More MTHS Public Programs for October 2022

The Golden Bobcats, the lives of Chinese residents in Helena, and the inside story on the making of The People’s House are among the October presentations at the Montana Historical Society in October.

All presentations are free in the MTHS Lobby at 4:30 p.m. and live-streamed on the MTHS YouTube Channel unless otherwise noted. Also join us for the October Friends Lecture Series, every Wednesday in October at noon. Find out more on our website. Programs include:

• October 6 – Montana’s Visionary Mayor, Willard E. Fraser with author Lou Mandler explores how Fraser’s vision and impact as the progressive and controversial mayor of Billings during the 1960s reached far beyond the borders of the Magic City. Refreshments to celebrate the launch of this new MTHS Press book will follow the talk.

• October 8 at 1-3:30 p.m. – Pop-Up Exhibit, featuring community guests showcasing their private collections, will include a Charles M. Russell ephemera collection, vintage Butte M&M items, and historic patriotic items.

• October 13 – Montana State’s Golden Bobcats: 1929 with author Paul R. Wylie. Ashworth “Cat” Thompson and brothers Frank and Orland Ward didn’t know what to expect when they left southern Utah and arrived in Bozeman in the Fall 1926. Wylie will recount the on-and-off court challenges and triumphs of the Bobcat’s Golden Team.

• October 20 – The Middle Kingdom under the Big Sky, presented in conjunction with a Community Read hosted by the Lewis and Clark Library. Join author Mark Johnson as he examines the experiences of Chinese residents of Helena: the pressures they faced, how they advocated for their rights, and how they fought to keep their culture alive in an often-hostile environment.

• October 27 – The Making of the Capitol Video. Join Ari Laskin, who oversaw student filmmakers recently creating the documentary film The People’s House to try to how Montana’s capitol building is used and what it represents.

For more information, contact Deb Mitchell at dmitchell@mt.gov or 406/444-4789.