Dorothy Putnam was born in Great Falls, Montana, about 1916, the daughter of Horace J. and Mary Putnam. Horace Putnam, a railroad conductor, left the family about 1929 and moved to California. Dorothy attended the Ursuline Academy and then transferred to Great Falls High School, where she was active in athletics and the French Club. She moved to Helena around 1946 as Dorothy Baker. She worked at the Dell and took over its operation in the early 1950s. She then took over Ida Levy's establishment at 19-1/2 South Main Street and named it Dorothy's Rooms. It was raided for prostitution several times, and then shut down in early 1973 and "Big Dorothy" died in Great Falls in May 1973.
From the description of Dorothy Josephine Baker papers, 1946-1954. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 727063534
