Montana War Brides Oral History Project

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.