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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Happy Mother's Day! Did you know in 1904 the Frate Happy Mother's Day! Did you know in 1904 the Fraternal Order of Eagles made a public plea to recognize mother's everywhere? In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day to be celebrated. Pictured today is Mary Duddy, Eagles Mother of the Year, in 1968 with her family gathered around her in Butte. Smithers.06.047.01 . . . #MothersDay #ButteMontana #EaglesMotherOfTheYear
We were heartbroken this morning to learn of the f We were heartbroken this morning to learn of the fire at the M & M. This historical landmark is more than a building, and is more like a community member. Please share your memories of this icon with us. Smithers.04.049.01 . . . #MandM #ButteMontana #MainStreet #Landmark #HometownHistory #WeAreWithTheMandM
Happy National Nurses Day! Looking back at this pa Happy National Nurses Day! Looking back at this past year, we are especially thankful for the nurses in this world! Pictured today is the nurses cap worn by Claire Combo Holman. Claire Combo was born in 1934 in Centerville to James and Alice Combo. She attended Butte schools before attending the St. James School of Nursing. Claire graduated from St James School of Nursing in 1954. She studied nursing at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and worked at St. James Hospital in Butte and at the hospital in Townsend, Montana. She taught Practical Nursing in Denver and Butte. Claire married Earl Holman in 1959. She published "Angels in White : Nurses of St. James School of Nursing, Butte, Montana 1906-1970" in 2006. . . . #NationalNursesDay #ButteMontana #AngelsInWhite
It is National Teacher Appreciation Week! Pictured It is National Teacher Appreciation Week! Pictured today is Margeurite McDonald, who was a teacher and a principal in Butte for 48 years. She was the principal at the Blaine School; among her accomplishments were the efforts to lobby on behalf of all Montana Teachers for a retirement fund. Marguerite was a well-respected member of the Montana Federation of Teachers. She worked diligently for the rights of children in schools and was instrumental in obtaining the first free ice-skating rink in Centerville. Who was your favorite teacher growing up in Butte? SM007 . . . #ButteMontana #NationalTeacherAppreciationWeek #Teacher
Today is Giving Tuesday! Did you know the Friends Today is Giving Tuesday! Did you know the Friends of the Butte Archives is a non-profit? The Friends provide support services for the Archives and assist with funding everything from exhibits to binding newspapers. Pictured today are some issues of the Anaconda Standard that have been rebound compared to issues that need to be rebound. If you would like to donate to the Friends of the Butte Archives, you can do so here: https://buttearchives.square.site/ (also at the link in the bio) or mail or drop off a donation at 17 West Quartz Street in Butte! Thank you for your support! . . . #ButteMontana #BSBPublicArchives #ButteArchives #GivingTuesday
Pictured today is thoroughbred stallion Spokane, o Pictured today is thoroughbred stallion Spokane, on the left, in front of the Doncaster Round Barn located outside of Twin Bridges. Spokane was born in this barn, which still stands today and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Spokane was the winner of the Kentucky Derby in 1889. He was the only horse foaled and trained in Montana to ever win the Kentucky Derby. Spokane's win coincidentally occurred the same year that Montana became a state! Smithers.20.041.01 . . . #KentuckyDerby #TwinBridges #DoncasterRoundBarn
Father John Sheehan was born in Butte in 1908. Rai Father John Sheehan was born in Butte in 1908. Raised in Butte, he attended St. Mary's church and school. He became an ordained Catholic priest in June of 1932, returning to his home parish to say his first mass in May of 1933. Father Sheehan served as a chaplain in World War Two and was honorably discharged with the rank of major in 1945. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Bronze Star Cluster, and the Purple Heart. Pictured today are his Bronze Star and Purple Heart (SM103)Father Sheehan returned to Butte after the war, but died in 1946 from war-related injuries. . In April of 1952, Father Sheehan Park was named in his honor. In 1998, a permanent memorial was placed at the park. . Join in cleaning up the park today, April 30th, from 4:00-6:00p.m. . . . #ButteMontana #FatherSheehanPark #ArborDay
It is National Tell a Story Day! The Archives has It is National Tell a Story Day! The Archives has recorded multiple oral histories, which tell the stories of people lives straight from the source! Today we are featuring a snippet from Helen McGregor's oral history about her father, Dr. J.D. McGregor. . "My father was the Company veterinarian and took care of all the livestock that was underground. I’ve gone underground with him a many number of times. One of my former students wrote the poetry about the blind horses. I was shocked because I never did see a blind horse. Never. Or a blind mule, as far as that goes. They were not kept underground all the time... In fact, my father was quite shocked at the way they were lowering the horses and so he developed a canvas sling.. and the horse, or mule, was put into that. That way they were not harmed, taking them up or down in the cage." . Pictured today is a horse in a Butte mine. OH261 and Smithers.10.016.01 . . . #ButteMontana #NationalTellAStoryDay #OralHistory #Mining
It is National Picnic Day! Pictured today are thre It is National Picnic Day! Pictured today are three woman, a man, and a sleepy dog enjoying a picnic. Butte people know how to throw a fun picnic, from company picnics at the Gardens to ethnic group picnics at Basin Creek Reservoir! . The Archives is closed to the public today for spring cleaning. . Smithers.26.014.01 . . . #ButteMontana #NationalPicnicDay #Picnics
It is National Poetry Month! Pictured today is a p It is National Poetry Month! Pictured today is a poem written by Berton Braley. He came to Butte as a newspaper reporter from 1903-1909. First working for the Intermountain, he ended his time in Butte work for the Butte Evening News. Braley wrote ten poems for the Saturday Evening Post, titled "Mining Camp Ballads" in 1909. He left for New York shortly after, never to return. . Braley titled this particular poem, "The Idealist", but at some point it was changed to "Butte". In 1920, the poem was incorporated into the Butte school curriculum. In later years, the Chamber of Commerce gave Braley's poem to important visitors printed on a sheet of Butte copper. . . . #ButteMontana #NationalPoetryMonth #BertonBraley #Copper
On April 21, 1920, two days into a mine strike on On April 21, 1920, two days into a mine strike on the Butte hill, sixteen men were injured and one man was killed outside the Neversweat Mine on Anaconda Road. The men were picketing for higher wages and the end of the rustling card system, which would blacklist men. Mine guards were deputized that morning. The sheriff arrived in attempts to mediate. It was during this time that the guards opened fire into the crowd, shooting into the backs of the men as they ran away. Thomas Manning was killed and his death is still unsolved. Today marks the 101st anniversary of the Anaconda Road Massacre. . Pictured today is the Neversweat Mine with the Anaconda Road in front of it. Smithers.11.091.01 . . . #ButteMontana #Mining #Neversweat #AnacondaRoad #ThisDayInHistory
We love this photo of two children enjoying sunshi We love this photo of two children enjoying sunshine and flowers, especially as Butte woke up to snow on the ground this morning! Smithers.21.031.01 . . . #ButteMontana #ButteInBloom #Spring #Flowers
We are looking at the weekend like... . Pictured We are looking at the weekend like... . Pictured today are Butte High School seniors from 1922 celebrating Bohunkus Day. This was a day for the seniors to dress up in silly costumes and parade around town every April. The last Bohunkus Day was held 70 years ago in 1951. Smithers84.011.01 . . . #ButteMontana #BohunkusDay #April #Traditions
It's National Gardening Day! Tune into Party Line It's National Gardening Day! Tune into Party Line on KBOW AM 550 or kbow550.net to learn about gardening in Butte! Master gardener, Julie Bushmaker, will discuss the Park Street Community Garden with Kim Kohn at 1:00pm! . Pictured today is a piles of vegetables at the Hansen Packing Company. Smithers.77.002.01 . . . #ButteMontana #CommunityGarden #PartyLine #Gardening #NationalGardeningDay
Have a wedding on the horizon? Looking for a uniqu Have a wedding on the horizon? Looking for a unique and historical location? Check out The Historic Clark Chateau for your wedding venue! . . . #ButteMontana #ClarkChateau #Wedding
Today is National Cherish an Antique Day! While th Today is National Cherish an Antique Day! While the Archives focuses on documents, we do have a few antique artifacts that we are quite fond of and relevant to our building's history. Pictured today is a Butte Fire Department No. 1 badge that was discovered in Butte's warehouse district. It dates back to 1895 and is believed to have belonged to the firemen who died in the Great Explosion of 1895. . Do you an antique that you cherish? Tell us about it below! . . . #NationalCherishAnAntiqueDay #ButteMontana #ButteFireDepartment #ButteNeverForgetsHerOwn
It's National Library Week! The Butte Public libra It's National Library Week! The Butte Public library was established in February of 1894 (originally known as the Butte Free Public Library). It was funded in part by Charles X. Larabee. Next time you visit the library, check out the plaque just inside the main doors and you will see his name! Butte's library offers books, newspapers, and magazines, as well as computers, digital and audio books, and programs for adults and children. . Pictured today is the library's reference desk in April 1958. Smithers.02.078.115 . . . #ButteMontana #NationalLibraryWeek #ButtePublicLibrary #Libraries #Books #Read
Happy 406 Day! We are so lucky to live in this sta Happy 406 Day! We are so lucky to live in this state! When we think of Montana we think of tight knit communities, the great outdoors, and in this corner of the state, mining! What do you think of when you think of the 406 state? . Pictured today are the neighborhoods of Meaderville, McQueen and East Butte from the Speculator Mine, circa 1943. PH308.46 . . . #406Day #Montana #ButteMontana #Meaderville #McQueen #EastButte #Mining #Mountains
The Archives now has stickers! These beauties are The Archives now has stickers! These beauties are UV, weatherproof, and waterproof! Get the Butte history fan's hottest accessory by stopping in or shopping online! Link in the bio. . #ButteMontana #ButteArchives #BSBPublicArchives #Stickers
Check out these cuties from the first grade class Check out these cuties from the first grade class of Whittier in 1962 showing off their Easter bonnets they made! From top to bottom: Mark Munger, Karen Crane, Jimmy Clary, Mary Ann Fitzgerald, and Cheryll Worrell. Happy Easter to all who celebrate! Smithers.69.130.01 . . . #ButteMontana #Easter #EasterBonnet #ArchivesTipOfTheHat
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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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