Episode 14 - Blanche Copenhaver
This episode highlights the working life of Blanche Copenhaver who was involved in the Women's Protective Union in one role or another for forty years. The interview focuses on Blanche's life as a working waitress who moved up the ranks of the Women's Protective Union to become one of its key officers in the 1950's.
Episode 13 - Val Webster
This episode highlights the working life of Val Webster, who quite literally grew up in the Women's Protective Union. At age four, she accompanied her mother and other WPLI members to the funeral of Frank Little, an organizer for the International Workers of the World. At the time of the oral history interview, Valentine Kenney Webster had been involved with the Women's Protective Union for more than fifty years.
Episode 12 - Rose Marie Johnson
We hear from Rose Marie Johnson, who worked in food service in Butte and belonged to the Women's Protective Union for forty years. She eventually served on its Executive Board. This episode focuses on Rose Marie's life as a working wife and mother particularly in the 1950s and 60's, and her dedication to the Women's Protective Union.
Episode 11 - Mildred Laitinen
We continue to explore the history of the Women's Protective Union, a powerful influence in the lives of working women in Butte for eight decades. We'll hear from one of the Union's long time members Mildred Laitinen. Millie worked in restaurants and banquet halls in the Mining City as a member of the Women's Protective Union, and its successor, the Hotel and Restaurant Union, for 50 years.
Episode 10 - Marilyn Maney
In this episode we continue the story of the Women's Protective Union, a 20th century labor organization in Butte that captures the essence of the Mining City spirit. We'll hear from Marilyn Manny, one time chair of the Board of Directors of the Archives. She was instrumental in the formation of its Labor History Collection and was uniquely qualified for the jobm as she actually consulted with the last officers of the union.
Episode 9 - Labor Pains
In 1995, the Butte-Silver Bow Archives began the Women’s Labor History Project to collect and catalog materials about the historic Women’s Protective Union, including oral histories of retired members. Whitney Williams, Director of the project, collected numerous oral histories that we draw from in this episode.
Episode 8 - Anna Marinovich
Despite hardships including harsh working and living conditions, the Marinovich story is one of delight and gratitude. A jovial woman with a knack for storytelling, Anna’s recollections reflect the gusto with which she lived her life. Anna’s parents, George Stefanac and Agnes Rauch, met in the Smelter City of Anaconda, Montana.
Episode 7 - Norma Gronfein
This episode features the oral history of Norma Pilling Gronfein who came to Butte in 1947. In 1885, nearly a quarter of Butte’s stores were selling food, clothing, jewelry, hats, cigars, and hardware, to the bustling mining community. Most were Jewish-owned. The Gronfein family owned the Stratford Men’s Shop in the heart of Butte on North Main Street.
Episode 6 - Gwen Mitchell
No immigrant population made a greater contribution to Butte’s mining industry than the Cornish. They were the first ethnic group that came to the Mining district in large numbers. In this episode we’ll hear from Gwen Mitchell, both sides of whose family were Cornish who had immigrated to work in the mines.