PONY TRACKS EXPRESS Newsletter of the Northwest Montana Posse of Westerners

Supplemental Non-Member Meeting Announcement Issue

Volume 6, Number 8-S Kalispell, Montana September 2019

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION

Montana Historical Society

This presentation promises an unprecedentedglimpse at a little understood chapter in Montana’spast - the Chinese pioneers. Chinese laborers helpeddevelop Montana’s mineral resources and as placermining dwindled, some 17,000 Chinese recruitshelped lay the tracks of the Northern Pacific acrossthe Northwest. If mining was tough, railroad workwas even tougher. Back-breaking labor, blastingacci-dents, swampy, mosquito-infested camps, andpoor diets claimed hundreds of lives. The route ofthe Northern Pacific was indeed a “railroad pavedwith bones.” Mining and railroad camps, urban remnants, and the legacy of Montana’s Chinesethrough archaeology and artifacts tell the stories ofthis significant ethnic group. Time erased miningand railroad camps and Chinese neighborhoods fellvictim to urban renewal. Chinese culture, never wellunderstood, became the stuff of myth and legend. Chinese settlements in urban areas across the Westsupported their laboring countrymen, but theChinese Exclusion Act made it very difficult to bringfamilies, and predominantly males, into the US so theChinese population could not grow.

Ellen Baumler, PhD, is a historian, educator,award winning author of 12 books (and one in theoven), and longtime interpretive historian at theMontana Historical Society until her retirement in2018. Her many awards include the Leadership in

History Award from the American Association forState and Local History, the Governor’s Award forthe Humanities, and the Peter Yegen Award. Signedcopies of one of her books will be available.

REGULAR MEETINGS

All Posse meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of themonth, except the months of December and January. All meetings begin with a Grab ’n’ Greet for a chanceto “chew the fat” and to get acquainted, followed bythe evening meal, and a presentation pertaining toWestern history.! Evening meals are open to both members and

non-members Dinners require advance

reservation. Pay for the meals at the door uponarrival!

! Walk-in seating in the “peanut gallery” for thepresentation will be available free to all Possemembers and youths under 16 and $5 each forall non-members.

! There will be our usual raffle for door prizes.! Local history authors will sign their books.! Attire: Period or historical preferred, but not

required.

THE AUGUST MEETING

Monday, September 16th, 2019Topic: Montana’s Chinese: Our Forgotten

Pioneers

Presenter: Dr. Ellen Baumler of Helena, MT.Where: The Red Lion, 20 North Main, Kalispell,

Montana (east end of the Kalispell Center Mall)Time: 5:15 pm Grab ’n’ Greet and book signings

6:00 pm - Dinner (includes the presentation)7:00 pm - Presentation

Dinner: $19 (See website for complete menu)Reservations: Call 406/752-9642 (leave message

with names and phone number); or sendemail to kbrittonrn@gmail.com with thesame information.

Reservation Deadline: Thurs, Sept. 12, 9:00 pm.

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