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Women's Helena for the Capital Club records

 Collection
Identifier: MC-48

Scope and Contents

The collection contains incoming correspondence; lists of women statewide who might be potential supporters, compiled by members in each county; a list of ministers; President Isabella Kirkendall's report; reports from chapters in Miles City, Missoula, and White Sulphur Springs; an index to communities in each county; a record book containing correspondence, minutes, resolutions, mailings, clippings, and broadsides; and miscellany.

Dates

  • Creation: 1894

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 question of a permanent location for the capital of Montana was submitted to the voters in the general election of 1892. Seven cities entered the contest: Helena, the temporary capital; Anaconda; Butte; Bozeman; Great Falls; Deer Lodge; and Boulder. The two cities receiving the most votes, Helena and Anaconda (with 14,010 and 10, 183 votes, respectively) entered a run-off campaign two years later. The capital question overshadowed all other political issues in the 1894 election. Every newspaper in Montana became a partisan, and hundreds of speakers canvassed the state. The two dominant figures in the fight proved to be the "Copper Kings" Marcus Daly, the champion of Anaconda, and his political rival, William A. Clark, a staunch Helena supporter. Small organizations formed to back their favorite city. The Women's Helena for the Capital Club, led by Isabella [Mrs. Hugh] Kirkendall of Helena, was a state-wide group that solicited help from women in every county. Although unable to vote, the women in the local chapters exerted pressure on the men with voting privileges through letter writing campaigns, distribution of leaflets, newspaper advertisements, and speeches. Helena won the election by a narrow margin: 27,024 votes to 25, 118 for Anaconda.

Extent

.7 linear feet

Additional Description

Abstract

The Women's Helena for the Capital Club was a Helena, Montana, based organization promoting the establishment of Helena as the state capital of Montana. Records (1894) include incoming correspondence; county lists; a record book containing correspondence, financial reports, speeches, resolutions, clippings, and broadsides; and miscellany.

Arrangement

Arranged by series

Physical Location

2:5-6

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Acquisition information available upon request

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Women's Helena for the Capital Club records 1894
Author
Finding aid prepared by MHS Staff
Date
2004
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

Repository Details

Part of the Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Repository

https://mhs.mt.gov/research
Contact:
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)

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