snow in Butte will be warming up and will be perfect for making a snowman! How will you be enjoying this winter weekend?
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#ButteMontana #BundleUp #Winter #Snow #NewbroDrugCo
Ophelia Fenter was born and raised in Arkansas. Wh Ophelia Fenter was born and raised in Arkansas. While attending college she met her husband-to-be, William Fenter. William was a "Butte Boy" and brought his wife home to Butte in 1939. Ophelia embraced Butte as her home and became active in the community.  She was a member of the African Methodist Episcopal church as well as the NAACP. 
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She taught home economics at the high school as well as an adult education class. One interesting comment Mrs. Fenter had during her oral history was "one of the problems (that she encountered in Butte)- women that were married could not teach in Butte until 1958". Mrs. Fenter taught in Butte from 1967 to 1983, earning her master's degree in 1973. She passed away in 2003.
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Do you remember Mrs. Fenter? Share your stories below!
(Photo of Mrs. Ophelia Fenter from the Montana Standard, September 14, 1969)
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#ButteMontana #BlackHistoryMonth #ArchivesBlackEducation #ArchivesHashtagParty
65 years ago today, Frank Heffern, a blind piano p 65 years ago today, Frank Heffern, a blind piano player, was declared "Man of the Year" by The Floral Park Community Club. He was unanimously selected for his "willingness to give his time and talent as a musician to any organization with a worth while cause". He was honored at a dinner later in the month. 
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#ButteMontana #ThisDayInHistory #ManOfTheYear #FloralPark
Pictured today is President Franklin Delano Roosev Pictured today is President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his campaign visit to Butte in 1932. While not yet president when these photos were taken, he would go on to be the most elected president in American history, being elected four times. 
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The Archives is closed today in observance of President's Day. 
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#ButteMontana #PresidentsDay #FDR
Happy Valentine's Day! Pictured today are Kenneth Happy Valentine's Day! Pictured today are Kenneth and Theresa Christie on their wedding day in 1915. We love how their beaming smiles exude love and happiness!
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Kenneth was born in Canada and came to Butte at 17 years old in 1899. He would go on to establish Christie Transfer & Storage as well as Christie Furniture. Theresa was born in Denmark to F.A. & Agnes Henningsen, who would immigrate and become well known Butte pioneers. Kenneth and Theresa were partners in life and business, with her becoming president of both companies upon Kenneth's death in 1952 until her death in 1973.
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#ButteMontana #MiningCityLove #ValentinesDay #Valentine
We wish we were parading through the streets of Up We wish we were parading through the streets of Uptown Butte today with our pals at the Mai Wah Society and Museum to celebrate Chinese New Year! This holiday is traditionally meant to be shared with family, friends, and a feast! Here is a glance back in time at the Mai Wah Noodle Parlor menu, as we look forward to the shortest, coldest, loudest parade in the world (as dubbed by Reader's Digest) for Chinese New Year next year!
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#ButteMontana #MaiWah #ChineseNewYear #LunarNewYear #YearOfTheOx
61 years ago today, Anaconda Company officials met 61 years ago today, Anaconda Company officials met with Mine-Mill Joint Negotiating Committee to end the longest strike in Butte's history. After 181 days an agreement was reached and the strike ended. Pictured today are the two parties after signing the "peace pact" as the Montana Standard called it.
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#ButteMontana #ACM #Strike #ThisDayInHistory #Unions
Tune into KBMF tonight at 5pm for a radio play per Tune into KBMF tonight at 5pm for a radio play performance of "The Adventures of the Thin Man" by Dashiell Hammett and performed by the Clark Chateau Radio Players. Fun tidbit: Dashiell Hammett lived in Butte while working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency between 1914-1922. If you can't listen in tonight, you can catch the show on Friday, February 12th at 3pm and Sunday, February 14th at 8pm!
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#ButteMontana #ClarkChateauRadioPlayers #ThinMan #DashielHammett #Valentines
The Butte Archives now has Sam Jankovich's autobio The Butte Archives now has Sam Jankovich's autobiography for sale! Sam Jankovich was an American sports personality whose career began as Head Football Coach at Butte High School in Butte, , where his teams won two state championships. He then moved on to be Athletic Director with the Washington State Cougars and the University of Miami Hurricanes. He also was the CEO of the New England Patriots and the president and general manager of the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League. 
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Call 406-782-3280 or visit the link in the bio to order your copy of this Butte legend's story!
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#ButteMontana #SamJankovich #Legend #Football
Join us in a bit of fun this Monday morning and ca Join us in a bit of fun this Monday morning and caption this photo! We can't wait to see what you come up with!
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#ButteMontana #CaptionThis
Winter has arrived! Thanks to the snow removal cre Winter has arrived! Thanks to the snow removal crews throughout the city and state for keeping our roads clear and safe. Pictured today is the City of Butte road maintenance crew, circa 1950.
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#ButteMontana #Snow #SnowRemoval #RoadSafety
Have you heard? Punxsatawney Phil saw his shadow, Have you heard? Punxsatawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter! Are you looking forward to days filled with "snow much fun"?
Looking for a new dish to cook? Try out a recipe f Looking for a new dish to cook? Try out a recipe from one of 20 different ethnicities represented in Butte's Heritage Cookbook! This treasured cookbook is now available at the Archives! Click on the link in our bio to purchase OR give us a call at 406-782-3280 to make an appointment to pick up a copy for yourself (or your Valentine)!
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#ButteMontana #ButtesHeritageCookbook #Recipes
(6 of 6) Pictured today is the completed gallowsfr (6 of 6) Pictured today is the completed gallowsframe at the Kelley. The block caving method of mining was used at the Kelley as part of the Greater Butte Project, producing 15,000 tons per day. This gallowsframe was used to  haul ore out of the mine. Another gallowsframe would be constructed to the south of it that was used to haul men and service goods. This created maximum production capacity at the Kelley. The Neversweat is pictured in the background.
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#ButteMontana #Mineyard #Gallowframes #Headframes #KelleyMine #IdlerTowers #SheaveWheel #OreBins #Neversweat
(5 of 6) After the gallowsframe was constructed th (5 of 6) After the gallowsframe was constructed the sheave wheel would be put into place. This gallowsframe had five sheave wheels, with four wheels in constant service with the fifth as a backup. The cable that came off the hoist and over the idler towers then went over the sheave wheel and down the shaft. This gallowsframe had the most sheave wheels  and was the tallest on the hill. Check out the image with the man in comparison to the sheave wheel!
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#ButteMontana #Mineyard #Gallowframes #Headframes #KelleyMine #IdlerTowers #SheaveWheel
(4 of 6) Check out that crane! The crane had to re (4 of 6) Check out that crane! The crane had to reach the finished height of the gallowframe at 173 feet. Pictured today is the gallowsframe being constructed at the Kelley Mine. 
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#ButteMontana #Mineyard #IdlerTowers #Gallowframes #Headframes #KelleyMine
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Hours & Info

17 W. Quartz
Butte, MT 59701
1-406-782-3280
bsbarchives@bsb.mt.gov
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
closed on state and federal holidays

Hours & Info

17 W. Quartz
Butte, MT 59701
1-406-782-3280
bsbarchives@bsb.mt.gov
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
closed on state and federal holidays

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