Montana Historical Society turns 150

Montana hadn't even been a territory for a whole year before forward-thinking citizens began to tell the story of their tumultuous era for the sake of future generations.

They did that by establishing the Montana Historical Society in Bannack with one of the first acts of the territorial legislature, making Montana's historical society the oldest such institution in the West.

"Those who came to this land from the outside looking for gold and a new way of life put down their shovels and other tools long enough to establish the Montana Historical Society on Feb. 2, 1865. It was a tumultuous time when cultures clashed and those whose ancestors had lived here for thousands of years were caught up in a new era," MHS Director Bruce Whittenberg said.

The society moved, as did the territorial capitol, to Virginia City. The society's collection moved to Helena in 1874, just in time to be destroyed by a major fire in Helena's Last Chance Gulch, a fire that wiped out the business district and about 150 homes.

In 1891, the society became a stage agency, and in 1902 the collection moved into the basement of the new Capitol.

The 1940s came with a new mission, and the legislature worked on plans for a new building for the collection.

K. Ross Toole, who became Montana's best known historian, became the first official MHS director in 1951, a position he held until 1957. During his tenure, he saw the dedication of the Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building as the society's home.

In the years that followed, the MHS added a fine arts focus and took over historic preservation from the Fish and Game and assumed responsibility for the historic preservation office, for the Original Governor's and Moss mansions, for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission and for Montana Heritage Commission and Virginia and Nevada City assets (until 2003).

Whittenberg said the society has evolved with the state.

"We are strong as a people in Montana today because we have long recognized that we are a product of all of the things that have transpired in our history," he said. "There would be a Montana today without MHS, but I truly believe that Montana's destiny would have been the poorer had not its people cared about its history and heritage that they preserved and protected in their Montana Historical Society."

The next major thrust for the society is seeking legislative support for a new building to house the MHS, the Montana Heritage Center. Whittenberg said the 63-year-old building is out of space.

"History doesn't stop, and neither can we," he said.

The society has five focuses: museums, outreach, preservation, research and a press.

The MHS is home to important C.M. Russell paintings at the MHS museum, as well as other artifacts from the state's past, and maintains all the art in the state capitol, where the society offers tours. The staff also works with local museums.

The MHS holds an annual conference around the state, presents programs, provides a state history textbook used by students across the state and develops materials for Indian Education for All.

The MHS's state historic preservation office works with property owners to have buildings join the National Register of Historical Places and on preservation and protection of historical sites.

The archives have been used by the likes of documentarian Ken Burns and author Ivan Doig, but they are open to regular genealogists and those curious about the state. The 35,000 linear feet of material includes the state's original constitutions, diaries, letters and other records. The photo archive includes more than 500,000 photos, a collection considered among the best in the West.

The MHS publishes "Montana: The Magazine of Western History" and two or three books a year.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Inbody at 791-1490 or by email at kinbody@greatfallstribune.com. Follow her on Twitter at @GFTrib_KInbody.

Celebrate 150 years of history

What: Montana Historical Society's 150th birthday

When: Monday, Feb. 2

Events: Display, cookies, freebies 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; birthday party program 12:15 p.m.

Where: Capitol Rodunda, Helena

Speakers: Gov. Steve Bullock, House Speaker Austin Knudsen, Senate President Debby Barrett, MHS Trustee Steve Lozar of the Salish Tribe

Bonus: At 1 p.m., Jeff Malcomson and Jodie Foley of the MHS will portray Montana's first Territorial Gov. Sidney Edgerton and his daughter Montana historian Martha Edgerton Plassman in separate addresses in the House and Senate chambers