Montana Historical Society

A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope and at a lower rate than a letter. The term Postcard refers to cards which were privately produced and were not sold with postage prepaid. Postcards are visual representations of people and places specific to a particular time, providing a record of changes in geography, graphic and artwork styles, social interests, and social concerns.

Deltiology, or postcard collecting, has been a popular hobby since the late nineteenth century. Germany's Heinrich von Stephan invented the concept of the postal card in 1865, and by 1870 postcards were being privately produced in the United States. The issuance of commemorative postcards at Chicago's World Columbian Exhibition (1893) followed by an act of Congress that allowed cards created by private publishers to be mailed at the same rate as government cards (1898) caused an increase in the production and collection of postcards in the United States.

The deltiology community generally divides the production of postcards in the United States into a few distinct eras. Postcards produced in the Pioneer Era (pre-1898) typically contained advertisements and appeared in urban centers in the East. Private Mailing Card Era (1898-Dec. 24, 1901) postcards had undivided backs and a Private Mailing Card logo. During the Undivided Back Postcard Era (Dec. 24, 1901-March 1, 1907), postcards had an undivided back and a Post Card logo. The Divided Back Era (March 1, 1907-1915), also known as the Golden Age of postcards, featured postcards with space on the verso for both an address and a message. Previously, only the address of the recipient was allowed on the verso. This period marks the apex of the popularity of mailing postcards. World War I, influenza epidemics, and the advent of the telephone caused the decline of the postcard after 1915. During the White Border Era (1915-1930), postcards were often produced with white borders around the screened image. The Linen Card Era (1930-1945) reflects a shift in production towards printing on linen card stock, which gave postcards a textured look and feel. Finally, during the Photochrome Era (1945-present), glossy color postcards became favored.

Until the mid-1970s, most cards produced in the United States were the "standard" size, approximately 3-1/2 x 5 inches. The "continental" size, approximately 4 x 6 inches, was a size that was common in Europe earlier than in the United States, but most of the cards sold in the U.S. since the mid-1970s are this size. Super-sized postcards approximately 5 x 7 inches were published more recently.

The printing on color lithograph postcards varies in quality. Most view cards are based on black-and-white photographs with color added. The printing on these cards often has good detail and deep colors. Greeting cards also are colorful and usually embossed, although sometimes the graphics on these cards can be of poor quality.

From the guide to the Montana postcard collection, 1893-2008, bulk 1905-1950, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)

Beginning in 1903 the Montana Historical Society Library began soliciting biographical information from members of the state legislature. The practice ended with the 1977 session. The information provided each session differed slightly, but generally included name, birth date and place, residence, occupation, military service, fraternal affiliations, spouse's name, and some other data.

From the description of Montana legislative biographies collection, 1871-1977 1903-1977. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 71329817

The early days of medicine in Montana are discussed by physicians, nurses, nurse educators, emergency medical technicians, and lay health care providers.

From the guide to the Medicine, Health Care, and Nursing in Montana Oral History Project, 1989-1992, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)

Statewide in scope, this oral history project was the first implemented by the Montana Historical Society. Interviews were conducted with Montanans who lived and worked in the state from 1910 to 1945. The project focused on three major occupational areas that dominated Montana's economy during this period: mining, agriculture and forest products.

From the guide to the Montanans at Work Oral History Project, 1981-1986, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)

From World War I through the Persian Gulf War, Montana has ranked in the highest percentile nationally in the number of its citizens serving as military personnel. These numbers include nearly 5,000 women since 1940 and as well as a substantial number of Montanan tribal members. Montana played a significant role in American military strategies during the Cold War, due to the presence of Malmstrom Air Force Base and its numerous missile silos. This project was started in 1993 to record the experiences of those who served in the military forces and the families and communties who were impacted by the service.

From the guide to the Montana Military Veterans Oral History Project, 1993-2002, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)

Begun in 1986, this project focuses on the development of Helena businesses from World War I through urban renewal in the 1960s. Montana Historical Society staff and volunteers interviewed people who established or worked in Helena's communications, entertainment, manufacturing, service, grocery, and retail businesses.

From the guide to the Helena Businesses Oral History Project, 1986-1998, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)

In this project residents of Anaconda, Black Eagle, Columbia Falls, and East Helena share their experiences as merchants, bartenders, union organizers, and families of smelter workers living in towns dominated by metals manufacturing plants. The project was the first in a series designed to explore Montana's labor and industrial heritage and the role of industry in shaping community identity. Related projects include Montanans At Work; Small Town Montana; and New Deal in Montana.

From the guide to the Metals Manufacturing in Four Montana Communities Oral History Project, 1986-1988, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)

This oral history project documented the economic recovery programs initiated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s and 1940s. These Depression-era programs - including the Work Projects Administration (WPA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the resettlement Administration - played a significant economic role in the state of Montana, which was listed as second in per capita receipt of New Deal dollars during the Depression. A large portion of the interviews focused on the lives of the workers involved in the Fort Peck Dam project, including cultural and social life in the area.

From the guide to the New Deal in Montana/Fort Peck Dam Oral History Project, 1987-1989, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)

Throughout its existence, the Montana Historical Society has solicited from pioneers reminiscences about their experiences. A collection of such writings was destroyed in the January 1874 fire that swept downtown Helena. the Society immediately resumed collecting with the aim for replacing many of the destroyed reminiscences. By 1876 enough writings had been collected to publish the first volume of Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana. During the 1880s the Montana Territorial Legislature appropriated money for the collection of memoirs.

From the guide to the Montana Historical Society Pioneers Reminiscences, -, (Montana Historical Society Archives)

The Montana Homesteading project was initiated by the Montana Historical Society in cooperation with the Homestead National Monument of America in 2004 as a means to document family stories relating to homesteading experiences in Montana. The project focused on living descendants of homesteaders, primarily between 1910 and 1930, in an effort to gain written stories and/or names for potential oral history interviewees.

The Homestead National Monument of America commemorates the Homestead Act of 1862. Homestead National Monument of America, located in Southeast Nebraska, commemorates this Act and the far-reaching effects it had upon the landscape and people of the plains. Located on the site of the one of the first homesteads claimed, this National Monument is a tribute to the courage and tenacity of the settlers and original inhabitants of this land. It is maintained by the National Park Service.

From the description of Montana Homesteading Project records, 2004-2006. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 173686019

On December 21, 1864 Francis M. Thompson introduced into the Territorial legislature, Council Bill 15 to incorporate the Historical Society of Montana, as a private organization. The purpose of the Society was "...to collect and arrange facts in regard to the early history of this Territory...." The bill was signed into law on February 2, 1865. The Society held its first organizational meeting later that month. Among the incorporators were Granville Stuart, H. L. Hosmer, C. P. Higgins, John Owens, and W. F. Sanders. The Society membership was limited to a few prominent Montana pioneers, who had to be elected by unanimous election by the members.

The Society began collecting reminiscences and other memorabilia of the early pioneers. Tragically, these collections burned in the disastrous 1874 fire in downtown Helena. Immediately after the fire, the Society contacted many of the original pioneers and obtained replacement reminiscences, diaries, and letters. They also began the intensive collection of the territory's newspapers, publications of government expeditions, artifacts, and other items of interest. The collections were housed in the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse from 1886 until the completion of the new Capitol building in 1902.

The early history of the Society was one of a gradual increase in government involvement. In 1873 the legislature appropriated $150 to buy additional manuscripts and books. By 1887 the Territory was paying rent for housing the library and the salary of the librarian. In 1891 the collections were officially transferred to State control. And two years later the Governor was given the authority to appoint the Board of Trustees. In 1895 the legislature changed the name to "The Historical and Miscellaneous Library." This name was retained until the 1923 legislature restored the original name. Finally in 1963 the name was changed to its present Montana Historical Society.

A separate building for the Society was planned as early as the mid 1920s, but the Depression, World War II, and other factors delayed the building until 1953 when the Veterans and Pioneers Building was completed. In 1951 K. Ross Toole was hired as the first professional director. His major task was to plan for the new building, and the varied programs which it would enable. Among these programs were a formal museum, art galleries, the library, and a magazine.

Until 1951 the Society had no director. The Librarian and assistant functioned as director and staff. In 1951, K. Ross Toole was hired as the first official director. The role of Society expanded to include publication of a magazine, management of a museum, development of art galleries, and merchandising of artwork, as well as the original Library. In addition to the Director, Administration came to include a business manager, accountants, and other functions central to the Society as a whole. The Director's responsibility is the overall administration of the Society, under the general guidance of the Board of Trustees.

Directors succeeding Toole (1951-1958), were Michael Kennedy (1958-1966), Sam Gilluly (1966-1974), Ken Korte (1974-1979), Robert Archibald (1979-1989), Larry Sommer (1989-1992), Brian Cockhill (1992-1998), Arnold Olsen (1999-2006), and Richard Sims (2006- ). In addition, there have been several interim directors serving for varying periods of time.

From the description of Montana Historical Society Director's Office records, 1950-2003. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 83775991

The Montana Homesteading project was initiated by the Montana Historical Society in cooperation with the Homestead National Monument of America in 2004 as a means to document family stories relating to homesteading experiences in Montana. The project focused on living descendants of homesteaders, primarily between 1910 and 1930, in an effort to gain written stories and/or names for potential oral history interviewees.

The Homestead National Monument of America commemorates the Homestead Act of 1862. Homestead National Monument of America, located in Southeast Nebraska, commemorates this Act and the far-reaching effects it had upon the landscape and people of the plains. Located on the site of the one of the first homesteads claimed, this National Monument is a tribute to the courage and tenacity of the settlers and original inhabitants of this land. It is maintained by the National Park Service.

From the guide to the Montana Homesteading Project records, 2004-2006, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)

In the summer of 2001 the Montana Historical Society Archives began work on the Montana War Brides Oral History Project. The project focused on the experiences of women who came to Montana as the result of marriage to a U.S. soldier. War Brides form a unique immigrant group within Montana’s population. Unlike many immigrant groups war brides traveled to Montana alone, came to live with people they had never met, and entered new lives without the comfort of an existing support system to ease the transition. This project this project documents the process that brought war brides to Montana, the transitions they made in making new lives in the Big Sky County, their efforts to fit into new communities, and the efforts of these communities to welcome them.

Dr. Seena Kohn, Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences Professor at Webster University in Saint Louis, served as the interviewer. A gift from the Friends of the Montana Historical Society and a professional development grant from Webster College enabled Professor Kohl to travel to Montana and interview women from across the state, including Billings, Conrad, Grass Range, Great Falls, Lewistown, and Kalispell. The women immigrated from hometowns in Australia, England, France, Germany, Korea, Poland, and Wales.

From the guide to the Montana War Brides Oral History Project, 2001-2003, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)