Preservation Posters on 2nd Saturday at MHS

On June 8, the Montana Historical Society will offer free preservation posters to visitors, as well as have staff on hand from 11 am to 1 pm to share information about how to research a building’s history.  The 2013 Preservation Poster, “Building Community,” features the historic Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Great Falls, and celebrates the dedication and influence statewide of the Montana Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs.  Established in 1921, the federation was a collaboration of women’s clubs from communities across the state. 

In addition to offering social activities for black women, the local clubs and the state federation supported scholarships, lobbied for civil rights legislation, and worked to improve racial relations at the state and local level.Preservation posters from previous years will be available as well.Montana Historical Society staff will be available to work with the public, helping visitors find materials about their historic places.  Using resources from the Montana Historical Society Research Center, including Sanborn Fire Insurance Company maps, Polk directories, and online tools, staff members will guide visitors through the research process.