Author: Carson Ruscheinsky
The Women’s Protective Union was, in many ways, ahead of the women’s rights movement, and was incredibly successful at protecting its members. They were able to ensure women were paid a fair wage, protected from harassment, given sick leave, overtime pay, and even paid vacations. Although, the Women’s Protective Union had a much wider agenda than improving working conditions.
They held job skill classes for its members, as well as classes in personal hygiene and childcare, among others. Throughout its history, the WPU was well known for its progressive political and economic causes. They endorsed national health insurance, unemployment insurance, and a national retirement system. The women would also raise money for local improvements and would support their fellow trade union members in the event of a strike.
Below are snippets of some oral histories, all taken from interviews conducted by Whitney Williams, in 1995. She had interviewed those associated with the Women’s Protective Union, in an effort to preserve their experiences. Williams interviewed former WPU members Eleanor Peltomaa, Mildred Laitinen, and Rose Marie Johnson, as well as Bob Juliana, who worked closely with the union towards the end.
Eleanor Peltomaa – The Strictness of the WPU
Mildred Laitinen – Union Dues and Bridget Shea
Rose Marie Johnson – Picketing
Bob Juliana – Blanche Copenhaver’s Reaction to the Name Change
List of Core WPU Members
- 1892 – President: Delia Moore Secretary: Kate Mathews
- 1893 – President: Delia Moore Secretary: Kate Mathews
- 1894 – Secretary: Jennie Condon
- 1895 – Secretary: Jennie Condon
- 1901- President: Maggie Keegan Vice President: Mamie White Secretary: Lizzie Boyle
- 1903 – President: Bridget McMahan Secretary: Frances Calvin
- 1904 – President: Anna Riddle Secretary: Frances Calvin
- 1905 – President: Mary Strume Secretary: Katie McLeod
- 1906 – Business Agent: Frances Calvin
- 1907 – Business Agent: Frances Calvin
- 1908 – Business Agent: Maggie Bray
- 1909 – President: Kate Bartels Secretary: Julia Mahoney
- 1912 – President: Annie Valentine Secretary: Mary Herth
- 1914 – President: Kate Shea Secretary: Florence Hall Business Agent: Ida Braman
- 1915 – President: Kate Shea Secretary: Mabel Cameron Business Agent: Beatrice Gregory
- 1916 – President: Winifred Baxter Secretary: Mabel Cameron Business Agent: Lena Mattausch
- 1917 – President: Ethel Warren Secretary: Margaret Mahoney
- 1918 – Secretary: Lena Mattausch
- 1923 – President: Christina Stanley Secretary: Lena Mattausch Business Agent: Sarah Nichols
- 1926 – Secretary: Mary Guihan
- 1927 – President: Lena Mattausch
- 1928 – President: Lena Mattausch Vice President: Bridget Shea
- 1935 – Secretary: Sarah Johnson
- 1936 – Secretary: Sarah Johnson
- 1937- President: Teresa Theobold
- 1942 – President: Teresa Theobold
- 1943 – President: Bridget Walsh Secretary: Frances Calvin Business Agent: Kate Mohard
- 1944 – President: Teresa Theobold Vice-President: Lena Mattausch Business Agent: Bridget Shea
- 1945 – President: Teresa Theobold
- 1946 – President: Margaret Harrington Vice President: Sarah Johnson Secretary: Phoebe Larsen
- 1948 – President: Margaret Harrington Secretary: Lena Mattausch
- 1949 – President: Bridget Shea Vice President: Blanche Copenhaver Secretary: Lena Mattausch
- 1950 – President: Bridget Shea Vice President: Lena Mattausch Secretary: Margaret Harrington
- 1951 – President: Bridget Shea Vice President: Blanche Copenhaver Secretary: Margaret Harrington
- 1952 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Secretary: Margaret Harrington Business Agent: Lena Mattausch
- 1953 – President: Blanche Copenhaver
- 1954 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Trustee: Gustava Holohan
- 1955 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Secretary: Lena Mattausch
- 1956 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Secretary: Margaret Harrington
- 1958 – President: Blanche Copenhaver
- 1959 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Vice President: Sarah Johnson Secretary: Lena Mattausch
- 1960 – President: Blanche Copenhaver
- 1961 – President: Bridget Walsh Secretary: Frances Calvin Business Agent: Kate Mohard
- 1962 – President: Blanche Copenhaver
- 1963 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Secretary: Margaret Harrington
- 1964 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Business Agent: Val Webster
- 1965 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Business Agent: Val Webster
- 1966 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Secretary: Margaret Harrington Business Agent: Val Webster
- 1967 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Secretary: Margaret Harrington Business Agent: Val Webster
- 1968 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Secretary: Margaret Harrington Business Agent: Bal Webster
- 1969 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Delegate: Clela Sullivan Business Agent: Val Webster
- 1970 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Business Agent: Clela Sullivan Secretary: Val Webster
- 1971 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Business Agent: Clela Sullivan Secretary Val Webster
- 1972 – President: Blanche Copenhaver Business Agent: Clela Sullivan Secretary: Val Webster
Women's Protective Union Documents
Contract Agreements
Correspondences
Minutes
Misc.
Contract Agreements
- WPU Blue Shield Agreement – 1966
- WPU Civic Center Contract Agreement – 1966
- WPU Civic Center Contract Agreement – 1971-1973
- WPU Cooks and Waitresses Agreement – 1960
- WPU Cooks and Waitresses Contract Agreement – 1961
- WPU Cooks and Waitresses Contract Agreement – 1963-1964
- WPU Culinary and Misc. Employees Contract Agreement – 1973
- WPU Culinary Division Contract Agreement – 1964-1966
- WPU Culinary Division Contract Agreement – 1966-1969
- WPU Fox Theater and Motor Drive Inn Contract Agreement – 1971
- WPU Fox Theater and Motor Drive Inn Contract Agreement – 1973
- WPU Fox Intermountain Theater Contract Agreement – 1967-1969
- WPU Fox Intermountain Theater Contract Agreement – 1969
- WPU Fox Intermountain Theater Contract Agreement – 1970
- WPU Hospital Division Contract Agreement – 1953-1954
- WPU Hospital Division Contract Agreement – 1955-1956
- WPU Hospital Division Contract Agreement – 1959-1960
- WPU Hotel and Motel Maids Contract Agreement – 1966-1969
- WPU Hotel and Motel Maids Contract Agreement – 1969-1972
- WPU Hotel and Motel Maids Contract Agreement – 1972-1973
- WPU Hotel Motel Rooming Houses Maids Contract Agreement – 1963-1966
- WPU Hotel Rooming House Division Contract Agreement – 1953-1954
- WPU Hotel Rooming House Division Contract Agreement – 1955-1956
- WPU Hotel Rooming House Division Contract Agreement – 1961-1963
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Contract Agreement – 1953-1954
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Contract Agreement – 1955-1956
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Contract Agreement – 1956-1957
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Contract Agreement – 1961-1963
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Contract Agreement – 1963-1965
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Contract Agreement – 1965-1968
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Correspondences – 1966-1967
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Contract Agreement – 1969-1972
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Contract Agreement – 1972-1973
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Contract Agreement – 1969
- WPU Theaters of Butte Montana Contract Agreement – 1952-1954
- WPU Wage Scale and Contracts – 1959-1971
Correspondences
- WPU 4 B’s Correspondences – 1972-1973
- WPU Correspondences To and From Sec of State Murray – 1963
- WPU Correspondences To and From Senators Mansfield, Olsen, and Rep Melcher – 1963-1969
- WPU Correspondences Wage Scales & Contracts – 1959, 1966-1967, 1971
- WPU Correspondences – 1950-1952
- WPU Correspondences – 1973
- WPU Culinary Correspondences – 1966
- WPU Culinary Correspondences – 1972
- WPU Correspondences of Election and Nominations – 1970
- WPU Correspondences Strike – 1961
- WPU Holiday Inn Correspondences – 1966-1967
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Correspondences – 1971-1973
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Correspondences – 1973-1974
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Correspondences – 1974-1976
- WPU Janitresses and Elevator Girls Correspondences – 1968
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Correspondences – 1964-1965
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Correspondences – 1971-1973
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Correspondences – 1973-1974
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Correspondences – 1974-1976
Minutes
Misc.
- WPU AFL-CIO Requests for Donations – 1971-1973
- WPU Applications for Secretary Treasurer – 1971
- WPU Ballots for Financial Secretary – 1971
- WPU Book from Election of Officers and Delegates – 1968
- WPU Burglary and Robbery Policy – 1972-1973
- WPU Burial Benefit Check Stubs – 1961-1969
- WPU Burial Benefits – 1964-1966 1972-1973
- WPU Butte Civic Center Time Cards – 1967
- WPU Canceled Checks Signed by Blanche Copenhaver – Date Unknown
- WPU Civic Center Time Cards – 1967
- WPU Contributions Made to Other Unions – 1961-1963
- WPU Contributions Made to Other Unions – 1973
- WPU Copy of Montana State Legislature Bill – 1947
- WPU Fox Theater Negotiations – 1970-1971
- WPU Fox Theater Negotiations – 1973
- WPU Fox Intermountain Theater Negotiations – 1962
- WPU Fox Intermountain Theater Negotiations – 1968-1969
- WPU List of Names Meeting On Contract – 1961
- WPU List of Sick and Burial Benefits_1968
- WPU List of St. James Hospital Employees – 1966-1967
- WPU List of St. James Hospital Employees – 1968-1969
- WPU List of St. James Hospital Employees – 1970-1971
- WPU Maids Negotiations – 1972
- WPU Member Dues – 1961-1962, 1971
- WPU Member List – 1968
- WPU Member List – 1970
- WPU Members – 1937
- WPU Members Sick Benefits – 1964
- WPU Hotel Rooming Houses and Motels Proposed Changes to Contract – Date Unknown
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Negotiations – 1971
- WPU St. James Community Hospital Negotiations – 1973
- WPU Statements of Payment for Employees – 1965-1971
- WPU Theater Employees Ballot – 1971
- WPU Theater Employees Wage Scale and Working Rules – 1942
- WPU Theater Employees Wage Scale and Working Rules – 1948-1949
- WPU Theater Employees Wage Scale and Working Rules – 1950-1951
- WPU Theater Employees Wage Scale – Date Unknown
- WPU Theater Employees Wage Scale – 1942
- WPU Theater Employees Wage Scale – 1946-1947
- WPU Theater Employees Wage Scale – 1948-1949
- WPU Theater Employees Wage Scale – 1950-1951
- WPU Theater Negotiations – 1964
- WPU Theater Wage Scale – 1946-1947
- WPU Various Job Descriptions – Date Unknown
- WPU Violation of Contract – 1956
Culinary and Misc. Employees Documents
Contract Agreements
Correspondences
Misc.
Contract Agreements
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Civic Center Contract Agreement – 1974-1977
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Culinary Division Contract Agreement – 1975-1978
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Fox Theater & Motor Drive In Contract Agreement – 1976-1978
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Fox Theater & Motor Drive In Contract Agreement – 1978
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Montana Power Contract Agreement – 1974
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Montana Power Contract Agreement – 1975-1977
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Montana Tech Contract Agreement – 1972-1974
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Montana Tech Food Service Contract Agreement – 1977
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Janitresses & Elevator Girls Contract Agreement – 1980-1982
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Janitresses Contract Agreement – 1980-1982
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Royal Park Nursing Home Contract Agreement – 1975
- Culinary and Misc. Employees School District Number 1 Contract Agreement – 1980-1981
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Silver Bow General Contract Agreement – 1978-1980
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Silver Bow Hospital Contract Agreement – 1976-1977
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Silver Bow Hospital Contract Agreement – 1978-1979
- Culinary and Misc. Employees St. James Contract – 1974-1976
- Culinary and Misc. Employees St. James Contract – 1975
- Culinary and Misc. Employees St. James Contract – 1976
- Culinary and Misc. Employees St. James Teamster Contract Agreement – Date Unknown
- Culinary and Misc. Employees St. James Teamster Contract Agreement – 1977-1980
Correspondences
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Correspondences, Bills, Resolutions – 1974
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Hotel and Motel Maids Correspondences – 1976
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Janitresses Correspondences – 1978
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Janitresses and Elevator Girls Correspondences – 1979
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Royal Park Nursing Home Correspondences – 1975
Misc.
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Christmas Card – 1980
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Collective Bargaining Agreement – 1979
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Credential Clara Dean Lewis – 1976
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Hotel and Motel Maids Proposed Changes to Contract – 1978
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Janitresses & Elevator Operators – 1974-1975
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Listing of Employers – 1975
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Listing of Wage Supplement – 1973-1975
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Montana Power_1974-1976
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Montana University System – 1975
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Montana University System – 1976
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Notice of Job Openings Butte Public School – 1979
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Hotel and Motel Maids – 1974-1976
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Proposed Changes in Contract for Hotel and Motel Maids – 1978
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Silver Bow General Termination Notice – 1979
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Silver Bow Hospital Wage & Revenue Records – 1978
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Tech Correspondences and Union Assessments – 1976-1977
- Culinary and Misc. Employees Vote on School Lunch Employees – 1978
Bibliography
Books
- Cobble, Dorothy; Dishing it Out; Chicago, Illinois University of Illinois Press; 1991
- Crain, Ellen & Finn, Janet. Motherlode; Livingston, Montana, Clark City Press; 2005
- Judy, Beth; Bold Women in Montana History; Missoula, Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company; 2017
- Murphy, Mary; Mining Cultures; Chicago, Illinois, University of Illinois Press; 1997
Butte Silver Bow Public Archives Collections
- Women’s Protective Union/HERE; LH047; 2000.047
- Women’s Protective Union/HERE; PH198; 2000.047.001
- Women’s Protective Union/Hotel Employees; LH002; 1997.036
Oral Histories
- Interviewee: Johnson, Rose Marie; Interviewer: Williams, Whitney; OH149; 2016.183; 1995
- Interviewee: Juliana, Robert; Interviewer: Williams, Whitney; OH151; 2016.183; 1995
- Interviewee: Laitinen, Mildred; Interviewer: Williams, Whitney; OH148; 2016.183; 1995
- Interviewee: Peltomaa, Eleanor; Interviewer: Williams, Whitney; OH150; 2016.183; 1995
Vertical Files
- VF0407.2
- VF0565.001
- VF0746.2
- VF0818
- VF1312
- VF1355.1
This project was generously funded by the Montana Community Foundation and the Harbaugh Foundation.
