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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The Archives has many oral histories from Butte ch The Archives has many oral histories from Butte characters. We will be featuring snippets of these amazing artifacts periodically. Today we will feature a piece from the Muntzer family history, who is credited with establishing the Butte Brewing Company. . Alma Muntzer Hileman: "We sold it (the family home) to the Soroptimist Home and it was a home that was always filled with children. We were very happy at the thought that where we sold it was going to be the home where children were going to be and hoped they would enjoy it as we had." Lillie Muntzer Spillum: "My dad always said 'where my home is there are a lot of children'. And always we had a happy home and we were happy kids." . The Muntzer family sold their home at 833 W. Quartz Street to the Soroptomist Club as a receiving home for needy children to stay until a foster home was found. It opened in 1948 and aided 175 children that first year. PH058 . . . #ButteMontana #Soroptomist #Home #OralHistories
For the next few days we are sharing photos of But For the next few days we are sharing photos of Butte's giving hearts over the years. We are so proud to be part of such a generous community! . Pictured today are Orphan Girl miners receiving the Butte Community Chest plaque in 1952. Dave Reese is seen presenting the plaque to Gene Dallaserra. The Orphan Girl crew won the plaque in 1951 as well. As quoted in the Montana Standard, "the plaque testifies to the Orphan Girl miners having topped all other mines of the city in percentage of contributions to the Community Chest". . The Community Chest began in Butte in 1921 to aid those in need, especially during the winter months. Smithers.66.056.03 . . . #ButteMontana #OrphanGirl #CommunityChest #Giving #Thanksgiving
Did you know the Brawl of the Wild football game b Did you know the Brawl of the Wild football game between Montana State University and the University of Montana was played in Butte from 1926-1951? It was played at Stodden Park and later Naranche Stadium. Pictured today is the 1950 game at Naranche Stadium, which the Grizzlies won. Tomorrow was scheduled to be the 120th Brawl of the Wild but was cancelled due to the pandemic. Who do you root for? Smithers.108.087.01 . . . #ButteMontana #BrawlOfTheWild #NarancheStadium #Football #GoCats #GoGriz
We are thrilled that photos of Butte from the Arch We are thrilled that photos of Butte from the Archives collection are featured on Zobaney's barbecue sauce labels! We are proud to have been included in this collaboration including the World Museum of Mining, Digital Spark Creative and B.T. Livermore! . . . #ButteMontana #Barbecue #BBQ #Zobaneys
Have you gotten your deer or elk yet this year? Ta Have you gotten your deer or elk yet this year? Take a look at Bud Zemljak holding his trophy rack of deer antlers in November of 1960. It was 45 inches wide and sported 37 points making it the "biggest deer antler trophy in Montana history" at that time! Smithers.49.163.01 . . . #ButteMontana #Hunting #HuntingSeason #TrophyDeer
Pictured today is Mayor Hauswirth slicing cheese a Pictured today is Mayor Hauswirth slicing cheese at Symon's Groceteria while two employees look on. This photo was featured in the Montana Standard 85 years ago during National Cheese Week! Smithers.05.023.03 . . . #ButteMontana #Cheese #ThisDayInHistory
The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa, a group of lan The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa, a group of landless Indians and Montana’s first urban Indians, settled in Butte. The Little Shell Tribe has no official “home,” but the tribe’s need to stay together caused them to build camps of their own at the edge of communities. . . . #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #NativeAmericanHeritage #ButteMontana #LittleShellTribe
The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives was scheduled The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives was scheduled to be closed Wednesday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day, however the Archives will be closed to the public until further notice by directive of the health department. Please feel free to contact us by phone at 406-782-3280 or by email at bsbarchives@bsb.mt.gov. . Pictured today are left to right, George Wilcox, Henry Young, and Judge J. J. Lynch in 1961. They were the last three active members of the Henry W. Lawton Camp No. 1, United Spanish War Veterans from Butte, Montana. The flag in the background was carried by the First Montana Infantry Regiment during the Spanish-American War, 1898. . . . #VeteransDay #Veteran #ButteMontana #ArchivesVeterans #ButteNeverForgetsHerOwn
The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives will be close The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives will be closed Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10 for annual building maintenance and staff training as well as Wednesday, November 11 for Veterans Day. . The staff will be charging up to serve the public better than ever! Pictured today is a man charging a motor at the 2800 foot level in a mine, circa 1924. Smithers.40.060.04
The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives will be close The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives will be closed Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10 for annual building maintenance and staff training as well as Wednesday, November 11 for Veterans Day. . The staff will be hard at work cleaning just like these fellows were during a spring cleaning campaign in Butte in 1962. Smithers49.118.01
After Election Day we could all use a little comic After Election Day we could all use a little comic relief, no matter your political stance. In 1936, Hennessy's employees held a beard growing contest. Zoom in and you'll notice a few of these fellows had impressive beard growing capabilities 😉 ! Which beard or mustache is your favorite? Smithers.05.082.11 . . . #ButteMontana #Hennessys #NoShavember #Movember
Pictured today are two women being given a demonst Pictured today are two women being given a demonstration on how to operate a voting machine. When these machines were introduced, large ads were placed in the Montana Standard giving instructions on how to use it. The public was also welcome to visit the county courthouse for a demonstration. Smithers.06.009.10 . Just a reminder, the Archives is closed today for Election Day! . . . #Vote #ButteMontana #Voting #ElectionDay #Election
Pictured today is a portion of Jeanette Rankin's s Pictured today is a portion of Jeanette Rankin's speech she gave at the Columbia Gardens in Butte in 1917. If you look closely you'll notice it was typed on the back of the Thornton Hotel's stationary! Read up on our most recent blog post (check out the link in our bio) about the time Jeanette Rankin, America's first congresswoman, visited Butte! MC1075 . . . #19forthe19th #ButteMontana #ColumbiaGardens #JeanetteRankin #Vote
Happy Halloween! Check out these trick-or-treaters Happy Halloween! Check out these trick-or-treaters posing for a photo at Charley Judd's Annual Halloween Party in 1963. What was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid? Smithers.01.076.01 . . . #OnlyInButte #ButteMontana #Halloween #HalloweenParty #NewDealBar
Pictured today is Charley Judd on a ladder releasi Pictured today is Charley Judd on a ladder releasing hundreds of balloons in his New Deal Bar on Halloween to the kids of Butte. The balloons were filled with prizes in addition to the children getting candy, hot dogs and soda all for free! If you remember, tell us more about the balloon drop! Smithers.01.076.011 . . . #OnlyInButte #ButteMontana #Halloween #HalloweenParty #NewDealBar
Approximately 2,300 pounds of candy was given out Approximately 2,300 pounds of candy was given out at Charley Judd's Annual Halloween party in 1963! Just as in years past, Butte is stepping up to make sure kids have a great Halloween. Be sure to bring your kids to Treat Street from 12-4pm on Saturday, October 31st at the Old Safeway Warehouse. Smithers.01.076.01 . . . #OnlyInButte #ButteMontana #Halloween #HalloweenParty #NewDealBar
Only in Butte will children line up outside a bar Only in Butte will children line up outside a bar to attend an annual Halloween party! Pictured today are trick-or-treaters ready to take part in Charley Judd's Annual Halloween Party in 1966 at Charley's New Deal Bar. Smithers.84.046.01 . . . #OnlyInButte #ButteMontana #Halloween #HalloweenParty #NewDealBar
Be sure to check out our latest blog post on what Be sure to check out our latest blog post on what Halloween looked like in Butte in 1920! Check out the link to the blog in our bio!
A couple years after John Winston's death, his wif A couple years after John Winston's death, his wife, Catherine bought a kitchen range, kitchen cabinet, four chairs and a rug from Kelley & Alton Furniture. In days before credit cards, widows would often times find themselves in need of household items and would purchase items through a bill of sale with the agreement to pay the full amount over a set period of time. . Catherine Winston passed away in 1928. . To celebrate #AmericanArchivesMonth we will be demonstrating how to research a person with the resources at the Butte Archives. Be sure to check our daily posts to learn how to utilize the archives for your own research and learn more about John and Catherine Winston's story in Butte! . . . #ButteMontana #ButteArchives #BSBPublicArchives #Archivists
After John Winston's death, his widow, Catherine W After John Winston's death, his widow, Catherine Winston applied for the Widow's Pension. Catherine received money from the government to help care for her children but if you look carefully you will see "Cut Off" written in pencil, next to her name at the top of the page. Reading further down, it states "Cut off rec'd money from Workmens Comp". We researched this a bit more and discovered in the Butte Miner newspaper that the widows of this particular disaster were given compensation for the loss of their husbands. The widows could choose to accept a lump sum of $3,380 or $10 per week for 400 weeks. . To celebrate #AmericanArchivesMonth we will be demonstrating how to research a person with the resources at the Butte Archives. Be sure to check our daily posts to learn how to utilize the archives for your own research and learn more about John and Catherine Winston's story in Butte! . . . #ButteMontana #ButteArchives #BSBPublicArchives #Archivists
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17 W. Quartz
Butte, MT 59701
1-406-782-3280
bsbarchives@bsb.mt.gov
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