Joseph Mussulman was born in 1928. He received his bachelors and masters degrees in music from Northwestern University in 1950 and 1951. Mussulman then received his doctorate degree in humanities from Syracuse University. Eventually he became a professor in The University of Montana’s Department of Music. He retired in 1985.
Mussulman has published on a wide range of topics including Montana history, music history, biography and cartography. He is an expert on the Lewis and Clark expedition and created the website Discovering Lewis and Clark at www.lewis-clark.org. Mussulman’s work as a professor, author and presenter have been acknowledged with numerous local, state and national awards.
Mussulman worked with the Friends of the Rattlesnake from shortly after its inception in 1972 until November 1978. He served on the Board of Directors from 1974 to 1978 and served two consecutive terms as president in 1976 and 1977. He helped gain wide community support for the organization through his outreach programs including speeches, public discussions and slide shows.
From the guide to the Joseph A. Mussulman Papers, 1966-1992, (University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)
