The People's Voice records
Scope and Contents
The records include general correspondence (composed in part of incoming and outgoing correspondence without reciprocal response), pertaining to a wide range of political issues. The majority of correspondence during the period of Billings' editorship was arranged in the various subject files. There are also a few financial, legal, and organizational records of the company.
Dates
- Creation: 1937-1967
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Collection open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Biographical / Historical
The People's Voice, a cooperative newspaper, was founded in 1939, by H.S. "Cap" Bruce with the backing of farm coop and labor leaders. Bruce, a veteran newspaperman, saw the need for an independent state-wide paper after the established press failed to report adequately on the 1937 state legislature's defeat of liberal measures. Bruce's newly formed Educational Co-operative Publishing Company bought a press and, in December 1939, began publication of The People's Voice . The Voice covered both local and national issues, taking strong stands on the issues of public power, protection of public lands, establishment of farmers' cooperatives, the abolition of capital punishment, minimum wage, and other labor union concerns. In spite of its small circulation, the paper's political influence was considerable. In November 1948, associate editor Harry L. Billings, assisted by his wife Gretchen, succeeded Bruce as managing editor. After Billings retired in 1968, Bennett Hansen took over the Voice's management, but financial difficulties forced the paper to cease publication shortly thereafter.
Extent
7 linear feet
Abstract
The People's Voice was a weekly newspaper published in Helena, Montana, by H.S. "Cap" Bruce, and later by Harry L. Billings. Records consist primarily of general correspondence (1937-1966); and subject files (1930s-1960s) on a wide variety of topics, including Montana politics, farmers unions, labor, state government, and public utilities.
Arrangement
Arranged by series
Physical Location
2:5-3
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
Separated Materials
Photographs transferred to Photo Archives. See inventory below for more information.
Geographic
- Helena (Mont.) -- Periodicals
- Helena (Mont.) -- Politics and government
- Marias River Valley (Mont.)
- Montana
- Red Lodge (Mont.) -- Commerce
Topical
- Agriculture -- Montana -- Societies, etc.
- Electric Power -- Montana
- Electric utilities -- Laws and Legislation -- Montana
- Labor and laboring classes -- Montana
- Mines and Mineral Resources -- Montana -- Butte
- Newspaper publishing -- Montana
- Petroleum industry and trade -- Montana
- Public Utilities -- Regulation -- Montana
- Publishers and Publishing
- Strikes and lockouts -- Copper mining
- Trials (Murder) -- Montana
- Universities and colleges -- Montana
- Veterans -- Societies, etc.
- Title
- Guide to the Educational Cooperative Publishing Company of Montana records 1937-1967
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by MHS staff
- Date
- 2006
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Repository
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)
mhslibrary@mt.gov