library - Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives in Butte, Montana

Will you be making crafts and gifts this holiday season? We love these cuties at the Webster-Garfield School making candles in a classroom, circa December 1961. Clockwise around the table: Lyn Gustafson, Betty Janik, Patty Coulombe, Ray Floyd, Carol Boyce, James Medici, Margie Malkovich, Sheila Smith, Gayle Schumacher, Paul Benitez, Le ann Gronvold, Linda Smith, and Bobby Bengston. Smithers.69.116.01 . . .... #Crafting #Gifts #Holidays #Christmas #ButteMontana See more

Happy Hannukah! Pictured today is the B'Nai Israel Synagogue, circa 1910. The Butte Daily Post reported that the synagogue first celebrated "The Feast of Lights" in 1904. MC1195 . . .... #ButteMontana #Hannukah #Holidays #FestivalOfLights See more

This week in 1938, the Knights of Columbus were holding the K.C. Carnival. Over 30 booths were located throughout the three-story Knights of Columbus building. To begin each night of the carnival a musical parade was held through the business district. Dances were held nightly for those who wanted to "trip a bit of the light fantastic". . The Knights of Columbus members in this photo are identified beginning at the top of the photo as James Sullivan and Thomas Calpin, contin...uing clockwise are Tony Craig, James Roe, Ed S. Bleichner, William Doonan, Patrick McDonough, Francis X. Dolan, Dr. J.J. Kelley, Joe Lyden, Joe McBride, Harvey Connole and Adrian Brown. Smithers.01.018.05 . . . #ButteMontana #KnightsOfColumbus #ThisWeekInHistory See more

The Archives is open by appointment only to maintain proper social distancing within the building. Please call (406)782-3280 to make an appointment.

81 years ago today, the cornerstone for the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was laid. Pictured today are architects J. G. Link, Sr., J. G. Link, Jr., and the building foreman next to the cornerstone. . . . #ButteMontana #ThisDayInHistory #ICChurch #Cornerstone

Have you noticed Butte's gallowframes are lit up in the holiday spirit? Be sure to check out the Orphan Girl, Mountain Con, Steward, Original and Lexington! Pictured today is the Anselmo decorated for the season, circa 1950. . . . #ButteMontana #ChristmasLights #Holiday #Christmas #Anselmo #MiningCityHoliday

After Election Day we could all use a little comic relief, no matter your political stance. In 1936, Hennessy's employees held a beard growing contest. Zoom in and you'll notice a few of these fellows had impressive beard growing capabilities ;-) ! Which beard or mustache is your favorite? Smithers.05.082.11 . . .... #ButteMontana #Hennessys #NoShavember #Movember See more

In 1904, Jacob Osenbrug, Henry Rathelmiller and John Haller, the Baker Barons of Butte, if you will, partnered to open the Home Baking Company. The bakery was located on Olympia Avenue and had the capacity to bake 30,000 loaves of bread per day! . . . #ButteMontana #ArchivesHashtagParty #ArchivesBakeoff

Pictured today are two women being given a demonstration on how to operate a voting machine. When these machines were introduced, large ads were placed in the Montana Standard giving instructions on how to use it. The public was also welcome to visit the county courthouse for a demonstration. Smithers.06.009.10 . Just a reminder, the Archives is closed today for Election Day! .... . . #Vote #ButteMontana #Voting #ElectionDay #Election See more

Read up on our most recent blog post about the time Jeanette Rankin, America's first congresswoman, visited Butte!

Happy Halloween! Check out these trick-or-treaters posing for a photo at Charley Judd's Annual Halloween Party in 1963. What was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid? Smithers.01.076.01 . . .... #OnlyInButte #ButteMontana #Halloween #HalloweenParty #NewDealBar See more

Pictured today is Charley Judd on a ladder releasing hundreds of balloons in his New Deal Bar on Halloween to the kids of Butte. The balloons were filled with prizes in addition to the children getting candy, hot dogs and soda all for free! If you remember, tell us more about the balloon drop! Smithers.01.076.011 . . .... #OnlyInButte #ButteMontana #Halloween #HalloweenParty #NewDealBar See more

Approximately 2,300 pounds of candy was given out at Charley Judd's Annual Halloween party in 1963! Just as in years past, Butte is stepping up to make sure kids have a great Halloween. Be sure to bring your kids to Treat Street from 12-4pm on Saturday, October 31st at the Old Safeway Warehouse. Smithers.01.076.01 . . .... #OnlyInButte #ButteMontana #Halloween #HalloweenParty #NewDealBar See more

Only in Butte will children line up outside a bar to attend an annual Halloween party! Pictured today are trick-or-treaters ready to take part in Charley Judd's Annual Halloween Party in 1966 at Charley's New Deal Bar. Smithers.84.046.01 . . .... #OnlyInButte #ButteMontana #Halloween #HalloweenParty #NewDealBar See more

Be sure to check out our latest blog on what Halloween looked like in Butte in 1920!

Thanks to the Montana Standard for featuring the Archives in Sunday's newspaper! Just a reminder, the Archives is open Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. Appointments are required to help maintain social distancing!

Looking for something fun to do on this chilly October Sunday? Check out the most recent Hike Through History! Take a virtual hike through Thompson Park with Jocelyn Dodge and learn all about its history as well as the flora and fauna!

A couple years after John Winston's death, his wife, Catherine bought a kitchen range, kitchen cabinet, four chairs and a rug from Kelley & Alton Furniture. In days before credit cards, widows would often times find themselves in need of household items and would purchase items through a bill of sale with the agreement to pay the full amount over a set period of time. . Catherine Winston passed away in 1928. . To celebrate #AmericanArchivesMonth we will be demonstrating ho...w to research a person with the resources at the Butte Archives. Be sure to check our daily posts to learn how to utilize the archives for your own research and learn more about John and Catherine Winston's story in Butte! . . . #ButteMontana #ButteArchives #BSBPublicArchives #Archivists See more

After John Winston's death, his widow, Catherine Winston applied for the Widow's Pension. Catherine received money from the government to help care for her children but if you look carefully you will see "Cut Off" written in pencil, next to her name at the top of the page. Reading further down, it states "Cut off rec'd money from Workmens Comp". We researched this a bit more and discovered in the Butte Miner newspaper that the widows of this particular disaster were given com...pensation for the loss of their husbands. The widows could choose to accept a lump sum of $3,380 or $10 per week for 400 weeks. . To celebrate #AmericanArchivesMonth we will be demonstrating how to research a person with the resources at the Butte Archives. Be sure to check our daily posts to learn how to utilize the archives for your own research and learn more about John and Catherine Winston's story in Butte! . . . #ButteMontana #ButteArchives #BSBPublicArchives #Archivists See more

Considering the manner in which the 16 men died on October 19, 1915 an inquest was held. The inquest is 156 pages long with detailed accounts of what occurred. It was never determined why the dynamite exploded, although some theorized a skip unloading ore dropped rocks that hit the dynamite or perhaps some neighborhood kids were shooting a gun and a bullet accidentally hit the dynamite. . Pictured today is a portion of the inquest that mentions John Winston as described by u...ndertaker, John Duggan. . To celebrate #AmericanArchivesMonth we will be demonstrating how to research a person with the resources at the Butte Archives. Be sure to check our daily posts to learn how to utilize the archives for your own research and learn more about John and Catherine Winston's story in Butte! . . . #ButteMontana #ButteArchives #BSBPublicArchives #Archivists See more

After learning that John Winston died in the surface explosion we went to the Death Record Index. In the index we found the death certificate reference number and we pulled his death certificate. John had just turned 37 years old four days prior to the explosion. While he was born in Wisconsin, his parents are listed as natives of Ireland and England. His cause of death was "Shock Internal Injuries received in Powder explosion". He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery. . To cel...ebrate #AmericanArchivesMonth we will be demonstrating how to research a person with the resources at the Butte Archives. Be sure to check our daily posts to learn how to utilize the archives for your own research! . . . #ButteMontana #ButteArchives #BSBPublicArchives #Archivists See more